RamaMama

I am considering making a move from hospital L&D/postpartum position to the Nurse Family Partnership Visiting nurse program. I had an interview and get to do a ride along with a nurse Tuesday, and am hoping for the job offer afterwards! I have done lots of research on the program and think it will be a great fit for me. I know this will be a pay cut, I'm just not sure how much yet. I hear the benefits are good. Anyone out there currently work for this non profit program? Wondering if there might be an opportunity for slightly higher salary in lieu of health insurance, as I am on my husbands package. I'd love to hear more about salary ranges and benefits, as well as your favorite and least favorite parts of the job. I am in Michigan. Thanks in advance for any insight!

I am not a working nurse yet...just moved and passed boards but no job yet, just reviewing some material a friend who is working gave me and originally at first glance thought I would need help since many were ICU drugs that I had no experience with (and had the questions but no answers to them). Being impatient, I thought it might take a while to get responses and know if I had done them correctly, so I asked for answers up front, not realizing this was unacceptable. Once I worked the problems, I realized the ones I posted were super easy and didn't require help. I can see how it would look like a student looking for answers to homework, but seriously, I am not stupid enough to think that simply getting answers to questions, without the knowledge of actually knowing HOW to do them, would be of any benefit to me. Thank you though for the support!

Ok...forgive me for jumping the gun on these...I was thinking I'd post before even working the problems out thinking it would take a while to get responses, so I posted and then worked on about 10 problems and realized the ones I posted are silly easy and I didn't actually need help. The cardizem one, LOL Ok I deserved getting ragged on for that, the integrilin one we actually have a dose/wt based chart to use...my intentions were sincere in that I was going to work them out, then come back to see if my answers matched. Anyway..thanks to those who did not "eat" me. I will think twice before asking more dumb questions. We honestly did not do some of these type of calculations in nursing school!

Hi, I'm a new grad and would like to know the answers to some calculations to know if I am doing them right. 1. Cardizem ordered at 15mg/hr. Concentration 100mg/100ml of 0.9 NS. What do I run the pump at? 2. Integrilin orders 2mcg/kg/min (pt is 60kg). What rate will the pump be set at? 3. Bumex to be administered at 1mg/hr. Concentration 12.5mg in a 50ml bag. Pump set at? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

I was thinking about that...but this is the way they do it on the unit, including my preceptor. Thanks for your help!

Thanks for the reply. I guess I should mention that the scenario I am referring to is not when you are changing the secondary bag to the exact same med but when you are changing to a new med, say a different antibiotic than what was originally hanging. So rather than change the tubing, back prime to flush all the old antibiotic out of the line, and then spiking the new antibiotic. Does that make sense?

Hello, I am a student currently assigned to ICU. I'm a little confused about how to backprime, I hadn't seen this untill this rotation. I understand you drop the secondary bag down lower than the primary bag so the primary solution flushes the saline or other fluid through the secondary line so that you do not have to change/waste tubing. Do you hold the old secondary bag down low (both primary/secondary unclamped) till fluid flows into the bag and then clamp the line, raise it back up and spike a new secondary bag, unclamp and you are ready to go? Thanks in advance for any clarification.

Ok now I get it! So in this case VTBI would be 60, correct? Thank you Chare!

Thank you for the quick replies. I am not familiar with their pumps yet but they are the newer "smart" pumps I believe by Alaris. Anyway, I guess everything I need to set the pump would be right on the bag, because it was a 50ml bag, and the ml/hr (120) was given as well as the time to infuse over (30 min). So then there is nothing to calculate at all? I thought the nurse said their was only one calculation to do, but I can't figure out what that would be with all three pieces of info given on the bag. So I would enter rate as 120, VTBI 50, and I think the machine does the rest, I don't think it asked for the time, just rate and VTBI. Hope I have this right, thanks again!

Hi! I'm a student rotating through ICU and have a question. If the antibiotic bag reads 120mL/hr to be infused over 30 minutes, what do I set the infusion rate at? Is 240ml/hr correct? Thanks!

