metfan

Hi everyone. I just transferred to psych nursing from the PACU unit. It is so different but I love it. I am learning so much from he wonderful staff but I need to review mental conditions, medications etc. Are there any good books I could get? I love reading and learn a lot through books. I also love history and know psych services have changed so much over the years. Are there any good books on the history of psych nursing? Thank you.

And please ask any questions. I am doing the program with 3 other nurses so we share books. This works great. They also agree that it is a good program. I really do not have any bad things to say. They have been wonderful to work with.

When you start the program, you are given an advisor. You work with her the entire program. You do a personal learning plan which outlines exactly what you need to take. You fill it in each time you take a class. You have to talk to your advisor each semester. She will let you know what classes you should take. You sign up for a time for which she will call you at home. Then, you are given a pin number so you can register for class when registration opens. It works well.

I almost did 2 classes at a time a few times but chickened out. Many students do it though. Usually they do a nursing class and an elective. Many times the students ask via their questions forum what to take together. I chose not to do 2at a time because I was not in a rush. It seems doable though. They have some great electives. I took Stephen king and it was great. I read 3 books and analyzed them. I also took plagues and people which was also good. I read 3 books. One about the plague in the 1600's and one about the flu in 1918. My friend took history of medicine and liked it. There really aren't tests just papers and some PowerPoint. I live in upstate New York. There are plenty of clinical sites. I used my workplace. Delhi will help.you. there are no exams just papers. Statistics was not hard for me but I like math. I think there was one exam but it was not hard. There were papers where they give you an article and you discuss and decipher the statistical analysis. You have to do a discussion most weeks. The teacher asks specific questions and your initial post is due weds. Then you have to respond to three of your classmates. You have to do this on three non consecutive days to meet attendance policy. No log in times otherwise. I would definitely do it again. It is a good program for the price. I have friends who did other programs and they are much more expensive.

Sorry I have not kept up with this post. I still have 3 classes left for my BSN through Delhi. It is a good program. Very doable. I have been taking one class at a time. Usually 5 classes a year. They offer some summer and winter classes. My classes have about 15 students. It's hard to tell because it is all online. I never see my classmates. We do respond to each other through discussions. There are Discussions and papers due for each class. There are 3 clinical you have to arrange but delhi helps and they are not hard. They require about 12 hours with a preceptor. Delhi now offers a master program which I may go on to get.

Thanks everyone for your input. I think you are right, it would be hard to do a paper on this topic. I will have to think of something else. Metfan

In my situation, The VIP was a big doner to the hopital so we were told to cater to every need he/she had. We moved patients all over so we could give him/her the room they wanted. We have one room which is bigger and better. We did this twice because of a noise issue. We disrupted many patients because of this VIP.

Classicdame, I was thinking the same thing. I am just in the thought process right now. I do know that when I took care of this patient, I was asked to put the neighboring room patients on dial a flows so the pumps would not beep and disturb the VIP. I was not comfortable with that because I + O's were important for one particular patient. I am just trying to think of an ethical dilemma that is different than the typical DNR/end of live/palitive care dilemmas. Thanks for the input. Metfan

I have to do a paper on an ethical dilemma for my BSN program. It seems lots of students are doing end of life care and patient autonomy. I want to do something different and maybe a little newer. We have real issues at work with the treatment of VIP's. We move patients around and they get special treatment which bothers the nurses because we feel everyone is a VIP to someone. Do you think this would be a good ethical dilemma to do a paper on? Also, does anyone have any experience dealing with this type of situation? Thanks. MEtfan

Not sure if this is much help but I live and work about 30 minutes south of Albany. I work at a small, community hospital that works for me. We do hire frequently. I believe we are hiring right now. I graduated two years ago and most of my classmates work in the Albany area. There are tons of hospitals there. Albany med is a big teaching hospital that some of my friends are happy with. There is also a VA up there that they say is a great place to work if you can get in. They don't hire much. St. Peter's is in Albany and I believe is a magnet hospital. South of me is the Rhinebeck/Red Hook area and there is a hospital there, Northern Dutchess Hospital. I have friends there who like it there. It is a beautiful area to live also.

I am currently in the Delhi RN-BSN program. I am only on my second course but I can give you some information. Each class is 7 weeks long. There is a small break and then another class starts. I am taking one class at a time but there is an excelerated program which is two classes at a time I think. The first course you have to take is Introduction to online RN-BSN. It basically gets you used to their system. You learn their email system, online discussions, how to upload papers etc. You also learn how to do APA format which was tough for me. Citations and references are not easy for me. They have a great library program online that they teach you how to use. I don't think I will ever have to go to an actual library. There are weekly discussions in which you use their discussion forum. You have to post one original post and reply to three of the other students posts during the week. You also have to do these in APA format with references and citations. Cost is about 200 a credit. There are summer classes available. So far, it is very doable for me. You never meet the instructors but they reply to your emails quickly. There is also a forum for questions and other information in which you can make comments or ask questions. The teachers are very supportive. Clinicals are required and you have to do them at an accepted place. I work at a hospital in NY and my hospital is accepted already. I have to find a nurse with a BSN or higher (I am going to follow a NP) and use them as a preceptor. I have not got to that part of the program yet. If the place you pick is not on their list, you have to get it approved. I think the clinicals are 45 hours for the 7 weeks. I could be wrong though. So far, I like the program. I am taking statistics right now because I stupidly did not take it for my ADN. They require statistics so you will have to take it right away or transfer it. Hope this helps.

Anyone else starting the online program at Delhi on Oct 29, 2011? I am starting the UNIV 300 course. Orientation to RN to BNS online. I am nervous and already confused. Anyone already take it willing to be a mentor? I did take one online course when I was getting my RN. When I go to my Vanco Hall it says something about a Meta class. What is that? Eeek. Thanks.

I was shopping at a dept store a few weeks ago and a woman came up and hugged me. I took care of her after a recent surgery and she thanked me with a big hug. It was so nice. Plus, my teenage son was with me which made it nicer. He saw that what I do makes a difference. I think he was proud of me.

I worked in LTC before getting my RN and I can tell you that med errors often happened on hold meds. Because we used paper emars, it was easy to miss where the arrow is especially at the end of the month when you have to follow it to the edge of the sheet. When I got an order to hold a med, I liked to put an arrow but also a post it stating the order and the hold date. The post it was just easier to see and drew you attention to the hold order. Don't sweat the error. We are human and mistakes happen.

I really, really wish the doctors would just tells us they put a stat order in. It always seems to come down to communication. If they would take just a second to mention it, I would be greatful. I recently had a doctor right a stat order for a cardizem drip. He put it is the "pile" for the unit secretary. It easily could have been lost in the pile. Fortunately, I noticed it and hung the drip. I don't always see the doctors on the floor. They sometimes come and go so quickly. I am done venting now.