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Hi, I would have the nurse who gave you the PPD look at it again. Just to make sure you did not have a hypersensitivity reaction. And yes, you document in mm.

The wonderful thing about being a nurse is that there are so many fields of practice you can make a career. I have been a nurse for 14 years. When I graduated in 1996 there was a shortage of nursing jobs in my area. I could not get a job in med-surg. So I took what I could get. I started in a Community Health Center. Then cardiology, then as a civilian FP nurse in the Air Force, then in surgical/trauma in the city hospital, then as a clinical reviewer for a large health insurance company contractor. Now I am starting my own consulting business for medical offices. Nursing is one of the only professions that it pays to have worked in many different jobs. I have to say that if I had had the ability to work med-surg as a new grad, I would have done that. But when I went to work in surgical/trauma after being in nursing for awhile, it was the hardest job I have ever had. But I learned so much that it was worth it and it gave me confidence. Some nurses hate med-surg. That is ok. My advice is to do what you love. Follow your passion. And that may mean that med-surg is not the best path for you. If you are not sure what specialty you want to build a career in, I would recommend med-surg to start. Good luck to you!

Yeah, I know it is a lot. Start with tests that are ordered frequently. MRI lumbar spine, MRI brain, CT brain, MRI joints, CT abd/pelvis, MRI breast and PET scans would be a good place to start. You are very welcome. Good luck.

Hi, If this was a big deal the nurse would have had you restart it. Trust me, this is no big deal if she said it was no big deal. Being honest about your mistakes is the best advice I can give. Never try to cover it up. Let it go. You are being way too hard on yourself. Chalk it up to a learning experience. No one is perfect! :)

Hi, I was updating my resume recently and found some really great samples of resumes for registered nurses. Just google, registered nurse resume samples. There is information in some of the resources and articles that I never knew were relevant. And it is free! Good luck!

Good for you! yeah, sure. go to CCN website and click on criteria on the right sidebar. Then click on CCN radiology criteria. Now they use the word criteria but they are really guidelines. You can click on any test or procedure and it will give you the general guidelines. There is also oncology, sleep study, cardiology and pain management guidelines listed. Criteria is what clinical reviewers and medical directors use to make a decision on the study. And that is not public. They will teach you how to use the criteria. Take care.

I worked for CCN for five years. When you are first starting out the benchmarks can be a little tough. But once you do cases over and over again, it gets easier. When I first started we had to memorize the criteria for each study. lol. They have a different system now, a lot easier. What worked for me was studying the guidelines in my spare time. It really helped. Good luck.

Hi, Have you applied for a position in a doctor's office yet? If you can get your foot in the door there, some will even pay for your continuing education. Perhaps try applying at the community health center in your area. They may not pay as well as a private office but will give you the experience you need. I personally think you can do more as an MA than you will as a CNA. Remember to spotlight your experience working in radiology as an MA on your resume. This is experience that is a plus for anyone working in a doctor's office as many patients are sent for imaging. Yes, nursing school is tough but not impossible. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. If you have it in your heart to be a nurse, you will make it work. Good luck!

Hi, I have been a nurse for 13 yrs and have never stopped learning. When starting out it is important not to come across as knowing everything. I have seen some new nurses make this mistake. Boy, do they fall hard! Listen instead of talk, find a good mentor, someone who is willing to take the time to teach you. There are nurses out there that love to mentor. I do! Take advantage of participating in or observing as many things as you can. The more knowledge you have, the more confident you will be. If you make a mistake, learn from it. We all made mistakes at one time. Good luck!

When I took the NCLEX 13 years ago we had to wait about 2 weeks for the results in the mail. Talk about stress! When I studied for it, I used the formula: what, where, when, why, how? For example: cardiac tamponade..I studied the what, where, when, why and how of the entire condition. When I took the test, I was the first to finish out of my group. I was freaking! I thought I totally bombed and it kicked me out of the system! lol. I actually scored top of my class. Brother, all that worry for nothing. Good luck to you all! Study, study and study. You know what you know. Do your best.

I agree with all of the above. It is also important to get a good stethoscope. I paid $60 for mine 13 yrs ago and still use it. Very important for hearing those subtle sounds! Good luck to you!

Hi Sarah, I am also looking for funding for my business to train staff for prior authorization of advanced imaging. pm me and maybe we can compare notes! Thanks, Terri

Clarification: What I meant was, in my particular field, which is Prior Authorization for Advanced Imaging, I have found over the past 5 yrs, a definite lack of training for non-medical staff performing prior authorization. For more information click here: www.rosewoodconsulting.biz and http://priorauthorizationtraining.blogspot.com

I agree with above post. In my experience, OM usually stands for otitis media(ear infection). I have also seen MDs use OM for osteomyelitis(bone infection). Hope this helps. Good luck.

I am an RN, BSN, and I have worked with good and bad LPNs. Also bad RNs. LOL. In Colorado where I live, it is very difficult for LPNs to find employment. Most places only hire RNs. Usually it is only nursing homes that hire LPNs here. That would be my only concern about obtaining an LPN vs RN. Good luck to you!