VCUBen

I have never been bother by needles. I work in the ER and i let the new techs practice on my veins. It is a good learning experience for them, that is how i learned. I dont mind one bit.

I feel that it is wrong to cuts the fat as far as staff, our hospital in VA cut the fat by switching out suppliers and streamlining our admission policies. No one in our hospital has lost their job thank GOD and of course we cannot have double overtime but thats ok. We have been a little short staff and have gotten rid of ALL travelers but it had worked out ok. I work in the ER by the way. I wish you all the best of luck.

Please explain why this works so i can make it work for me! Thanks

Hello, at our ER ALL EKG strip print outs go to the MD. I think this is a critical part of CP management and just becasue the doctors get bombarded is not a reason to pawn it off on the nurses. The RN should be ACLS working in an ER anyway so they would have a general idea if a MI is evident. I have worked at the current place for over a year now and have never had to bring a pateint immediatly from the waiting room solely on the result of the EKG. We try to get the patient back the first second a room becomes open which is usually minutes. I hope this answers your question. Why type of system does your ER run. We have a no wait system and we see about 250 patients a day.

i try to get about 10 a day, life one of the other posters i only sleep when i am tired so i come home from school and either take a nap, relax , or go to work. I then come home sleep get up do work before school any repeat as needed. Sleep is very different for different people i have a buddy who can olny sleep 4-5 hours a night and he does well while i need a little more. i mean i can survive off less i just choose to sleep when i am tired. the key to nursing school is time management so if u have all of your work done then all nighters, and such will not be needed. Just remember to put your best foot forward always. Be prepared for anything and you will succeed. Good luck!!

I work in an ER and though i am not a Nurse yet but i have seen multiple nurses go from working side by side with me teching and now they are nurses. I see them as a nurse and thats how i believe it should be. If you do the work to get that RN then you deserve what goes along with that title from the techs. Their is one tech who graduated nursing school 2 years ago and still hasnt passed her boards. She has taken it 8 times i believe. Now since she has the RN knowledge but not the title i treat her as a tech because that is what is on her Job description. She does get an attitude sometimes concerning the matter of what she should be doing right now and i just right her a note with the word NCLEX on it. I know it is bad but it puts her in her place. Either way you should be treated as you job entails. RNs delagate and techs need to respect that and do whatever they can to help out becasue after all that is what they are hired for... to help the nurses be more productive.

You have given me great advice in the past so now it is my turn to return the favor. I have done around 10,000 IVs in my life and i can tell you first hand that i still miss some. I cannot come from the CRNA ave but from the experienced IV ave keep going each one will get you that much closer. Also i assume you are sticking some of your critically ill patients, right? well they are the hardest people to get a line on so rest assured this minor detail will be up to par by then or will be their by the time its needed. Hope it helps.

The best Drug book is the davis drug guide for nurses or the lexis-nexis series. either way you will be covered

I thought CRNAs were able to practice independently in all 50 states already? Do some places require a MDA present to "supervise" Also they are billing for the procedures that they just "watch" and put a comment in here and their? That is fraud isnt it? Double dipping anyone? Please clear my assumption up if it needs to be.

Hey I have worked as a Tech in the ER for about a year and night shift is all about time management. That one year experience will be valuable. Their typically will not be a tech, well at the one i work at their is only me and i cant work everyday. What ype of hospital is it, Level 1 trauma, small rural ? Last thing inquire about the level of team work in the department. This is critical for success. It is not uncommon to get 3 new patients w/o triage as one time so be prepared to ask for help and give help when able.

I was throwing around ideas and since their is a VA near me I was wondering if any of you VA ICU nurses out their see new grads working in your critical care units. Also what type of ICUs do VA typically have? I know that pay is less but are their loan reduction benefits, pay scale differences, number of hours per week different than other hospitals, Tricare insurance? Overtime possibilites? Any infomation will be appreciated immensely. Thanks in advance

I am still in nursing school but purposely request the most diffcuilt patients which usually means they are in contact, droplet or both precautions. I have always been a heavy perspirer and am wondering some tips to see how those of us with this problem cope. I know that it is not possible to wipe sweat in a sterile enviroment. is a headband type of thing allowed to deal with this? Any thoughts please share.

