KacyLynnRN

Oh my goodness yes! My husband and I knew we wanted me to stay home with the kids, but I loved my career as a med/surg floor RN. I feel like I have found the best of both worlds by working PRN. My only requirement is to work one shift per month, but I usually work 1 night shift a week (on friday nights) and it works out really well for my family. I don't have any specific holiday or weekend requirements, which my husband really enjoys (we can finally have holidays together!). Now I definitely still feel a little wistful at times (when seeing co-workers doing clinical ladder and extra things I don't have time to do) and it has been a tough transition to go from being a super-motivated employee to a Mom who works once a week (I never feel like I am fully in the loop) but I know what we're doing now is whats best for my family and I'm sure I won't regret it. And I know once my kids get older I will be able to work more and contribute more in my workplace. If you're unable to find a PRN position at a local hospital maybe you can look into agency nursing since they are known to be flexible too? Hope this helps! Kacy

Thank you so much for your response! Would love to hear from others as well!

Hello, I have a nursing blog and was wanting to write a post about older students going to nursing school (age 50 and older).. If you are a nursing or pre-nursing student who is 50 or older would you mind answering a few questions for me and allowing me to use your responses on my blog? If you don't have much time even a few short answers would be so very helpful. You can check out my blog at IntrotoNursing – Showing others how it really IS possible to become a Nurse!. Thanks in advance for your help, I really appreciate it! Kacy 1. What has been the most challenging part of going to nursing school as an older student? 2. How do you think being older has given you an advantage in nursing school? 3. Are you glad you went back to school as an older student? Is there any words of advice you would give to others wanting to do so?

OK so I am curious..had a severe reaction to influenza vaccine years ago and have refused it ever since..could my employer force me to have a vaccine even if I am allergic to it? BTW My employer doesn't mandate the shot yet but probably will in the future so I am concerned.

I can totally understand wanting your BSN. Is it possible for you to look for a different RN to BSN program that is more affordable? I attended an in-person 18 month program at a state school where I live (only met one night a week, which was convenient enough for me!) and it was much more affordable than the 'convenient' online programs that advertise constantly, plus I felt like I got a lot out of it.

Hello all, First off forgive me if I did not post this in the appropriate forum, unsure of where to post this... I am curious about writing nursing articles. I have never done so, but have completed a BSN program in which my graduation research paper was 78 pages..so I know I can write! I am just curious about freelance writing of nursing articles..can anyone who has done this or currently does this give me any insight? Are there any courses I can take to develop my writing skills specifically in the medical profession? Any tips or guidelines you use when writing your articles? How do you decide on a topic to write about? Who do you submit your articles to? And is there the potential to make any money doing this? (I am not looking to make a living, but some extra cash to pay bills would be nice). Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks so much! Kacy

I am currently a clinical instructor and I know that the Indiana state board of nursing states that you must have a minimum of a BSN degree to teach LPN students and a MSN degree or a BSN currently enrolled in an MSN program to teach ASN/RN students and almost every school requires a PhD to teach MSN and PhD students. Now if someone is enrolled in an MSN program I think that waives some of the requirements but I am not sure. Hope this helps.

As a clinical instructor myself, I vow NOT to be like the clinical instructor you wrote about in your essay. While she may have pushed you to stay on top of things and learn more, I do not for a second think that is the environment a student learns best in. I think a clinical instructor can motivate a student to learn and do a good job while also following the golden rule "treat others as you would like to be treated" There is no reason for anyone to cut a student down like that!! Congrats on carrying on and good luck to you throughout your nursing career. Kacy

Hi all - I need some quick advice if possible. I have an interview with a head of nursing education for a community college in 2 days. I am trying to get my "professional portfolio" updated - I haven't updated it in almost 2 years! Anyway - can anyone give me any insight as to what they include in theirs for an interview? I have my transcripts, recent review from my current job, awards I've won, letters from 2 patients I've cared for, and samples of my clinical guidelines and handout I created for my current clinical group I am teaching now. Anything I'm missing? I am so nervous!! Any advice/help would be appreciated! :)

I will be starting back for my MSN Jan. 2009 and I too am interested in online teaching. A local college offers an online certificate program in online teaching, here's a link: http://nursing.iupui.edu/continuing/teachingweb.shtml Also, there is a website for online teaching opportunities: http://home.surewest.net/tcsmith/oi-jobs.htm Just a few places you can look for some ideas! Good luck to you! Kacy

Yes I am SO glad I was an LPN first! I was able to have my first job in nursing, as an LPN on a med/surg floor, and make good money while returning to school for my RN. I also felt like going back to school for my RN was much easier having all the great work experience behind me! I started out as a CNA, then LPN, then RN, then my BSN, and now I will be starting back to school Jan. 12th for my MSN in nursing education. I would have to say I have learned a lot in each phase of my career and I wouldn't want to have done it any other way. Good luck to you!

Hi all! I am a med/surg nurse with 6 years of experience, 3 as an LPN and 3 as an RN. I have been wanting to get med/surg certified for awhile, but just recently starting researching what all I have to do to be eligible to take the exam. I then discovered there are 2 types of certifications in med/surg - RN-BC (which I know 2 coworkers that have that cert) and CMSRN. I am a member of the AMSN, so getting the CMSRN would be a lot cheaper for me than the RN-BC. But I have not seen anyone have this certification where I work, and I can't really find much about getting one versus the other. If you are certified, I would like to know which one you have and why you picked that one. I work for a hospital system that is going for magnet status, but we still have 1-2 years before we actually try to get it, if this makes any difference in what I should do. Thanks in advance!:typing

Yes my med/surg floor has been doing hourly rounding for the last year. It is a giant pain in the ass. I am not saying what we are asking isn't important (pain, potty, positioning) but it truly is impossible some days to ask every pt. all of those things every hour. Not when I have 4 discharges and 3 admits and oh didn't you know - my ER pt., direct admit, and ICU transfer are all to the floor at the same time!! Yeah - days like that, it is a joke! And of course this hourly rounding was implemented by people that haven't worked the floor in years!! :smackingf

Great article! Reminded me of my first day at school in my LPN to RN program! With your enthusiasm and wonderful support system, I am sure you will breeze right through "the year from hell" (as I called it)! Good luck to you!

I wear a solid colored scrub set while teaching my med/surg clinicals. I would like to think I do too much bedside care with my students to wear street clothes/ professional wear - gross!