Aliakey

Type1Nurse wrote: "...level 2 and we're ALWAYS short staffed (typical RN to pt ratio is 1:12)..." 1:12??? I really have no idea how you folks do it. I was working in a financially-strapped, busy level 2 and could only hang in there for 6 months be...

Flightmed123, I do apologize for running off topic with my post above. I do admire your motivation and your desire to help others lead healthy lives, and do wish you the best of luck in the path you choose to pursue!

Horse excrement... where in the world did you get your ER RN perspective and information?!?!? I am an EMS paramedic (and happily remain so today). I am also a fulltime ER nurse. However, there was a serious "wake up call" when I started at our 40+ ...

About $8000, and that's with buying new textbooks (can't stand highlighter-painted pages found with used books) and living only a half-hour drive from my CPNE testing site. The CPNE was passed on the first attempt (so, no retesting fees), and I did ...

(Emphasis on "proving" is mine) Not to shoot off-topic, and maybe I'm reading into this too much. But, while I do see some "textbook smart" students struggling with clinicals from time to time, I don't see it as an accurate gauge to whether they will...

There's been a few threads in the past about an RN to EMT or paramedic... unfortunately, I remember at least one getting kind of debated badly enough that I stopped reading. I hope this one doesn't go that way. I am a paramedic and an RN (paramedic ...

I was originally from California, but don't live in Austin or anywhere near it. However, I can offer some helpful comparisions with the cost of living for both states. In California, you pay a state income tax. Ouch. Also, property/home costs (th...

I tested and passed my first time around in Lubbock last September. The examiners and Clinical Associate were all very fair and very supportive, and there was plenty of patient variety at the Covenant Womens and Childrens Hospital for testing. As y...

I'm a paramedic and graduated from Excelsior in November. I really enjoyed all there was to learn from the Excelsior curriculum; never knew there was *so* much to learn about nursing until I really got into the thick of the program! There are some ...

I've tried a couple of different browsers, but as of the time I write this, your strip is not being displayed (errors in the link?). Are you seeing predominately-negative complexes like those shown in leads II and III in this image below? In short th...

As a poster who mentioned that I was the only one in my group that passed that weekend, I do want to add some additional information so that is not 100% discouraging to those considering the Excelsior route. Our group comprised of three working para...

Just my humble opinion here: I'm an RN, a paramedic, and have worked as an ED Tech and yeah, there are bad apples that ruin the whole lot. The way this problem was fixed where I worked years ago was to clearly outline the expectations of the techs wi...

I'm sure you've already read through the author guidelines at American Nurse Today What I find strange is that while they are a peer-reviewed publication, they actually limit your reference citations to 5 or 10 as a maximum (depending on publication ...

No question I would do CPR. No pulse. No DNR. I'm doing everything I can for you to offer that second chance in life. As an off-duty paramedic out of my region, my scope is limited to BLS unless ALS assistance is requested by the responding unit ...

Absolutely. I just filled out my Press Ganey survey a week ago since I was recently hospitalized. I definitely remember the washing hands question... and it wasn't asking if the healthcare provider used a waterless cleaner, but if they "washed" the...

While I can't really offer any good, clean, and acceptable (within this site's TOS) mnemonics for the other conditions, I do have one that may help you and still keep me legal here. Gullain-Barre syndrome: For the signs/symptoms, think about a bar ...

I had to take microbiology and A&P through Excelsior (my last microbiology class was over 2 decades ago ). Have two brick n' mortar nursing schools in my city that require micro and A&P to have been taken within the last seven years as well,...

I live in a rural area and work in the city. With fuel prices climbing and such, I prefer 12 hour shifts. Not only do I get to save fuel and vehicle wear n' tear by going into town less frequently and still work these full time hours, but there is ...

That registration process is a pain... I just tried to do it, and apparently they manually-approve each applicant. And it's a weekend, and... lol! If it helps: During my EMS training on the Heartmate products (Thoratec) about a year ago, we needed to...

I'd agree that going the EMT-Basic route would be a quick way to get your feet wet and see if the medical field is exactly where you want to be. I notice that you want to "help people", but was not real specific. There's "wanting to help people" an...

From start date to graduation date, it took me 23 months to complete EC. But, I studied the heck out of everything and was aiming to keep my GPA as high as possible (looking towards an MSN track), so I spent a lot of time preparing for each exam. E...

The first impression is a lasting impression... go with the business attire, not the nursing attire (if that's what you mean by work attire). I have been on both sides of the interview process, and have seen applicants interview in scrubs, suits, and...

I stand corrected... Thank you for correcting me on Nexium. Next thing ya know, I'll be referring to chocolate as an anti-depressant.... Oh, wait... Hmmm

Texas has Out of Hospital DNRs (OOHDNR)... if PA doesn't have 'em, sounds like something they need badly. As a Texas paramedic, if a photocopy of that completed OOHDNR is handed to me with, I will must adhere to its intentions except in the cases of...

The antiulcer drugs (in this case, Nexium [esomeprazole], a histamine2 blocker) are used prophylactically to prevent the formation of stress ulcers that can occur during hospitalization, after major surgery/trauma, and after other forms of insult to ...