LGJMan

How do you adequately articulate to a doctor that you feel a patient's condition is deteriorating even though you don't quite have proof yet? My patient was having sustained ST in the high 140s-150s (over 2 hours). She was ordered metoprolol for HR above 130s but earlier in the shift she'd had a BP of 89/50. We were giving a bolus of NS for the BP when the issue with the sustained ST occurred. I lowered the amount of NS we were giving hoping that would help, but it didn't and her BP never did rise. The patient already had AMS, so it was impossible to use that as an assessment tool. I called the doc twice, but could never quite put my finger on what made me so uneasy besides the above. I got the charge nurse involved because I whole heartedly believe that there was something really wrong. Just before change of shift we got back the patient's AM labs back and it was obvious that there was some sort of infectious process going on and the doc then ordered appropriate tests to obtain a diagnosis. I have been off the last few days so I'm not sure of the patient's outcome, but I'm curious if there was anything more that you may have done in this situation.

You should still be able to take the Algebra course, you will just need to make arrangements with your instructor to have the final proctored at a location near you. I am going to see if I will be able to use either a nearby community college or an on-base education center. (I'm signed up for the August 20th class.) I'm not certain about financial aid. I only accepted the total amount of the Pell Grant and a small amount of the loan. Have you accepted any of the award package? When I accepted part of the award package, it updated to show the amounts that I accepted. If I remember correctly, disbursement should occur the Friday prior to your class beginning. I emailed my advisor concerning information that I needed to be faxed and I received a very quick reply. I would definitely try email if you're unable to reach them by phone. Good luck! I'm hoping that this runs smoothly for us both. :)

Tech Writing is completely full until November 5th. I thought you had to be enrolled in both courses at the same time (Tech Writing and Prof Nurs A&B), so I enrolled in the November course for both of them. I'll email my advisor on Monday to get a definitive answer. I really don't mind waiting until November though. It'll give me a chance to get used to the Blackboard program with Algebra. I'd been thinking about going to a local school for most of the pre-reqs that I have remaining (about 5) but I quite honestly don't have the money to pay OOP for those classes right now.

Thanks Just1nRN for your assessment of the classes! It will definitely help me in my future decision making. Clewi102, I have to complete Technical Writing before I can sign up for Prof Nursing A&B. The next open course wasn't until November and I thought you had to take them at the same time... Thank you, both, for your help.

I was just wondering how many classes graduates or current students took per term. I just got my course map today (yay!) and will have to enroll in the November 5th start dates for Technical Writing and Prof Nursing A&B because the closer dates were closed. I'm also planning to take college algebra and British Lit. Are these too many courses at once? I will be starting a residency program, but that is just one to two classes per week and working on the unit. I don't want to get overwhelmed. ETA: I'm receiving veteran's benefits and would like to be as close to full-time as possible.

Thank you both! I was given the formal offer today and I will complete the pre-employment screen on tomorrow. I'm still very hesitant to call the home health agency to resign until my hospital start date, but I know that if I wait too much longer they will have everything completed and my orientation date scheduled. The management team were really nice and I just hate leaving them in a lurch.

I went to the interview today and was given an informal job offer!:yeah:I should have a formal offer on Monday or Tuesday and will wait until that time to contact the home health agency. In all honesty, I was not expecting the offer today but the interviewer (unit manager) told me that she'd spoken with my two nursing school preceptors and they'd given her really great reviews. I will be calling the home health agency after I sign my employment paperwork with the hospital. Thanks for your help, everyone.

I'm still in-processing at the HH agency. I've completed the pre-employment paperwork but it takes 10 days for the background check to go through. I will complete my orientation and begin shifts soon after the background check is complete. I definitely am not planning on giving notice until I have a for sure offer with the hospital. I'm just unsure how to appropriately handle the situation. I don't want to seem like I'll immediately jump ship to the hospital either.

For some backstory, I'm a new RN graduate (LPN of 10 years) and was offered a position on Friday with a home health agency. I accepted the position because I've gotten many rejection emails for the positions for which I was applying and I am ready to start working. Today, I received a phone call from the unit that I did my precepting on for RN school and I made an interview for Friday! I'm very excited and am hopeful that I'll be offered the position. The nurses were extremely knowledgeable and helpful on the floor and it would be an honor to work with and learn from them. I know that I am getting ahead of myself, but how would you let the home health agency know about the new job, if you were to get an offer?

I was an LPN in the military. Two years ago, I found out that I was pregnant and decided to get out and finish my BSN. My husband (who is in the military still) was deployed and I decided to stay home with my son instead of going back to work. To make a long story short, we moved to a different state and my husband has deployed again. I am now looking for a position as an LPN. I am so scared because I haven't worked in almost two years. I was hired at a temp agency and they have told me that they will only put me in facilities where I would only have to do assessments and pass meds. Do any of you have any tips on how to ease back in to work?