MesaRN

If your ultimate goal is flight nursing your initial goal should be to aim for a critical care or ER position. From your list above I would vote for cardiology as a placement. This assumes that by cardiology it is a unit that deals with acute as well...

Wanted to ask those with recent experience with the CFRN as to how "new" (or old) are the questions you had. All the recommended study materials (Holleran's Patient Transport, Wingfield's ACE SAT, Lopez Back to Basics) are 2011 or older. Baur's FAST ...

This question nearly always results in the following replies: 1. Don't rely on your employer's coverage as it is designed to cover them not yourself. Some may offer to pay for your individual insurance, but it needs to be a individual policy for you,...

I am currently helping to develop a chest pain response team in our hospital.We are a 36 bed ER and regional medical center with interventional cardiology. Specifically I am looking at the role a Cardiovascular ICU nurse would play as part of the CP ...

This among the worst post I have ever seen anyone make, please do not take this seriously. It seems to say that if you knew the pt was going to get up themselves you should just let them do it when your not there, and then its not your fault. As the ...

I have to say +1 one for the "we did it this way" folks. There is a time and place for improvement, but generally these comments are not exactly in helpful situations. My biggest per peeve as a preceptor is the "I already know how to do this" attitu...

The reason for your preceptorship is to help you understand how complex the question you just asked really is. Your preceptor is there to help you figure out the questions to ask and focused assessment needed based on the answers to those questions. ...

I second the don't bother to save texts. Most text are out of date by the time there are printed. DO NOT buy a med dictionary, the web is quicker and with more info. Also it saves money to buy the later edition than the "newest" when it comes to text...

Nope. Unless your aiming for director or CNO, RN is an RN. Most of the time even the BS part doesn't matter a bit. You can go to a private school and pay a lot more to make the same pay as those who so the state schools.

This is what I send out to our senior students before their ER rotation: Items to Review Skills Whether you have done a lot of IV starts or none at all, don't worry!! Learning is what the rotation is for! I just want you to be familiar with...

We use separate bins that are color coded to the Braslow. The bins contain larger items like ET tubes and OG/NG tubes, ect. that are appropriate for the weight group. The core cart itself holds the larygoscope blades, IO kit, IV kit and meds.

We are required to have 18G in a great vein (AC or better) for R/O PE (which I assume was the reason for the chest CT). This rule is so ingrained that even if you have a 20 in the AC they will not take it and require a central if no 18 can be establi...

I am preceptor for students and nurses new to the ER. I have been giving my students this handout before thier rotation to help get them ready: Items to Review Skills Whether you have done a lot of IV starts or none at all, don't worry!! Le...

I have been putting together an information packet for students who are doing thier senior practicum or capstone experience in the ED. I am looking for help and advise in what to put in it. The goal is to lay out expectations and give them a list of ...

We are paid to use our nursing judgment and to be patient advocates. According to your post you were using your best judgment in order to obtain the best outcome for the patient. In retrospect the best way to have handle the situation would be to com...

I would second the poster above. Especially the Kayexalate. In the ER setting we tend to focus on intracellular K/NA exchange of K+ to decrease serum levels, but that it is only a temp fix, you still need to get rid of it via the GI tract with Kayexa...

There is no raise or "bonus" at my hospital. Also keep in mind that you need CEs to keep in current after a few years or retake the test. My hospital will not pay for either, so you have to add that to the total cost of having your CEN. Most of our R...

Nearly all nursing schools have some type of calculation textbook. Just grab a used copy of the one your school uses at the book store or on half.com and start working through it. None of the math is difficult, you just need to find the method that w...

The PALS course should have the American Heart Association study guide (some call it a pre-test) that contains around 30 questions and rhythm examples. If your course did not provide it for you can get it here: Professional EMS Education - Leading th...

50 mg/ 250ml tiriate with 3ml/ 10 mcg/min

We use propofal nearly exclusively for conscious sedation. New literature is showing promise with propofal/ ketamine combo for adults. A few EDPs use it and the combo has been the best conscious sedation agents I have used in terms of quick onset, q...

I will add monitor use to my clinical check off list, great idea! I have now added epi to the med list, thanks! I imply narcan and flumazenil on the questions below the list, it would indeed be a bad one to leave off! I do have a module that runs t...

Please post which state you are in. CNA rules differ greatly between states. In Colorado you are eligible to take the state CNA exam after fundamentals. Once you obtain your 'license' you are able to work in any setting.

itsmejuli is very correct is stating that you need to speak directly to the program you are applying to. Each program has its own criteria. The program I graduated from did not take any life or work experience into account. They awarded "points" base...

True, in your example of McDonald's man vs spleen rupture the pain scale was not very useful, but your comparing apples to oranges. The same could be said for HR, a athlete may be fine at mid 40s while others could be syncopal at the same rate. The d...