Macbs4

I like the idea. What I did was use technology. If you have a smartphone (or at the very least, email): Type a list of current meds, medical history, list of physician(s); scan in living will, POA, insurance info - then email all this to yourself and your backup persons with the title "DO NOT DELETE - (patient's NAME) Medical Info". It's with you everywhere you go. I've used this multiple times for a family member with many medical issues and multiple trips to the ER or doctor's offices.

Thanks everyone for all your honest and helpful feedback. You give me confidence in combining my nursing and IT skills to get an informatics position. Does anyone think the upcoming ICD-10 conversion requirements will open up more jobs? Would an ICD-10 certification help at this point? Thanks again for your input!

My career had been on hold this past year being a full-time caregiver. Now that I'm in the job market again, I'd like to pursue IT/informatics. Would like your advice regarding "my chances" of obtaining a job in this field based on my background and experience. I would like to avoid the costs of pursuing a masters degree or certificate at this time, but I'm not opposed to it if that's what it takes. I have a B.S. in Business Management and working in IT for 22 years starting as a programmer, and working my way up to positions as a business analyst, project manager, and department manager. I've worked in a variety of business environments - have worked on teams doing software conversions, new software implementations - you name it - just not in the health care environment. I changed careers in 2009 and have worked as a BSN RN for 3 years in med-surg. I do like helping people but the hospital environment is very stressful at times, and my body is tired after the 12-hour shifts. I would really appreciate your constructive feedback and suggestions regarding how to enter the informatics field.

You didn't mentioned what area of SC... job opportunities are varied depending on where you live. LTC jobs seem more abundant here than hospital-based. Good luck to you.

Basically, if you passed NCLEX, the hospital already knows you're qualified as an R.N. (albeit a "new" RN that needs lot of coaching and training initially). So, the purpose of the interview is to find out if you fit into the "culture" of the hospital and the unit. Thus (as the previous post alludes to), you'll be asked situational questions that help the interviewer judge whether you "fit in". So, think about difficult/stressful situations you've experienced, how you've dealt with them, and what you learned from them). An important "situation" for a new grad is knowing when to ask for help. You're not expected to know everything as a new grad, so the hospital wants to hire someone that realizes when a situation is beyond your limited experience and is willing to ask for help. Lastly, write a thank-you note to all the interviewers, reiterating an important point of discussion and emphasizing your interest in working for the hospital / unit. Write the note the SAME DAY (bring note cards, envelopes, stamps with you) - even consider leaving the thank-you note with the dept secretary/front desk so it reaches them soon after your interview. Good luck with the interview and your new career.

I've never been in the military, but.... perhaps that's an option for you.

Thanks for all the tips!

I guess the answer depends on how much notice you plan to give your current employer?

I'm finally going back to day shift after working nights for over a year. I'm busy on nights with 6-8 patients-definitely not much sitting around. On days, there will likely be 4-6 Med-Surg patients. Any tips on how to organize the day shift routine and "stay afloat"? (I've searched the threads and found some helpful info ... but nothing real detailed on organizing the day). I recall the specific day shift duties are: 3 meals a day (none on nights) Surgery prep, pt's to OR in the early morning; postops in the afternoon Procedures (xrays, MRI.... ) during the day Dr orders to check off Lots more meds on days, espec 9am Dressing changes Discharges to home / nursing homes Multiple new admissions at times Draw labs / IV starts for new admits /IV restarts for expired IV's Update POC / Teaching plans 3 blood sugars on days vs 1 on nights Baths / beds on days vs PRN on nights (but 3-4 cna's on days vs 1-2 cna's on nights) Deal w/ families, case managers/social workers, upper mngmnt making 'rounds' Geez! Any helpful hints if greatly appreciated.

I agree with llg about your next steps. Take an objective look at your performance and I know you will discover things about yourself that you can improve. All new nurses (and even experienced ones) have room for improvement in particular areas. Regarding preceptors/managers, it would seem more beneficial to have a 5-10 minute session at start of the shift to set priorities/goals, and likewise have a 5-10 min session at the end of the shift to review the day and discuss accomplishments/issues. Perhaps you could include this in your action plan so that you get immediate feedback. I'm sorry for your troubles; hang in there.

I think you have to experiment 'til you find the right one for you. I tried Dansko at the advice of a co-worker - tried to break them in for weeks and my feet hurt. Right now, I wear TredSafe clogs - found them at Wal-mart. They're made for restaurant workers (nonslip), so I figured it would be good for hospitals. Especially after I slipped and fell on a wet floor at work. I also like Merrell shoes - especially if you have rather wide feet - no pointy-toed shoes for this chic.

