Guest321574

I still think it's more writing than even a 15wk course, nevermind the time factor. Again, I've never written 4 papers in one regular length class... Given I've already paid for it, I'm going to try to finish, and then see how the next one is. Any thoughts on the writing in the community class?

*sigh* :-( Thanks...

Thanks for the reply... So does that mean that all (or most) of the classes have a paper due for 4 out of 5 weeks? I can understand one or two, but 4 papers in a 5wk class seems like overkill. I have a prev BA degree in Art History (very writing oriented) and I don't think I had any classes with 4 papers, and those were 15 wk classes.

Please tell me that the writing load gets easier after 4510. Even just hearing that it gets slightly better would help. I simply cannot write a 3-4 page paper every week for the next year...

Hey Glamgal, welcome back, do you remember me? Sorry I can't answer your question, I just think it's funny, because I'm here looking up the same info, on the RNC process. I'm coming up on 1yr in L&D in August, so I'm still a year or so from eligibility. Are you still at the same hospital? Feel free to PM me to catch up or if you don't remember me, I can refresh your memory too via PM, Lol.

I'm new (4months into orientation) to L&D. Coming from a short stint in med/surg (everything on a pump) and psych (what are iv's?) I was kind of in shock to see everyone running stuff to gravity. Most people even piggyback abx to the LR and skip the pump (of course pit, mag, etc. always go on a pump). At this point though, I'm immune to it, and have been doing it the way everyone else does, but I just want to say THANK YOU for bringing this idea of fluid overload to my attention. I hadn't really thought through the consequences (and am embarrassed to say that). I do carefully titrate fluids before an epidural, because I don't want to make moms uncomfortable with needing to get up frequently to urinate. But I admittedly am less careful once that foley is in. (this is not to say that I leave LR running wide open at all times, but I am just less conscientious). I will add, that my current hospital also uses pump tubing (when a pump is in use) but this was also a shock. My hospital where I did med/surg used smart pumps that did not require pump tubing. That was really nice in retrospect. I hate priming pump tubing.

The stringy description could just have been from the blood mixed with the fertile cervical mucous, since it resembles egg whites, and "stretches." Perhaps she was having her period, and it caught her off guard. After my second child, my periods changed to the point that they are fast and furious, with the majority of the bleeding coming in about 8 hours, and the next 3 days or so are very light/spotting. But I guess that would not explain no active bleeding at the time of the examination...

You will lose some "skills" as others have said, but you will gain many others that will translate well to the ER. Thinking and acting quickly in an emergency, is a big one that I can think of. Time management is another, as you will often be managing and passing medications for upwards of 10 people. I've worked on units where the med pass was split, each nurse passed meds for 10-12 people, and I've worked on units where there was 1 med nurse for a 27 bed unit. Passing meds for 27 people requires great time management. You will learn how to interact with physicians, as well as work in a pretty autonomous environment, much like (I imagine) the ER to be. You will learn to be a patient advocate "hey (psych) doc, he is pretty out of control, I think he needs a nice dose of (insert your favorite psychotropic here)...OR "hey (medical) doc, I know you hate coming down here and you think all our people are just crazy, but I really think this guy is going into DT's. I really need you to come evaluate him now." (Okay, maybe leave the first part out :lol: ) So, if we are being realistic, (because is it REALLY that easy to just go grab yourself an acute care job and get the "right" experience?), take full advantage of what you have now, keeping the big picture in mind. Try to get a dysrhythmia course somewhere, take ACLS, and when you do get that chance to sell yourself to that ER manager, remember to play up the relevent aspects of psych as they relate to the ER.

Main Line Health does not require BSN for experienced nurses. I was hired there last month, with no BSN. Was told in the interview that it will possibly be a future requirement, so I should be certain to get started on it.

I hear ya, me too! If you can find an email address, you can send your resume/interest letter that way. Or if you just have a name, sometimes you can puzzle out the email address, just by looking at the way other people in the organization have theirs styled. If you don't have a name, you can also just mail your resume and cover letter addressed directly to: Nurse Manager, L&D, City Hospital, City, State, Zip. This has worked for me in the past, though not for an L&D job. Sending it priority mail, flat rate envelope, is an attention getter. The $5 isn't cheap so I reserved this for jobs I was REALLY interested in :)

Try expressing your interest to managers directly, not just HR. Usually HR ends up as a hindrance as they have so many apps to sift through. Though you will eventually have to go through HR, the manager can get the process started if she is interested.

Thanks, that makes sense. And regarding rational/rationale that was a typo, or perhaps my phone auto-corrected without my noticing. I swear I can spell! :)

I've had trouble similar to the OP, and generally the air sets the pump off. So that would mean the bubbles are significant right? Also what is the rational for not aspirating in these cases? That is what i generally do, since at that point the line is connected to the pt, and I hate to waste meds if its something other than fluids, though I'd also hate to be doing something wrong...

This. I totally can relate to your what you are saying. After working as an aide in L&D in school, I wasn't able to secure a position on the unit, and ended up taking a position in psych 5 mo after I graduated. I was miserable to say the least. (Three years later, I have learned to appreciate psych on its own merits, understanding my own limits -I can't do it full time, or near full time). During that time I continued trying for OB, then even just med/surg (you are lucky to have that chance right away!). I finally got a shot at med/surg 2.5 yrs after graduating. THRILLED to say the least, finally I was on my way to getting the acute care experience I needed to make the transition to L&D. Until a month after starting, I quickly realized I did not have the personality for that type of position. So much so that, I was heading towards resigning after about 4 months, and just go back to psych. Then by some miracle I was able to secure a position in L&D (starting in a few weeks), and I had a LEGIT reason to resign. Okay, so what am I rambling about (I'm not even sure myself, LOL). 1) keep what you love in your heart, and just tell yourself it will come at some point, that way it WILL come at some point. 2) Med surg is good experience no doubt. Don't give up just yet (I know its hard, and I can't really talk considering I was going to quit!) but perhaps once you've got some more experience behind you, play with your schedule in ways that will prevent the burnout while holding out for what you really want!

I was lucky to get hired with "other experience." One (the job I'm taking) was mainly because I already had an established relationship with the manager. But the other job I got purely out of the blue, I did have to contact the director directly (creative googling for an email address), and what caught her attention the most I think was the AWHONN fetal montoring course I took three years ago (!) when I graduated, hoping to get into l&d right away. I did not have ACLS, NRP, STABLE or anything like that. I only had 6 mo of med/surg experience, and the other 3 years is psych!