Nurse1202

Sorry, I have been so busy with term papers that I haven't been online lately!!! Stark State is a 2-yr Associates Degree program. It took me 2 years to do the prerequisites at part-time, though. Technically, it took me 4 years, but many have done it in 3. as for the instructors, they were tough, but they really enjoyed teaching. I found them to be helpful, but they didn't babysit you. You had to go to them the first sign of trouble or they couldn't help you. While I attended, they opened up the nursing lab for skills practice near testing time, or they would open the lab for asistance with drug calculations. I attended the open labs a lot. I found one instructor to be the toughest in my second year, but I learned so much from her that semester. From what I hear, Stark is a very difficult program compared to others, but their pass-fail rates on the boards are better than other schools in the area. That's why I chose Stark, and the price was right. :)

I'm a southpaw also!! This is bad, but I have more problems with the layout of my car's interior than medical equipment, although my DH chalks it up to bad driver syndrome:D I 've found that i have adapted to equipment and procedures, as I do everything else in this right-handed world. I am actually more comfortable inserting a foley on either side of the bed, using my left hand for insertion!!! As for using the right-handed scissors, I've tried using left-handed scissors in the past, but they're not as sharp. What is the industrial world trying to say? (just kidding):)

Sorry, it is the same as a P.R.N. position. I set my own schedule. For example: I work 2-3 12 hour shifts per week, and I tell administration what days, how many hours. I can work as many shifts as I want, but my obligation is 16 hours every 3 months. that is the minimum hours I have to work to be considered an active R. N. All hospitals require at least one year of experience in your specialty, before they'll hire you for a P.R.N. position. Mercy Medical Center requires 2 years. I don't get vacation time or health benefits, but I don't need the benefits. That's why they pay more money per hour, it is cheaper to pay me more per hour than to provide me benefits. Every hospital is different with their requirements, but at Mercy I don't have to work weekends or holidays, even though they pay an extra dollar per hour if I do. I hope this answers your question. With going to school and having a 2 y.o., I save a lot of money not paying for child care. I work night shift, so my husband is home with our son and my mom watches him while I sleep. She lays him down for a nap about noon, and he wakes me up at 3PM. It works great for us!

BTW, my friend just graduated & didn't find to be funny, But I did: A graduate nurse looks for blood on a bandage hoping they will get to change it; an experienced nurse knows a little bit of blood won't hurt anyone. A graduate nurse looks for a chance to 'work with the family'; an experienced nurse avoids the family. A graduate nurse expects meds and supplies to be delivered on time; An experienced nurse expects them never to be delivered at all. A graduate nurse will spend days bladder training an incontinent patient; an experienced nurse will insert a foley. A graduate nurse doesn't find these funny; an experienced nurse does. Looking back, I was way to eager for more WORK!!!:)

:roll :chuckle :roll :roll :roll Thanks, I laughed so hard my sides hurt!! I needed a good laugh!!!!

JMA, Greetings from Akron!!! I graduated from Stark State 2001. Started out at Summa at 19.75/hr then. I'm at Mercy Medical now. I work per diem now at 32.75/hr. Nice, Huh! Frees up more time to spend with my 2 y.o. I looked into part time positions, but weren't for me for various reasons. Anyways, they told me the payscale for 2-3 years experience was b/w 24-25.00/hr. Look at the facility's care delivery model more than the money!!! I learned the hard way. Look at the mission and philosophy statements. My own PERSONAL opinion: I love MERCY!!!!:kiss

I work in 2 different facilities, but their policies are the same: Triple lumen catheters 4cc NS. PICC/Midlines: 4cc NS/2.5cc Heparin, unless pt has allergy. 10 cc NS flush after blood draw, no matter the type of access.

I have to agree with chris! I see you are in Ohio. I live in the Akron/Canton area and PRN positions pay 29.00-35.00 an hour with very little commitment and a lot of flexibility. I'm working on my BSN and I work 3 12-hr shifts at this pay rate, but no benefits. I tell management what days I will work. This really works for my family. Good luck!!:)

Theresa, I began my career 5 months pregnant, and 3 developed weeks after completing my 3 month orientation, my OB took me off duty for preeclamsia (Can't imagine why I developed HTN!) I was off 13 weeks, and then returned to work. I have a pretty kind and understanding manager despite her downfalls, so I called and spoke with her BEFORE returning. I asked her if it would be feasible to give me one night orientation to help ease the transition. I ran the team, while my preceptor was available for questions and could assist the other nurses, if needed. this helped me immensely, but I realized that I would've been ok without the orientation!!! Good Luck and enjoy your little one. They grow way too quick!! Mine's now 2.

