SteffersRN87 BSN, RN

Hello all! I am required to do a nursing research / evidence-based practice project specific to my specialty area to be able to advance in my hospital's clinical ladder program. I currently work outpatient oncology & BMT. We do a lot with the B...

Hello everyone! I am planning on taking the OCN exam next summer (2010). I recently purchased the Core Curriculum book & study guide and have been utilizing it in my preparation. A few questions for anyone who has taken the exam... 1. What res...

Just relax! It's only the 2nd week of your job, and it is completely normal to be stressed out (even this much). Is your preceptor giving you just 2 patients or the full 6 or 7?

I know that in Pennsylvania, you must be a graduate of an approved LPN program to sit for the NCLEX-PN. The LPN program is different from the RN program in the role and function of that particular person.

Honestly, I would work as much as you can and try to save as much money as you can. I went to a three year diploma program with classes Tuesday through Friday and worked Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 7p to 7a or Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 7a to 7p....

When I graduated from high school, my stepfather was laid off from the airlines. I had to pursue my nursing education through a local hospital-based diploma program. I had always wanted to complete a BSN, so I waited about 9 months after graduatio...

I could go on about this subject for days... I recently had an elderly male patient (cute as a button) with a super annoying family. When he returned from the PACU, I asked if I could get him something for pain. I returned with a Percocet and his f...

I belong to the Oncology Nursing Society... Membership is about $102 per year... You receive subscriptions to the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing and Oncology Nursing Forum, both are great journals with tons of good information and evidence-ba...

Most often, our docs write these parameters for SOLID TUMORS AND LYMPHOMAS ONLY: WBC less than or equal to 3, ANC less than or equal to 1500, hemoglobin less than or equal to 10, platelets less than or equal to 100,000, or creatinine greater than or...

Hello everyone! Has anyone had experience with the MSN programs at Clarion University of PA? I am interested in the nursing education track. I'd like to know what previous or current students or those who know previous or current students have to ...

I work oupatient oncology/hematology/BMT and give PRBC's and plts almost every day. We use the CLC 2000 adapters (caps) and there has never been anything said about not using them for transfusions. Our manager is also the IV team manager and knows ...

My personal theory is that you need to learn by doing. You will learn through experience what you should do in situations like this. But for now, utilize your resources - fellow staff nurses, charge nurse, educator, manager, etc. ASK ASK ASK!!! As...

I would stop the continuous IV infusion (and put a sterile cap on it)... flush with 10 mL's... give your IVP... flush with 10 mL's... restart your continuous IV infusion... and call it a day... I will give an IVP through a maintenance if it is co...

After reading several threads regarding the entry-level MSN programs and which level of nursing education should become the standard, I want to share a classroom discussion I had a while back... What if a MSN became the solid standard for entry into ...

I am going to have to agree with those that say the school should be teaching her how to read. It will be a great disadvantage if she cannot read. For example, if a cardiac cath patient has problems through the night, many times the on-call cardiol...

Just so you know, if your COPD patient has a SPO2 of 69%, they need a little more than 3L of O2... In this situation, it is OK to put them on a higher concentration of O2! Hypoxia only complicates the situation...

I love Toradol! I had cholecystitis and was given it and it was the best experience of my life! I'm a cheap date, I know! Actually, I was in a car accident and bashed my face off of the steering wheel and was given a little morphine for the pain.....

Fentanyl has a high risk of causing sedation and respiratory depression and can drop a BP. I worked in ICU and we gave it like candy. I work in outpatient oncology and invasive/surgical procedure receovery and we are not allowed to give it nor woul...

I would suggest a journal that is related to your specialty. I find that Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing and Oncology Nursing Forum suit me very well because they keep me informed on what's new in my specialty and I learn a great deal from them...

well like I said... it was just a discussion...

I am from Pennsylvania so my answer may not apply to your situation, but... I completed and EMT-B course and received state certification in high school. While completing my liberal arts and science courses at a community college, I took a nurse aid...

I pass out pain medications like there is no tomorrow... Who am I to judge?

I work outpatient oncology... I would start on the oncology unit because you will get TONS of experience... Inpatient oncology units can vary but you may be working with medical and surgical oncology patients and maybe a little radiation... Bone m...

Hgb of 3.8 in an adult sickle cell patient INR of 14 in an elderly man who go his meds confused K+ of 9.1 WBC of 410,000 and manual WBC of 6 Plt count of 1 I work in hem/onc so I see lots of labs that amaze me...

I see over and over many new grads are stressed out over their new jobs. So, I though it would be helpful to share some stress relief tips that would help them out! -if I have a stressful day, I unwind by going for a brisk walk then come home and ki...