H2OHead

Sorry, but i don't see where ACLS and PALS are benefits. Any hospital worth working for will send you to those for free. You'll have to buy the book ($35) if you want one, but the classes are free. Anyone looking to start work today is also in position to barter for benefits. Anyone notice there is a nursing shortage? I worked out a 4 month internship in a critical care setting with the free critical care classes. All with only a year commitment and a bonus at the end as incentive to stay. Don't take a job because they said they'll hire you. Today's nurse has leverage. In florida you can make a killing with a seasonal contract. Winter is cash season and i've heard of time and half plus $18 on a 3 month contract. ~$50/hour aint bad. Sorry. I know of many benifits that the military can provide, but equivalent pay isn't one, clinical certifications isn't one (any employer will send you if yuo make them), and i covered American Heart stuff. I'd still like to know about Air Force nursing though. If the workweek were ok and the facility wasn't a dump, I could work in the AF then work pool in the local E.R and clean up. Just a thought. I look forward to hearing from folks in the know. Mac

I did ten years in the Army as a helicopter crew cheif and I'm thinking of going into the Air Force as an RN to finish my retirement. My major concern is that of funding. Someone mentioned about cutbacks. I currently work in a facility where we have brand new Baxter pumps, New pulse ox, new HP bedside mointors, etc. I was in the military a long time. Does military nursing make you work with junk equipment and qlass bottle chest tubes? I know Uncle Sam can pinch a dime until it screams and i just don't want to work in a substandard environment. Any folks that served recently (ie Clinton ruined the military) and have thoughts or experiences based on the ability to supply, equip, etc the military nurses?

I took a class where the prof made us keep a journal of formulas acronyms, pneumonics, etc. The thing is invaluable, but all of the information is condensed from acceptable practice and universally understood formulas that are published in the texts i still have and will never get rid of (you bet that lawyer will have a copy of the exact text you studied). With the PDA's the software is probably great, but heaven forbid the thing give you a wrong answer on a critical calculation. I can see where the thing might come in handy, but i don't know the guy that wrote the software, i have never worked with him and threrefore i don't really trust him. Anyone know if any state's Board of Nursing is addressing the issue of PDA's at the bedside and if they will back you in usage of one program over another? The plot just gets thicker doesn't it. Mac

RNcountry hit the nail fairly well i'd say. Even though i am not yet an RN i only have two semesters to go and i am proud when i say i am a student nurse. The management issue opens a whole other can of worms. Nusing supervisors get away with placing undo demands on the staff because the nurse has let management take away their voice. Ask around at work and see who is a member ot the ANA. Then ask every Dr you know if he/she is a member of the AMA. I did a research project on it and you'll be amazed, then you'll see it's no wonder the establishment gets away with pushing nurses around. As far as i am able to discern, nurses eat their young, don't form a cohesive force to be respected and don't seem interested in issues that directly effect them. I haven't graduated yet and i have already decided that i need to get a graduate degree and specialize so i can be part of a group that is concerned with its well being and sticks together. Mac