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!

Hi all! I just wanted to 'update' from my original post. I too, have found out that clinical instructors must be very flexible and easy going to make it in teaching! I have been doing med/surg clinicals for a year now and absolutely love it! So much so that I will be starting back for my MSN in nursing education in January! I have been lucky enough to be at the same clinical site (hospital) for all of my clinicals, and I do try to take new clinical instructors under my wing because I remember how terrified I was when I started. I had zero instruction or assistance, but somehow I made it! I guess that is the best thing that nursing has given to me.. the ability to figure out what I'm doing even when I initially have no clue! LOL!! One of my very first students contacted me the other day to tell me that she had passed the NCLEX-PN and now had her LPN license. It made my day! Really showed me that it is worthwhile to work on passing the torch to others! I love teaching! :wink2: - Kacy

No, I don't. I am an RN with almost 6 yrs. experience and am currently making $23.50/hr for day shift medical/surgical hospital floor work. I started there making $19/hr out of school. I have always recieved good reviews and raises, but I do not think I am recieving the pay I deserve.

I had a good friend who went through that program. She had a 3.98 GPA and said she almost didn't get in! I think you pretty much have to have a 4.0 to make it. Also she said there were only 30 spots per year. That was in 2005, so it may have changed since then. Good luck!

Hi, I have not started my instructor position yet (will start 9/18) but I, like you, have 5+ yrs. experience in med/surg nursing. I am going to be an Med/Surg clinical instructor in the LPN program. Can't wait!! Kacy, RN, BSN

Hi all! I am a soon-to-be brand new med/surg clinical instructor. To those of you clinical instructors with experience under your belt, I am wondering if what is happening to me is the usual occurence. I accepted a job as an LPN instructor about a month ago. Clinicals start 9/18. I have been in touch frequently with my new boss, and would like to go ahead and get things set up at the hospital we are going to be at, as far as orientation and outside experiences. I have heard from some of the other instructors that this is generally the instructor's job. No problem. Well, I have been put off for awhile, and I keep asking about details so I can get started setting some things up for my students. I was finally told last week that the school is having some trouble securing the actual hospital for a clinical site, and that things are up in the air right now as to if my students and I will even be there or not? I have no idea if this is because of the particular school being fairly new (only in 2nd year) or because these are LPN students, not RN students. I was told that on Sept. 11th I would be told for sure where we were going. That only gives me a few days to set any orientation and outside experiences up!!! Is this a usual occurence, that I should just get used to as a clinical instructor?? It is very dissapointing! Thanks all who reply, - Kacy, RN, BSN

I don't know about Walden University...I am looking into starting the online MSN at University of Southern Indiana with a specialty in nursing education.

I have sat for the NCLEX-PN and the NCLEX-RN and would have to say the NCLEX-RN was more difficult, only because it required more critical thinking skills, while the PN test seemed to ask more direct questions. The questions on the NCLEX-RN were more open to interpretation. However, it is hard to compare the two since you have to complete two totally different programs of study to take each one. Good luck!

I just graduated this past May from IU Kokomo's RN to BSN program. VERY, VERY flexible program! I loved it! The class only meets 7-8 times a semester, and there is no testing, just papers and projects. Very enjoyable experience!

Thanks for all the responses/suggestions everyone. I'm still having some dizziness, some days are better than others. I have an ENG scheduled 5/1 so hopefully I will know more then. -Kacy

I have worked at St. Vincent's for almost 5 years and love it. It is a great place to work...the people are nice, there is a true family feeling there, and lots of opportunities if you want to go far. Good luck to you!