BunkyRN

I don't feel like a nurse at work, I feel like a waitress... Are you sure I am a nurse ????

Thanks for the responses.. We always have the MD in the room for sedation, and it is funny that we NOW cant push propofol, but the doctor can... even though the doctor is in the room. Well, when I worked in SICU, we titrated our propofol and it wasn't locked up like PCA's or epidurals were.. but that was 5 yrs ago. Do you think the whole Michael Jackson thing stirred this one up, or am I just dreaming ? haha

I was wondering what other nurses use for their bedside conscious sedation. Where I am at we are no longer allowed to push propofol. So we end up using etomidate often. I have a friend who is a CRNA and he thinks thats just nuts ! Just curious - Thanks

I got back from OBLC-RC 2 weeks ago.... it was a pretty awesome experience.... looking back !!! But be glad glad that you aren't going in the summer (if you got bumped).... it will be miserably hot. It was gross most of the time when I was there in April !!!! They are doing away with the summer class next year. I can't believe that people would pick to go then. UGH !!! If you have questions.. I'll try to answer them. I will put down some recommendations.. to start with : 1. bring 2 pair of boots (and only 1 pair to the field)... keep one pair (a very comfy one) for the field. And leave the others for garrison 2. only bring 2 sets if uniforms to the field and only change your undershirt,socks, undies... everyday. Be awesome and try to make it to being in the 5 day club. And THEN... keep that uniform for field use only (after that) 3. bring lots of extra t-shirts and socks. Blister banaids, moleskin plus and good first aid tape for your feet. Its no walk in the park... but it isn't like enlisted basic.. have fun and take lots and lots of pics and video's... You'll be glad you did !

I just got back from the OBLC-RC 2 weeks ago... totally take your car if your not too far away. You'll be in the field m-f for 3 weeks regardless if your reserve or not. But you will have your "diagnostic" PT test the 2nd day you are there. I recommend that you pass this. Only because it will follow you to your unit if your a reservist and if your not... you will have to pass it in order to graduate. I had to do combative training instead (because I passed PT)... but lots of people went to PT instead... I would of rather done PT to keep up the fitness. They don't check when your in the field. The focus of OBLC is to learn the soldering skills all soldiers should know. Compared to people who went to OBLC years ago, it is much better now. It used to be a retreat... now its actual learning of what you are supposed to be... a soldier first and foremost. I totally feel sorry for you if your going in Summer... it will be hotter then heck there.... It was rainy and muggy and hot the majority of the time I was there. And since there are no showers at Camp Bullis... ugh ! Well.... they are taking out the summer class next year... and they also said once they get showers out there..... OBLC will be in the field for 21 days.... and that is coming from the Maj.... !!!! yikes ! Well.... lots have and do it for longer... Don't worry about PT... but I do stress that being in shape will help you... being in the field is really physical because you have to wear the full ACU and you'll have your LBE with all your gear on it... always have your M16 on you, and your gas mask..(which is a pain in the butt !!! cause it weighs about 3 pounds or so itself)... and your usually carrying around your ruck too with your gear in it. And your doing alot of walking and tasking.... all day long. If you have anymore questions... feel free to ask ! Good Luck.... the instructors there are super awesome to work with ! My favorite was..... "Hamburger" ... you'll totally get it once you are there ! :wink2:

I was wanting to know if anyone out there knows about an online program for RN's with their 2 yr degree and a BS in another field.... I just got my packet from Froniter School of Nursing and their program seems pretty good... but after I read all the admission criteria I was thinking !!!! :uhoh21: Because I would have to take an advanced statistics course.... YIKES !!! what the heck would that involve ? I suck at that stuff ! Any other leads on other programs from anyone out there... ???? Thanks !

Hi there ! I am a research nurse and maybe can give you some help. I work as a clinical research coordinator (CRC). You dont have to be a nurse to do this job but you do need medical experience... which you have. I work for a group of doctors that do pharmacutical research. My job is that I coordinate and basically run the study. Currently I have the following studies : 2 B/P studies, a pneumonia vaccine, vero-cell derived flu vaccine and an adolescent migraine PK study. I see the patients and do their visits according to the protocal guidelines. At my job we have people that run regulatory, lab, recruitment and data entry. Some CRC's have to do all that themselves. Just depends on the doc you work for and how many studies they conduct. We do alot of screenings and patient education and follow up work. It is a nice environment to work in. We get to travel to the Investigator Meetings with the PI (primary investigator) to learn about the study and the protocal. Its requires good assessment skills and a good knowledge of your general medical stuff (meds, labs, disease processes). There is a butt load of paperwork that comes along with the job. You have CRA's (clinical research associates) that come to "monitor" your study and go thru every word in your source (charts) and make sure that they are in compliance with the FDA. If this is something that you think you would like, do a search for jobs with that title and see what comes up. I so don't blame you about the bedside nursing, I did it for 9 years.... the only thing is typically we dont make alot of money and are salary. But it beats wiping up poo and dealing with crazy family members (who just dont get it !) !

