HouTx BSN, MSN, EdD

Critical Care, Education

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All Content by HouTx

  1. HouTx

    Feeling so defeated

    Your nursing education is an individual journey - not a group activity. Although it may be comforting to belong to a group, those that are formed early in this journey are social & will not...
  2. You are right to be concerned, especially if your friend is dealing with a commercial (for-profit, investor owned) school. They are likely to be much more focused on tuition revenue than the academic...
  3. HouTx

    ADN now or BSN later?

    Obviously, y'all have done your homework & have a pretty good understanding of the pro's and con's - ADN vs BSN. But there is an issue that you need to consider. We're seeing it a lot in my part...
  4. HouTx

    You think the "Nursing Glut" is bad now?

    In my part of the country, RNs are very rarely employed in physician office settings... mostly only large, multi-specialty clinics. Office staff is generally LVN & MA. BTW, I believe we are one...
  5. FYI, In my organization, LVN experience is "counted" at 50% when computing the starting salary (1 yr LVN = 6 months RN)... but that is not common
  6. Which one? If it's at The Methodist Hospital (in the TMC), make sure you allow plenty of time for the drive and parking. It can be very unpredictable. I recommend just splurging and using the valet...
  7. HouTx

    New grad head hunters.

    Hospitals do not engage outside recruiting firms (headhunters) for jobs that have no shortage of qualified applicants. Recruiting services cost money. I have NEVER heard health care employers...
  8. HouTx

    Please Help!

    Of course you did the right thing. The most important part of our job is to protect our patients; keeping them from harm. Doing the right thing is often very hard and takes a lot of
  9. Unless you have a crystal ball or really great Tarot card reader, you have not idea of what the future holds. You certainly don't want to get in a bind - finding out that the job you want requires a...
  10. HouTx

    Choosing between two programs

    The OP's listing of the differences is very accurate in most instances. First of all, these two 'learning institutions' have different missions. University missions generally include research &...
  11. HouTx

    tucking scrub pants in shoes

    Don't count on more relaxed dress codes in the 'real world'. Hospitals are very focused on customer service, and patients/families have a pretty specific idea of how they want nurses to look - LOL....
  12. HouTx

    Overtime not being paid

    It is pretty sad, but all aspects of the current FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) has never applied to direct care providers - so they do not have the same minimum wage & overtime protections as...
  13. HouTx

    Should I go back for the BSN, MBA or MHA?

    I certainly support your intention to avoid management positions... NOT a good place to be, especially right now. I urge you to capitalize on your current expertise & obtain an MSN. This will...
  14. I am sure that the experts will wade in here very soon & provide you with the specific information you need. But, based on my own knowledge (friend is American expat with foreign degree), your...
  15. HouTx

    Help

    I don't use Facebook and just can't understand why people feel the need to document their lives on the Internet. But I am so sorry you are going through this awful experience for what appears to be a...
  16. HouTx

    MD Anderson

    PP is correct. MDA is an enormous facility in the Texas Medical Center. All inpatient services are in that location - only clinic services in outlying areas. If oncology is your 'thing', you...
  17. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa utilizes the Versant program for new grads. As far as I know, that is the only way for a new grad to enter the organization. Their centralized HR department represents multiple...
  18. HouTx

    PCT duties for US salary?

    Your job duties must match your job description. You are correct - talk to your manager first. If the situation is not addressed to your satisfaction, take your issue to HR. Some keys to success: *...
  19. Sorry - "acute care" = inpatient not ambulatory care. Formal new grad programs are normally scheduled to coincide with graduation dates of the local programs. Due to the expense of these programs,...
  20. Hate to be the bearer or bad tidings but . . . if the OP had FICA deductions, that (very short) job will show up on background checks. If resume/application does not match this information, it will...
  21. HouTx

    Charge Nurse question

    Are you referring to staffing or assignments? In most organizations, staffing is "by the numbers" depending on the patient census - usually there is a staffing matrix that has specifics about how many...
  22. HouTx

    Issues with home care agency

    Agree with PP - this situation sounds uncomfortably close to 'fraud & abuse'
  23. HouTx

    What happens when the majority fails?

    Ad GrnTea so eloquently explained.... there are accepted procedures for analyzing test items. Some items are more 'difficult' than others. These are items that lower achievers are much less likely...
  24. HouTx

    End of semester research topic help

    Sepsis is a very hot topic right now. Early recognition & intervention has proven to be hugely effective in terms of reduction of mortality and morbidity. The MEWS scale is being adopted...
  25. HouTx

    Textbook HELP

    Books are certainly a major expense for Nursing programs. But they must be changed/updated on a frequent basis just to keep up with technology & advances in health care - so sell them ASAP before...