Glad you like it. D=Diet, A=Activity, E=Elimination (Brief, Incont, Foley...), VTE=Venous Thromboembolism (i.e. SCD's, TEDs)

If you do a search on this site for "brain sheet", "organizer", "time management" etc... you'll find lots of examples. I work on med-surg floor (nights), and went thru numerous formats before I found that a 4x6 note card for each pt works best. I have 7-8 patients at a time. Attached is what I use; I print it in advance at home. Saves me time writing at work. I buy the index cards in bulk at the dollar store. NoteCard_4x6_C.doc

I was ready to quit after my FIRST day of classes in nursing school! The work load seemed overwhelming. But I made it, and you will too. Just take a deep breath and tell yourself there's lot of others before you that survived nursing school, and you can too. My school had a counseling/resource center for students who taught people "how" to study. Find a resource like this. You absolutely can't read every line of the textbooks - learn to pick the main points out of the paragraphs and highlight them or write in the margins. Use your lecture notes to know what to focus your study time on. If you have a long commute to school, purchase a voice recorder and record your notes on it. Listen to it every chance you get - on the drive to school (PLEASE leave one ear free for driving), taking a walk, at the gym, etc. Good luck to you.

First of all, I have the highest respect for EMT's - especially since I'm still getting the hang of starting IV's and you guys and gals are the best at it! The benefits of a BSN are, you can go directly into the following : - An advanced degree (Masters, Nurse Practitioner, Doctorate) - the Research path - Public Health Benefits of an ADN: - you're not interested in any of the above items listed under the BSN - funds and/or time are short Otherwise, an RN is an RN - BSN's and ADN's take the same NCLEX exam. That could change in the future, but that's the way it is now.

I was auscultating a pt's abdomen last week during a shift assessment when the patient said "you're the only person who's done that since I was admitted". I was surprised. So, I started thinking... maybe I'm going overboard by always checking heart, lungs, abdomen, peripheral pulses. My assessments take five minutes or less, including the usual questions like "pain?", "last BM". What does everyone else do out there for a shift assessment. Check everything? Skip/include things based on what is the diagnosis? I'm looking for any "time-saving" techniques given my patient load is 7-8 patients.

I agree with RN-Cardiac. Also, someone taught me to program the piggyback infusion so the total VTBI is 5 ml over the amount in the secondary bag. That way, all the piggyback infusion will run in, including what's in the drip chamber. Also, if the patient is heplocked in betwen piggyback infusions, set the "Primary" fluid to run so the VTBI is set at only 30 ml. That will flush the line and you'll be ready for the next piggyback infusion.

Private duty nursing. I guess there are some "tweeners" out there who need help w/ their elderly parents essentially "sitting" and doing light-duty housework.

This may sound wierd, but what helped me was finally realizing that I CAN'T HAVE a schedule. Sure, one can have a general routine in mind like get report, assess patients, chart, give meds, etc... BUT that really never happens. It's about prioritizing and re-prioritizing ALL THE TIME.

We share some things in common, so I can relate to your post - such as preferring to sleep 10pm to 6-7a; having never worked nights before; being a new grad slated to work nights. First, being a new grad, you won't be bored on nights for a while. It will take a while to get adjusted to the new routine. At my hospital, we have 8 patients on night shift (6 on days), and have more paperwork on nights. I've only been on nights for a few weeks - was scared 'bout changing my sleep routine but was able to do it. There are many other threads here regarding suggestions on how to adjust your sleeping routine for nights... find those and use the suggestions that you think will work for you. The true reality of working nights (just my opinion) is you're not working just 3 days (nights) - you're working 5. Why, because you have to spend the day before and the day after adjusting your sleep patterns. On a positive note (others here have mentioned this), you get to spend more quality time with your patients (not always, but sometimes). Congratulations on passing NCLEX and your new job. You can do it.

Consider the pay PLUS benefits (a 9-to-5 job; continuing education benefits; health/dental/vision insurance; 401K) when deciding on a job salary offer. If the benefits aren't so great, consider this when you ask if the salary is negotiable.

From your description, you father can answer yes/no questions. Find some time alone w/ him when he's alert. Tell him you'd like to ask him a few simple questions that require yes/no answers and ask him to nod "yes" or "no" in response. Make sure you tell him you are not asking him these questions to cause problems for anyone in the family, but that you want to make sure his wishes are being fulfilled. Ask him the basic questions regarding his wishes for whom he wants for his (1) POA for financial affairs; (2) POA for health care decisions; (3) visitors. Depending on how he responds, take immediate action accordingly.

I'd like to be: 1) An obscenely wealthy, influential person, acting in a philanthropist role to give money to worthwhile causes. 2) A Dog or Horse Whisperer.

I take my shoes off in the garage when I get home, carry them thru the house without stopping all the way to the shower, spray the bottoms with diluted bleach and let them "soak" while I take a shower. Then I rinse them off and let them dry in the bathroom. Yes, it's a little overboard.

Here's the key to your dilemna: "know thy self". You've likely always been better at taking "written" tests vs "oral" exams. Perhaps you're a person who has to ponder a question before answering it - there's nothing wrong with that. Some people are just great at answering questions as soon as they're thrown at them. Haven't you ever met a person who had great "comebacks"? I'm certainly not one of them. You may not be, either. But... you're still smart; you were accepted into Nursing school, weren't you? I've been an RN for a year now.... I haven't begun to learn everything I need to feel confident and am always asking for help and advice.....you'll get to know what to do with experience and repetition. Hang in there.