ER2Ed

Thank you so much! I will look into this...all of the possible apps out there are downright mind-boggling (and expensive)! Your input is deeply appreciated.

Hello! I will be doing my pediatric clinical rotation this Fall for my FNP program and am trying to find applications for my new I-Touch that will be useful in the clinical setting. It's a bit overwhelming when looking at those available and not having an opportunity to "try them out" before purchase. I did find one that looks good from Skyscape but appears that I would need constant internet connectivity to utilize. Preferable would like to have something that I could also use if I don't have a connection available (have no idea if my clinical sites have wi-fi). So - I am looking for advice from those that have come before me! Any input and suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I try to navigate the confusing web of mobile technology.

Well...the scoop is you won't start out making $75,000 a year. More like a base salary of $45,000 - $55,000, maybe $65,000 if you are in an area that appreciates the need for good nursing instructors at a community college with an MSN. You don't have to have an MSN in education it can be as an NP also which would give you the flexibility to earn more money if you picked up extra time outside of teaching rather than just nursing as an RN. Summer's are really off if that is what your contract states - I've been off since May 1st and go back the last week of August. I have heard that there are a few colleges that require instructors to teach over the Summer. I am only required to report for duty 3 times during the Summer for advising, but you will want to review the contract before you accept a job to find out all the little details. Also have a month off over the Christmas and New Year break, the Thanksgiving Holiday and the Spring Break Week. That's quite a bit of time off. First semester is the hardest, after that you get your "groove" on and are able to streamline your class preps and it becomes much less stressful. The trick is to not keep switching the courses you teach so you don't have to keep starting from scratch every semester (learned that the hard way!). I did the MSN in education and went into teaching - going into my third year as a faculty member and up for tenure in the Spring. You can pick up extra classes and do classes over the Summer which they call teachign over "load" - this will boost your income and usually, if you go on to get your PHD or DNP you get another extra couple of thousands per year. Committee work is expected, but is often difficult for nursing faculty, especially if you teach clinics. At our college, nursing instructors are required to teach at least one 7 week clinic in addition to the didactic classes they teach - but we usually teach two 7 week sections - clinics pay the most money. The weekly schedule goes like this - 5 hours a week of "office hours", you get to chose when they are so you are available to students, one lecture (about 4 hours), and two days of clinic - so a typical work week is 3 days. HOWEVER, class prep time, grading papers, answering emails and all of that stuff also needs to be done - but I don't go into the office for that. For me personally, I feel the MSN in education actually prepared me to venture into the world of acadamia, whereas, those with an NP masters often struggle with the concepts of the curriculum development, syllabus construction and the tangled web of higher education. A Masters with a focus on education allowed me to hit the ground running...I am now finishing up my Post masters as and FNP so I can also pick up extra money over the summer and other breaks working. About tuition for your children - yes, it's true, where I work, my children (up to 25), spouse and myself can attend any classes at the college for free (of course but pay for their books and incidental expenses) and I imagine it's like that for most. Hope that helps!

The ED I'm at has "sides" - if your one side one beds 1-8 belong to you and your side-mate(s) (depending on staffing that day). When busy you get hallway patients. Triage brings them back, ambulance calls come in and whoever takes the call puts that ambulance wherever they see fit and on the assigns it to someone. We have a tracking board they put your initials up there with the patient assignment. When slow or if you are standing there when triage comes back you get report - otherwise you have to keep watching the board to see if anyone gave you a "new one". When slow it's not a bad way to go. When it's busy - it's terrible. Often you discharge your 3-7 patients (we have no ratio or acuity limitations) and get slammed with who knows what seconds later. Sometimes you have two people in restraints and two MIs at the same time. This is the kind of thing that makes me want to see nurses become a heck of a lot more organized!

You go panhandler! I agree with you 100%. Nurses should get it together and form their own practice groups - refuse to work in hospitals that don't meet patient-centered criteria for nursing practice and don't support nurses in order for nurses to function in accordance with the standards that are set forth for them. At the very least if you have a union you have some protection from unfair labor practices. TNNurse I hope there is a happy ending to this. You and your situation are in my prayers.

