uptoRNin04

I work in an MICU in a local hospital. Was an LPN for 20+ years and then went back for my RN. You can do this! "Older" students take it more seriously, or so my instructors told me. Tutors were available for those who wanted at no cost. Alot of people took advantage of them. I asked where you work as those who already work in the hospital seem to have an advantage. Even so, if you really want this, you can do it. Good Luck.

Sorry to hear you had such a hard time with A&P. Where do you work as an LPN? I live in Polk County and PSC's school is extremely competitive. I don't want to discourage you but nursing is mostly science. The make or break class where I went to school (not PSC but a bridging program in another state) was microbiology. If you really want it bad enough, consider a tutor to get you thru. Good Luck.

seems they don't use bed scales in our ER.

We titrate to results as well in the unit. The major problem has been with heparin. The inital bolus and then the gtt rate. We also have a max, thank goodness, or who knows how high someone may go. The major problem has been with a small person and the overestimate of weight as much as 100 lbs. They have received a very large bolus and we have follow up ptt's that are way too high. How does your ER come up with an estimated weight?

Any ER nurses out there that can give me some insight? We are having a problem in our MICU that when a pt comes up from ER, they have estimated the pt weight way too high. This is causing some problems with drips running thru the pump. Heparin, dopamine, etc. Any insight out there from ER nurses on what they do in their ER? These are pts that can't stand to weigh when they come in. What other way can they use that is more accurate? We have had errors as high as 100 lbs. Any solutions? Thanks in advance.

I worked as an LPN in an oral surgeon's office for 5 years then went back to get my RN. I loved working there. As an RN in that setting, you would be starting IV's, pushing meds for sedation, assisting during the surgery etc. You could also be going to the hospital to assist with surgeries that can't be done in the office setting. The group I worked for did a lot of jaw reconstruction, Fx's, dog bites that needed lot of facial fine suturing. It would definitely be a lot of surgery setting. I don't know about just the dentistry end of it.

I work in MICU in a hospital in Florida. Surprisingly, all our new nurses are new grads. For some reason it is rare for nurses on our other floors to transfer to ICU. We do get RN's with experience when they move here from another state but rarely in house transfers. Most of our new RN's were techs in our unit and have been groomed from all of our nurses from the day they started as techs. Overtime is not usually a problem and readily available if you want. Good Luck to you !!!!!!

I had a similar experience. Started on a floor I didn't like, wanted to transfer as soon as my orientation/probation period was over. In the hospital I work at, they would rather keep you at their hospital rather than lose you to another. They are really willing to help you find your "niche" and don't mind if you transfer to another department. Of course, we get an OK from both managers to do so. I would like to think that they would rather have a nurse who likes her job rather than one who doesn't. There shouldn't be hard feelings, you still work for the same hospital. They should want to keep you. Obviously you could quit and find a job somewhere else and I think they should realize this. Bottom line........ go for it. It is terrible to be in a job you don't like. Good Luck.

What I find to be so sad is that nursing schools seem to look at ways to flunk people out instead of encouraging them to succeed. I realize that getting into nursing school is really competitive right now but these kinds of things are ridiculous. I pray that somehow you find a way to continue in school and succeed despite the challenges you are facing right now.

I have had a somewhat similar experience. I worked LTC for 25 years as an LPN and loved it. I then went back to school to get my RN, after all those years!!! I decided to do a year in memd/surg and hated every miinute of it. I left that to go to an outpt surgery center and decided after a year and a half there that I didn't go back to school for this kind of experience. I went back to a different hospital, this one is so much better. I went back to a Progressive care area for a few months and then transfered to MICU. There have been times when I have thought I was crazy. I seem to be doing this backwards. Most nurses my age go from most intense to easier as they get my age. To tell you the truth, I really really like what I am doing. MICU is much different than anything I have done before but I am learning so much. Yes, they will expect you to perform like an experienced nurse, more so than a new grad. But they will not expect you to do something you have never done before. Just be sure to be honest and tell them you have not done something. You will have assessment skills, delegation skills, critical thinking skills and people skills the new grads don't have. You won't be sorry. We are never to old or out of school to long to learn !!!!!! There will be good days and bad days as usual. Good Luck to You !!!!!

A surgical consent should only be good for the date written on it, hence, 24 hours. As long as it is dated, and it should be, it is only good for that date. A delay in surgery would mean a different consent form.

Just wanted to know if anyone out there has ever been asked to leave a written report for the next nurse at shift change rather than a face to face? It was suggested to me that I do just that tonight at shift change since the next nurse was going to be late. I have always been led to believe that this constitutes patient abandonment. What happens if the pt goes bad before the nurse arrives? What if the nurse never shows up? I was asked to do this by the charge nurse on the next shift. My charge nurse, unit manager etc. had all gone home. I said I didn't mind staying. I gave report when she showed up. Just wondered what anyone thought about this? Is this legal?

I am an RN who worked over 20 years in long term care. It was great but, after all that time I went back to school to be an RN because I wanted more. You don't mention how old you are but by reading your post, you are giving up way too much just because you don't like the "dirty" part. A job with the feds is one of the best jobs you can have. You can move anywhere in the country you want without any problem and as you say the benefits are really really good. Also, I know they have a great retirement plan and you can retire really early. I think you may be making a mistake by going to a LTC facility. Believe me, they are not all what they promise either. How long have you worked at this hospital? Do you have anyone there to talk over your concerns with? Find someone to buddy with and share your thoughts. Good Luck.