cajrio

I still have not heard I applied to adult/gero acute program, I was told their are many applicants so they will not make decisions until June.

I work in the neonatal intensive care unit and do a secondary in the PICU., I have had a lot of experience with dopamine,vasopressin,milrone,epi,vents,oscillators,jets along with PAL lines and UAC/UVC. Although our patient population is not as large little mistake become big problems. My GPA was 3.4 for BSN and 3.75 for MSN. Has anyone else been able to get into a CRNA program without the adult experience? Thanks

I can just tell you about what is happening in and around Raleigh NC, Duke has a waiting list for several units, but is not actively hiring into the units, in my unit we did not hire a CNA who worked for us while in school :-(, Rex is rethinking their strategies regarding hiring and putting in more red tape for new hires (the problem with this is that if you are hired you would also be first to go with layoffs) in several units at duke people have been using their PTO d/t low census and o/t is non existent wake med is taking application but the "word" is that they are not actively hiring into positions until Feb Franklinton regional hosp. has put a freeze on hiring and is looking at possible lay offs, So to answer the question is there a nursing shortage, NO especially in this area where we have many AA/BSN/Dipolma programs, with this economy hospital can pick and choose who they want to work

Unfortunately hospitals do not have to honor your "religious' beliefs or a medical exemption regarding vaccinations. Our hospital now requires that any member who works with children must have the DTaP vaccination, although I have strong religious convictions as well as a medical exception the hospitals response is they can move you to an adult unit. I have seen an increase in what hospitals deem necessary for patient protection, my questions are always if we use proper PPE how does this put the patient or ourselves at risk? I have high titers for pertussis because I am in contact with children who have this virus yet titers are not acceptable evidence of immunity. I fear that soon hospitals will insist on the flu vaccine. Soon the profession will loose another nurse because I won't go against my beliefs.

Hey Kimmee Please email I would like to know more about your interview at Wake I too am a Duke employee but found the manager so friendly and I have an interview in the Children ED, Looking forward to hearing from you.

I work in a state that is "at will", when I had a job that increased patient to nurse ratio's I just found a new job. Unless the other nurses start to leave the unit and write letters to upper management changes will not be made that favor the nurse, instead the power to be will see that a nurse can handle 7:1 patient load therefore it is not necessary to have 6 nurses when 5 can do that job. This does not mean that the job is done as efficently or as SAFE but unless the nurses advocate for their patients no changes will be made.

We are suppose to use SBAR but have found that using our kardex is more efficient,when we use SBAR too much information is missed.

We have all the o/t you want in our hospital. I work 12-24 + hrs a week o/t they also give us an additional incentive 0f $20.00hr plus o/t pay

Wake meds premium is considered low compared to Duke, at Duke you have three types of insurance, but the one that allows you the most leeway is bcbs and it cost me 397.00 per month for myself and family. Our ded. 15/30 per office visit plus we have to pay a hefty amount for hospital visits. Also no 401k here, once you work for the hospital for 5 yrs then you become vested in their plan. I miss the NY area, the cost of living here in NC is not that much less, I pay more here for food, electricity and water then I did on long island. The only bill that is cheaper is the cost of housing and property tax. I have to work o/t each week to ensure my bills are meet. The one advantage to living in this state is the ability to continue your education at a nominal fee. :smilecoffeecup:

No shortage here in the Raleigh area, rather nurses leave because of low pay or poor patient staff ration. We have a rotation of new grads every year in the peds units as well as the other units.

I wrote up my CNA for hitting a patient and they were not fired instead the CNA's who worked with me thereafter refused to help, they (cna) knew it was easier to replace the RN then the CNA so I left the job rather then lose my license,

I started out as a nicu rn, with a prn job in PICU., I know work f/t PICU and do prn in NICU. I enjoy picu becuase I learn about different medication, and diagnosis plus most patients are on some sort of drip (dop,vaso,epi, milr) so I become more proficient in managing these lines and drips. I enjoy the NICU because of more interaction with the family and I feel you can influence the outcome of the patient care ...positioning, feeding intervention, etc. I the NICU I have more opportunity to put in IV's and do arterial sticks, in the PICU most patient have a Arterial line placed for easy access. I am currently enrolled in a masters program for NNP but I will continue to work in the PICU as I feel it helps to give me better understanding of what happens to the NICU infants who have chronic diseases. So in answer to your question I love the NICU but work in the PICU to enhance my skills and knowledge base.

1. what is your definition of nursing? a nurse is someone who is the advocate for the patient and their family. 2. what changes have you seen throughout nursing? less time for my patients, more lawsuits and more technical jobs that are "suppose" to help the nurse. 3. what do you think the future of nursing will be like? i see nurses becoming more specialized and possible more distinct of nurses, like grade 1,2,3 based upon education. 4. how many years have you been a nurse? too many to count 5. what different fields of nursing have you been in? picu/icn/mother baby 6. how many other jobs besides nursing have you had? paralegal / dog trainer/ 7. what made you decide to become a nurse? to become an advocate for those who could not talk (infants and children) 8. would you do it all over again? no 9. what is your ball park salary? 90,000 10. what advice would you give to student going into nursing? learn good charting, triple check all orders and keep good notes of daily events. 11. would you advice them to go into join your current field? no 12. how does your job affect your family? i have more days available for family time but it has also skewed my preception of what can happen to children so i have to often remember that i see the sickest children and not the norm. 13. have you ever had to deal with any legal issues? not yet.... 14. what are some positive experiences you have had with nursing? when that 23wk goes home with only grade 1 bleed and is on full nipple feeding, it is great to know that you have helped with the care of that infant. 15. negative experiences? unskilled personnel, high acuity with no enough staffing, physical violence, 16. where did you earn your nursing degree? adn 17. have you had to do any other special training to deal with nursing since you got your nursing degree? bsn now working towards masters.

