cle540

I was recently told by a peer that she is choosing a more expensive school for her RN-BSN because it will look good on her resume. She implied that the cheaper school I am leaning towards could cause me to be overlooked in favor of someone from a more prestigious university. Does it really affect your chances of getting a good job that much? Is it really worth going into major debt to have a school's name on your Bachelor's? Would especially love to hear from any department managers. Thanks!

But I am having a lot of doubts. Some history: I am currently an LPN on a med-surg unit (small town, still happens) and I have been employed there a year in December. I am in an RN program full time and will be graduating in May. I also have two toddlers. So, of course, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I feel like my kids need me, the money I'm making is not worth the work I'm doing, I've had an amount of unpleasant experiences with violent patients lately... The problem is: I like my job. I am proud of my work. But it is so exhausting and painful, and I want so badly to be with my kids. So I have firmly decided that I am putting in my notice tomorrow, but I am hoping my boss will let me/be able to let work PRN once or twice a month and see where I'm at after I graduate. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has been here. Any regrets? I am financially able to make it on my husbands income as long as we are frugal...so literally the only thing making me want to stay is me. Am I certifiably insane? Because I certainly feel that way. Just tell me anything, I am anxious and I feel like no decision is the best one. (Just an FYI, I am absolutely finishing my degree regardless. Just maybe taking some time away from the workforce.)

Hi! I graduated in December and went straight to a med surg floor...I like the people I work with, and I work in a rural hospital so it's likely different from what you're experiencing. But that said, I definitely had my days where I thought I wouldn't make it. And for the first few weeks I was there charting late almost every shift, it felt humanly impossible to do all that needed to be done. It has gotten better with time, though. I now rarely find myself charting after report, I can get through 6 or 7 patients without ripping my hair out. I definitely suggest hanging in there until at least six months and then reevaluating. There is a very difficult learning curve to overcome before you will even begin to feel comfortable, at least that was the case for me. Whatever happens, best of luck!

I'm in my first year as a nurse too and on Med/Surg, definitely check your facility policy. But as an example, ours with BP meds is usually hold metoprolol for systolic 90 or less...but if my patient's systolic is 95 and they have had recent trouble with hypotension then I will hold. As far as giving certain meds together in my short time I have learned to make those assessments based on the individual patient if there is no policy or hard and fast rules against it. The most important thing I have found is to communicate with the MD regarding those kinds of assessments so they know what is or isn't helping the patient as well. Especially being a new nurse, I have occasionally thought I was making a good call only to discover I was missing information. Good communication has caught those errors every time so far. :)