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By the way do you work bedside still or are you 100% informatics? or vice versa?

Nice, I didn't think I'd find someone interested in or doing the same thing. I wasn't sure about the no overlap aspect, thanks for clearing it up. If that is the case I may start on the informatics MSN first, and then decide (If I haven't become complacent by then :-) whether to do FNP or CRNA (or overseas medical school) after about 5 years. If history is any marker, my plans and life will change a lot in 5 years anyway, so I'll just go with the flow. Right now, I'm learning a ton in my current position, everyone has been very helpful and nice, it's a bit stressful at times, but still manageable. Where are you doing the Informatics MSN? Do you recommend any online programs (Like Univ. of Phoenix) or are they to be avoided? Thanks.

Hello, I am considering the following: Beginning an MSN in Informatics and simultaneously pursuing an NP as FNP. I like both the medical/nursing as well as the computer/information technology aspects of nursing and don't want to pigeon-hole myself into only one of the two paths. I would like to get back into school after I feel comfortable as an RN. I have my Associates degree in Nursing and currently work in something between an ICU and step-down unit. I have a Bachelor Degree in computer science. I will be researching various online and traditional programs. I haven't found any informatics MSN programs that my hospital will sponsor (South Florida schools, they won't sponsor online only programs). I am curious as to any overlap that would exist between these two programs. How long it might take if I was taking 1-2 courses at a time, year round. How much it might cost. I know most of this will be program specific, and I will find that out during my research. On a more general level. I would like opinions as to the pros/cons of going for both degrees. I would love to hear any input from anyone that has either or both degrees. I like and miss school already, I don't want to overdo it, but at the same time, if I can start and have it subsidized by my hospital I believe that starting earlier rather than later is the way to go. For clarification, I will be doing an RN-MSN/NP type bridge program as it seems more beneficial to just go directly to the MSN instead of BSN first as I have most of the pre-reqs done from an earlier pre-med program I did. thanks in advance

Well, I made it... tho.... it was.... well.... it was what it was. I had 3 pts. to start... the normal ratio. Then one was DC'd. 2... I'm happy now... can do all my stuff... I was told I was a god send... which is always nice... and was asked if I'd been a nurse long time (with the intonation... that it was thought that I was) because I was explaining everything to a patient which he said was new and relieving for him. Then I was taught a bit by a fellow nurse and RT... there are some that love to teach there and I really like that. Then I get a call from the ER... it starts.... "I'm really sorry, can you call me back at extension..." call back..... "I'M REALLY SORRY" Do I need to explain. Well, with a pt. sitter sent from Heaven I made it though, with q1h cleaning, changing, linens.... more psych/anxiety meds then I've ever seen, and a determined (maybe foolishly maybe not) new nurse that didn't want to put on restraints if it wasn't REALLY needed.... I'm not easily ruffled, I mean in the ER as a tech it was always like that... but for a couple hours... I had it all night. But as I said.... how bad can it be 7am always comes around. Besides. All my patients we the same or better when I left. Now I gotta sleep, round 2 manana.

I ask the pharmacists stuff a lot... I like different points of view and opinions... I like to take an weighted average of all the responses I get (weighted on how much I trust the person's knowledge level) and then add my discretion and read a bit and then decide... Heck, I even ask PCAs/CNAs their opinions (when appropriate)... I've been known to ask Environmental Services stuff too.... I'm an inquisitive boy... or so I've been told....

I am a new nurse and I think that no matter where you go you will probably be learning a lot of transferable skills in that first year. I mean I have not stopped learning things for the first 3 months so far that I will be able to apply to any floor/department. If you follow your passion and don't stop asking questions you will learn things that will help you everywhere else... if you don't follow your passion, everytime someone asks you about your position you'll start your sentences with "Well I wanted to go into Oncology, but......" and you would likely not be a happy camper. tho i may be wrong...

I recently started nights and the following helped me, I usually sleep from 0900-0500, i keep this schedule even when not working: - blocking the light on window with a huge dark blanket - using eye covers - using ear plugs - exercising once I wake up - no caffeine 4 hours before sleeping - at least 3 liters of water (more caffeine means more diuresis) - as for errands I will stay up late one day till like 12 Noon and run the errands, I have set up all bills to be paid online, so I can do it at night. I take out cash once a month so I don't have to go to the bank again. Good luck, I hope you feel better soon, I also second the suggestion of seeking daytime employment when and if possible.