Thanks everyone for the congrads! As far as preparing, honestly the test I found to be very different then the book that is sold on the site. The questions were more like they gave you the answer such as the baby has a metobolic acidosis,, what would produce this..sepsis..L-R shunt etc so for me I had to recall kiddos who had a metabolic acidosis and remember why it happen. Also I am lucky that I have been working in the PICU as all cardiac infants are sent to the picu. Only the experience of working with these cardiac patients was I able to answer those questions. In all honesty this was the hardest test I have ever taken and I am proud that I was able to pass. As far as bonus, party etc.. no I did not receive any additional pay nor a bonus nor a party, although now the unit can say it has one more RN who has their certification,

Took my exam today, and yes it is difficult I thought., they certainly do give you enough time to take the exam but you really need to know your diagnosis, outcomes and treatments...phew glad it is over and excited that I passed.

Neonatal (nicu) and PICU I have found to be very differnt, just the way you assess and manage the children in each unit is very differnt. I truly love both units as each allows me to learn on a daily basis. On the average we have 1 child/neonate die each week, some weeks are worse then others with us having as many as 4 infants dying. It can become very heart wrenching. The way I have learn to deal with this is to know that one most infant are in such a state that this would be the best outcome for them as it ends their suffering. And i feel priviledge to have been allowed to step into their lives and their familes to help them during this time. If you feel the calling to work in NICU I say go for it, just make sure you have a hospital that offers you a good orientation to this unit. Good luck.

to assess jaudice on a dark skinned or AA infant do you check mucous membranes or soles of the feet?? If an infant has a BT shunt procedure is it ok to use a bp cuff on his right arm? Thanks,

Hi: Nursing is a great profession but to make money in nursing you need to work extra hours and work odd shift and holidays. With a family obligations this is not easy, negotiations and boundarys must be set so that you can have both a family and a career. Also you mention the monetary issues, there are many other careers that are part of the medical profession that will pay a better salary with hours that are more structured for a family life and less to no legal responsibility. Ultrasound tech who do cardiology in my state start at 26.00 a hour, surgical tech start at 17.50 an hour, echo technicians start at 21.00 a hour, all these subspecialities allow you to work 4,8, 12 hr shifts and your pay will be better then most nurses who have five years experience. I know in our unit RT's who have 6yrs experience are paid better then most nurses in the unit. RT can be taught to be ECMO specialist or you can train to be a perfusionist and they are paid well. Becaues you have a degree already you have several option, check out the local technical college in your area to see what programs they offer, or if nursing is where your heart is calling you then go for a bridge program. What ever you choice I wish you luck!

thank you for your replies. What I am looking for is protocols that other institutions use to ceritfy the RN in art sticks. In our hospitals RT do not do art sticks only RN or MD's. so I was hoping to see what other hospitals use as a check off list.

Would anyone be willing to share their units protocols for arterial sticks. We are trying to put together a new protocol so that our nurses can be certified for arterial sticks. Thanks,

1.Type of nurse? PICU/ICN 2. How many hours u work per week? 48-60 3. How many years of nursing? 3yrs 4. What Shift: Day, Evening, nights, or weekend only? Nights only 5. City and State Raleigh, NC 6. Average 2 week gross pay 2200-2800 I happen to enjoy this type of thread I like to know what others are making so I can judge if I am being paid fairly according to my area. As an example I just found that new grads are being hired in at a higher rate that those of us with 2-5yrs experience. Because I now have this information I have taken it to the "powers to be" to get a cost adjustment. Knowledge is power and we all need to band together so that we are paid what we a worth! Otherwise this nursing shortage will only get worse, honestly I love my job but if I am unable to make enough to care for myself and my household I will change professions. It is an insult to me when I found out that my sonogr. tech, or rt or xray tech, is making more an hour that I do!

When did this raise happen? I work at Duke and have not seen any raise in my base pay. I also know that UNC and Wake med pay a higher salary with better shift diffs. Wake med is known for having the best paid nurses in the trainagle area. I know that they are changing the reimbursement for education to include any classes you take not only Duke classes.

Duke Medical Cntr is the lowest paying employer in the Raleigh Durham Area of the Wake med pays the highest with the best shift diff available and weekend option. UNC is next for shift diff and pay availability. Of course there are many smaller hospital but they are ususally associated with one of the three larger hospital just noted.

I am currently a PICU/NICU nurse. I love my patients but I also love to learn. IN our units the acuity although high 1:1 is not stressful or conducive to learning as most kids are chronics with very similar problems. I am looking to advance my education (CRNA or PNP) but I feel that I should be competent in taking care of all patients. WHat are the benefits or draw backs about working in the CCU. I know the unit in my hospital has a constant turn over due to workload and stress as most patients will only spend 48hrs in the unit before going to stepdown. Is it difficult to care of an adults? Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

In the 3 units I have worked in we did not foil the lipids lines are changed every day.