SiennaGreen

Does your camp continue to print and utilize paper health histories? If so, do you also use CampMinder or similar EHR? I would like to try to get around wasting paper and it being so cumbersome, but wondering if the paper copies are required by ACA, and what purpose they serve when EHR is available.

I work per diem float pool position at a hospital. Summers are usually slower for us, so it makes it doable to take time off.

I work on the Oncology unit at AAMC. We've expandd into the new tower and the facility is wonderful. The technology is superb, as far as I'm concerned. I will admit that I only have experiance with computer charting, never done paper professionally. Our new COO is a nurse and she is fantastic! Very committed to staying in touch and hearing from the staff nurses. I think you're right, morale was low during the expansion. We've had a huge turnover with many experianced nurses moving around during the expansion. I think it's turning around now, but it's a BIG ship and the negative nellies have loud, peristant voices. I think the pay is pretty darn good, for the area. I know we make more comparably than the teaching hospitals in Balt/DC, as well as BWMC. Our ratios on the unit are 5/1 on days, and 6/1 from 11-7am. It's doable, but can be quite stressful due to patient acuity. We do try to accomadate any official Oncology patients, however on any given day it seems that 1/2 the unit is Meg Surg overflow. It's been a while since your post, but if you want to PM me, feel free.

Gosh, I'm feeling this right now. We've had a really rough few weeks. Morale is very low. Multiple experianced RN's have left over the past few months, leaving our 30 bed unit with an uneven mix of new grads, new hires, and a handful of RN's with 1+ yr exp on the floor. Many foks are unhappy with the new day charge. I work nights and most of those folks feel overlooked because as someone else said patients "sleep" at night. (Yes, except when we're running chemo, blood, platelets, sundowning brain mets, falling, ammonia levels are climbing from liver failure, or their lungs are quietly filling with fluid from a malignent effusion.) Our staffing is 5/1 days and 6/1 nights with a tech ratio of 6/1 days amd 8/1 nights. It sounds manageable on paper, but it never feels that way. I'm actually grateful for our inpatient chemo patients, because they're usually the healthiest! I'm trying to grab a hold of some inspiration, some higher calling; but we're all down. Gotta admit, the calm of a nice general surgical unit sounds appealing in comparison.

My thoughts are that the job market is very tough for both currently. Most folks I know who have been hired have done so one of two ways: a) been hired onto a unit where they were employed as a tech during school B) made some connections to a hospital through their school. Option A has been more successful than Option B. It seems that some hospitals (UMD, JHH) are more inclined to try to place their own grads, esp if they have gone above and beyond during school. I went the CC route, graduated a year ago. I consider myself very fortunate to have landed a position. it wasn't anywhere near my first choice, but it was a hospital gig and I'm enjoying it. If I had to do it again, I might weigh more heavily into the accelerated 2nd degree route. Now I need to finish up my BSN, and honestly...it's just not something I feel like doing right away. However, my entire RN program cost my somewhere close to 7K. It would have run between 25k and 60k at some of the accelerated programs I was considering. My personal opinion is that in the end...if you want to get hired; get a job as a PCT and be a superstar tech. Be someone they simply cannot let go....when you graduate they'll do their best to place you. Unless your hospital is on some seriously crazy Magnet kick, I doubt your degree will matter.

I am in process of starting the RN-BSN at SRU this Fall. Keep you posted when I get more information regarding my transcript eval and coursework.

I am also a new grad night shift RN. Trained on days, and moved to nights three months ago. My assessments have changed radically, timing wise, because I feel that one of my patient care goals is ensuring that my patients get some uninterupted rest. So, I typically get report, do a quick hello, assess major pertinent systems (chest tube? respiratory, dressing, pain.) I write down any pertinent findings on my report sheet, and since we chart by exception it doesn't take a lot of time. If I start at 7, I usually can finish that initial rounding by 8pm. Then I prepare for nightly meds, making sure to check for any prn sleep meds. If I see a patient has taken Ambien for the past three nights on the MAR, I pull it and take it with me rather than run all the way back to the med room after I check in with the pt. I can always return it into the pyxis. I have 2 hours to pass meds to my 6 patients. Usually I will do any detailed assessment during meds, clear pumps, hang full IV bags, and generally get everything ready so as to not interupt my patient any further. The techs do vitals between 11-12, and then in an ideal world my patients can get 4 hours of solid sleep. I get most of my documenting done between 1-4, then begin prepping for mornings labs, meds, dressing changes, baths, et cet. That's a good night. Then, most nights I end up with an admission somewhere in there and it throws me off completely...but I try!

Wow..the shift differential thing is a joke. We've been planning to move to Pitt next year, but w/o night differential or OT...not sure how I can make finances work. Has it really been everyone's excperiance that night differential is only $1hr more? I guess I could pick up a p/t job also. What are some strategies others have used to make some extra money?

I am a new grad there, and so far have truly enjoyed the experiance. I know it depends on unit, but the beginning pay was as good as some DC hospitals, and better than many of the university hospitals. It also happens to be a mile from my house- which helps. The area is gorgeous, if you don't mind the heat and humidity in the summer. I don't think the benefits are as great as some other places. it depends on what you're after. If you're intending to pursue advanced education, UMD has a great set up with tuition reimbursement at thier school. Truth be told, in this economy and as a new grad...it wasn't like I had a lot of choices. I was happy to get a job offer, and honestly; I have enjoyed it thus far.

Yes, I agree. Also, I noticed that on their list of support courses, such as the Chemistry, Micro, A&P1&2, Nutrition, Psychology...all these courses are listed as 5 credits. I have completed two degrees now (BS HlEd and ADN), and never have I seen comparable courses carry 5 credits. Is this an Ohio thing? I wonder if they look at actual course hours? I would hate to get involved and then realize they weren't going to accept my multitude of courses bc they were weighted differently.

Thanks! I think I misread it the first time. The CCNE visit was this spring, doesn't expire until 12/11. Knowing that they have all of these great, pleased students helps.

Does anyone have any updated information on OU's accreditation status? I thought I read that they were up for review this past Spring, but I can't find them listed as approved on either the NLNAC or CCNE web site. Should this be a concern?

Anyone make any decisions on this program or find out any more info?

We have great little booklets from the American cancer Society. They actually helped me as a new nurse when I couldn't find anything between my Med Surg text and the ONC review book. I wonder if you can purchase them inexpensively through ACS?

I have only seen it come in a IVPB at our hospital. I can't remember but I think it comes 50mL and goes in over 15 minutes? Scheduled Q6 usually. We do Q6 urine PH also during that time. I would be wigged out pushing it....