Though I am by no means a CRNA I have spent some time observing in a number of ortho ERs where things such as limb amputations and major limb fixations took place, I observed a strong dynamic between all the members of the surgical team. From what i saw the scrub tech is usually in the room while you are setting up your room they are also setting up their part. during pre-op usually you will be with either your MDA or another CRNA because it usually takes two people you do a spinal. I only assume this from what i saw when following them. The CRNA I saw was a CRNA so she passed her boards but was still not completly automious. The MDA was in and out while she managed the patient during the 1 hour procedure of the amputation. During one case they were both in their at the same time discussing some other cases. Even though the CRNA is legally automonious I assume they have a period of orientation. When it was time for break they do not go alone, I mean as you and I know women like doing everything together, why would it matter if they have the CRNA behind their name or NP or anyother title. I hope my observational experience helps.

For the decision to become a nurse was natural. After that I still am deciding what speciality to do Critical Care, CRNA it all up in the air. My point is you never know which career is right for you unless you take that plunge and just do it. Nursing true is not for everyone but you will find a whole variety of people and personalities. From reading your post i can see that this could be right for you. Give it a shot and join this great profession. Dont let your fears hold you back becasue from experience your fear is what keeps you grounded and leads to where you should be. Good Luck

Hey best way to cut down the cost of books is to one buy online and two borrow from friends that are ahead of you in the program. The only books you should plan to buy new is 1. a good drug book for nurses. and 2. a nursing diagonsis book . these are the staples for every class you will take and a nesscity. Also find good research sites for your school. Are you in a BSN program? Good Luck!!

I have been in that situation before myself started out volunteering then decided to pursue nursing school. US ( unit secretary) is a good way to go. You have contact with the nurses and get a first hand view of what they see. I highly reccomend this option even while in nursing school to help burden the load. I currently work as a tech in a ER which is also a good experience. That option will be avaliable after you have completed your first clinical in school. Bottom line, get as much access to hospital enviroment as possible. This is coming from years of experience. Good luck!

I like evenings as well. I am not a moring person or much of a night person either. I also get to spend time with both shifts, the day people going home and the 12 hour night people coming into work. When I graduate i think i will work 3 to 11 or 3p to 3a if i have to work 12s.

Hey just curiuos I am in nursing school at VCU and have always wondered where do yall have the majoirty of yall classes, classroom that is. Thanks

Well Ca Guy this idea would only be revelant if he has a BS becasue if he were looking to go on to grad nursing school a BSN and/or BS are required. I am a male nursing student as well but i didnt get a dime becasue i was male. Male nursing is on the rise and the only reason UVA is giving that much money is becasue they can. Alumni is a wonderful thing. UVA has a great nursing school but it is very diffciult to get into, especially their Accelerated programs. Either way nursing is the way to go in my opinion so stay with it. Money is the last thing you will have to worry about these days it is possible to work enough while in undergrad to support yourself if you scale down your life and if you have other people to support. Worst case scenario you get a stafford loan and you will be straight. Nursing schools in your state will be a lot cheaper and NC has some world class ones. Start looking in you neighborhood first. In-state staus is like a gift from the FIN-AID Gods. Good luck, Feel free to ask me anyother questions, I have truly been their, done that with paying for college via finaical aid.

What was your GPA that they rejected you with?

ID-SRNA That is great advice. Bottom line

I am currently in nursing school in my third year. I have been working in a 200 patient per day ER for almost a year and I really enjoy it. I can really relate to this post becasue i have been delegated to by nurses and doctors alike. I just hate when they compund the things to do like " I need vitals in 3 and an IV and EKG in 16 and someone else will give me their list. I dont know what nurses can do vitals a sa part of their intial assesment sometimes. Oh well I also have found myself in a leadership role as far as techs go. we have been getting a new round of techs that i have had to instruct how to do it and they dont like it. I cant wait till i am a RN and my opinion actually counts

I am currently in nursing school in my third year. I have been working in a 200 patient per day ER for almost a year and I really enjoy it. I can really relate to this post becasue i have been delegated to by nurses and doctors alike. I just hate when they compund the things to do like " I need vitals in 3 and an IV and EKG in 16 and someone else will give me their list. I dont know what nurses can do vitals as a part of their intial assesment sometimes. Oh well I also have found myself in a leadership role as far as techs go. we have been getting a new round of techs that i have had to instruct how to do it and they dont like it. I cant wait till i am a RN and my opinion actually counts