In the first semester of my MSN, need to do a paper and am currently attempting to find research articles and information relative to nursing theory specifically used in the emergency care setting. I work in an ED, but we have no publicized nursing theory that is followed as some places do. Personally, I've always liked orem, but not finding anything out there on orem being applied in ED practice. Any suggestions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!

As a one-year old new-grad who started out in the ER (and still there), I agree with the above postings - especially the "don't p--- off the tech's or unit clerk". In addition, I'd like to add: - Find out where the "Clinical Pathways" book is and make a copy. It may be called something else, you may already know about it. It basically has the steps (pathways) that should be followed for patients with particular complaints - i.e., chest pain = O2, EKG, Monitor, at least 2 large bore IVs (I find three is better if someone is in the middle of an MI), etc. Also ours states to give NTG and ASA - this can be done prior to the doc seeing the patient. It lets you know what you, as the nurse can do for the patient and stay within the guidelines of the hospitals policies for your practice. But be sure it doesn't have you doing things outside of the legal guidelines of your State's nursing practice. I found that getting to know these pathways right away helped me be a lot more proficient a lot faster. Unfortunately - I was there for over two months and off orientation before I ever knew such a thing existed. Good luck - you will love i

Thank you for the replies - please keep them coming. The ENA modules sound like a great idea - could anyone direct me to where I could obtain them - I did a little searching on the ENA website but didn't have any luck. Thanks.

Attempting to collect information to revamp our emergency department orientation for new employees. Would anyone care to share what they do for orientation? 1. Orientation for New Grads in the ER. 2. Orientation for old nurses new to the ER. 3. Orientation for old nurses, old to ER, but new to our ER. Any information would be appreciated.

Michigan - New Grad in ER, starting at 21.50 base pay.

I started out at 22.50 with 1.50 shift diff for midnights and an additional buck or so when working on weekends. . .

Good for you!! I am a new grad-just-past-the-nclex-and-now-an-rn and have been orienting in an ED. Be careful. You need to be quick, but you need to watch what you're doing - for your safety and your patients'. And never be afraid to admit you are not sure what to do - always ask. The pace can get to you when three ambulances pull up at the same time and they are all codes. You can do it, but be kind to yourself and pay close attention to your own limitations so you can overcome them. Oh, and be a big Sponge - you will learn from the techs, the unit clerk, the docs, the cleaning crew, the paramedics as well as all the nurses. I love it. The teamwork in the ED is unlike any other place - and it is a beautiful thing to behold. I wish you the best of luck.

a friend was with me - we both got 75. I got two math calculations an a bunch of questions specific to the knee contraption used after knee replacement. She got no math. Speaking with others some got math, some didn't, some got alternative medication, some didn't - I can't believe drug calculations are not important, yet others pass with 75 questions and no math. I don't feel this format is a fair measurement/comparison - how can you ask completely different subject matter questions of people who supposedly studied the same material and get an accurate assessement of their ability fairly? I a person that failed twice with 75 questions so the number is irrelevant. Just my thoughts - in agreement with the concept of "I can't believe my entire nursing education boiled down to just 75 questions" - it's actually quite sad and disturbing to me.

Help - I don't know any NPs personally that I can talk to. I am considering applying for an NP program - most likely family care or adult care. My fantasy is to move to a rural area in my state that doesn't have close and convenient medical care (an hour away) and provide a service to that community. I understand the general principles of being a Nurse Practioner and that is an expanded nursng role focusing on health wellness and disease prevention and providing treatment for minor injuries and illness as well as maintanance for chronic illness, and referal to doctors for more advanced care. What I don't know is a lot. Are the jobs really there? Are there any NPs in private practice in the type of situation I described above? What programs should I stay away from - what schools? I am considering a couple of univerisities in my state (Michigan). Any help, guidance or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Yes - it's worth it. A little scary but worth it. I'll be finishing my BSN in 4 weeks (previously had a BBA). Many people in the program worked - some full time. It is hard, but if you don't have any other responsibilities (kids), you could do it. Good luck.