All Content by middlekane
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S.O.S.......How did you find your first NP job?
I heard about a position which asked for two years of experience. I wrote the contact person and explained that while I was a new grad, I aspired to work in community health and gave a brief synopsis of my experiences and goals. Got an interview and offer within weeks. It was actually pretty easy. What helped was having concrete experiences to indicate that my interest was genuine and that, assuming I felt comfortable there, was hoping to find a long term fit. They didn't think they'd put in extensive effort in training me only to have me leave. I also had very little RN work experience, but it was in a similar setting. Good luck!
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Things people say coming out of anaesthetic
I just had my appendix out. As I was coming out of the anesthesia, I started directing my own treatment. I requested toradol, an albuterol nebulizer and started asking if the surgeon had injected the incisions with a local anesthetic. I was also crying and kept asking them to let my friends in so they could hold my hand. The funny thing was I found out later that they did everything I wanted. I got my neb (anesthesia had triggered some asthma) and toradol for pain. Since I asked every two minutes for my friends, eventually they gave in and let them come in. (There weren't other patients around then).
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Student loans?
In MA there is also a state loan repayment program if you work at a community health center. I think between $15,000 and $25,000 a year. i have about 80K in loans and am definitely doing this.
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Nurses with ADD/ADHD?
That is really strange. Every person I know is able to stay on the meds constantly as it is not a diagnosis that goes away. For you, I would seek out a different psychiatrist than hers.
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Nurses with ADD/ADHD?
I would make an appointment with a psychiatrist to be evaluated. It could be ADD, it could be anxiety, it could be both. I think the most important thing is to get a comprehensive evaluation.
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Nurses with ADD/ADHD?
"i have often thought i have one or the other or both.my son was dx with it.i am 40,i am good with work,but hme life is scattered.i can go from room to room and not stay on one thing.i have done this my whole adult life ..in school,i just went!i now take zoloft for pmd,it helps me,but i think it lays me back too much.i have always wondered though,and thought i was silly thinking i could have it all these years and not have ever really known.has anybody ever been dx at such an older age?" i knew someone who was diagnosed in his 60's after his grandson was diagnosed and then his son was diagnosed. one of my friends just got diagnosed and he is 38. it's very easy for it be missed unless you are specifically being evaluated for it.
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FNP student with ? re: how many minutes per patient?
It is very practice dependent. Where I work, the NPs are expected to see one patient every half hour for the first few years of practice. Then, if they want to, they can increase their pace to 3 patients per hour. In general, other than with occasional squeeze ins, they are not expected to see 4 patients an hour. They say that NPs and MDs are trained differently and work differently; an NP can't do the holistic care often in a 20 minute visit. One site I had my clinical at was one patient every 20 minutes. Another one was every 15 minutes and that one was awful and the NP was miserable. It is definitely varied.
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Gving all the meds all at once?
Give it a try. I bet that if you do, they would be impressed by your initiative. Sure not every med pass at 9 pm could be changed, but a lot of them can be. The docs don't often think about the timing of the meds in terms of it fitting into the patient's life, meals, sleep timing, etc. Believe me, I'm an NP student and one of my rotations was in a nursing home with a geriatric NP. It wasn't something we would really think about, but a couple patients, the nurses came to us and pointed out that the timing was a problem and we were able to drastically rearrange and simplify the pass. Give it a shot, pick out a patient where it's a real problem and discuss it.
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Have I displayed drug seeking behavior??
Not true. There are actually some of us who have migraines who are lucky in that ibuprofen can treat it. I get a migraine anywhere from once a month to 20 times a month, but I am lucky in that 90% of the time, ibuprofen can take care of it. If it doesn't, then I use a triptan which sometimes works. My doctor says they are migraines, they are one sided, stabbing, I get nauseous, sometimes smell funny odors, can't stand light or sound, but I am one of the lucky few. It's always worth a try.
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Any hospitals that petition?
Hospitals in Boston have their choice of grads. There is not a nursing shortage in Boston hospitals for entry level nurses. I would try New Hampshire, CT., and more rural areas at non-teaching hospitals if you really want a hospital job. It's a lot of work for them. If you really want to stay in Mass., in Boston, I would do as the recruiters suggests.
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What do YOU wear on a interview?
Suit. If it's really hot out, nice blouse, dress pants, dress shoes. Make up, hair done, clean nails. Look professional. It's always better to dress up than to dress down. Never wear scrubs.
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NP or Clinical Psychologist?!?! HELP!!
I went back and forth too. I eventually did psych research for 4 years and then went back to school for my RN/MSN. I realized I wanted to do my RN/MSN because I wanted a job where I would get to move more in my work life. There was more to it for me, writing is hard, I love the variety that nursing has. If you get a PhD, you will probably get a stipend or fellowship to fund it. It won't be all loans. If you want to do therapy, remember you also don't need to get a PhD to do it. Social workers and licensed mental health counselors can also do it with less schooling. Try it out. I am so happy I did psych research for years before I went back to school. TO determine if you like working with patients, and if you like working with the underserved population, I'd get a job as a PCA in the ED. You have a lot of time and options.
