punkstar

I just got my permanent nursing license from Illinois to California. Where is the best place to look for work with consideration of income / cost of living? My Qualifications: BSN 4 years ER experience 1 year ICU experience CCRN, TNCC, ACLS, PALS, BLS certified Im planning on moving there in California. Any advice?

SRNAs of Rush University: How has your experience been thus far in the program? If you have friends that are in other CRNA programs aside from Rush U, what's the biggest difference you've gained in education and experience within Rush U's program compared to what your friends are learning from their own CRNA schools? Do you guys get more clinical hours and training? Are there are more classes you have to take? Were any of you a CNLs and/or gained experience as a CNL 1st before going to CRNA school?

Anyone graduated with their MSN-CNL and got accepted to CRNA school? I know that majority of these "Direct-Entry Masters / CNL for RNs" provide you the MSN in the end, but technically as a CNL you're a advanced generalist and not a advance practice nurse. The benefit I see out of CNL programs is that you gain your MSN and that you've established yourself as a graduate student in handling graduate classes. Here's the thing: My cousin is currently in a CNL (Clinical Nurse Leader) program full-time, while working full-time. She's graduating soon. She's taken out federal loans to pay for school. By the end of her program, along with undergrad BSN debt, she'll have racked up $70,000 in debt. She wants to move on to anesthesia school, completely stop working as an ICU RN while attending anesthesia school, and take out again federal loans to pay for her 2-3 years of anesthesia school. She'll probably have >$100,000 loan debt. Do you think her plan and the debt is worth it? Will the government really give you all the money (living expenses, etc) you need to not work and be able to attending CRNA school full-time? It seems really rare that people get accepted in BSN-DNP (anesthesia) programs. It seems like the ones with their MSNs, APN or not, get the preference into a DNP Anesthesia School. THoughts?

Hey, I took a CCRN review courses here in my hospital. But two other materials I had used in passing the CCRN were Laura Gasparis' CCRN CRAM Review DVDs and Dennison's Pass CCRN (ONLY THE CD though, for practicing questions). So you think Boswell & ENA's 4th is no good? You did the whole Med-Ed & Sheehy route. I think they are all good. I just have to familiarize myself still more with Boswell & Sheehy materials. Sheehy is coming out with a 7th edition of the ER text in Feb 2012.

Yeah. I would love to grab a copy of this book. Boswell seems to be tried and true in matching up with the latest exam blue print. I want to be able to take the CEN soon because I had just passed CCRN. I know there's much more to study with the CEN as opposed to what I needed to study for the CCRN, but many of concepts I have learned in CCRN has proved useful, particularly the heavy emphasis on Cardio/Resp. I really want to be able to just add on more to what I already know now and tak the CEN and pass with flying colors. Based on Boswell, he recommends HIS book and ENA's 4th edition of questions to supplement "Exam Mode" studying. Just doing question after question, then reading the rationales.

For those of you who recently passed the CEN or are CEN certified...what study materials did you use in ultimately passing the Exam. People say that ENA's 4th Edition of Questions w/ 2 online exams & Sheehy's ER Review is the best combo? What are you thoughts on this? I've got Vonfrolio's CEN DVD videos as well.

I had a quick question for you guys. After passing the CCRN, I feel like I can also pass the CEN. Should I just take it? People say CEN is easier than CCRN. Advice?

Passed the CCRN! Woo-hoo! I got 98/125 questions correct. I am so happy. For me, the Vonfrolio/Pass CCRN combo is what did the trick. But do know that Neurology was incredibly tough, that's the only place where I scored 60%.

I'm about to graduate with my BSN from a university. I have two years of experience in the Level I Trauma emergency room setting. I plan on moving into ICU once I graduate with my BSN. I have no experience yet in a critical care area such as the ICU. As I'm accumulating experience in the ICU, would I be saving myself time pursuing my MSN (thinking of going online as I'm working), then going the Post-Certificate in Anesthesia route? Or should I get the 1-2 years of ICU experience in and as a BSN graduate apply as a traditional student straight into anesthesia school eventually picking up my MSN while studying concurrently with anesthesia courses? Point here being is that I accumulate experience in the ICU 1-2 years with no school, until I apply. What's smarter? Thanks for any input.

Wow. What a bitter response. I figured Global Campus, as a U of I school, wouldn't be condescended.

I just wanted to know if there was anyone that had graduated from there. How was the entire experience for you? Was it difficult being an online student? I know you ultimately get your BSN degree from UIC when you graduate out of this program.

