KC CHICK

http://www.mudirect.missouri.edu/degrees/rn-bsn.htm Here's the MU-direct RN-BSN website. I'll be starting this summer w/N180.

bizzle, it's my understanding that HCA is the only unionized system....it's also my understanding that it hasn't done much good for the conditions anyway. Truman Medical Center also has hiring bonuses and, because it's a state hospital, you can qualify for the Missouri loan repayment program. There's a gal in my Nutrition class that is currently in the Rockhurst fast track to BSN program. She says it's fast paced, but she seems to like it.

....as usual, people down south forget that life exists north of the river. The Kansas City, MO northland is growing in leaps and bounds. I'm located close to KCI airport (5 min away) and it's amazing how much growth has happened over the past 10 years. The Park Hill school system here is highly rated....as is the Liberty school system. Just down the street at I-29 and Barry Rd., construction has been phenomenal. I call it "Little Johnson County". There is presently a project underway to build a one million sq/ft shopping center. There is also a Super Wal-art, Lowe's, AMC 24 movie theatre, Barnes & Noble, "2" Starbucks, Hy-Vee grocery store, Panera Bread, Old Navy, and tons of restaurants right down the street along with superb highway access. (I probly left a ton of stuff out....there's so much there.) Research the areas of KC, that's all there is to it.

....and you didn't PM me??? Liberty Hospital is Level II and is located just north of KC. (Have to throw this one in cause this is my home.)...and I'd love working with you. http://www.libertyhospital.org/ The pay here is very competitive. Don't know too much about what the pay is for an experienced nurse, but, new grads start at 18.30/hr, night shift diff of 3.00/hr, and weekend diff of 2.00/hr. (I work weekend nights...wink, wink.) Truman Hospital-hospital hill is Level I and is the downtown KC, MO state hosptial.http://www.trumed.org/ Not sure about the pay...there is usually a sign on bonus. Saint Lukes is Level I and is downtown as well.http://www.saint-lukes.org/slhhp.asp North Kansas City Hospital is Level I....and is in NKC. http://www.nkch.org/ Spoke with HR here about 4 months ago about pay....they were going to pay me at least a buck less/hr and the diff wasn't as good as Liberty. ....hope this is enough to get you started. Of course, the Metropolitan Kansas City area is a very spread out place. The hospitals you'll look at will greatly depend on what area of the city you are going to be living in.....and what state (kansas or missouri). Anne:D PS: Kansas City, MO is much bigger than Kansas City, KS.....also KCK proper isn't known for being a very good area to live in.

....and your nurse manager says? If you don't feel comfortable talking with these individuals...voice your concerns to the unit manager. Would he/she rather keep you or lose you? It would be more appropriate for the mgr to address this situation if these other nurses are unapproachable. Anne:D

We don't have a policy to double check at my facility. Us nurses DO double check our calculations for our weight based Heparin protocol though. Have never seen or heard of any nurses that I work with double checking insulin w/other nurses. ...and always, if someone is uncomfortable with something they always know they can, and are very comfortable with, asking for a second set of eyes to look something over. Anne

:) Wow. With all of these responses, I'm even MORE excited to be going to the unit. I only have two more weeks on tele....WOOHOO! I just got through with a crazy weekend on the med/tele floor I work on now. Had 5 nurses for 34 patients on sat night and 5 nurses for 32 patients last night....absolutely HATE being shorted like that. I was also charge.....for the entire weekend (fri, sat, and sun.) I can't wait!!! Anne:D

It's the website that's shown on the graphic. There are many websites with EKG information. Just plug EKG into your search engine and you should find a bunch.

Learn to recognize NSR, then your fatal arrythmia's, then everything in between will fall into place a little easier. It was for me, anyway. Just have to memorize P-R, QRS interval lengths for NSR. That way, if one of them is off, you know it's not NSR. Also, check for irregularity of the rythm...that's another big clue. Anne:D

Yes, the torch has definately been passed from Nurse Rached to Shark!!!!! Unbelievable. Now, the 800cc doesn't seem so bad. Way to put things in perspective. Shark is now the PEE PEE Queen. "We're not worthy, We're not worthy!!!"

:eek: He needs a urinal in his truck, doesn't he????? Mmmmmm. Wonder why he was constipated. As a friend of mine says "Ya gotta clear the tracks before the train can go through.". That bladder of his certainly wasn't getting out of the way. Yet another reason to take pee pee breaks at work. Anne

HLR...It's just amazing what gets left in our laps sometimes, isn't it??? I'm usually start becoming concerned if they don't urinate 4hrs after foley dc'd. Kelly, my patient had urinated...although VERY little at a time...100-200cc. The severe pain is what clued me in. I love bladder scanners. Gives me an idea of what's there and I don't end up straight cathing someone that doesn't need it. You're absolutely right...I can't believe how much urine you got...1800!!!! Geeeesh. I hope I NEVER hold that much in my bladder.

Got report for one of my patient assignments (out of six) and was told this elderly male patient had been complaining of "feeling the need to urinate" and "not being able to urinate very much at a time". The complaints had started around 1700 that afternoon. The nurse reporting to me ASSUMED that he had a UTI and got an order for UA+. OK, fine. About 30 minutes into my shift, the wife of said patient comes to the desk complaining that patient is in serious pain and no one is doing anything about it. I go assess....pt. had foley taken out day before, said his probs started at 1400 (not 1700)....severe pain, severe urgency, and very little out at a time but a few drops. Pt. had never heard of a "bladder scanner" when questioned. Bladder scanner sees 600ML in the bladder. Get order for foley...then place....and get back 800ML!!! YIKES! No wonder the poor man was in pain. BTW....UA was negative. duh. QUESTION: What's the most urine that you have seen retained in a patient??....please share. Anne:eek:

Hey all, I will be starting my distance RN to BSN bridge through University of Missouri, Columbia this summer. Nice to see others doing the 'distance' thing too. Right now, I'm taking co-requisites at my local CC that will transfer to MU. Gotta love these computers!!! Anne:D

Nights rock. The staff on my floor just seem to help each other out a lot more. I love the people I work with. It seems like nights are the scapegoats when something isn't done right. 'Cause, as you all know....days are Purrrrfect! NOT! Anne