A_Simp

I am considering the RN to MSN (Educator) program and would like to start in January. Any insights into the school would be helpful. I think I have it narrowed down to Capella vs Grand Canyon. I also hold a non nursing BS with tons of educational experience outside of healthcare.

I couldn't agree more! Having worked in business in career #1 & #2 (NSG #3), I am amazed hospitals and mgmt do not apply effective, employee retention strategies from other industries. Makes no sense to me why there can not be a mentoring process for new grads or employess, where senior or more experience nurses are able to cultivate the newer ones. Seem like win-win to me - job satisfaction for Sr RNs and desperately needed support/education for new RNs. Also, if the culture and environment of the unit/business is satisfying then most people will overlook the negatives and even work for less $$, are more productive and stay longer. Just my .

Sounds like what I'm looking for. too bad it's not electronic.

Thanks for the posts. Any info on titration would be helpful too. As an example, we had a pt on cardizem 10mg/hr and my preceptor changed it to 5mg/hr then off. I realized some drips you only titrated 1-2 mg or mcg at a time and then need to monitor VS q15min, etc. Any guidence or generalized parameters would be great.

I just started working on a progressive care unit and want to know if anyone has a good link, resource, study guide or cheat sheet on drips - cardizem, amiodrione, heparin, etc? I ultimately would love an Excel spreadsheet with all the info on it so I could keep it with me at work. If not, I'll eventually make my own. I've tried to search through my hospital policies but have not be able to find any guidence for titration, VS frequency, etc. Thanks for your help! I'm sure I'll get a lot of great tips!

There 2 hosptial system in Charlotte - Novant Health (Presbyterian) and Carolina's Medical Center (CMC). CMC is the teaching hospital is Presbyterian is non-teaching/private.

Where I work in MASS, our order set is written q8 until peak but we stop if neg x2 or possibly 3. Hope that helps!

Interesting blog! From my own experience, it did take 3 yrs for me to complete my RN - 1 yr for the pre reqs and the other 2 yr for the NSG courses. I realize there is quite a bit of debate regarding ASN vs BSN but for my particular situation, I all ready have a AS and BS in another field and found the ASN route the most cost effective approach to earning my RN. In my area of the country and hospital there is no $$ difference or distinction unless I am looking to grow into management or education position. Out of the 30 or so students from my nursing class about 3/4 of us had all ready obtained degrees in other subject areas. One classmate had a MS in guidance, another MS in history and was a teacher. I believe the ASN route is a good option for 2nd or 3rd career changers, who's goal is to getting into bedside NSG. After they are licensed and get their feet wet, they can continue onward with their education, while taking advantage of tuition programs through their employer. ASN vs BSN is not an accurate comparision because of what I mentioned above about 2nd or 3rd career changers. Most are older, non-traditional students, including myself, offering a diverse skill set and life expierences. In my own case, I was a business consultant for a franshise company and had to develop relationships with franchisees in order to educated them on how to operate all facets of running a sucessful business. In addition, I am a certified, FAA flight instructor and responsible for devolping flight training cirruculm as well as assisting students to develop critical thinking and technical skills in order to obtain their pilot licenses. When you're up in the air flying and there is an emergency or situation, you just can't stop and pull over to work the problem out. Unfortunately, instead of looking at a person as the "Whole Package" and really seeing all that they have to offer, we are relegated and at times, unfairly judged just by the type of NSG degrees we hold - ASN or BSN.

The American Red Cross offers a program. I did min through Winchester hospital and I think Lahey Clinic might have one. Not sure about any of the downtown hospitals. The cost is between $500-$800.

Hi Mandy, You are right... the job market is tight for new grads right now. However in 5 years the climate might be a very different and there may be an abundance of positions. In the meantime, I would focus on your pre-reqs and your classes. I strongely recommend working as an aide in the hospital, while going to school for a few different reasons. 1. It gives you "Real World" exposure to what nursing is all about. 2. You can apply what you area learning about in school. 3. You have an opportunity to refine your skills. 4. Most hospitals like to hire their own when you graduate. Look into getting your CNA license. Some hosptials offer a program or go through the American Red Cross. Once licensed, apply for positions at hospitals with NICUs that you want to work at. That way you will get your foot in the door and well be able to demonstrate to them why they should hire you when you graduate. Good Luck!

At our facility, we only access PICC lines 2x a day and flush with 10cc NS. Porta caths are accessed by the IV nurse. Luckily, on my floor we don't see too many porta caths just PICCs or Vas Caths.