I hear Northshore in Evanston accepts Trauma Level I ER Experience, is this true? I believe so. I hear that you have ER experience and get accepted at Northshore University that you still have to fulfill the ICU 1-year requirement in some way, like doing SICU @ Illinois Masonic of Advocate Healthcare. Also, I just wanted to know what your porfolio was like (GRE score, Nursing GPA, Science GPA, letters of recommendation, years of experience in ER or ICU, anything extracurricular outside) if you can tell me when you applied. Closest to me would be Northshore University. Thanks for your responses. :bowingpur

I have a friend of mine that had graduated from a very prestigious school with her BSN 8 years ago. She has taken the NCLEX-RN and had failed it 3 times. She's currently working full-time not as a nurse, but as a surgical tech. She has to support her kids and she's aware of the refresher course but due to time contraints she can't do it. She doesn't want to quit her job either. Is there another route, something online even, she could possibly take into account?

I have a friend of mine that had graduated from a very prestigious school with her BSN 8 years ago. She has taken the NCLEX-RN and had failed it 3 times. She's currently working full-time not as a nurse, but as a surgical tech. She has to support her kids and she's aware of the refresher course but due to time contraints she can't do it. She doesn't want to quit her job either. Is there another route, something online even, she could possibly take into account?

Can someone please list how many CRNA programs and or schools there are located in the state of Illinois? Any input is greatly appreciated. :heartbeat

Hi there, I currently work in a Level I Trauma ER as a staff nurse. I am continuing my education beginning this January 2009, in pursuit of my BSN. I am looking to pick up a registry ICU position while working full-time in the ER, and going back to school part-time. It's a 1.5 year online program, so it defintely accomodates my schedule. My question is would most CRNA programs accept ICU experience even if it were a REGISTRY position as opposed to accruing that 1-2 year experience as a part-timer or full-timer? Any feedback is appreciated. Sincerely, Punkstar

In regards to Pediatric children with altered mental status... How would one get Dextrose 12.5% 4 ml/kg, as well as Dextrose 25% 2 ml/kg, from Dextrose 50%. Can you dilute Dextrose into 1L 0.9 NS and utilize the mixture that way? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Why do we draw blood cultures? How long does it take for results to come back? Why does it matter to draw blood cultures from two different sites? These are three questions that patients ask me regarding blood cultures. I'm curious as to what other ED RNs answers are towards these questions.

So two days ago our ED gets three cardiac arrests coming in and I'm left with one all to myself with two residents and a trauma surgeon being present! It was definitely a first and was rather overwhelming, at least the documentation part of it. I was able to function as a the medication nurse with the crash cart, and get hands on with CPR and the pacer, but with all that going on I always seem to lose it with documentation and in keeping track of times of when medications were given, etc. Where were my other nurses! *sigh*

For possible and certain intubations, I was just curious as to how much of each medication do you draw up? What medications do you use? I know we have a kit containing all the neuromuscular blockers that needs to be used in an intubation. What does your kit contain? I'm also still trying to understand the medications and how they work...one is a muscle paralyzer...lidocaine is for something else...please fill me in on this ASAP. I don't get much experience as to seeing what medications come into play. Thanks.

At your hospital, what does your "CARDIAC" and "SEPSIS" Panel comprise of? (e.g., BMP, CBC, X-ray, CT, Blood cx., etc.)

So lately I've been having these random localized spasms or quivering of muscles in various places like in my hamstrings, triceps, forearms. It doesn't happen too frequently but I come to worry that my body is doing something abnormal. I feel as if though I am not stretching enough and that ultimately my body will be susceptible to contractures and such. I know the importance of exercise and to be honest, I do feel as if though my joints are stiff, not incredibly stiff with discomfort. Again, this quivering of my muscles is awkward. Anyone ever have this happen to them? What do you think it could be? Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Alright...I've seen many different RNs give dialysis pts. the following medication in various orders. I question all of you other nurses how you administer these medications for this kind of patient. You have: Kayeaxalte PO Calcium gluconate 10 ml c. 50 mL 0.9 NS to go over 15-20 minutes via pump Amp of D50 Amp of Sodium Bicarb 10 U of insulin 60 mL Furosemide (how many min. to push over?) Flushes...flushes...flushes..when do they go after or before each med? It bothers me that I don't know what order is correct or standard. Please educate me. Thank you.

I was just curious when doing ABGs, do you apply a tourniquet on? What is your protocol when you have a STEMI? 2 IV sites, Nitro drip, etc.? Which tubes and orders go "on ice"? (e.g. lactate, what else is there?) And what are the red tube and green tubes do? Thanks. Any advice is appreciated.

I was wondering how long one would have to work in any department in order to transfer to another department? 3 months? 6 months before transfer? Any help would be greatly appreciated.