beepeadoo

Heading to Ft. Sam for my Reserve Component BOLC on June 6, just thought I'd see if anyone else on here is heading that way as well... looking forward to it! Also wondered... Does anyone know if Reservists get BAH for BOLC?

More! More!

Well usually what happens in that event, when we have our usual trauma assignment of 1, is the Charge Nurse and one other nurse from one of the lower acuity areas comes to help.

So I work in a Medium Sized Pediatric ER in a free-standing Pediatric Hospital seeing 50k+ pts a year. We have two trauma rooms with two bays each, and we are currently a Level II center. As I am sure with most places, our trauma rooms are used not only for official "traumas" and resucitations, but also for things like critically ill pts, chronic kids who are struggling, or conscious sedations for lac repairs and orth reductions. We receive patients from the metro area, as well as being a regional center. There is currently an effort to obtain Level I status. My question: do you think assigning one nurse to cover these two rooms/four bays is adequate? The way it is now, one nurse is assigned from 0300 to 1500. Invariably I come in at 1500 to two or three or four bays filled and a very frazzled, very over worked trauma nurse running around like crazy. Typically we're slow from 0500 to about 1000, but that's also prime time for A.M. full arrests, and it only takes one code or two MVAs to stretch them to their limit. Throw in a chronic kid or an critically ill transfer and it's all out the window. I just wondered what other facilities do? Is this just the norm? I'd love to hear from other Level I's to hear how they staff their trauma rooms.

"Wart on finger" yup. to the ER for a wart. Triage Level: Green Treatment: "Yup that's a wart." Discharge. Total time in room: 5 minutes. Total time in ER: 6 hours.

So I'm completing a form for Reserves (75-R to be exact) and it's asking me for my "Command/Activity" and I'm like :dunno and thought maybe someone in here could give me a clue? Any idea what they're asking for? where to find it? what it is? I could ask some Army folk but I figured this would be a good start...

Thanks so much to all of you. I called the recruitment office directly and then asked if he was still working for them since I was not getting any callbacks. Amazingly, he was, and he had an answer for me... I'm through step 1, I get a physical now. Up to me now to get some letters from my docs for them stating they think I'm fit for duty... kind of to ease myself in a bit. Thanks for the replies! Onward! B

So I'm a BSN RN and I'd love to join the Army Reserve. Monetary benefits as well as the challenge interest me. Here's the kicker... I'm older (43) and I have some medical issues. Nothing that keeps me from doing my job on a day-to-day basis now (I'm an RN in a very busy ED and I hold my own very nicely, thank you) but it's not just ingrown toenails or dandruff. Anyways, I filled out the medical screening form and was told by my recruiter (who is a medical corps recruiter, not an enlisted recruiter) that he needed to send it in and then they would tell me when/where I could go for my physical. I would need to get my physical and then it would be reviewed by the Surgeon General of the Army and I would receive a waiver. It has been over a month since I gave him the form. I call him every other day. He either says he has not heard, or (more recently) doesn't answer at all. So... what's up with that? Any idea? Is that the Army's way of saying "no thanks" without flat out telling me no thanks? or does it just take a long time? or is my recruiter not pushing it enough? I'll take any feedback I can get. Thanks! Brian

I'm actually in peds, so that works for me. Actually that's pretty good -- a bit long but really along the lines of what I was looking for. I shall keep looking as well. Thanks!

