Ahhphoey

I have a friend (an RN, but not a CNS) who works from home for an insurance company as a CM, but she has set hours. I have a second job working from home for an online university, though, with very flexible hours.

I've been a CNS for a little over 2 years and am salary, but make $40.15 an hour. I think I was at 37 or 38 when I started. This is in Virginia.

The students at my hospital are allowed to perform tasks with either their instructor or, with the permission of the instructor, with one of our RNs.

I'm so sorry for your loss and that you were placed in a position to have to make such a decision

I took the adult-gero CNS exam offered by AACN and it actually came with a free online review course when you registered to take the exam. To supplement that, though, I some CCRN and PCCN study guides just to cement some of the clinical items (some of which were of on the exam!) and utilized the test blueprint to guide me in studying specifics around my own areas of weakness. I took the exam in October 2014 and was successful using these resources.

I know this thread is old, but I work at a 550 need level 1 trauma center Magnet designated hospital. Our current and most recent CNOs both had women's health back rounds almost exclusively.

I recently graduated a post masters program and took AACN'S ACCNS-AG in October. Fortunately, AACN offered a free review course when you register for that particular exam.

Congratulations! I finished in August and took and passed the exam in October so I know just what you're feeling! Completing the program was a very challenging and rewarding experience, but I'm so glad it's over!

There is also a sticky at the top of this general nursing board with 7 pages worth of a glossary of nursing and medical certifications and acronyms

I'm currently in a post-masters adult-gero CNS program with hopes of finishing next summer.

I'm in the same predicament. I've talked to my director and my tentative plan is to use some PTO time, but mostly some creative scheduling (i.e. Doing 4-6 hrs clinical, then.getting in my 8 hrs of work after since I'm doing clinical in the same building). I thought about going back to the bedside also but these positions are hard to come by in this area so I'd be better off staying where I'm at.

I've worked various areas since becoming a nurse. Honestly, I would suggest going after what ultimately appeals to you most. Regardless, you don't have to stay in that position forever if you don't like it...just try something different. This is the good thing about nursing-variety. I've worked for the same organization for 7 years now and I'm in my 4th position with them. When I needed a new challenge or something different, I'd just get to looking on the job postings and apply for something else while still remaining with the same employer. Fortunately, its a large system with 10 hospitals, plus some nursing homes, rehab centers, doctors offices, an insurance company, etc.

1:6 is pretty normal for med-surg. I used to take between 5-8 patients on day shift when I worked med-surg and that was about 5 years ago, so a max of 6 is pretty sweet.

I wouldn't do it. I have a full time job, but also a per diem job on the side. Although I usually get all of the hours I sign up for (which is only about 24 a month), I've been put on call for every shift I've signed up for over the last 6 weeks. But, thats just the way the census goes sometimes-up and down; this has happened several times over the four years I've been with the per diem job. You'll likely be the first person put on call when low census strikes so you really don't want to uproot your family for such a shaky position. Five months seems like forever, but like others have said, this job really isn't worth the relocation at this point.

Great thread! I've only recently heard of the CNL title and had originally thought it was just a certification and not a MSN education track. I'm currently working on a post masters CNS and was very leery about pursuing it. In fact, I started to do the NP track instead just because of the job outlook, but I really thought about it and realized that's absolutely not what I want to do. I work in a sort of psuedo-CNS role my employter created to get more CNS's and can honestly say I almost love my job...almost, lol! BUT, this is a large, Magnet-designated teaching hospital that is all about nurses doing research and promoting EBP. Several hospitals in my area have just began to hire CNS's in the last several years, but I believe they are also pursuing Magnet desgination. I also haven't yet seen the CNL role popping up here just yet (I'm in the mid Atlantic area), but there are probably positions that are similar to the CNL role with a different title. I hope this doesn't offend, but the description posted earlier in the thread sounds like a sort of our clinical coordinator/assistant manager type role. Some of the duties described are what our clinical manger assistants do right now and our CNS/psuedo-CNS person assists with these duties as needed on their assigned units in addition to working on hospital and system level projects. Either way, I wish those working on their CNL the best of luck and would be very interested in what type of role and responsibilities they take on with their first CNL position.