I made my last post before you posted but so far I have not seen much of a difference between ASN vs BSN with the exeption of going into management and administrative roles. There are some practice area that might require additional training to work in such as OR, critical care and giving chemo but after you pass the NCLEX, we all are "RNs" and are able to practice according the state's nursing practice act. What is big is becoming Board Certified in your speciality such as oncology, cardiology, critical care, med/surg, etc. Once you have worked and met the experience requirements you can sit for the certification exam and become board certified. I think CCLEM1 is correct saying you will need to determine what is right for you and your lifestyle. Most ASN programs have a majority of non-traditional students going back for the 2 or 3 career change and they all ready have some type of degree, which was true in my case. Most also were juggling married life, kids and working on top of school even more so if you attending the evening/weekend programs. I ended up taking out student loans and my ASN ended up costing about $18,000. If I continue on for RN-BSN, I calculated it would be about another $10,000 through UMass Boston. However, I am entilted to $2,000yr in tuition reimbursement and my hosptial just started a "Student Loan Forgiveness" for those pursuing higher degrees (BSN,MSN), offering I think about $5,000. So there are some creative ways to be able to minimize your costs.

Wow! Lots of great questions... Where to start.... the loan forgivness. I can't really speak to the LM/RC program but I do know a few of my classmates did it maybe 3-5 out of 30. What I did was get my CNA license (red cross) and began working as an aide about 6 months before I started nursing school. At the hospital where I work, they offered tuition reimbursement as a benefit, prorated to part-time employees. I think I was allowed $1,000 per school yr but it certainly helped with books, etc. I believe most hospitals have some type of reimbursement for employees provided you meet the time requirement. Also, once you are licensed most hosptial actually have a "student loan forgivness", at my hospital they give you $10,000 towards your school loans, once hired as an RN, provided you commit to working for 4 yrs. If you leave sooner you have to repay a portion of the $$. What's different about the ASN vs BSN? I have really looked too closely at the courses. I know if I want to go on for my BSN and since I all ready have a BS, it looks like the additional course work would be mostly nursing theory, research and I think community health. Depending on the program I can take a challenge test to obtain credits for pharmacology and nutrition. Some RN-BSN programs require a language and in my case, I would need to take a stats course. What I have found is there really is not too much difference in terms of pay scale if you are an ASN vs a BSN. However, most if not all Boston hospitals want a BSN. Also, if you want to grow in the field into an educator, management or administration position then you definately will need to continue onward. Like the other posters I too had all my prereqs completed and only had to focus on the nursing courses. There are 4 nursing courses in the LM/RC program and I took 1 per 16-week semester. I had 2 other classes I needed, which I did over the summer months. Good Luck and keep us posted!

Bananrob, it wasn't my intention to scare you and I feel bad. I finished in May 08 and the majority of my class found jobs. I few people decided to take the summer off and start their job hunt later but I think they are all working now. Since then, the job market has tightened up. I would definately suggest getting a job as an Aide/Tech (as soon as you are qualified to) at a hospital you want to work at so you can get your name on the "New" grad list when you complete school. It will also expose you to the environment and give you plenty to observe. Going back to school as a parent was definately challenging. Luckily, my husband was very supportive and picked up alot of the "home" duties - laundry, market, kids to school, etc. I also worked 20hr as week as an aide in the hospital - 12hr on Sundays and an evening shift during the week. Looking back, I don't know how I did it. I think a big part of getting through school is prioritzing, time management and support system (not unlike being an RN). Perhaps the admissions dept could arrange for you to speak with students in the program to get some more insight. Let me know if you have any other questions I might be able to help you with.

I have to agree with CCLEM1 on cost. When I went to school the 1st time, I also did the CC route for my AS then onto my BS. There was considerable $$ savings. Most ASN programs have articulation agreements with BSN programs to ensure a smooth tranisition to getting your BSN or MSN. Another factor is really the time commitment you can dedicate to the course. When I started nursing school my kids were 4 & 6 months and it was a real grind. During the program, my classmates and I would always ask "how do they do it?" about the accelerated programs to which many of my classmates had been accepted to. There is alot material covered and a very small amount of time and at a very fast pace. If you fall behind it can snowball very quickly. I know the pace I need to keep covering the material, acquiring my skills and praticing those skills over a 2 yr time period. It was gruelling! I'm glad there are all sorts of options for people getting into and growing in the nursing field. I guess everyone will need to find the right fit for them. Now after working as an RN for a yr, I'm looking into RN to BSN and with my 1st degree I don't think I'll have too much to do (1-1.5yr part-time). So far, UMass Boston looks like the best $$ deal and most of it can be done online.