Information needed for my foundations final paper! :(

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

Suggestion- find a nurse in person, and make the effort to interview someone face to face. :) Join in on the threads here, and maybe learn more about nurses - not just make your first post about getting your homework done- seriously. And, congrats on being so close to the end :)

The Google search thingy at the top right may help with tips for new grads- LOTS of threads that cover that- and you're actually doing the work for it - it makes a difference :)

LucasRN · Sep 1, 2011

Hi, PM me if you like.

Katieour · Sep 1, 2011

PM? lol im sorry I am new to all of this and I am actually really super struggling with this paper.. I tried to interview a couple of friends and they of course never got back to me and then yay i tried to interview a few more people and never heard back from them either!

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

Private message :) Just click on the little thing that looks like a pencil and paper under the name of the poster- it will guide you to leave a message for the poster :)

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

Private message :) Just click on the little thing that looks like a pencil and paper under the name of the poster- it will guide you to leave a message for the poster :)

She/He can only read a PM, they cannot reply or send one until they hit 15 posts or more.

Katieour · Sep 1, 2011

ok thanks!

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

hello everyone! how are yall doing? okay so i have a huge favor to ask anyone.. i am in my second quarter of nursing school *about ready to finish, woo hoo two weeks* anyways we have to write a final paper on an area of nursing that we are interested in by interviewing or talking to someone else who is in that field! to be honest, i really am not picky thus far in what specific area of nursing im interested in so im pretty much ope to interview anyone! anyways, i would love love (please) if anyone could answer a few short questions for me:
-scope of your nursing role
-personal and educational requirements (like cont. education credits and different classes in nursing school that potentially helped you to where you are today)
-and your professional responsibilities (roles and duties as an rn)
- also if you would like to add anything else in, that would be great! like a story or some advice that you can offer new nursing grads or even students just entering into clinicals!
kate

ok, let's see.

scope and duties/roles/prof responsibilities = charge rn med-surg, sometimes on jail ward, float to psych; make assignments, get report, count narcs, see each pt within 1st hour of my shift starting to check that everything is right - correct o2 if any, correct fluids infusing at correct rate in non-inflamed site, loc, drains draining and what it looks like, wheels locked, bed low, everything within reach (h20 if not npo), call light, phone, kleenex, etc.; a brief look to make sure everyone is present, alive, conscious or arousable;

my shift consists of helping everyone, i am the go-to person; i solve problems involving staff, families, other departments, docs, etc. i make sure supplies and meds are available; i have only 2 or 3 patients usually, as i have the other responsibilities i'm telling you about.

i do chart reviews for quality assurance.

i relieve everyone (nurses) for breaks and dinner.

i never leave the floor except to run to the pharmacy, laundry room, kitchen, or central supply. my breaks are taken in the nurses' office and i prefer that. the door might be slightly closed to remind myself that i am on my break, but it's also slightly ajar and everyone knows where i am and that i can always, always, always be called upon. usually, staff try to not come to me if the door is half closed, but i honestly don't mind. i am a very hands-on charge nurse. lack of trust in others' skills? whatever. when i leave, i can sleep, knowing i left things in proper order.

i round on every patient and every nurse at least twice each 8 hour shift. a round might take 1 to 1.5 hours because i help turn, lift, do finger sticks and vs and whatever needs doing. of course, i have to do meds, charting, i&o, feeding, etc. on my own 2 or 3 patients.

the other major task i do is make sure that the following shift is properly staffed. this is not easy. also, i have 1 nurse who comes in at 7 and works a 12 hour shift. she always gets mad if she has a different for 4 hours. she just doesn't seem to understand that no one else is on 12's, so it's just not feasible to please her. pain in the tush.

i do inservices (handwashing, use of hepa filters, new equipment, new beds, how to use lifts, how to use our new phones, inform people of new rules, switch from one syringe to another, etc.; i do annual ppd's, and hold staff meetings on my shift, too.

i do evaluations for the people on my shift, too.

then i have to give report, count, and go home. i forgot to say - there are often calls to doctors for various orders - sleepers, laxatives, fevers, pain, cough, rash, dyspnea, illegible order clarification, any emergencies that arise (hypoglycemia, falls with injuries, seizures, change in level of consciousness (loc), hemorrhage). i make rounds with any docs who come in on my shift. several like to come later and i round with them, talk to them about concerns, their orders, etc.

i hope this helps.

ed requirements = these days, a bsn is preferred. i think, personally, that any licensed, experienced nurse, rn or lvn, could do my job. my state requires 30 ceu's every 2 years - not nearly enough. i'm forever reading and studying. hospital requires cpr/bls, also acls renewal q 2 years and they pay for these.

Katieour · Sep 1, 2011

oh my gosh thank you so much, you have no idea how much you have just helped me out! Do you mind if I ask what state you practice in? Because in colorado I know thT CE is not required in most hopsitals and facilities as of right now.. Most of our hospitals are magnet status as of right now as well. Why do you believe that 30 CE'S are not nearly enough? Just because Colorado doesnt require it...I must say, I have worked with MANY MANY charge nurses and out of all of those, only one of them has been as hands on as you are and thank-you so much for all you do! Someone like you makes each shift a little "easier" to get through if you know what I mean! Ah thank you again so much! :)

metroishka · Sep 2, 2011

That was really nice of you to help her out Kooky. I think she appreciated it a lot! Good luck Katieour, love your enthusiasm!

tojal1989 · Sep 2, 2011

One of my final papers was Family Presence during Resuscitation... creating a policy (less than 10% hospitals nationwide have a policy/procedure), teaching nurses/doctors about it, etc. It's been a growing topic and there is good current research on it.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2011

HELLO EVERYONE! how are yall doing? Okay so I have a huge favor to ask anyone.. I am in my second quarter of nursing school *about ready to finish, woo hoo two weeks* Anyways we have to write a final paper on an area of nursing that we are interested in by interviewing or talking to someone else who is in that field! To be honest, I really am not picky thus far in what specific area of nursing im interested in so Im pretty much ope to interview anyone! Anyways, I would LOVE LOVE (PLEASE) if anyone could answer a few short questions for me:
-Scope of your nursing role
-personal and educational requirements (like cont. education credits and different classes in nursing school that potentially helped you to where you are today)
-and your professional responsibilities (roles and duties as an RN)
- Also if you would like to add anything else in, that would be great! Like a story or some advice that you can offer new nursing grads or even students just entering into clinicals!
Kate

The issue I have with interviews over the internet is that you are not gaining the experience needed to conduct the face to face interviews that are so much apart of everyday nursing. There is a ton of non verbal information that can be obtained during a face to face interview such as during admission when you ask if they are being hurt by anyone....anyone can type no and verbally say no.....but when the look down, tearful, make poor eye contact figit in their chair.....gives another dimention to the interview.

Try your local school nurse, your doctor's office nurse. Try your town's Board of health nurse. Go to CVS's minute clinic and talk to that nurse.....face to face. Good luck... :)