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I disagree with your professor's comments. I am a nurse and health law attorney who represents a national healthcare system. Many, many of our hospitals staff with hospitalist nurse practitioners. In my own experience, my PCP is a nurse practitioner. My brother is a NP and has never had any trouble staying very busy. The health care marketplace is in a constant state of flux but unfortunately there will always be health issues and therefore a need for providers. With the decreasing reimbursement rates, many physicians are hiring NPs to increase their practice's efficiency and economics. So instead of relying on anecdotal musings by someone who has not been at the bedside for a while, I recommend you research sources such as DOL statistics, the Kaiser Family Foundation data, or other more reliable sources. Also, the demand for NP will depend upon the specialty. As for salaries, MGMA and Sullivan Cotter are sources of information for NP salaries at recognized fair market value. Good luck with your studies.

An OR tech friend of mine experienced someone finishing her half can of soda everyday after lunch in the OR break room. She finally squirted methylene blue into the can and caught the cola bandit resident blue mouthed!

Echoing what others have said here - the medication error must be reported. That you have second thoughts because you don't want anyone to get into trouble is troubling to me. In the first place, if this is the nurse's first mistake then she will be reeducated on the different types of IV fluids and what each is used for. Or, she can take it upon herself to learn more about each type of fluid. But saying nothing should not be an option and if it still an option you considered, then I recommend you do some reflecting about your moral compass and ethical values.

No, it is not true.

I agree with the other posters that starting an IV by "feel" is the best method. When I was a new nurse I was very nervous about starting IVs. Within a few months though, I got better and my confidence went up. One "trick" is to use a bedside lamp aimed slightly to the side of the arm/hand you are working with. Another tip is to take your time with site selection. Good luck!

I agree with the postings above. And when your friend needs help eating or walking to the commode, then she is no longer unresponsive and can give you permission to share her information with others (or hopefully talk to them herself).

You are doing the rights things. If the corporation is not responding appropriately, call your state's licensing agency for LTCs and your state's nursing board and pharmacy board and make reports to them asap. The DON should also be reported to the nursing board. You can also make an anonymous report to The Joint Commission or the facility's accrediting agency.

The answer to your questions are "no you may not access her record and yes this is breaching confidentiality." If you access your mom's (or any patient's) medical record for a reason other than treatment, payment, or hospital operations, you have violated HIPAA. You have also violated your hospital's policies. Your mother may authorize you to discuss her treatment with her providers. I recommend that, if she does, you limit your access to her medical information to discussions with her treaters just like any other family member would. By the way, as other folks here commented, hospitals routinely audit who has accessed a patient's medical record. This is especially true for VIPs or hospital employees who are patients.

My advice, based on my perspectives as an RN and former interim HR director, is to (1) keep working at the hospital; (2) do the best job possible to make a great impression; (3) let HR and nursing leadership know you are interested in a nursing position; and (4) step up and volunteer for hospital extra-curricular activities such as employee committees, community events, etc. Best of luck to you.

K, Nursing is a career that can be both challenging and rewarding. Like most things in life, it is what you choose to make of it. Some days are rough and crazy, and some days you leave your shift on top of the world. If you have the heart to care for patients and the head to learn, think on your feet, etc., then nursing may be for you. And for every horror story you hear, there are lots of great stories that you may not. For some reason, people like to complain more than they like to talk about the good side of things. Don't let that steer you away from nursing. A career in nursing will open many doors to you--and it will be up to you to decide which path you want to follow. Keep an open mind and an open heart--both will serve you well in whatever you endeavor to do. Good luck to you!

Ask questions and do self-study on your patient's conditions and the medications you are passing. For RNs and LVNs, the first few months is like drinking from the firehose. Hang in there, be observant and form good habits early in your career. Best of luck to you.

As a former OR nurse and current med-malpractice defense attorney, I offer the following observations and opinions: jewelry and other valuables should be left at home. Reasons: 1. Safety. PtWRing does not realize that finger swelling can occur after the patient is under surgical drapes and the hands are no longer visible. Sorry, but OR nurses and anesthesia providers are not going to monitor a patient's fingers throughout surgery. Also, by the time swelling occurs, it may be too late to cut the ring to prevent damage. And the risk of burns is minimal but so long as we can prevent burns, we will. 2. Risk. Why bring a valuable to the OR or hospital and risk it getting lost, stolen, etc. I am reminded of a claim where the patient left a laptop unsecured in his room when he was transported to another facility for a procedure, notwithstanding that he was cautioned by the hospital not to leave valuables in his room. When his laptop disappeared, he wanted the hospital to pay for it. Sorry, no dice. And yes, it is an "inconvenience" for OR nurses to keep up with patient valuables. The OR staff is under tremendous pressure to be safe and efficient. The OR nurse's focus is on maintaining safety and sterility in the OR, not on securing jewelry that can be left at home. While I sympathize with PtWRing's situation vis-a-vis her husband's wedding ring, I hope she will keep an open mind regarding why patients are asked to remove rings before going to the OR.

I think we all went through the same thing as new nurses. I found that taking my time to select a good site is one of keys to success. Try to relax (easier said than done) and feel the sponginess of the vein. If you can see it, all the better. As someone else said, go in at a small angle so you don't go through the vein. Good luck!

I agree with the other respondents that if your ultimate goal is to be a scrub nurse, the most efficient route is to find a community college that offers a surgical technician course. Then, if you decide that you want to seek more education in the future you can pursue your LPN, ADN, or BSN. I've worked in the OR since 1992 in military hospitals and very few of the scrub techs were LPNs. Good luck to you!

I agree with the advice to stop replying to this physician. As an attorney, I strongly advise against sending any correspondence that he or his nurse friend can use to undermine your authority or support any legal action the nurse may be contemplating for wrongful discharge. In this case, silence is golden.