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ashamed and hopeless
Talk with your former employer. It is possible that after going through this counseling they will take you back. It is also possible that they will give you a good recommendation even while acknowledging your error. Working outpatient in community health for a few years might be a great area for you. They won't be worried about access to medications. I would not join the military. Right now, I would complete the counseling the BON wants you to complete. I would sign up for individual counseling as well. An individual counselor can help you figure out what you have to show for your mistakes.
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GN starting rate?
Boston inpatient seems to range from $24 to $30 starting w/o diffs. Nursing homes not in the city is lower, ~$22 for new grads. Community health: $22-$26 I think, although that varies.
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slave labor
If I were an acute MI, I would want a nurse that was with it. That was able to concentrate and wasn't thinking about her need to pee or her desperate need to eat because her blood sugar is 60. So yes, I would prefer having her switch off and have someone else take care of me while she grabbed a quick bite (doesn't need to be 30 minutes) and came back. The most selfish thing one can do is to believe that we are inhuman and that we can simply rise above physiological needs without affecting patient care. We might think that we can, but we are just like everybody else. We don't think clearly when we are hungry, exhausted, have to pee, or are in pain. It affects patient care adversely when we do so.
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Delivered a baby last night with Vesicular lesions all over body.
Check this out: http://idinchildren.com/200104/frameset.asp?article=WYD.asp This may be the genetic disorder that Nicu_RN_inCali mentioned. It's called incontinentia pigmenti. It's very UNLIKELY to be herpes, as that usually doesn't appear for at least a week after birth. Keep us posted.
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Please help...How can I handle my professor?
i do, when my np, pa or md is late, they always apologize for the wait. if it is excessive (more than 10 minutes), they usually tell me a few details why without violating confidentiality- "there was an emergency and i got called over to the building next door. i am so sorry you had to wait. how are you doing today?" apologies for lateness are always appropriate, letting people know at the time of the call that you will be late is appropriate when feasible, taking abuse is not.
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Question about leg cramps
You can also give 400 IU vitamin every day or oxazepam 5-10 mg two hours before dialysis. If it still continues, you can try 1000-2000 mg IV carnitine during dialysis as a three month trial. These suggestions are from Kuebler et al's book Palliative Practices, an interdisciplinary approach. They also have specific suggestions on "sodium modeling of dialysate" that look useful.
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Nurses with ADD/ADHD?
Not being able to achieve high grades is definitely NOT a component to ADD/ADHD, although it can certainly impact ones ability to achieve those grades. I've always gotten As and high Bs, which hid my diagnosis for so long. I'm very very able to compensate in school, but less so in real life without that extra structure.
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Questions for Hospital CNA's, PCA's
I hope it works out! Remember you can offer to work Sundays or weekday evening or night shifts. Lots of shifts are unwanted, not just Saturday! So don't get discouraged.
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CNA Pay/Other ?'s
I get $11 an hour for 8 hour weekday shifts at an acute care hospital in MA. I get $1.50 more per hour for 8 hours on the weekends, $3 more for 12 hour shifts on the weekends, and double pay for hours over 12.
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Chest Tube Air Leak
I'm a nursing student and a PCA and one of my pts. with a chest tube after a thoracotomy told me that the doctor just came in and said that they had an air leak and the tube would have to stay in a little longer. They then asked me what an air leak was and where it was coming from. I started to answer then realized I didn't know if the air leak was coming from the outside and entering the pleural space or if it was coming from the lungs. I assume it's the latter, an opening from the lungs into the pleural space, but I'm not sure. Can someone explain it to me or give me a good resource on it? Thanks,
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Nurses with ADD/ADHD?
My doctor will mail me mine or leave it at the pharmacy for me (same building as my dr.s office) so I don't need to have a monthly visit. I couldn't afford that. As it is, I usually take significantly less than what's prescribed so I don't need to make the extra trips. One time between doctor's after I moved, I rationed one month for a whole year until I found a new physician. I wish we could get three months worth at a time. It would make it much easier.
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Nurses with ADD/ADHD?
Yes, yes, yes, to both the creativity and to the sleeping! Also, I've noticed that almost every stimulant drug makes me irritable, I feel like I can get very angry all the time (I really don't like driving with them.) I take a miniscule dose (2.5 mg adderal prn). Has anyone else had this problem? I haven't tried it at work yet. I need the drugs, but this worries me.
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Nurses children and vaccinations, how do you feel?
My daughters will be. Even if she doesn't have sex until she is married, her husband may have and he can infect her. You can get the strains of HPV that cause cancer at any time and I want her to be safe.