Asia53

Answer #1: The room isn't being bombarded with radiation--just around the patient's groin. Radium is an ionizing radiation (like X-ray), it passes right through you. Unless you're working very close for a very long time, then the danger to you increases. Answer #2:Lead aprons would be nice, but as long as visitors keep a reasonable distance, they should be fine. Usually, facilities have protocols on radiation safety. Answer #4:Cervical implant---she's not going to pee these out. I hope this helps. Asia :)

While in Nursing School, I had to work full-time, 48 to 56 hours/week. My old job was ending. Management had given us ample warning of closure, hence, nursing school. They also paid for Nursing School. No part-time option. Frankly, I made too much money to quit. I averaged 2-3 hours of sleep, if I was lucky, and studied during the day-- 4-5 hours. I'd study when I could--half/hour here, 2-3 hours there. I learned to make flash cards. I carried my books everywhere. If I could have laminated the books, showered with them, I would have. I studied in my car while stuck in traffic, waiting for a snowplow to clear roads, just about any spare moment. My first Clinical Instructor gave me some valuable advice about grades. "No one is ever going to ask you if you made an A in Med-Surg." My grades were average--not spectacular--just average.

Because, they conveniently leave off the word--"experienced"---experienced nursing shortage. :grn:

No, Jackie, that's not what Prestige means. You start Nursing School--I promise you, after your first clinical rotation---you'll understand exactly what Prestige is saying. You're about to enter a world that makes absolutely no sense, plays by its own rules, and the rules change without notice. The very best of luck to you! Remember, leave all your illusions at home--they won't help you.

Exactly! I have a Nurse/Educator friend, and she told me the very same thing---almost word for word. Plus--high failure rate in 1st year Nursing makes the school look bad. As to people having a degree, and being able to get a job with the degree---that depends on the degree. I know a woman with an Ethnic Studies degree-----no job at all, not a single job offer in the year since she graduated. She's applied everywhere, and some places, she shouldn't have applied.

They only hire BSN's. My school has tried for years to get ped's clinicals for students. Absolutely, won't do ADN programs.

I hope you and wife really research her desire to live in the mountains. As a Colorado resident, I can't tell you how many people I've seen --- really, really want to live in the mountains. Then reality sets in---astronomical rents, even higher prices on houses, high gasoline price, high propane cost, much, much higher food costs. Bear in mind, everything for the mountain communities has to be trucked in. Nothing, nothing is just down the street, around the corner. As to pedi units, well, not alot of kids in the mountains, remember, this is a "rich" person's playground. Most of the workforce for the resorts are bought in for the season, single, college kids--usually, 19 to 30 years old. (This season has been bad--layoffs. Not lack of snow---lack of patrons.) Plus stiff, stiff competition for jobs---this is where alot of people want to live. (For the life of me, I don't know why. ) Usually, mountain communities have regional hospitals, Kremmling, Carbondale, to name two, there's a few. Also have a look at communities near the mountains--Montrose, Grand Junction, etc ,(known as the Western Slope). Most people live on the Front Range, and commute to recreational activities. It's a matter of money, you know. It's very hard to get hired into the Fort Collins hospital system--Poudre Valley Health System---once again, because everyone wants to live there. Good luck to you and the wife!

I really like the way you think--very good answer for that particular question.

Excellent damage control!!!!

Some people only have taste in their mouths!

The guys liked DH because, it's a very busy place, lots of things going on all the time. DH is a love/hate thing---either you really love it, or you really hate it.

It's really hard to answer your question. Do you just want to get a foot in the door? Now bear in mind, I haven't worked as a nurse at these facilities, but I've done clinicals at most of them. If you want a chance to expand your horizons--shoot for St Joseph's, or St Luke/Pysb. St Joseph is a tri-hospital system (Exempla), they're tied to Lutheran, and Good Samaritan. If you want anything, Denver Health's ER is known as the "knive and gun club" on Friday, and Saturday nights. My male classmates loved Denver Health. St Anthony's, I can't speak from personal experience, but most of my classmates didn't like the bureaucracy. I don't know anything about Colorado Springs. Good luck!

Hi JLForever, I can answer your question about Boulder. The city of Boulder only has one hospital---Boulder Community Hospital, they have satellite facilities around town. As far as I know, Boulder Community isn't fond of hiring new grad nurses. I live in Boulder, when I pass NCLEX, there is no way, I'll be able to work in Boulder. Since, Boulder is the "place to live", they have no problem attracting nurses with experience. Plus, Boulder is a university town, very expensive to live here. Your best bet is to go on-line, and look for hospitals in Denver , or surrounding suburbs---St Joseph's, St Luke/Presbyterian, Porter, Lutheran --to name a few. Those four hospitals are pretty good about hiring new grads. Good luck! Asia P.S. Hope you and little one come out just fine. :wink2:

I was wondering about that myself. Hmm, must be a bunch of half-dead people running around, or would that be half-alive????

We were split between 2 floors, 3rd and 4th semester. Our CI was a phone call away, in the building, and checked with us constantly. If she absolutely couldn't make it to our floor, we'd ask our assigned nurse. Most times, the nurse would help. If the nurse was uncooperative, we'd tell our CI, she'd switch us to another nurse, more considerate of students. I was left alone on the floor once, in 2nd semester clinicals. My CI and I didn't click at all. She spent all her time helping my fellow students on another floor. I'm not the type of person to waste opportunity, nor let a little favortism stand in my way. I'd talk to my nurse, they'd make sure I was busy, and learning tons of stuff. No way could I complain about my CI, she was the daughter-in-law of the Assistant Director of Nursing. It's not normal to be left alone 1st semester. 1st semester is a critical time.