doc2bmo

could be an ectopic pregancy (rare) could be a full term multiple gestation pregnancy which can cause HCG levels so high that they're unable to be analyzed and must be diluted before they give a positive result (more likely) I dunno! Sounds like fun stuff though!

You're preaching to the choir sister, me too! I'm working with a great team and I LOVE it.....everyone from the MDs to the CNAs....I honestly don't have a complaint in the world! I wish all of our profession were so lucky!

The chances of transmission from this type of exposure are ridiculously low....I personally wouldn't worry that much. However, I know that's easier said than done...... Does your institution have a specific protocol for exposure re: post-exposure prophylaxis? Did you let your employee health nurse know about the exposure?

2 12's and a 16....40 hours in three days and it generally FLIES by (ER)

We remove them because it's quick and easy and much better than having the patients do it themselves because they don't want to pay another fee. It takes about 1 minute and we can do it right in triage...in and out. I'd much rather do a quick suture removal than do a full triage assessment on a patient who is here because their shoulder has been sore for fourteen years (true story).....Hope your friend's pumpkin turned out good! Happy Saturday to all! :nuke:

You know what? Look at the bright side.... 1. You have a job 2. You can deduct the cost of the new uniforms on your tax returns Try to be positive! Also, I'm curious about the scrubs you mentioned that split and tore...were they purchased or hand made? Maybe you should try a larger size that will allow for bending and kneeling without so much tension in the fabric? Good luck!!

I'm about to finish up my accelerated BSN in 7 weeks. One of the women in my class was a psych social worker (master's prepared) for 25 years before starting our program. She is definitely not your traditional nursing student nor will she be your "typical" new grad nurse, but she loves it and plans on advancing to NP. I'm sure that there are others on this site that can give you more relevant advice, but my advice to you would be to follow your gut. Evaluate why you're considering a change and what benefits nursing would have over your MSW. Good luck!

Chaxan....Thank you....lol. I hope no one misunderstands me; I totally understand the religious implications of skirts vs. pants for those women of faith who hold those beliefs. I'm in Alabama, and we have LOADS of pentecostal, holiness, mennonite (a few) and other faiths represented in our healthcare arena that tend to have more conservative standards regarding clothing for women. I fully respect someone who can wear a skirt and get their job done (and still look cute!), I just know myself well enough to know better! The Lord blessed me in many areas, but gracefulness is just not one of them....period! This was definitely a funny thread to read...hehe!!

I love skirts......I'm definitely feminine....and I'm pretty sure I'm even considered a "pretty nurse". However, I wouldn't dare wear a skirt to work (level 1 trauma/er) for the following reasons: 1. Uniform guidelines dictate that I'd have to wear panty hose...and as fast as I run all day and as big as my thighs are, I'd surely catch my hoo-ha on fire.:flamesonb 2. I think that my nurse manager/colleagues/HR/etc. might have a problem with said flaming hoo-ha being exposed as I'm climbing on top of a patient to deliver my famous, not-so-pretty chest compressions :bowingpurand keep their hiney on this side of the light! 3.Sometimes, the only time I get to sit down is when I take 17 seconds to pee.....Having to contend with the aforementioned panty hose would increase my "pee-time" and therefore make me less efficient :anbd: . So see, it's not about skirts vs. pants....it's simply a matter of job security, providing the most efficient patient care and a desire to stay out of our illustrious burn unit.:lol_hitti I'll save my skirts for AFTER work

I'm currently in the University of South Alabama's Accelerated BSN program...it's a one year program and you have to have a prior degree. I know that we have a student in our group who had been out of school for over 20 years and I'm pretty sure she didn't have to re-take any of her pre-requisite courses. We've also got people in our program from all over the US, so you wouldn't be the only non-local =) If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you. www.usouthal.edu/nursing

My advice would be to request a different stethoscope....those double earpiece "teaching" scopes SUCK! You can't hear jack scratch...I would use a good cardiology scope, find the pulse, hold the diaphragm in place and then let the "observer" have a listen....Sorry they're making things so difficult! Good luck!

Had a patient come in to the ER Friday because his "stomach was hurting so bad"....He had also been in ER all day Thursday, 29 y/o drinks 2-3 PINTS of liquor a day...HELLO pancreatitis!! When he was dc'd Thursday with scrip for Lortab, he didn't get it filled....he went home and drank! THEN CAME BACK FRIDAY!! His dc instructions included this pearl from the attending "If you don't like feeling like you did this morning and yesterday, never ever drink another drop of alcohol again"...Craziness! We regularly get people through triage with complaints that wouldn't even cause me to take OTC meds.....you just have to shake your head and move on and not let it get to you! Such is life in the ER

Mobile is fun, hurricane season is no big deal once you go through it once...I've lived here most of my life (lived in B'ham a few years ago) and I can really say I love it. The hospitals are great (for the most part) and there is plenty to do outside of work. We're also convenient to Birmingham, Atlanta, New Orleans, Biloxi, Destin and plenty of other fun destinations. Cost of living is low and there are plenty of good parts of town for family raising =) Hope you decide to join us!! Good luck!!

You have a point snickett... I also contacted the ABN after my last post because that just didn't seem right (applying earlier for licensure), and sure enough, I was told that I could apply for my temp license and the ability to sit for the NCLEX on the day AFTER graduation and no earlier. As far as the accelerated program goes, I'm in it, I'm almost done, and I'd reccomend it to others. Have I disagreed with the way some aspects of the program have been run? Sure...but overall it's been a great experience and I'm scoring in the top percentile on the HESI and on the NCLEX practice tests so I can't complain.

Hey Scojo, fill me in! I graduate from the Acc. program on Dec. 5th and I definitely don't want to wait 'til January to take the NCLEX! Is there a special procedure? Thanks for the advice in advance!