GrumpyOldBastard MSN, RN

GrumpyOldBastard has 42 years experience as a MSN, RN and specializes in ICU + 25 years as Nursing Faculty.

Latest Activity

1. New Nurse: Discouraged and Wanting to Quit

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to newgrad_13019's topic in New Nurse

   You are not alone. It took me about 16 years to find the right nursing job. I then put 22 years in there! If I had paid attention, and let go of my ideas of what I “should” do versus what I was good at and enjoyed…. I would have been a lot happier...

2. Old Timer's Take on Fixing the Nursing Shortage

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to KathyDay's topic in General Nursing

   Unfortunately, this is sometimes reinforced by mis-guided faculty: “With a BSN you will be the manager.”

3. Old Timer's Take on Fixing the Nursing Shortage

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to KathyDay's topic in General Nursing

   I agree with most of what you say! In my years as an instructor in an Associate Degree nursing program, I saw many smart students who chose a path very similar to what you propose. These were students who could have attended a generic BSN program, ...

4. What should I do before starting my ABSN?

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to J. RN_2023's topic in General Students

   As a general rule, I find students who are skilled at the dimensional analysis (aka: unit cancellation or Chemistry approach) approach to drug calc are the most comfortable when faced with complicated dosage problems.

5. What should I do before starting my ABSN?

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to J. RN_2023's topic in General Students

   Shampoo the carpet in your home. Do it now..... you won't have a chance to do it after school begins. The above suggestion is half in jest, and half quite serious. The meaning of that suggestion is to do NOW any nagging, "important, but not ...

6. Advocating for a grade appeal for myself and other students. Do we stand a chance?

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to StudentGamerAthlete's topic in General Students

   What an interesting and important question! I suspect that the answer is multi-factorial: 1. It is quite clear to me that the pandemic has impaired the learning experience for many students. However... I don't think that is a complete explana...

7. Fustrated With My College Nursing Program

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to guest1185830's topic in Pre-Nursing

   Interesting. 1. If during the first semester of PRE-nursing, you had any contact with the Dean of the nursing program... that seems worrisome to me. The fact that you expect support from the Nursing Dean when you aren't even a nursing studen...

8. Parkland Residency Program Winter 2022

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to suntobnurse's topic in Residency

   OR and ICU? That is an unusual pair of choices! Usually the folks who are temperamentally inclined to OR are NOT interested in ICU and vice versa. I fear that you may not be clear about the realities of those settings, or not being honest with you...

9. Moving out of state after graduation

   GrumpyOldBastard replied to MojoSpicolli's topic in General Students

   1. Rose_Queen is correct. 2. "I am looking to move to other states, but I do not know where to start and so far I have no leads. I'm looking to the southern states such as TN, TX, FL, NC, or SC. Also neighboring midwest states such as WI, IA, MO...

10. Fear of Retirement!

    GrumpyOldBastard replied to Laine's topic in General Nursing

    I forgot to mention a humorous trick that I use to manage my time and effort in retirement: I strive to do ONE "adulting" task each day. At first this seems silly.... "Why stop at one when you could do more?" Well... because I am retired...

11. Advocating for a grade appeal for myself and other students. Do we stand a chance?

    GrumpyOldBastard replied to StudentGamerAthlete's topic in General Students

    Not dealing with this until after the end of the semester is a HUGE mistake! If you had addressed it at mid-semester, administration could have tried to steer the professor toward a more effective path. Waiting until the end, you are now putting th...

12. UT Tyler BSN Summer 2022

    GrumpyOldBastard replied to Thenurse2b's topic in School Programs

    Scared? What is there to be scared of? Gather round, the GrumpyOldBastard has a story to tell: LONG AGO and far way, in a time before cell phones or standard precautions, I applied to my "ideal" BSN nursing school. The program was closi...

13. Will it be a problem if you graduated from an non accredited school, technically don’t have your ASN but passed the NCLEX RN?

    GrumpyOldBastard replied to Moonkitten's topic in School Programs

    Yes, I bet that you can get "a job" as an RN after completing that program. HOWEVER.... it may not be with a desirable employer! As mentioned by the reply above.... the REAL trouble is that you may find yourself stuck in a dead-end situation regard...

14. CSU Chico Spring 2022 admits

    GrumpyOldBastard replied to MC2's topic in School Programs

    Completely off topic: This thread made me smile... I graduated from CSU Chico's nursing program 40 years ago! "worth it to apply".... Of course it is! The ONLY guarantee is that you will NOT be admitted to schools that you do not APPLY t...

15. You show up for work and there is no one there. What to do?

    GrumpyOldBastard replied to Leonardo Del Toro's topic in General Nursing

    If you work in TEXAS, using the "Safe Harbor" process would DEFINITELY be an appropriate response to this situation. Safe Harbor protects YOU directly, by protecting you from some employer and board of nursing sanctions. Safe Harbor protects patien...