Tabitha Cumpian

The hours or number of shifts required to work PRN as a nurse will vary from facility to facility. Some facilities will require a certain amount per month while others may require a certain amount per quarter. Job Description/Policy Begin by carefully reading your job description and the policy regarding PRN staff requirements. If, after doing this, you still have questions, speak directly with your manager or HR representative to receive further clarification.

As many others have pointed out, being a charge nurse is technically something within your scope of practice. There are no additional certifications or requirements needed aside from your nursing license. However, you are talking about your nursing license, which took a lot of time, effort, and finances in order to first get and so being protective of that license is very wise. Job Description Begin by reviewing your job description closely to determine if it states you will be required to take charge at some point. If it is not listed in your job description, then you can politely and respectfully have a conversation with your manager regarding this. Training If being a charge nurse is required, then ask for additional training so that you can be well prepared and ensure that you are leading your team well and keeping the patients safe. When talking with your leadership, do not outwardly refuse to do the job, but ask them if they can help train and coach you so that you can do the job well. I recommend always making sure that your leadership knows you want to do everything you can to ensure that patients' safety and needs are always being met. Walk Away If in the end you have asked for training and support in taking on these additional responsibilities but cannot receive them, then it is appropriate to look for other work. It's always best to work through things first, and not simply jump ship because of one thing. Keep in mind that no one place is perfect, and the grass is not always greener on the other side. However, if you are not going to be supported or trained appropriately and there is a concern for patient safety or you're worried that it could harm your nursing license, then looking at other nursing opportunities is wise. There are always nursing jobs available and after all the work you put into getting your license, it's not worth losing it over improper training.

I would not recommend taking A&P online. Yes, it helps that you've previously taken it. However, this is a challenging course, and it's setting you up for your future nursing career. You want to make sure you receive a comprehensive, valuable education. Although online classes may sound nice and convenient, it is often missed how much work these classes actually entail. There is usually a large amount of writing associated with each class each week. If you go the online route, I would recommend going into it with a firm study plan in place, otherwise, it can be too easy to not invest the same time you would if you were physically going to the class. A benefit to in-person classes is also that if you do not understand something, you can immediately collaborate with others, ask questions, and gather a deeper understanding of the material.

I would first recommend reading any documents from your employer regarding the dress code to make sure you are in compliance. At that point, if scrubs are allowed and you're comfortable in them, then wearing them is fine. Once you know what your school prefers, you are then free to wear what you feel most comfortable in that meets these requirements and allows you to fully complete all nursing tasks.

Herzing University offers a 20-month FNP program. You mentioned wanting to research the quality of programs. I think this is an incredibly wise decision when looking at programs in general, especially if it is fast-paced. When researching programs, I would also recommend learning about how the classes are taught and what the school's staff support looks like. You'll be learning a lot of in-depth information and you want to ensure you will be supported and not have to essentially teach yourself, as it can often happen with the fully online schools today.

I have seen travel positions that have accepted medical and/or religious exemptions. It varies with each company though and which facilities those travel companies are contracted with. The best thing to do is reach out to a travel company directly. They will be the experts in that area and will be able to guide you best. Good luck! ?

As stated by a previous post: 1. The order is to infuse 1000 units heparin per hour from an available solution strength of 25,000 units in 500 ml D5W. Calculate the ml/hr rate. 500ml\25000 x 1000\1 =20 ml\hr 2. A solution of 25,000 units heparin in 500 ml D5W to infuse at a rate of 1200 units per hour. Calculate the ml/hr rate. 500\25000 x 1200\1 = 24 ml\hr 3. A 500 ml D5W with 20,000 units heparin infusing at 1000 units/hour. An order states to increase by 240 units/hour. What is the new rate? (do you just add the 240 to the original 1000 units?) 1000 units to start, 240 units after the first hour = 1240 units\hr I would simply add that for this last question, with an increase of 240 units/hr this will increase your infusion rate to 31ml/hr.

The short answer, as some others have pointed out, is circulation, sensation, and movement. This means for circulation you are assessing for pulses and capillary refill times, sensation is asking the patient if they are experiencing any symptoms of numbness and tingling, etc., and movement is of course assessing one's range of motion. For movement, nurses commonly assess one's grip and dorsi/plantar flexion to make sure that these are equal bilaterally.

