jeroboam

Some thoughts: (1) what is a "letter of regret" ? (2) why were you terminated ? (3) from your name, I'm assuming you work in Indiana; are you living in a town that's controlled by one hospital system ? When you can't find a position in your local area, or you're dependent on "knowing someone", my advice would be to move. There are many places that have a huge need for nurses; don't be afraid to leave your current town and move on.

I paid $45,000 (cash) for a 14-month accelerated BSN at Johns Hopkins. I would pay it again. I went from floor nurse to director in 12 years. I can tell you that 80/20 is already here. My facility does NOT hire any RN who does not possess a BSN. There's a myriad of reasons, primarily related to Magnet requirements, and the fact that BSN-prepared nurses have better critical thinking skills (I didn't do the research, but it's sound). Get your BSN.

The OP stated that this woman is not a friend. If she's using street drugs, then nurses with knowledge of that fact have a duty to report it to the state BON. Morality is not relativistic.

I strongly disagree. When drug use is the issue, she needs to be reported to the state BON. Just ask yourself: would you feel comfortable having that nurse take care of you, or a member of your family ? The answer I'm sure is NO.

Benzoin spray is indeed still manufactured; you would never use hairspray.

It goes on a well-developed MUSCLE mass, as close to the site of surgery as possible. NOT an area of fat. Fat is an insulator; muscle is a conductor of electricity. If you place it on a fat mass, the power settings will need to be higher.

I agree about the Zander course; a huge thumbs up from me !

The AORN course is pretty much worthless, in my opinion. The Zander course, which I took, was awesome and gave strategies for how to answer multiple-choice questions, and simplified the guidelines into points that you really had to know.

The OP doesn't want a nursing career; she wants to be married, with kids, and have nursing as a hobby. She says so herself in the last paragraph of her post, where she inquires if it's possible to work part-time immediately out of nursing school. In my judgment (and it's "judgment", not "judgement", not that I'm passing judgment on you), that's laughable. I've been an RN now for seven years, and it's taken about that long for me to become fully competent and capable in my specialty (the operating room), as well as certified. One doesn't graduate from nursing school with enough competency to work solo on a part-time basis, and the poster will never gain enough experience to be fully capable by working part-time only. So, NO, she won't "have it all" unless she postpones a baby, gets her BSN (she already has a degree so she likely can do an accelerated program in 14-16 months), and gets some experience under her belt. However, she already feels put out by having to postpone a baby until she graduates, not to mention her abhorrence of shift work and weekend work. This mindset is one of the reasons (not the only one, but one) that nursing doesn't get the respect that it deserves: because it's a largely female occupation with a substantial number of its workers not interested in a long-term career; their interest extends only until they're married with children. After that point, it's PRN and registry to supplement their husband's income. Flame me all you want, but that's the truth. I think the OP is a dilettante.

You're quite wrong about Florida requirements: they require verification from your original state of licensure (your exam state) and from a state in which you have a current active license. Only one verification is required if your original state is current/active. Moreover, everything for Florida except fingerprinting can be done online: the application, payment of fees, Nursys verification, and the medical errors course. All states in which you have a license participate in Nursys; you'll only pay one $30 fee. Take the medical errors course using your MA or CT license number. You don't have to have a FL license to take the medical errors course. It's offered online by a number of providers. It's sort of unbelievable that you couldn't figure this out. Yes, you correctly reported your criminal charge and you'll have to provide documentation. You'll likely be granted a license but required to participate in an oversight mechanism for a period of time, perhaps with alcohol testing.

It's safe to say that I don't know what to say, because I can't understand what you're trying to say. Totally incoherent. Try again.