I am reading Davis's Drug Guide and don't understand something. It says for PO Dilantin: "Adminster with or immediately after meals to minimize GI irritation" ... "Capsules may be opened and mixed with food or fluids for patients with difficulty swallowing". and for Enteral Feedings it says: "If patient is receiving enteral tube feedings, 2 hr should elapse between feeding and phenytoin administration" If they take the PO version opened and mixed with food, how is that different from Capsules opened and and mixed with Enteral (PEG) feeding, and why must I have the 2hr before if it's enteral feeding, but not if it's opened and mixed with food they eat?

i'm nervous, tommorrow night i am on my own. i have been precepting for my new job in the rcu (respiratory care unit - think icu with hemodynamically stable patients, not long-term care). i am a new grad rn, i have worked as an emt-b and er tech in a small community hospital, now i'm in a large level 1 trauma center. i have had a great preceptorship and critical care course, but i feel like i have so much more to learn (i know it takes time) but i really want to do a great job (avoid avoidable mistakes). i feel stupid, because i worked in healthcare for a year before this, i am a fast learner, and i usually don't stress out... so the fact that i'm nervous... makes me nervous... stupid positive feedback loop. i saw this from ruby vee on another thread: if you aren't scared your first six months to a year off orientation, you don't have a good grasp of the possibilities. being scared is normal. relax -- no one expects you to have all the answers -- or even all the questions. all we expect you to know is where to find out -- a mentor to ask, drug reference, policies and procedures, textbooks, a physician who will explain things. i've been a nurse for a long time, now, and the more experience i get, the more i realize i don't know. that's healthy. it's when you think you know it all, have seen it all or done it all that you're dangerous. that made me feel better, and i've heard similar from all of my preceptors (yeah i had 4, i'm spoiled) but i guess i just am feeling awkward, because i'm usually not the type of person that stresses out and there are so many things i don't know how to do. i'm gonna go work out that always makes me feel relaxed. ... oh well. here goes nothing. thanks for listening to me vent.

littley, 1st don't get too stressed if, as a new grad, you don't get an ER position in Miami. If you have connections you may, but otherwise, just apply to any and all jobs, that's what worked for me. I'm working in Lauderdale though, because nothing worked out in Miami, but it's great and ironically a shorter commute than a lot of the Miami hospitals (traffic and 95 express lane). I'm not in ER, but in an RCU (Respiratory Care Unit). The TNCC, ENPC and CATN classes info can be found on the ENA website. I did TNCC at Memorial (Hollywood), ENPC at Sarasota General (Sarasota) and CATN at Broward General (Ft. Lauderdale). I did ACLS, PALS and a Telemetry course through Nursing Unlimited (Miami Gardens) and NRP in St. Petersburg. Since, you may not stay in Miami I can't say anything about where you may go, I know a lot of places do take new grads so good luck. You have to wait till your an RN to get the CE credit for TNCC although you can take it before if that does'nt matter to you. I would recommend ACLS (you are signed up) and PALS before TNCC, also NRP... but there are few dates in each city, so take what you can when you can. I was an EMT and that helped a lot with TNCC. Good luck.

Tell me about yourself? (Note, they don't typically want to know your biography, but rather, what about you can help them and their company, so don't waste time saying stuff like I grew up in.... I have X brothers/sisters.... I like ..... I want to..... Say: I have done X, Y, Z, I can do A, B, C, and by doing that I will add value to your department and hospital) Tell me about a stressful situation you've had, and how you handled it? What is the most important thing you've learned in a working environment? Where do you see yourself in 5 years. Why do you want to work in this department as opposed to others? The truth about interviewing is that if you are proactive and make a coherent presentation and ask your own questions, then the interviewer will like you more, be less stressed (they are too, most don't have time to interview, don't like interviewing and are afraid of making a hiring decision mistake). Your goal should be to make the initial presentation and answer as many of their real questions pre-emptively so that the official questions (the paper they get from HR templates) are just a formality. Read Tony Beshara's "Acing The Interview" and the first few chapters of Richard Bolles "What Color is Your Parachute". Suerte,

