hllybenn

Everything is 24 hours in our ICN- bags as well as tubing.

Here in Philadelphia GNs make upwards of $25 an hour

I work on a 70 bed unit Ortho floor and we use them frequently. I do think they do some amazing work and have some amazing results. Problems- sure- I agree with PPs about seals and compliance and such. It is also arduous to change the dressing- at least two people and not always under the best circumstance. I do not care for the way the black foam/sponge can end up in the healthy tissue like "crumbs" and then you try and remove it but it becomes impossible because it has grown into that new healthy tissue. (we- the floor nurses do all the dressing changes- Docs and wound care may come look at it once a week?) Hope that helps. Holly

We had the HESI as an exit exam. But we also did HESIs the whole way along after each subject (OB. Peds, Pharm, Adult, etc). We had to get about the national average as well as the score that correlates with passing the NCLEX. If the school is giving you a test that will illustrate your chances on boards- I would look at it as a good thing- yes it sucks you did not know about it prior.

You can tell by looking at the patient that they'll be back with an infection before the surgery/procedure is even done. "Degloving" is exactly what is sounds like including the toes (not just fingers). Sometimes in surgery the docs, nurses and techs lean on you to do what they need to do- so that "chest pain" is just a sore chest.

I have a BSN and an additional BS and Master's in SOcial work.

I did an accelerated BSN (11 months) and already had a BS and MASters and when I statrted I thought about doing a BSN/MSN_ thank goodness I did not- now I would never really want to be a NP or clin spec- not for me. I've been done for over a year. I personally say get your RN/BSN- work- let work pay for school. Theory and Reality of nursing are two totally different worlds. It sounds like some pervious posters already have degrees they do not want to use or never worked in- why get more? I used my Masters for 6 years before I went back- glad I have it but there were people in my accerlerated BSN who never worked a day in their lives- how do you know what you want to be? Just my opinion. Get the BSN- work and then the masters....

I am sure every hospital is unique so check with yours but we have had a few Gn/nwe RNS work part time (in school, family comittment, etc.) Good luck!

You will not lose your skills you will develop DIFFERENT skills. It bothers me when people say that because there are so many skill sets out there and they all serve a purpose...

Do you like interacting with the patient? Do you like interacting with the family? That is two immediate differences I see with between being in a unit and being in the OR.

I spent 8 years as a social work (BS and MSW) and I do not regret that- it brought me to where i am today. I am a RN, BSN and am thankful I did it- there are so many opportunities. There are parts of the job that I do not like- but most of them are what I would dislike in any job.... (politics, power struggles, cliches-it is not unique to nursing)

"basic nursing competence" as a new RN, TO ME, would include time management, your assessments are accurate, you can communicate with other members of the health care team, your documentation skills are adequate to good. What we do is a 24 hour job- however, if you are ALWAYS leaving the 2200/qhs meds to the 11pm shift (cause you "did not have time") or if you are missing some obvious things in your assessments, or you are doing wound care wrong then maybe it is not a good fit. That is what I would view as "competencies".

Where I work full time 40hours is 1.0 36 hours is 0.9 Both are full time. If you work 40 (most do 2 8s and 2 12s) you get 5 8hr personal days ( a weeks worth) If you work 3 12s you get 3 12hs personla days ( a weeks worth) Do you see a trend. It appears to be less time.. But the same amount collectively. I have a girlfriend who just went to 3 12s after a year of 40 and it is a noticeable $ difference for her. We make about $25 x 4 hours a week over a year- that's several thousands of dollars. But like all the previous posters said- it is great having 4 days off a week. Our schedule people also make an effort to give you a stretch of time.

I graduated Oct 2003 and I am doing Orientation today and the last I heard was 190 was confirmed! Rumor has it Drexel (not the college of nursing) took over admissions....

As a nurse my boss is another nurse as is most in the hospital where I work (nurse managers). As for doctors- we have a relationship of working together as we do with PT, OT, Social Work etc (and like all departments- you work better with some than others). In our hospital, we can write up Docs, the same way we can write up aides- and yes we have done it including myself when a Pt's safety/health was on the line. They can do the same for us. Doubt they do or have the time. Hope that helps- that is just one perspective.

I interviewed between 3rd and 4th quarter of school and got the offer I wanted about 2 weeks into the last quarter- JUne to be exact and I started end of October. Hope that helps.

I learned them by their class (ACE, Beta Blockers, SSRIs, Benzos etc). I also do some of the word associations like the previous listers. Learn your nursing care with the drugs (increase intake? Decrease intake? Before or after meals, etc.)- not just how it is excreted and so forth.

I felt like I had a good transition. Besides the boring 2 weeks of orientation (general nursing orientation). Once I got to the floor- I felt like I was prepared- there were bad days (there still are) and better days. I had a great week with one preceptor and then a not so great week with a sccond one and did not say anything and then when I had a 3rd (this is the norm on my floor) who was out to lunch - I spoke up- and things went well after that. Speak up- tell them what you need/want. I needed to find my own timing- not do what someone wanted me too- and I told one of them that- and she looked like she had been shot. Oh well. We work together fine, now. Best of Luck. I had 6 weeks- in a university teaching urban hospital.

ABSOLUTELY! We had to take a HESI to graduate- I also got 99.99 and passed my boards with 75 questions. We also had to take them after each subject. I truly believe they are an indicator of how you'll do. Our school has built in remediation if you get below 85% (Fail). The peope who need to be remediated go on to pass boards too- they just need a little extra practice. I know of one person in my class (60) that failed HESI and Failed boards-passed 2nd try. And one person who failed HESI 2 tries and passed boards on the first try. The HESI is a predictor not a stone cold lock. But I would say- Congrats- you're on your way- keep doing questions.

I would say go with the basics and see what you need- the things I thought I needed- I never needed. If it is trauma- they may have penlights and flashlights around- you may not need your own- they'll walk. Also if you work with a highly infected population- your own stetescope may be a waste due to ARO restrictions. I had all the drug books and such and then learned one was on the Pysix as well as in our computer sysytem. The pouch thing did not work for me- I spent so much time digging around in it. Happy First Day!

I do think a lot of Med Surg is A&P but in a not so obvious way. If you know your A&P then you know what side to position s patient after a liver biopsy. I do not think 50% of your questions are going to be straigh Pathopys and such. (I could be wrong). I think if you look at nursing care and how it relates to A&P you should start to make connections. Just my $0.02 worth! Because I forgot the nursing care in Med Surg and struggled with the A&P ONLY and then I struggled to pass Adult I (medsurg)

Here's what I would guess- Ambulate 10 feet- short term Pt can ambulate using assistive device (walker) correctly with minial assistance before D/C-longer term (not real long term) Pt can return to independent living -long term Quick stab- I know these are crappy examples.

Does your SBON have a "tip line" or complaint line?

I have seen practices where the MAs call themselves "physician's assistants"- I think that is even worse- because they have prescribing power (real ones do anyway)....

For me- I loved Saunders and NSNA (for their CD ROMS with questions). HOWEVER, Kaplan was the closest to the NCLEX questions I got.