The most I've personally tried is upper arm not far from the shoulder, but that was in the ICU in a patient that was in dire need of access and IR was not open at the time (small hospital, evening shift). I've only done a foot in a code situation as we did not have an IO gun available in our ICU. I have never attempted a breast nor would I personally. I honestly am not certain of the increased risks (if any) exist in that area, but then again, that's just why I wouldn't do it

Thanks for the clarification traumaRUs. I hadn't realized that the CNS role was not recognized as APN in some states.

Am I mistaken or isn't CNS already an advanced practice role?

I've seen this and unfortunately it was not a pretty scene...

Yeah, I work ICU and though I've never done ED, I have worked as house supervisor so I spent a lot of time there during my shifts when we were busting at the seams. I definitely developed a new respect for ED nurses. I was one of the nurses who complained about the ED nurses doing nothing for the patient then shipping them up to us, but have realized the error of my thinking. Once we're full, we're full...there is nowhere else to put patients. The ED never closes and it takes an act of God for us to divert and even then you still can't turn away the walk-ins. Hats off to you wonderful ED nurses!!!

Personally speaking, I would prefer to receive an email. I've only ever received two phone calls to inform me that I was not chosen for the position and it was somewhat akward. Obviously I was not happy about the choice (not mad either, but maybe just disappointed) so I was trying to essentially hide my emotions until I could get off the phone. At least with an email I could have digested the information a little before sending a response (I always still follow up with a "thank you for your consideration" type of email).

When I was an LPN the med-surg unit I worked on nicknamed all the LPNs (and there were about 4-5 of us at the time and about 20-30 RNs) "little play nurses" or "lets play nurse". I was initially insulted, but the unit was pretty close knit and I learned it truly wasn't meant to be mean.Now, I did get irritated trying to constantly explain my title to patients and visitors who often thought I was not a real nurse or that I was more like a CNA.

I'm currently in my second semester of an online post-masters CNS program at Purdue University Calumet. So far I love it; the professors (at least the ones I've met so far) are very knowledgeable and obviously enjoy educating students. I did have to physically visit the school for a few days for the health assessment class, but other than that, its completely online. They do also have a traditional CNS online program (BSN to MSN) and financially they're not too expensive. My two classes last semester ran me about 2800 and that was 7 credit hours; this semester was 2400 for 6 credit hours. It's still part of Purdue, but cheaper because its not the main campus.

Sorry for the appearance of the above post. Tried to separate paragraphs, but it didn't work and couldn't edit the post. Arrggghh!

Hi Rya and welcome! I do a lot of staff development/education as part of my job and I typically use a multitude of venues for communication. It depends on what the education/message is though and if it requires more of a hands-on or in-person approach versus just sending an email or posting in a general area. So, for instance we require certain stroke education yearly to maintain our primary stroke center status. I choose the web-based modules and/or inservices that will be required of my staff (I cover two units) and I typically decide on a due date; though the general hospital expectation is just to get it done by the end of the year, I prefer to staff to have it done at least 1-2 months early and the unit managers hold them accountable to this. I usually create a flier with the requirements and due dates and post in prominent places on the unit in addition to emailing it and announcing it at staff meetings and practice council meetings. On the other hand, we changed our process for initiating and maintaining certain high risk medication drips so that required written information via email to supplement me doing 1:1 and small huddles with staff. We have permanent charge nurses who basically function as assistant managers, so they serve as unit resources for any new education during off shifts, therefore I prep them more in depth ahead of time and always in person.Essentially you have to look at what needs to be disseminated and determine the best method based on your resources. Budget is obviously a big concern all over which is why I utilize our charge nurses as resources on off shifts to avoid staff needing to come in on their off days. Rather, they can get the education while they are already at work if possible.