alltsonm

I use both. I prefer the manual but the automatic is used as a patient teaching tool as I transition them to buying and monitoring their own bp.. and sometimes to check if I have trouble hearing with the manual cuff. Wrist one I also have for a teaching tool where I teach patients not to trust them unless they have synchronized them with the cuff at the md office and with the homecare manual readings

With your background, it may not be long before you take a management position inside the HH company which allows for field supervision, or to become a trainer -also has some field supervision. You can mix it up. But in HH there is paperwork galore at night....the day may be easier but the nights of computer documentation may take an additional 2-3 hours easily (emails, scheduling, phonecalls, md orders meds to update transfer forms etc)

that's so funny! If you have to ask, then you are'nt ready for the answer. Anyway, up to elbows in pooo isnt the worst as there are so many other things that can be happening all at the same time and you are being stretched in 5 different directions, you just have to have a good sense of humor, focus on where you plan to be 6 months from now, and then it is all good. consider dookie like boot camp

lordy lordy I graduated with honors last June. Got my first job on the night shift at a local hospital and learned lots but the hours and unfriendly management was worse than the one year in an accelerated nursing program. Fortunately with the training I landed a job much more suitable for my lifestyle only 7 months later. Nursing school was WORTH EVERY SWEAT AND TEAR AND DOUGHNUT AND FAT POUND gained!!!!! Good luck. my ancient website with hints to get through is http://alltsonm.tripod.com/nursing.htm My most proud moment is that EVERY ONE in my class of 39 graduated. A couple are still trying to pass the NCLEX test but I am sure that will happen even this late in the game. Suck it up and remember there is so much at stake. Don't give up on your desire to be a nurse. The opportunities are great if you allow yourself to jobhop a bit.

I graduated from OU nursing last June....website http://alltsonm.tripod.com/nursing.htm just finished a job night shift from the worst experience I could ever imagine. It was not for me and management was totally from MARS. Now I am into a totally wonderful position which makes nursing school and every sacrifice worth every second of stress. I wish you the best. Hang in there because a year or two of hell is definitely worth the reward down the road. Your suffering will be well rewarded.

The comprehensive ATI is not a big deal if you have done well with each ATI all along. If that is the case, you have already found out what works for you. For me and for many, we used Saunders Q & A NCLEX-RN as a practice tool. Just keep the book with you and practice a bunch of questions every time you have a moment.

I work at Beaumont Royal Oak. What I learned is that many of the poorest serviced hospitals pay the highest salaries. Serviced means poor technology, patients with lousy insurance so that by the time they show up for help there isn't much that can be done, and the physicians and medical options are often not top notch. At Beaumont, my humble opinion, the equipment, medicines, physicians, and available procedures and tests are really excellent (at least in the top 10 for the state - just a guess) but the working atmosphere (salary, benefits, team work, fellowship, room for advancement, opportunity for salary raises, and overall pay) is mediocre. Others in different units are welcome to argue. I would like to see if others find this not true. And by the way, are salaries outside the hospital setting always worse? I have heard that to work in a large private practice (several MD's and a staff of maybe 10 or 15 ) pay the poorest of all.

Yeah - I started work there in June. $24.03 - no secret. There is a educational allowance like $200/year for CE, and maybe up to $1200 per year for advanced degree classes. Benefits like retirement and 403B are pretty poor. Look at the whole package when you compare facilities. Parking is free. Cafeteria food is expensive The chance to get a raise is really limited due to this new pay for performance program. some hospitals pay more but you have to consider a lot of factors. Your happiness is always number one.

my shoes were $30 from Kohls and I am 58, and work 12 1/2 hour shifts at Beaumont... they are fine my books were all amazon used or ebay I had no pda (but would highly recommend one) supplies were scrounged from around the house and kids except I paid top dollar for poster board fold-out type (but recycled it for several uses) and uniforms were under $70 (two tops and one bottom and one lab coat - but would suggest you buy one more of each). I kept my part-time job of like 12 hours a month you know some people have a family to run so can't work, some have no money but use loans and pack meals. This is an investment in your future and so important to maintain your sanity, confidence, sleep and health....Do what it takes to keep yourself on track

GO To alltsonm.tripod.com/nursing.htm for a random list. buy lots of used review books cheap shoes lots of muffins and pens and invest in 3 printers and a printer ink company

yeah.... I posted a list of supplies and stuff on my website: alltsonm.tripod.com/nursing.htm I kept my stethoscope up until my first week as a real nurse and it was promptly stolen. Another student had his "disappear" his first month in nursing school so enjoy buying an expensive stethoscope. Now I won't pay more than $20 and am getting a screaming yellow one from e-bay.... until then, Beaumont freebies will have to suffice (can't be worth more than $15 and are really weak but do the job on my unit). PDA's have a tendency to walk too so keep yours hooked on your keychain or belt or whatever.

currently there are 58 credit hours required for the accelerated program at a cost of $252.50 per credit hour. Add $100 orientation fee, $140 times 4 for ATI test, add cost of books at $300 times 4 plus CPR course, drug screen police check, uniforms, laboratory kit (roughly $70) and those physicals, medical screens and the "hidden extra credit fees for pathophysiology, nutrition, and pharmacology (another like 8 credits) and the fees go up to like $20,000 for the program.... It is a bargain I guess if you feel cost is the only issue. I warn you that you "only get what you pay for" and education, quality of teaching, facilities etc are no different than any other commodity. Consider driving time, student satisfaction, and other factors too.

I would recommend the traditional program and not the accelerated program (I just completed) if you have a choice and are young. That way you can work in summers and part time etc and get a better experience.

If you want to work in ICu pick a hospital that takes students from your program into the ICU for the final 140-170 hours preceptorship experience. And also check to see if they hire directly into ICU... It is most important to do your homework about those 2 points. Then get hired as a nurse teck and you will be happy

I just finished at Oakland U accel program and all 39 of us graduated (no drop outs, no flunk outs) this past June. I recall that maybe 6 worked as nurse tecks. Their hospitals were kind to work with their schedules. A number of us had other jobs (resp teck, tennis officiating, volley ball coach and more). It can be done but you need to be really focused and motivated. The reward for being a nurse teck is first consideration for a job at that hospital when you graduate, extra experience with the medical field to help you in your class and clinical work, and probably a better chance of working at a different hospital due to your experience. If you struggle too much in your initial studies (you cant work as a nurse teck til you finish med/surg I), you will know that is not for you. Send your resumes in on-line, or visit job fairs at your school or area hospitals, or just shadow or call human resources to get started.