Kenneth Oja PhD, RN

You'll most likely need at least an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing, but each nursing regulatory body (NRB) has their own eligibility requirements. Contact the NRB where you want to take the NCLEX to find out their specific requirements.

Check with your clinical instructor or the dress code policy of your nursing program to see if there are any specific guidelines for wearing your ID badge. They may also have suggestions for how to wear your ID badge if your scrubs don't have an uppe...

Both are used to remove excess fluid from the blood, but they work in slightly different ways. Ultrafiltration only removes excess fluid from the blood – not waste products. The process involves the use of a pressure gradient across a semiperme...

It's not as uncommon as you might think! Many hospitals have policies that allow patients to go outside and smoke, as long as they sign a waiver and aren't actively being monitored. I get how it can be concerning to nurses, though. Allowing pat...

Smart move in doing a little research and learning the different methods in which you can write your end of shift note because it's going to vary by facility and type of unit / department. What's consistent across facilities is that a nursing ...

I took AP I and II in two consecutive semesters and found II to be more difficult because of the endocrine system. I also had a heavier load the semester I took AP II along with other challenging courses (like Microbiology) and a clinical rotation. ...

I would imagine there are some RN jobs that do not require the COVID-19 vaccine, depending on the employer and location. Do a search for jobs that are labeled as "remote" or "telehealth" as these positions might be less likely to require in-person in...

Depends on the brand / manufacturer. PICC lines might have one, two, or three lumens. Typically, with a triple lumen PICC, the proximal port is white, medial is blue, and brown is distal. Although it may appear to be one line, since they are a...

Yes, it is simply IV potassium. Not sure when, where, why, or how this term originated, but it's safer and more accurate to use correct terminology. Think Five Rights of Medication Administration. "K Rider" does not address the right drug name, the d...

I don't see anything wrong with this. It's clear, concise, relevant, etc. Maybe clarify what your preceptor means by "paint a picture.” If you're following appropriate facility and other guidelines for documentation, such as the ANA's Principles for ...

I don't see why not. We need to get out of the mindset that all new grads need to start in a specific setting or have a certain amount of experience in one area to practice in another. It also depends on your goals. Do you want to be an OR nurse? ...

There are multiple factors to consider here, and this is where nursing clinical judgement comes into play. Use your nursing knowledge and assessment to think beyond the written order and the task of giving or not giving the medication. What is...

Depends on the brand / manufacturer. PICC lines might have one, two, or three lumens. Typically, with a triple lumen PICC, the proximal port is white, medial is blue, and brown is distal. Although it may appear to be one line, since they are a...

It's great that you want to get extra practice, but my first recommendation is to use the equipment provided by your school. See if your nursing school lab has open lab hours if you feel you are not getting enough practice during scheduled lab time. ...

The PACU, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, is where patients go directly after surgery. They are closely monitored by the nurse as they wake up from anesthesia and are then transferred to another unit once they are stable. It's a specific type of unit spec...

This is what I used to tell my students and it always seemed to help: The "related to" is typically the pathophysiology of the medical diagnosis. So, for example, a patient with chronic kidney disease, the medical diagnosis, might have a nursing...

The safety and efficacy of combining different medications can vary depending on the types of medications, the patient's medical history and diagnoses, and the intended therapeutic outcome. It's also your responsibility as a nurse to verify if there ...

An inverted QRS complex could be something as "serious as a heart attack" all the way down to having misplaced ECG leads. Some common conditions indicative of an inverted QRS complex include myocardial infarction, ventricular hypertrophy, or pulmonar...

You're correct in noting that it depends on the medication, which is why it's crucial for nurses to understand and follow the appropriate guidelines for safe medication administration. Pushing certain IV medications too fast can result in adve...

It's important for nurses to understand the lumen configuration and designation when caring for a patient with a triple lumen. When I worked in the ICU, patients were often receiving multiple medications and fluids at once, so a triple lumen central ...

You'll want to consider the general risks related to any type of surgery/procedure as well as the risks specific to the cardiac system. The biggest priority for a CABG patient who is a fresh post-op sent to a telemetry unit from CCU is anything relat...

Giving advance notice and leaving your position as a CNA does not constitute patient abandonment. Also, most patient abandonment laws are geared toward licensed healthcare providers such as nurses and physicians. Even if you were, for example,...

The RN license by endorsement process allows RNs with a valid nursing license to obtain a license to practice in another state. So, yes, you would be able to practice in both Texas and New York. Relocation is the typical scenario in which an RN ...

This article will cover key information about ephedrine and what nurses need to know when caring for the client taking ephedrine. Ephedrine Key Information Ephedrine is an alpha and beta-adrenergic agonist, decongestant, bronchodilator, and ...