As someone who started working at age 14, the oldest in a large family that was not well-off, and who had a successful career in law prior to becoming an RN later in life, I was offended when I first read this posting. Then I re-read it, and I just had to shake my head. So, you don't want to work on an occasional holiday, or on the weekend, or to work 12-hour shifts (even though those 12's allow you to work three days a week, and have four days off, with full benefits). Millions of people, across a broad range of occupations, work on weekends and holidays. Personally, I'd rather work a Saturday or Sunday and have time off during the week ... movies are less crowded, and so is the beach, the grocery store, and the gym. If you want a M-F, 9-5 job, then go get an MBA and take a job with a bank ... if you can get hired. No RN I know works every weekend and every holiday, unless he/she wants to. And believe me, some do. Nursing hours can be incredibly accommodating to a person with a family, but to think that you're entitled to escape any vestige of inconvenience is pretty startling. Now comes the touchy part: you want a nursing career, but you want to have a baby "in a year or two". Well, I suggest you choose one or the other. But you won't, because you "want it all". You want a family AND a career AND you want to feel fulfilled, etc. All without working weekends or holidays. Ugh. I better stop here before I say something that some will feel is inappropriate. I mean, really ... the words that come to mind are "prima donna". I guess it's a generational thing; your generation seems much more entitled than mine. Anyway, I wish you luck finding that interesting, well-paying, and fulfilling health care job that allows you to work 10am to 4pm, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. With holidays off, and full benefits.

Most people are unable to speak precisely. We often say one thing and mean something else. Language is subjective. Lawyers are paid to ask questions in order to elicit the true meaning and intent of a witness's words. Both sides do it ... plaintiff and defense. This, by the way, is why charting is so important. Unfortunately, in my opinion, a majority of nurses have poor writing skills (which is no surprise to anyone who visits this forum). I once settled a case for a client against a hospital for over $500,000 all due to one poorly crafted sentence in a chart note involving a do-not-resuscitate order. The nurse who wrote the sentence said, on the stand, referring to what she wrote: "but that's not what I meant". End of case: we settled at the next break in the case.

A defense representative ... that's a different story. The hospital wanted to put a "human face" on its corporate existence, and so an employee was required to sit with the defense lawyers. As for out of state people who were called by the defense, they no doubt agreed to appear voluntarily, and were reimbursed by the hospital (of course); almost no one would appear voluntarily without having their expenses paid. Regardless, the point is that out-of-state residents cannot be compelled to appear in a state court in another state. Now, if the case were in federal court ... that's a whole other matter. But malpractice suits are rarely filed in federal court.

Most of these responses are wrong in some respect. I practiced law before becoming an RN, so I'll attempt to answer. You're asking (1) whether a former employee of a hospital, one who has moved "very far away", can be compelled to attend a court proceeding related to a hospital lawsuit, and (2) whether a former employee who hasn't moved away could be compelled to attend a court proceeding despite being busy with a new job. As for question (1): most malpractice lawsuits are filed in state court. I'm assuming the former employee who has moved "very far away" has moved out of state. A state has personal jurisdiction only over people who live within the state. Thus, a state court could NOT compel a former employee now living out of state to attend a court proceeding. The court could issue a subpoena, which the lawyers could then take to a court in the former employee's new state of residence, and that court could compel the former employee to sit for a deposition, which could be used in the proceeding. But state courts do not have power over persons outside their borders. Question (2): the former employee could be compelled to attend a court proceeding. The new employer is not obligated to give the employee time off to attend court, but most employers would. At worst, the employee would have to take leave without pay. But most court appearances do not last long; I've never seen a medical witness on the stand for longer than an hour. By the time a case gets to court, everyone knows the facts; the examination on the stand is merely a way to get the facts in front of the fact-finder (usually a jury). As for the "other side" paying the "expenses" of a witness: lol. NOT. Assuming for a moment that the former employee is still around and can be subpoenaed, all that is paid is a nominal witness fee, perhaps mileage. As for being in a courtroom for two weeks: highly unusual. Most witnesses are told that their testimony will come on a particular day. I tried plenty of cases in my life and never had a witness on the stand for two weeks.

