Snuffy

VBRNJD99, How frustrating that must have been for you!! I too have an insulin pump, although when in the hospital (which thankfully, isn't very often) the nurses and docs usually listen and let me manage my BS/pump, they usually concede that in order to have an insulin pump, one must be very knowledgeable about the management of their sugars etc...and frequently I am able to educate them. So sorry you had a bad experience in the ED!

The CEN examination is meant to be challenging and it is very stressful. I recommend using the ENA CEN review book. It is not the memorization of questions that will enable you to pass, it is the understanding of the concepts being presented. Oftentimes there may be more that one right answer, but you have to choose the BEST answer. Familiarize yourself with the TNCC process as well because it helps in trying to determine the BEST answer as well, in the case of a trauma pt scenario. Don't get frustrated, you can do it, just don't rely on rote memorization, be sure you understand the concepts and why one answer is beter than another. The ENA CEN review book/practice questions also give the rationales for answers which can help you to understand why one answer is better than another. Good Luck!!

If a student or new nurse has a question I believe in helping them, not spoon feeding them as others have said. To the "newbies", part of the challenge is learning who your resources (experienced Nurses) are within your institution and seeking them out for help/preceptorship. You also have to remember that nursing school is tough for a reason, nursing is a multifaceted profession that requires the ability to critically think and work collaboratively with your colleagues.

Having diabetes will not affect your hiring. As others have said, an empolyer cannot refuse to hire you because of your diabetes. You just need to be familiar with your body and how it reacts to hypo vs hyperglycemia so you know when to intervene. I am a Type 1 insulin dependent daibetic and have an insulin pump. I have not had any issues other than the occasional hypoglycemic episode with all of the running around I do in the ED.

naz220 you might want to check out the SLAM course (street level airway management) you can google their website. They offer some awesome airway classes, I don't think they offer certifications but it's a pretty intense course, which I highly recommend.

I completely agree with TeleRNer, so I guess we can get burned together LOL

My dept. hires a lot of travellers, so I've seen a lot. I agree with other posters when they say that a big part of the problem is agencies who don't screen their travellers well. It's easy to look good on paper, but when push comes to shove, not all travellers are created equal. There is an expectation that travellers are fast learners and competent in their field. It frustrates the heck out of me when a traveller is not competent, because it adds to my work load in making sure patients aren't harmed. I don't harbor anger against travellers but I do get tired of constantly orienting people who are only staying for a few months. The fact is, I used to be a traveller, and finally settled down, so I've been there. Nursing has come to rely on travellers and probably always will.

time4meRN, you hit the nail square on the head!! I'm with you.

When I atteded nursing school/college I was a traditional student (fresh out of high school), but interestingly, the majority of my classmates were over the age of 40 and "second career nurses". I found that their life experience offered a different perspective on many things, and I learned a lot from them. The skillset can be acquired, and like anything else, practice makes perfect.

I was fortunate to have a 3 month preceptor program as a new RN, working alongside an experienced nurse. I shadowed her for a week, then gradually began taking patients with her oversight. It really helped ease the stress for me. If you have coworkers who can serve as resources, use them, most will have no problem answering questions/helping you out. It'll take a while for you to feel comfortable on your own, and you probably will get discouraged at some point, but you will get better and more comfortable with time, I promise! Best of luck!

I agree with RN1989, get your BSN first and get some experience under your belt and then decide on your specialization if you choose to pursue your Master's. IMHO it's difficult to go straight into an MSN program without previous nursing experience. In terms of loans/money, if you are single and don't mind relocating, there are some places you can go and work a two year contract and have your loans repaid. I came to Bush Alaska with $40,000 in nursing school debt, worked for two years out there and my debt was paid by Indian Health Serivices as I was in a severely underserved area and working with Alaska Natives (Eskimos). Look into underserved areas, a lot of places are offering loan repayment. Good luck with everything!

Many nursing specialties offer certifications. There are certifications offered in Emergency Nursing, OR nursing, Ortho Nursing, Med/Surg nursing, Pediatric nursing, and many more. Contact your specialty specific nursing association. (for example, as an emergency room nurse, I received my certification through the Emergency Nurses Association) Certification usually consists of a written examination to prove competency. There are usually a minimum number of practice hours required/recommended in your specialty before sitting for the exam as well. Hospitals generally look favorably upon nurses who hold certifications in their specialty and some offer pay raises/bonuses for certification as well. Some hospitals will even reimburse you or pay for you to become certified. Psych nurses are a special breed, they often deal compassionately and effectively with difficult patient situations. Hope this helps and Good luck with everything!

ER/peds, I love the adrenaline rush and the having to be on your toes. I find that ER makes me have to keep up with current research and goings on. It keeps me sharp and is often mentally challenging, which I love. I also love teaching/educating both kids and their parents about their diagnoses. Don't get me wrong, it's often frustrating as well, but I love it.

As far as PO meds, I first explain to the parents what I'm going to do so that they are not shocked when they see it...I have the parent hold the child, I put the oral syringe in the cheek, give a small amount and then gently pinch the nose closed and purse the cheeks. Since real little ones are obligatory nose breathers, they will swallow the meds before breathing again, this also works with older kids too. In terms of IV starts, a good holder is key! We usually use a papoose board or swaddle them in a sheet. Most importatnly DO NOT lie to your peds pts! Nothing burns me more than a parent who tells their child "it won't hurt" as I'm preparing to start an IV. I am honest with them, but try to minimize the pain by comparing it to something they know, like a bug bite. RSV washes for kids are easy. Have someone hold the legs, over the knees. I usually try to make it a game, I tell them while they are laying down to stretch their hands above their heads, then I hold their straight arms against the side of the head on either side while my coworker does the wash. This nicely prevents them from turning their head from side to side and getting you covered with snot. And you can never praise kids too much, if they do a good job tell them that and kids love stickers! Cool cartoon band aids will heal all and make any child feel better. After working with kids for a while, you will get a feel for what is normal for certain age groups and how they view things. (course it doesn't hurt to review the normal developmental stages either, if you can get a handle on those, you can pretty much plan your interactions with them). A lot of nurses who usually don't do peds are scared of peds pts. There's nothing to be scared of, and hey you get to do goofy stuff and nobody thinks you're nuts!!

I myself am a BSN educated RN, and I think this idea, although sounding great in theory, is an impossibility until some major changes take place. The fact is, as was previously stated, ADNs far outnumber BSNs. If ADNs were grandfathered in I would be more in support of this idea. I understand and support having a standardized nursing education, but I do agree that having a BSN does not neccesarily make one a better nurse. I received a lot of nursing theory and research education in my BSN program, which was great, but I honestly wish I'd had more clinical experience. I think the Diploma RNs (trained with huge amounts of clinical hours as well as class time) are fabulous. As a new grad I was preceptored by a diploma RN, and I learned an enormous amount. The ANA has been debating this issue for years and has never been successful in selling the idea because many working in the profession don't even support it. :smackingf There has got to be a compromise in order to make this idea come to fruition, but I honestly don't see it happening.