thanks for the pics ! I really enjoyed them.... I'll be at OBLC in April 09 !!! Hoorah !

Hi there, there is a NICU nurse in my reserve unit and she is classified as a 66H (med/surg) nurse in my unit. I would recommend OR if your thinking about the army. There is not much of a need for NICU nurses in the army reserves (if your thinking reserves).

Hey there, Congrats to you. I'm a 66H in the reserves (only had one drill so far) and I spoke with a few others in my unit who recently completed OBLC and this is what they told me: You are now mostly in the field the whole time. You are not really doing your job while there... your learning to be a solidger. It didn't seem like they learned alot of leadership skills. You were out in the field during the whole week and had class room stuff on weekends. You already know your job... therefore you wont practice it while at OBLC. All of the officer I talked to told me that as an officer in the army, you are in charge of your career there.... you have to be proactive and seek out things to do to have a "good year". (muta points) And lemme tell you, your tour of duty is (as of now) if your deployed is 12 months .... but its really 15 because you have training before you deploy that you have to do prior to your deploy time starts. You only deploy for those 90 day deals if your a CRNA or a DR. No different what type of RN you are. If you do a voluntary deployment..... it could be a different story. Hope that helps.

It is Sgt Ramsey in that office. Maj Massaligia has also helped me alot. She is based out of that office but lives in Wichita like me.

I just swore in with my commission in May.... I know that they check your credit (cant be having bill collectors running after you !)...... My AMED recruiter is in KC. He was pretty helpful on letting me know what to put in and leave out. I'm sure they just wanna make sure your not a person wanted by the law ! What exactly are you concerned about ?

Hey there ! I was a SANE nurse for 4 years and DID NOT start out in the ER...... but I eventually wound up there and loved it ! I started out as a med/surg nurse when I started my job as a sane. So ..... no you dont HAVE to be an ER nurse. I would say that you should be a nurse for at least a year so you do have the assessment skills needed to be a sane. Keep doing the advocate work, that will expose you to more cases and keep you in the loop with the sexual assault working world. I did the on-call thing, even as an ER nurse.... I was just able to work in the ER and do my on call time while working, as someone would come in a take over my ER load when I had a case that would come in.... therefore I didnt have to give up so much of my free time to be on call. Because..... after a while you cherish your free time and dont want to spend it all on call ! Just a word of the wise. The assessment skills are critical to have (and not the ones you learn in school...) because it takes time and experience to learn these.... you learn them by working in any unit. You generally work alone when doing cases (I have never had another nurse work a case with me) and you need to have this time and skill before you can tackle such an important job. Good Luck with your schooling..... if you have the desire..... you can make it happen.

Hi there, I was a SANE nurse for 4 years. I would recommend that you find out where you can take the 40 hour sane/sart course in your area and start there. They usually require you to have a couple years of nursing experience (for assessment purposes) because you usually work alone on cases. It depends on who is hiring and what the needs and requirements of a sane/sart program in your area. I would also recommend that you look for a program and meet with the director. Most forensic nurses are sexual assault nurse examiners, unless your looking for death investigation in particular. If that is the case, they usually want a good amount of experience and usually with an ER background. I hope that helps you. Holla if you have any more questions. I have a degree in criminal justice as well.... so maybe I can help you out !

Hello there ! I will have to check out your pics. Hope the rest of your OBLC goes well. I sign my papers for commission this weekend, but I am a reservist. Great to hear it from the front lines ! I'm totally excited for this experience and totally wonder what OBLC will be like. Are you at Ft. Sam Houston ? I know that reserve training is only 25 days.... I have done the research as well..... have you done MOP4 training yet ? Thanks for your info.... you'll do great and be soooo glad on grad day ! BunkyRN :nuke: