Nursing in the US...cool skillz?

[booty911]

Hi everyone,

I'm just starting my last year of nursing and I have some questions about nursing in the US. First, let me tell you that I am a fourth year nursing student at a Canadian university working towards my BN and will be graduating in a few months. After graduating, I'd like to stick around my home town and get a couple years experience in before I move away or whatever...however, I want to get the best experience possible and become an awesome nurse!

I have heard of so many different things that nurses in the US do (skills and procedures) that many Canadian nurses do not perform on a regular basis and aren't taught in school. For example, I believe nurses insert PICC lines into pts at the bedside in the US, but in Canada...this is rare (even if you're a nurse with 25 years experience who has been all over the globe).

I want to know what kind of "cool" nursing skills American nurses are taught and do regularly. I'm thinking of working in the US for a little while and learning all these new great skills. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

[GilaRRT]

PICC line insertion is not part of the core nursing education. This typically requires post graduate education, experience, and certification. The "typical" skills taught in school are for the most part techniques you have been taught. In fact, as a flight nurse who intubates and places chest tubes, I have never placed a PICC line.

Advanced procedures typically come after experience and additional education.

[booty911]

That's somewhat a relief! Thanks! I was kind of nervous about the thought of moving to the US and starting my first job as a nurse and being expected to insert a PICC line on my first day...my eyes would cross! lol.

[GilaRRT]

No worries, the procedures a nurse performs are rather modest. However, the amount of assessment, patient care management, and coordination of care is what presents the most challenge.

[NurseBrittney]

We have a bedside picc team. These nurses were specifically trained and have a certification to do it.