I'm happy that I could help, but don't feel GUILTY for deciding what is best for you!!!! I feel empathy for that poulation also, but you can not feel guilty for deciding what is best for yourself. Life is full of regrets and guilt; but don't feel guilty about deciding what's best for you and your family. Once you finish your degree many people will try to guilt trip you into doing things that are not in your best intrest for sake of "the patients", but in reality it will be for the sake of the facility! Practice being assertive and learning to say no without regrets now, while it is easier. Find your priorities, and keep 'em in perspective. I hope you enjoy LTC as much as I did and Good Luck!

I LOVE NIGHT SHIFT!!!! I have been a nurse almost 3 years and I have worked nights since graduating. I felt the same ambivalence, but I decided to give it a try. Nights allows for a greater amount of independence in your practice (my opinion), because you have less support, such as staff, other therapies, and management. There are some cons but the pros are many. The nursing staff can only rely on each other for help. There is a whole different level of friendship, because you have to work together more closely. If you are a new graduate, it is a good experience in learning organization, prioritizing, and decision making without the craziness of day shift. (To the day shifters out there: a salute, because I couldn't do it, I don't have the patience) Night shift is not as crazy as day shift, but by no means will you sit on your keister and eat Bon Bons. ( I actually had a day shift nurse say that to me, but she changed her attitude after I challenged her to fill in on a short staffed night):chuckle Whatever you decide: there is always an option to change shifts later, depending on the facility's policy, usually 3-9 months. Good Luck!!!

I don't know about nursing scholarships; I had a hrad time finding them also. I do have a suggestion though: try to find a nursing assistant position within a nursing home or hospital. many of these facilities will train you, while you are obtaining some experience for your chosen career. most facilities have scholarships and tuition reimbursement. If this is not an option for you, don't worry about it, take the loans and grants. After graduation, many hospitials, especially teaching hospitals, will offer to pay 25-50% of your loans off for a contracted tenure agreement. Mine was 25% with 12 months consecutive employment. A new grad I work with signed a contract for 2 years tenure and the facility is paying 50% on her school loans after the completion of the contract. if you don't like the facility you can leave, but they won't pay on the loan. It was a pretty good deal for me!!! Hope this helps! and Good luck!!!!!

I have been an RN for almost 3 years, and the more experienced I become and the more I observe reinforces my love for the profession of nursing and my dedication to my patients health, safety, and overall welfare. I will say that nursing is a very dynamic, challenging, and, yes, very stressfull, but nursing provides many personal rewards that are found from within yourself. Commenting on your statement regarding how nurses treat students and "newbies," I found that many nurses were very helpful and were always finding learning experiences for us during clinicals. I had many staff nurses find me in the hall and say"you have got to see this." I also found that some nurses were not very helpful and did tend to "eat" the students, but in observation they treated everyone this way. As a "newbie" I found that most peers are very helpful and willing to impart knowledge and experience. Don't worry, your nursing career is what you allow it to be; you are in control of the direction it takes. The negative experiences as a student and as a new nurse brought a decision on my part to be a positive role model and mentor to those folwing behind me. Good luck!!:)

Home Health Aides give basic physical care to patients in their homes;and,depending on agency or private duty status, you may be expected to do housekeeping, laundry, errand-running, and/or provide respite care to families. I was an agency state-tested nursing assitant in LTC, while in nursing school. I also filled in as a HHA when the agency was desperate (or I was desperate for money). What you need to ask yourself is what type of experience you are wanting or needing. There are advantages to HHA, such as observing symptom management and coping of patient and families with chronic illnesses. There is also time to practice therapeutic communication skills, etc. I preferred the STNA work in the LTC facilities, because I was able to observe some excellent role models on good and bad days. I learned to prioritize and organize my patient workload. When I began my first position as an RN, I was realistic in my care load and expectations of nursing, because I had seen the best and worst times. I also learned to hone my interpersonal skills during this time. Ask yourself what is important, decide, and act! Good Luck! I only graduated 2.5 years ago, so e-mail me anytime with questions:)