The OP asked: "Is it worth it ?" Many hospitals, including my own, are requiring all staff to have the BSN by a date certain. At my institution, the date is December 2014. We do not hire anyone who does not have a BSN. (And this requirement was promulgated about 2 years ago). We are also required to achieve certification in our specialty. This is the way the world of nursing is going. One either adapts or gets left behind.

You need to relocate. There are plenty of areas, urban and rural, with markets that need experienced nurses. I've read countless threads on this forum about this subject. Yes, new grads are having big problems. For the most part, experienced RNs are not. If you're unlucky enough to be in an area where it's tough for experienced RNs, then the answer is to move. I know I'll get pilloried for saying that, but if I was unemployed for months, I would go where the jobs are. I think most men have this attitude. Most women do not. It's "I don't want to leave my parents", or their friends, or their hometown, etc. If you're married, well, that's a different story. Hopefully the husband is working. Then again, I know a number of men who have relocated because of their wives who wanted to work in a different location. But if you're single, I suggest you pack your car and hit the road. After you've accepted the job offer, of course.

This post reminds me of why I never visit this site anymore, because it's become a venting stage for unhappy nurses and anxious students. Ugh. I earned my BSN after a career in another field. I've been an RN now for 7 years, the last five in the operating room. I love my job, currently making about $105,000 annually for a 48-hour work week (40 at my "regular" job, and another 8 at another local hospital). I get job offers via email from recruiters and travel companies, for positions all over the USA. I get job offers in the mail from other hospitals in my state, and sometimes from hospitals in other states. When I look at job sites, like indeed.com or AORN or similar sites, I see hundreds and hundreds of positions for OR nurses, in every state in the country. My hospital hires a new class of nurse residents every year; we're thinking about starting a second residency. We have 36 ORs, and are building new ones; we have to hire travelers because we can't get enough staff. From my perspective, I can get a job just about anywhere. I occasionally will choose a hospital at random, in another state, and search their career site for vacancies in the OR. I've not found one hospital yet that didn't have an opening. I'm sorry you're having such trouble finding a job, but in the large metro area I live in, hospitals are hiring, and so are agencies and travel companies, and not just for positions in the OR. I think your view is slightly myopic, and I'm not trying to sound harsh, but new grads are being hired ... is there something you're not telling us about yourself ?

This is a joke, right? I sincerely hope you don't have a nursing license.

Each state enacts its own laws governing residency. In Maryland, for instance, to qualify for in-state tuition, a student must demonstrate that, for at least twelve consecutive months immediately prior to registering for courses in the semester/term for which the student seeks in-state tuition status, the student had the continuous intent to: 1. Make Maryland his or her permanent home; and 2. Abandon his or her former home state; and 3. Reside in Maryland indefinitely; and 4. Reside in Maryland primarily for a purpose other than that of attending an educational institution in Maryland. The student has the burden of proof. To prove the above, the student must show that he/she: 1. Owns or possesses, and has continuously occupied, including during weekends, breaks and vacations, living quarters in Maryland. The student must provide evidence of a genuine deed or lease and documentation of rent payments made. In lieu of a deed or lease, a notarized affidavit from a landlord showing the address, name of the student as occupant, term of residence, and history of rent payments made will be considered. As an alternative, a student may demonstrate that he or she shares living quarters in Maryland which are owned or rented and occupied by a parent, legal guardian or spouse. 2. Has substantially all of his or her personal property, such as household effects, furniture and pets in Maryland. 3. Has paid Maryland income tax on all taxable income including all taxable income earned outside the State and has filed a Maryland tax return. 4. Has registered all owned or leased motor vehicles in Maryland. 5. Possesses a valid Maryland driver's license, if licensed. 6. Is registered to vote in Maryland, if registered to vote. 7. Receives no public assistance from a state other than the State of Maryland or from a city, county or municipal agency other than one in Maryland. 8. Has a legal ability under Federal and Maryland law to live permanently without interruption in Maryland. 9. Has rebutted the presumption that he or she is in Maryland primarily to attend an educational institution, if the student's circumstances have raised the presumption. (from http://www.testudo.umd.edu/rco/policy.html) Maryland is by no means unique, but rather, has laws very similar to other states. So, the bottom line is... it's tough to prove, if you're moving solely to attend school. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I never said or implied that Australians are "ignorant fools sitting in the 'outback' ". I made a textual analogy to the expansive and lightly-populated American west/midwest, which has a high rate of drug addiction along with a "live and let live" attitude that contributes to that rate. I had also just read this article within the last couple of days: http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10401906 Don't be so sensitive.