This can vary greatly depending on the facility. Some places will give higher pay for PRN staff since they risk being canceled quickly and they do not receive any form of benefits from the employer. I wouldn't say that higher pay is guaranteed, though simply because a position is PRN. It is always wise to have everything in writing and review it thoroughly before agreeing to anything.

I was in a similar position in the past however I went from Travel RN to healthcare management/administration side. There are many parts to consider when trying to answer your initial question. First, you want to keep in mind that Travel RN pay is higher because it anticipates that you are duplicating your expenses. You have a sweet deal right now in that you are able to drive to your job but still receive the travel pay. With that being said though, what does that 1 hour and 20-minute drive mean to you if you could have that back instead of sitting on the road that long? In addition to time, think about all the gas money you require, extra wear and tear and increased mileage on your car, or even the fact that you could potentially get a little more rest if you worked closer to your home. This can be huge when you're already exhausted from a long shift. Also, as someone else pointed out, as a Travel RN, you must keep relocating at a minimum every year. Is it worth it to you? This is different for everyone. For me personally, that would not work for my family long term. We needed to be established somewhere so we made that transition out of the traveling world and into the permanent position world. I'm not going to lie that it was challenging in the beginning because you obviously don't have the same amount of finances left over in your budget that you could either use for an extra payment on your mortgage or help to grow your savings or retirement considerably but it was definitely worth it. You can learn how to rearrange your budget to make it work on a non-travel nurse salary. There is also some sort of peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a secure position and do not need to constantly be on the job hunt because you only have a 3-month contract or so. As some others have pointed out, always consider the additional benefits any employer offers as well from PTO, paid holidays, health insurance, short/long term disability if needed, and matched retirement plans. It can be easy to overlook these and look simply at the gross salary for each position but some of these extra benefits come with a huge price tag so in fact the new position might actually have more value in it. Of course, always look at long-term growth. Do you want to stay a bedside nurse forever? Some people do and that is great, we obviously need bedside nurses. If you don't feel that you want to do this forever though, and it sounds like you are burnt out, then maybe a change of pace is a good idea. As much as I miss the traveling world at times, I know I made the right decision in making the transition, and the peace of mind that comes from consistent, steady work and the extra benefits that maybe didn't always show in my hourly rate but are well worth it. Keep in mind as an NP you are going to get raises and you're likely to receive bonuses at times. Maybe it's a pay cut initially but again long-term will you end up making more without necessarily needing to do the same amount of overtime as you may have in the past as an RN?

There are many types of adhesive removers now on the market, including wipes and sprays. The spray comes in a small bottle, which you would spray directly onto the area. The wipes resemble alcohol pads but are actually adhesive remover wipes. I would not recommend using WD40 at all, especially since there are specific products designed to remove adhesives.

An ortho nurse primarily cares for patients who have had a knee or hip replacement or have a fracture of some sort. On the neuro side of this nursing, it can be anything related to the spinal cord or brain. You may care for a lot of patients with laminectomies or those who have suffered a stroke or TIA. For ortho patients, it can be a lot of pain management with either IV or oral medications. These patients will require a significant amount of help with mobility and you will need to consistently encourage them to be up and moving and regain their strength and range of motion. You will probably also work closely with PT for these patients. Timing of pain medication prior to PT is extremely important for these patients so that they can participate in their therapy to the highest degree. For neuro (spine) patients, there may be very strict guidelines on mobility that must be followed. These individuals can also experience a significant amount of pain and therefore, pain management will be a large part of your nursing care. Both can require a lot of lifting on the part of the nurse, and so it is extremely important to educate yourself on proper lifting techniques and good body mechanics. Ortho/neuro tends to be next to linked with med/surg units however, it may be dependent on the facility. Being considered a specialty may also be dependent on the facility. Larger facilities may have a specific unit for these patients and then it may be considered a specialty nursing unit. There are additional certifications for both ortho and neuro nurses that you can obtain after having practiced in these areas for a while that will show to your employer or potential employers that you are well versed in these areas of nursing.