HouTx BSN, MSN, EdD

Did any adverse events actually occur? If not, what would you be reporting? This is important because it would guide your actions. Actual patient events would go through your risk management/incident report process. But if it is an "unprofessional ...

MSN-HI will be provide more value overall, as it will also qualify you for clinical leadership roles. In my organization (and many others), there is a very large Nursing Informatics department - within the division of nursing. They are the point pe...

The most important consideration will be - the availability of a structured & stable "transition to practice" program for new graduates (e.g., residency, internship, etc). Some organizations have programs designed to bring newly licensed nurses ...

Case Management would add more value to your career trajectory. CM is a growing field - very important element for population management. CM jobs can vary, but most are focused on improving discharge outcomes, both in terms of clinical and financial...

Definitely qualitative - results are based on interpretation of subjective information. I'm a huge Bandura fan.

Oh my - if you're going to be living in Houston, you're going to have to get a car at some point. I love my hometown, but it's not really public transit friendly. You may want to explore apartments along the light rail system that runs into the me...

I can understand why you may not want to make any waves until you are safely through the orientation process, but IMO it's a moral imperative to take action to discourage such disrespectful behavior. There has been widespread acknowledgement of the ...

If you've been hospitalized for mental health treatment, be aware that this may create a snag for you, depending upon your state's processes. Some state BONs treat mental health problems in the same way as addictions or criminal backgrounds. If you...

GAH - not the fluffy bunnies and Angels of Mercy brigade again. I can think of sooo many more adjectives than those. This type of stuff just frosts my cookies. It is so pervasive. Like those pictures of physicians in their serious "doctor pose...

Preceptors do not "teach". They may need to demonstrate a procedure (that you should have already covered in a classroom &/or skills lab), but they are not educators. They are staff nurses with added responsibilities. Their job is to provide su...

Good grief - what in the world is that manager thinking? This is (once again) one of those Management 101 issues. When a staff member wants to transfer in order to meet some sort of personal goals - like OP - you DON'T STAND IN THEIR WAY because ...

Hey OP - have you tried contacting your state representative &/or state senator about this? This is just the type of thing that some politicos like to tackle because it illustrates their connection to constituents. Seriously, they often have muc...

BONs do not interfere in policy decisions (for schools or employers) and do not over ride the rules that your school has established. The BON only outlines the minimum requirements for program approval, such as the curriculum content, number of clin...

If you can move into an LTAC, that would provide a better launching pad because it is acute care also. Sorry you're having so much difficulty, but try not to take it personally. There is a surplus of new grads in many areas of the country. Another...

Thanks for the update. I am so sorry you're having such a bad experience. You're absolutely correct about the lack of faculty preparation. Commercial (for profit, investor owned) schools only exist to produce a profit. Many of them spend more on m...

At the beginning of each shift, work with your RN to establish a plan for the day. Find out what s/he wants you to accomplish & when the tasks need to be done. This will (hopefully) change the dynamic to one of teamwork rather than simply follo...

It's doubtful that any organization is interested in providing you with a summer externship prior to relocation in order to improve your chances of finding another job. These programs are expensive and an increasing number of organizations are requi...

Agree - needs to be ACEN accredited (CCNE doesn't accredit AS/ADN programs) and regionally accredited so that your science courses will transfer if you decide to go for a BSN. Community Colleges provide a very solid nursing education. In most are...

In my organization, PCT jobs include 'higher level' skills that are performed by CNAs. The PCT jobs are reserved for second year nursing students. They don't need any additional training to perform the job.

I know this is going to be unpopular. . . If we want more bodies at the bedside, we need to take a step back & look at alternative models of nursing care. Payment for health care overall is decreasing & this is not going to be fixed any tim...

We cannot provide legal advice per TOS.

OK - I don't do this very often, but I'm giving you a freebie. Many organizations have adopted a decision-making model... here's ours Framing: * Define the issue: identify key facts (who, what, where, when, why and how), stakeholders & other i...

I can sense OP's pain. It may not be any comfort, but in my job I use "research" skills a lot. This is the same for my colleagues who work in Risk, Quality/Safety, Infection Control, etc. We make decisions based upon DATA, not opinion. In order...

Wow - I have so much sympathy for OP. What a mess. IMO, This is a direct consequence of FL legislature's bone-headed decision to remove their BONs "nursing school approval" authority. I believe that the rationale was based on legislative hysteria...

If someone who has been accepted decides not to attend after all, the school will offer a slot to the first person on the Alternate list. The Alternates will be listed in order of preference. Unless you have some method of "eliminating" the people ...