I agree completely. One can never be certain about anyone or anything. However, making the proper inquiries to the right people regarding a provider can lessen one's chance of having an incident of medical error. As health care workers, we're in a better position than anyone else to make sure inquiries ourselves. I had surgery a few years ago; you can be sure that I hand-selected the guy who put me under.

BSNin2007: I hear ya. I think the only solution is to have periodic randomized drug testing, on the spot. My thinking about this has evolved over the years. Without getting into a much larger debate, I'll say that I don't believe such testing is necessary for college athletes, or government bean counters, or auto mechanics. But I'll gladly pee in a cup for my employer anytime it asks me to. They pay me well, and treat me well, and the least I can do is to show up unimpaired so that I won't kill or injure their patients. As for fearing treatment by a drugged-up medical provider, all I can say is: I'm VERY careful about who takes care of me. You should be as well.

well, perhaps you, being from australia, are unaware, but consensual homosexual conduct between adults is not illegal anywhere in the united states. and sexual conduct doesn't impair one's mental status, but drug use certainly does, both during and after use. further, certain conduct (namely, that conduct which endangers others) should be, and is, within the purview of government. perhaps you're an anarchist, perhaps not, but most people that i know want the government to protect them from people who are dangerous, and ecstasy users whose day job is anesthesia are just that: dangerous. and by the way, as someone who is slightly to the left of ted kennedy, i'm all for personal freedom and civil liberties... except when it comes to issues like this. if you want to live in the outback and take ecstasy, god bless you. when you do so, and then expect to be putting me under for my surgery in alice springs the next day... no, i don't think so. in that case, you should lose your license. and that brings me to this: a license from the government to engage in a specialized occupation is a privilege, not a right. when you violate the requirements for maintaining that privilege, you lose your license. we don't care if the kid at mcdonalds used ecstasy last night, because his cash register is preprogrammed to give the correct change. at the worst, i may get someone else's order in my bag. but we do care about airline pilots, and doctors, and nurses, and bus drivers, and child care workers, etc. i'll repeat my advice: report these women.

One may rationalize all one wants, but we practice in a profession that requires a level of mental agility and concentration that is extremely unforgiving of mistakes. The IOM estimate, that medical errors kill about 100,000 patients per year, is likely on the low side. Personnel who paralyze you, and then breathe for you, likely require a higher degree of mental stability and agility. If they continue to use drugs, on their own time, it is likely that these women will harm someone, by driving their cars if not in the operating room. The data on Ecstacy is available on PubMed and anyone who believes that it doesn't cause permanent brain damage is fooling himself/herself. So often, people do or don't do things for the wrong reasons. The RIGHT reason to report these women to the BON is that IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. The OP is supposedly a friend; a friend doesn't let his friends fry their brains. Anesthesiologists have the highest rate of drug addiction in the medical profession. It won't be long before these women are stealing Fentanyl and Dilaudid, then using Fentanyl and Dilaudid in the operating room. I have seen it happen. I would report these women in a heartbeat. I wouldn't want either one of them giving anesthesia to my friends or relatives. That's the test. If they're not good enough for you, OP (for you to trust them in the OR with your loved one), then they're not good enough for anyone else. REPORT THEM.