Gonna bump this to the top, as it fits my needs, rather that start a new thread. I too am looking for a subjective assessment tool/program/system to assess psychiatric acuity in our Emergency Department. As it now stands we have a tool for MEDICAL acuity that is very cut-and-dried, assessing intervention needs, and then evaluating vitals, to give a Green to Red rating. Consequently the acuity rating drives standards of care. I'm sure this is not foreign to any of you. So I'm wondering if there is a similar system out there for our psych patients? E.g., evaluating GAF, co-morbidity, HTS/HTO, etc., to give a rating that would then drive standard of care, as well as transition to the floor, when necessary. Any thoughts would be great. Have a good one! ]..[

So the headline says no degree required, but when you read the article, it says no ADVANCED degree required. Hmmm... rather lousy headline writing and very deceptive. Also, when one tries to find "Grace Chen" of "Findtherightschool.com" there is no such person at said website. Again, pretty bogus. But then again, it's really an advertisement for Yahoo HotJobs, and not meant to be news. So they're saying no "advanced" degree required. But I know very few RNs, BSNs, LPNs, etc that are earning in excess of $100K. And in the article itself it says that the San Jose nurses are earning $95K. That is NOT in excess of $100K. Nor is it the norm... San Jose nurses may be making that kind of money, but I'm guessing it's not all of them, and I'm betting their cost of living is quite a bit more than my cost of living here in Louisville, KY. Is nursing education a good investment? Sure it is. But the problem with this kind of article being on the front page of Yahoo! is that people with limited knowledge are going to come into my ER and assume that because I'm the nurse I'm making $60K or $100K, which I am not.

This is THE time for you to do ICU! If you think you're scared of it, what better way to see what it's REALLY like than to be there for clinical... you'll still have the safety net of your instructor/preceptor and you can get totally immersed in what it's like to be in an ICU. I will tell you from experience (both Med/Surg and ICU clinicals) it has a lot in common, but it really is totally different! Good luck, hope this advice isn't too late.

I know it's already been said... but I'm gonna throw MTC in anyways: wow what a MESS that was just a disaster waiting to happen. Yes I know you need the money... but as was said: protect your license/protect the patient! The jobs will come! I would NOT put that on your resume... it was only three weeks, and most would consider the first three months a probationary period anyways. If anyone asks, you could very easily say "I was at a long-term care facility for three weeks... it wasn't a good match." Believe me, anyone interviewing you will totally understand. Three weeks is a very acceptable amount of time to try out an employer or employee. Tylenol instead of Vicodin? Not only unethical, but incredibly illegal. In all seriousness you might consider blowing the whistle on that bunch. Not out of revenge, but because there are some very wrong practices going down in that place, and patient safety is being placed in jeaporady.

I just registered for Sept 5. Gulp! No worries. No worries.

It might be a silly question, but I'm wondering if this is unusual, or if I just need to shut up 'n suck it up... I've got Mental Health clinical going right now for the first rotation of the semester: Tues/Thurs 9-4. At the same time, I'm being to participate in activities with my Mother/Baby clinical, including lectures, classes, developing a case study, and working with a pregnant mother. Essentially I'm in two clinicals at once, and this is the first time I've had this happen. Am I being whiny? Are there others out there who have had two clinical experiences concurrently? Just wondered... thanks! ]..[

I've lived for the last nine months on borrowed money. Here's how it worked for me: there are Stafford Loans, which are great. The interest rate is great, sometimes they're guaranteed, sometimes they're not, but the rate is always good and the repayment plan is sweet. Then there are loans that fill the gap between Stafford Loans, and the "Cost of Education." "Cost of education?" you say. Yes. It is a figure set by your school that includes cost of tuition, room, board, books, etc. The loans I received to cover that gap were from TERI through National City. They have decent rates and sweet repayment terms as well. But they will not loan me more than the difference between my Stafford loans, and the U of Louisville "Cost of Education." One option, that I have not had to use, is "Uncertified" loans. These are loans in which you prove that you are a student, but they do not contact the school to verify how much financial aid you have received. They have decent terms, and not too bad rates, but the rates are higher. Just one option. Here's a great site to help find student loans and compare terms, etc: http://www.simpletuition.com/student_loans So... borrow money to go to nursing school? Here's my take on it: when I'm finished I've got a very marketable career choice that will always be in demand and will always pay decent money. Furthermore, room for advancement is excellent. I'm not getting a degree in "Underwater Basket Weaving Practices of Southern Pacific Indigenous Peoples," so it's a good risk. I do, however, keep a close eye on how much monthly payment I can anticipate and make sure I can keep it at a figure I know I'll be able to afford. Just my ! Good luck with your decision!