Hi Brian, For uniforms I've gone to the outlet mall in Howell and Life uniforms across from Genesse Valley mall, which is where we can buy our patches. The outlet wasn't really any cheaper. Both were sketchy with sizes, but I managed to find two sets that will work. Are you going to be at the welcome ceremony? I'll take you up on the offer to borrow the pharm book, if you don't mind. Maybe I can get it from you on our first day of classes? I just finished the health stream modules last night, and got most of my books online. Still have to get my patches put on. It sucks that we go back before Labor day, my kids don't go back until after. Rachele

Hi Brian, I received the registration email also, have you checked the bookstore's list for the required books for NUR 240? It's insane! There are like 11 required books! The good thing is most of them are paperbacks, so not super expensive. I may take you up on the offer to borrow the pharm book! Are you taking research in nursing this fall? I took it spring, and have the book if you need it. I am planning on going to the welcome ceremony, are you? Yes, I think the class/clinical sections are pre-assigned. If you want to switch, maybe email the BSNx2 list and see if anyone would want to trade sections? Did you get the email from Maris about the cisco training? That is pre-assigned too, but she said if anyone had conflicts to email her. Rachele

I am a Christian, but I think that regardless of what religion or type of prayer was taking place, it would be fine by me if it helped the patient. Even if it was muslim or to some other God that I don't believe in. I would not feel comfortable verbally participating, but to just be their and hold their hand, I think I'd be ok with that, as long as they were not praying to satan. Just my thoughts. Since it has bothered you for such a long time, I'd just have a pre-prepared comment you can politely use if the situation were to arise again. I can see your side as well, being somewhat annoyed by the doctor, but not the patient.

Hi Brian, I will have Mrs Smith for Pharm this fall. It looks like the study guide to accompany the text is recommended but not required. Did you find it helpful? I bought the study guide for patho this spring, but there was so much to read from the regular text that I never had time to even look at the study guide manual. I am both excited and dreading (being broke) the next 16 months! Have you applied for financial aid? Do you have your health forms completed? I faxed mine this week. Had to have a tetorifice booster that hurt for a week... I kid you not!!! LOL Rachele

Congrats! That is great news! So how is Pharm going? We had our first patho exam yesterday and it was tough! I'm a bit worried about pharm in fall. Who do you have as an instructor, and are they good? Rachele

Hi Brian, That is great news that you most likely have a spot! Since you are working in a hospital you probably already have a lot of the things you need before starting the program, such as CPR for health professionals, TB test, Tetorifice shot. You may want to go to the nursing dept website and print off the health form, that will let you know everything you need to complete by the July 15th deadline. As soon as you get the acceptance you can fill out the background check info online, which is very quick and simple, Maris can give you the form with all the info on it. At the orientation they gave us info about uniforms, which is basically navy scrubs and white lab coat. We need to complete a 6 hours computer training course at Hurley before beginning clinicals late August. We were assigned our sections for clinicals and courses for fall semester, but we can't register until July 15 so you have time to get all that info from Maris. You'll have to let me know how pharm goes, I have to take that in the fall, which is why I am taking research now. Take care and keep us posted!

Hey Brian, How did micro go for you? Have you heard anything more from UM Flint? Are you taking any spring classes? Where did you take Patho? I'm taking it this spring along with research in nursing, at UM Flint. Take care, Rachele

Thanks for the info. Were your clinicals during day shift? Are you working in the area? Take care, Rachele

Hi Brian, I went to EMU for my first degree in Sports Medicine. I am a certified athletic trainer, but working as a personal trainer. I worked in Physical therapy for a couple years, then Fenton Fitness for 8 years, and just recently went on my own when I started my prereq's. So what hospital are you at? I'd love to learn more about becoming a nurse extern, especially if I don't get in this time around. Are you applying anywhere else? Rachele

Same here. Right now I'm taking A&P II and Developmental Psych at Mott C.C. Have you taken Pharm or Pathophysiology yet? If I get in I'll have to get those done this spring/summer. Are you working in the nursing field? Do you like it? It's nice to find someone else to "wait" with!

Hi there fellow Michiganders! Where are you planning to apply? I am waiting for a decision from U of M Flint 2nd degree accelerated program, should know early March. Currently taking A & P II and Developmental psych at Mott community college.

Hi there! I applied to the U of M Flint 2nd degree program. I believe all the clinicals are through Hurley. I don't know how many applications they recieved, when I asked I was told "alot". Knowing there are only 27 spots per year for the 2nd degree program, I am nervous! I was told the same thing about letters being sent out early March, and that you receive a letter either way. Which program did you apply to? Waiting is always the hardest part! Please be sure to post when you get your letter!

I'm not even in nursing school yet so this may be way off... could the swelling of hands be due to an RA flare? Let us know if you find the answer!

Somewhere I remember reading the average baby was 7.8 ounces and born at 2pm. This stuck in my head because my first child was 7.8 ounces and born at 2:02PM. Don't remember where I read it though!