sparkyRN

I am finishing my second semester in the UWYO MSN nurse educator option. I can't speak to the undergrad experience since I got by BSN the traditional way from the Univ. of TN many, many moons ago. But , I do think the graduate program is high quality and reasonably priced. The instructors I've had so far have been engaged with the students online and give good feedback.

I just finished my first class online with UWyo. I'm in the MSN Nurse Educator option which is all online. It is definitely grad level classes which means a lot of reading and analysis on your own then online postings with your classmates. The instructors guide the discussion, but the students give most of the input. It has been a great experience! I've enjoyed virtually meeting my classmates--most are from WY but there are several of us scattered all over the US. It requires commitment, but has been worth it so far. Tuition is the best part...my 3 hour class cost $597 total ($199/hr). The cost is the same in-state or out-of-state making it affordable to pay-as-you-go. The program can be done in 2,3, or 4 years and you have 6 years to graduate. Their website is ok, a little hard to navigate, but the people in the nursing school admin. have been very nice to work with.

There's ideal and then there's reality. Ours is a level 3 referral, 80 bed unit-usually 20 ICU, 40-50 level 2/special care babies. We often carry 3:1 and even occas. 4:1 in ICU, and 5-7:1 in level 2. We'd love to maintain a 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 standard bu there just are not enough nurses available. The nursing shortage is a real problem for us because we're in a large medical community so lots of competition for the same small group of applicants. You just have to make do, support each other, don't let nurses become "black clouds" in your unit. They will drive people away faster than any bad assignment will. Step up and be a preceptor to the new hires and remain a mentor to them when they are on their own. That's how we've managed to survive for years. We are nurses for our babies first, for each other second and for ourselves last.

The March of Dimes has some great resource material that may be what you need. http://www.marchofdimes.org

Best of luck to you and your husband!

So late in sending you my congratulations...my apologies. Glad to hear the 2nd trimester is looking up! I hope you'll be able to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Well, I don't think any of us really enjoy those last couple of weeks! Take care of yourself. Sparky

I'd suggest you save your money right now. It's just one more thing to keep up with. Nearly all the info you will need will be on your unit. It may take a little more time to look drugs and lab values up the old fashion way, but you may be more likely to remember them if you don't have a gadget to fall back on. As mentioned before, nearly everything can be found on the internet too. That's just my opinion, but I am sort of a dinosaur!

You might want to consider the pediatric route. Most children's hospitals, in addition to having a NICU also have a Special Care Unit that is designed for babies past the NICU stage...usually under 1 to 1 1/2 years old. However, you need to be aware that most RN's are not hired into these areas right out of nursing school. Your chances will be better if you work as an extern at a pedi hospital during your last year of school.

Have you toured Carrell Children's Hospital at Vandy? I drove up for a one day nursing seminar and the best part of the day was touring the NICU. It was totally state-of-the-art and much different from the one big room NICU that I am used to. The first think that struck me was how quiet it was. The nurses said it took some getting used to having each baby in their own room and not being able to see all your co-workers because of the way the unit is divided into pods with several hallways dividing them up. Then there is a NICU admit nursery in the old hospital where L&D is. My understanding was that the nurses were assigned to both areas as well as a step down nursery on the other end of the floor. They seemed very well equipped, were pretty well staffed and are always busy as the regional referral center and as a major pediatric cardiac surgery center.

I like most anything ICUish. My favorite is the term PPHN with all the gizmos--NO, oscillator, drips, multiple lines. (Can do without the chest tubes, though.) They are such a great challenge and can have quite a miraculous turn around. It's great to be there for that!

Our situation is a lot like Gompers. I don't mind doing my time in step-down--sometimes the change of pace is nice, and you have to give the newbies some ICU experience so they can work on their skills. I always get a little stir crazy after a couple of weeks there though. It's always good to let the charge nurse know when you need a change. If I'm starting my week and I'm not in ICU, I'll check the schedule to see who's in ICU that won't be back and I'll ask for their assignment for the next day. Also, we use a highlighter to mark the days we are in step-down or isolation so the charge nurse can see who needs to do their turn there.

We are allowed bands, but no watches. I try not to wear the band either because I find all the handwashing to be so irritating and it becomes increasingly so with jewelry on....probably due to the extra moisture under the band.

Tell me what it is...maybe we are doing them, but calling them something else.

Thanks for the encouragement and Happy New Year! Sparky

I agree with Gompers. Besides the learning curve, the chances are better than good that you will be spending a lot of hours on your feet. There's alot of moving to be done in a NICU not to mention trips to L&D, CT lab, surgery etc. When you start in a NICU there should be classroom and discussion time away from the unit. In otherwords, time to sit! Also when you start, you will have a small assignment and will be working with a preceptor. You tend to stay in one spot to start with. IMO I wouldn't combine the stress of being post-op myself and trying to remember everything I learned 3 months earlier.