Both of my interviews asked for GPA, I have a good one so it wasn't an issue, but I am in the boat of people that didn't have work or have children while in nursing school. (But I did move down to Miami the day classes started, without a car, my wife, any friends or my cat.... so that was a little stressful for the first 3 months) But a word of advice to those who have a valid cause for a lower gpa. Don't get mad at the question. Explain the situation and not in a way that may be misinterpreted as asking for sympathy/pity (managers don't typically like that), but rather in a way that says, "I can handle more than your average applicant, I did double or triple in some cases what some of the other applicants did and still my GPA was only a few points lower than theirs were." In other words, focus (and make them focus) on your strengths and ability to handle multiple tasks. Now, if you were partying or slacking and got a lower GPA, well, then good luck, that's problematic, because to many hiring authorities (not to me, because I don't know you), it's indicative of your work ethic and priorities. I always said a 4.0 for me was like a 2.0 for some of the other students in my class, some had kids and work and were pregnant.... And it was an accelerated one year program... god bless them. A great program is "Acing The Interview" by Tony Beshara, it is an audiobook I listened to, that helps give you the right words to some of the tough questions you may get during interviews. It worked. I applied for 100 positions via websites, and got nothing. I had two interviews and was offered both positions by the end of each interview... Remember, the key isn't a pretty resume, a lot of applications, it's getting to talk to a person directly... cut out the middle man (HR) and call the nursing managers directly. Also, take as many certification classes as you can. Good luck

I don't live in Ft. Lauderdale, but will be working at Broward General starting next month. 1. I have heard good things about BG on this board and from nurses at other hospitals, but more importantly the dozen or so people I have met there have been very kind, professional and supportive. 2. I know there are areas where it's fine to be out in Ft. Lauderdale, as I have stayed there on a few vacations. I don't know about right next to the hospital though. I know there are plenty of places within 30 mins. that are great. I will commute from the Brickell area of Miami (next to downtown - 15 min to beach) and it takes 30-40 minutes. Which is about half of my old NYC commute from Queens to Financial District. Plus, 95 has an express lane that is great. Also look at Lauderdale-by-the-sea (beachfront available) and Hollywood (beachfront available). Maybe Sunny Isles (beachfront available), Aventura (beachfront available) and Miramar (farther from beach) too. There's a great forum called Miami 411 that has info about moviing here. I've been here for 1 1/2 years and love it. I would say two things, being from New Jersey originally, the bad areas here, look like some of the good areas there, so check em out, there is a 5-block rule, that means the quality of a neighborhood can change dramatically within as little as 5 blocks. So, don't assume that if a place is in a given neighborhood it has the same quality as all other places in that neighborhood. 3. Economy is still depressed, but it's good for renters and buyers of real estate and cars. The biggest thing I think is the lack of jobs, even for Nurses. 4. I like weather extremes and love the temperature here, but I have a pool and usually walk around with shorts and a t-shirt. I pity the folks that have to wear suits. The first year we didn't turn on our central air conditioner at all, just a fan in the house. Now we use it and still leave a window open for fresh air and it's fine, but yes it's hot obviously. One suggestion, even if it means a not so beautiful ocean side view, get an apartment with a west side window, we do on the 11th floor and have sun from 3p-7p in the summer so it's not as strong, on the other side of the building they have it from 7a-3p which is 4 hours longer and when it's at it's strongest. Plus, if you work nights forget about it. 5. My wife and I don't really go out at night or party, although this area of florida is less active than NYC (everywhere I know is), it's more active than my little hometown... we're more of the outdoor activity type, kayak, skydive, SCUBA, run, for that, it's perfect here.

Thanks for the link dcgrrl. I have been offered a position and am waiting on results from another before making my decision, I appreciate the link though. I am very happy about my current situation and feel that all the time, money and effort has paid off. It is hard down here in S. Florida though and I would relocate if I had to. I hope goodstudentnowRN will find a position also.

I hope you are feeling better, it is very stressful, I know. I would recommend taking classes. Any nursing class you can take that gives you new knowledge, skills and certifications will help you maintain/increase your knowledge, network, and decrease your depression, because you are proactively doing something about your situation. I also am a new grad. I applied for over 80 positions. I didn't get a single interview from any of my applications. I took every single nursing course I could. BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP/NALS, TNCC, ENPC, CATN-II, Telemetry, and my CEN exam. It was not easy, it was a bit stressful, and it cost a lot of money (average was 200-300 each), but out of all of those classes I met a ton of really nice and caring nurses. I got 4 interviews with Managers/Directors out of those connections. I got 2 solid offers out of those connections. I will take one of those positions this week. I am in South Florida and I know the market is really bad, but if you follow my suggestion, you will stand out above the other new grads that are simply applying to positions online that all have the same qualifications. I wish you the best of luck,