Hey!!! Life BEGINS at 40!!

I will be a month short of forty three (43). I just realized if I take the full twenty years to pay off my student loans, I should finish them off just in time to retire! Woo hooo!

Summer is white polo, black pants... wait for it... white shooooooeeessss noooooo... uh huh. bad. very bad.

TV is TV. I'm watching a show about this guy in New York who hangs out with this girl who he used to date but now they're best friends, along with his other male and some really weird guy across the hall... Some people forget it's TV tho, and we end up with people thinking that's how nurses work, or that's how easy it is to ID a criminal from a fingerprint smudge... I love the crime labs on CSI... I'm sure they really look like that.

Woo hoo!!! That is the way to do it! You know, I don't know how old your sons are, but quite frankly, I'm not sure I know too many boys who would feel like they REALLY missed out not getting to go to Ireland and England...I mean sure, they'd have fun if they went, and they'd get to see some cool stuff, but seriously, they don't know what they'll be missing, and in their little male minds, there's a good chance they're at least neutral, if not grateful they don't have to drag along . Have a GREAT time!!! You earned it!

I'm weak on a Code Brown as well. What gets me most is the odor. I know, I know, it's nothing special, but I've helped change the dressing on a Stage IV decubitus and it didn't phase me a bit, but the Code Brown that followed haunted me for a week. One thing I now do, and this might seem bizarre, but hey, it works for me... half a square of toilet paper, rolled into a ball, and shoved up my notstril, repeat. The patient can't see them, and it blocks all the smell.

Ok y'all are scaring me... please someone tell me clinicals are an enjoyable, challenging experience where you get to learn a lot.

Some advantages and disadvantages to both. Sallie Mae will most likely give you better repayment terms - length of time, and interest rates. However... and a big BUT here... Be careful. Sallie Mae is heavily protected. If one files for bankruptcy, Sallie Mae loans do NOT fall under that category. In other words, if you file for bankruptcy with a bank loan, that loan is written off. Your Sallie Mae loan will not be, and you will still be responsible for it. Borrow wisely. Consider what will happen if for whatever reason you will not be able to work as a nurse when you are finished with school. Would you be able to manage the Sallie Mae payments at the income level that you had before you started school? Or if you couldn't work at all? Or if you could work as a nurse, but for some reason the employment climate changed, and you were only going to earn, say, half of what you think you'll be able to earn? Keep a close eye on what you are borrowing, and also a close eye on what your cash flow situation is going to be like when you get out of school... what's your TOTAL student loan payment going to be like? I only bring this up because I've seen a couple of TV shows about the student loan situation, with people borrowing many tens of thousands of dollars and then, for whatever reason, not being able to make the payments. Sallie Mae is VERY aggressive in coming after their money, and really rather relentless about it. Not saying that's good or bad. But it's just a fact. Also. Be VERY careful in using any home equity/home/property to a loan. It's not a bad thing to do, necessarily, but again. If you get to a point where you can't make payments, for whatever reason, they will come after your home. That said. Borrowing money to go to nursing school is not a bad investment. Odds are excellent that you will be able to find lucrative employment when you are finished. It's not like you are borrowing big money to get a degree in "Aboriginal Basketweaving Techniques." Just be very careful. Do your homework. And don't get in over your head. There is lots of money out there for nursing. It's a student's market because it's such an in-need profession. So use your chosen profession-to-be as leverage to find the best money you can.

Oh yeah. Lots more intense. One speculation among my fellow students is that it's a "weed-out" semester, especially for those of us in the Accelerated Second Degree Program. We submit applications in January and selections are made before the end of next semester. Soooo... this is the last semester of actual grades before they let us into the Upper Division. But yeah. Definitely tougher. My prof writes a killer test, that's for sure. And the lab that goes along with it... shew. They're killing us! Woo hoo!