MnemonicMonkey

If this puts it in perspective for you: I had 2.5 years on a surgical- trauma floor, a bit over-committed, and don't always check my calendar like I should. As we're going to bed one night I made a comment to my wife that I really need to start reviewing for my CMSRN. You know... since it's next week. To which she asks, "So what's that certification thing you have tomorrow afternoon?" [Asystole] Yup. Flipped through my med-surg book while eating lunch the next day. Questions about cancer drugs made me nervous, but nailed the surgical stuff. Many questions that tested thought process more than knowledge. Passed. With a score just above average. So, I wouldn't worry yourself too much over the test... 13 years experience will let you figure out that even if you're about to give some cancer drug you've never heard of, you need to assess your patient first.

This is an old thread, but to address this logic, it's not going backwards. There may be pay differences, but EMT's have a very different scope of practice than RN's do (and get to sit around the station and actually relax or sleep on occasion). I had my EMT-B prior to getting my RN, but am now looking at getting my EMT-P as it's essentially a requirement to do transport nursing in my state.

I got hired at a Level I trauma center on the trauma med-surg floor as a new grad. It's honestly been a great place to start, and a good place to learn to organize, prioritize, and multitask naturally... the stuff you can't learn from a book. The patient population is tough to work with (they usually got shot for a reason), but it's been a great way to get familiar with caring for all sorts of patients in a more stable environment.

So you know, this thread, seemingly like all the IN salary threads, is ancient. The particular question you were replying to is over 4 years old. A mod should really close these threads.

I had a hard time getting into nursing school with my GPA, but after three applications, got in. I'm like you and always go to the "but what if..." in a question. I learned quickly that the best remedy was to know the material so well that the choice was completely obvious as soon as I read the question. As in know it so well, you can just put the page # of the reference text next to your answer. (I once got credit back on a question because I showed our instructor where there was actually a second correct answer on her test according to our book.) There is a difference between understanding the material (pick one side effect from a list of four) and KNOWING the material (write down a list of all side effects). Our micro instructor encouraged us to study with blank paper so we could periodically write or draw out the material we were studying to see what we were really retaining. I did, and I ended up with an A in his class! Remember, winners never quit and quitters never win. My wife took the NCLEX three times before she passed. I passed the first time with only 75 questions. And you know what? We both have the same license. Hang in there, learn what doesn't work for you, and kick Sallie Mae to the curb!

From what I've heard from a friend that just transferred to our ED and started in the annex, brush up on your pelvic exams. She says at least half of her patients get one. Also practice keeping a straight face when an MD pulls an object out of an orifice that you never thought would fit up there, much less need to be there. :) Psych skills are also a given...

My wife is a NICU nurse that went through this a few years ago, and I do recall her dreading having separate patients everywhere for all the reasons listed above, but now likes it despite "days where we have our running shoes on." The rooms are quieter, family drama contained (there are even warning lights on the ceiling if the noise level in the room gets too loud), and there is much more room for equipment (the old space was maxed out). They have two rooms specifically set up for twins and one for triplets, and all the private rooms can actually support two patients if needed (which has happened on occasion- usually twins where one is stable). There are two secretaries' desks and pods between each pair of rooms. The key to the system is the Vocera communicators. It's a handsfree device that does voice calls, texts, but most importantly, receives alarms. So you get immediate notification if the kid way down the hall that the charge nurse just HAD to give you is misbehaving. I would think that if you're moving to a new facility there's some type of provision like this, be it Vocera, Cisco, etc... She also said that she was actually the first assignment to be transferred, so they transferred her three patients up (there was plenty of extra help) and she stayed up on the floor as other assignments were brought up.

What you've said right here is precisely what should have gone in the evidence portion of your "exceeds expectations" ratings. I'm 8 months on the job now, and just had to do my performance review too. Like you, I don't have the clinical judgement of a 20-year resource nurse, but I do have a stack of thank-you cards from patients, and even had a patient tell me she could tell how much I loved my job by the care I gave. In the age of patient satisfaction scores, "not burnt out" is a valuable part of your performance. "Plays well with others" is too, since it not only provides better care for the floor's patients, but makes for an enjoyable work environment that increases nurse retention. Give yourself some credit! When discussing evaluations with my co-workers, they said they just put "meets expectations" on everything since the managers would add evidence for the "exceeds" categories themselves. So don't worry about it!

One of my patients recently had bacteremia that was suspected to be from a PIV. You should always scrub every port- you're washing that bacteria straight into their bloodstream! I do the same thing. You have to flush anyway, why not put that nice clean cap to good use? I'll admit, I don't usually scrub between a push and subsequent flush, but it's already clean, and I don't want to risk re-contamination. Code situations don't always get a scrub between rounds either...

I'll add one no one else has mentioned yet that I found here. Shoes for Crews makes non-slip shoes mostly for the restaurant industry, so not only are they nice when things get spilled/vomited/... you know... they're comfortable for a 12 hour shift and 1/3 the price of a pair of Danskos (I originally bought mine in school and needed something plain and cheap- SFC's were perfect). That said, my wife works NICU and has 3 pairs of Danskos. Our hospital is getting ready for a uniform change and I'm thinking about trying some out. I also just got my first pair of Gold Toe support socks from Amazon. I've only worn them one night so far, but they seemed to really help the leg/foot fatigue.

LOL. I'm working on my resume and was trying to figure out the official title for the Clarian scholarship and googled it... The first result I got was this thread-- from Jenni and Anna! And to think, when this thread started, I was still on the waiting list to get into the program!!! Jesse Prater, RN

I have a scholarship with IU Health, and they have jobs listed online here. They're the big name in town that everyone loves to hate, but if you get hit by a bus, you'll be glad you're there (though if GSW, then Wishard). I've done my last few clinicals at Community (North and East), and would certainly love working there. The culture seems less clinical and more care, and the manager I'm with now is interviewing new grads for positions, so I know there are spots. You can search here. I can't speak firsthand for St. V/St. F (I heard something about them changing to the Franciscan sisterhood or something). My dad has had quite a bit of cardio work done at St. V and has had good experiences. From what I've heard from peers, it's again a different culture. (There ARE real nuns on some floors.) Hope this helps! Good hunting!

Yes, nurses save lives, but let's not get carried away. Caring for patients is a team effort. It takes EMT's, Paramedics, records personnel, techs, nurses, physicians, surgeons, RT, PT, imaging, dietary... we all have our part to play. Ideally, we all get things right, but mistakes happen. That's why there are overlapping layers of care. While Tonya stopped fluids on her CHF patient, a nurse at our facility a couple weeks ago overloaded a stable patient. It took an MD and RT to get him on a vent in the ICU. Let's make it clear that we ALL save lives.

but to the situation at hand... this clearly applies only to criminal offenses (i.e. prostitution) of which the licensee was charged with. so, even if someone found it and took it before the nursing board, they wouldn't have a case, as nude modeling is not a crime (once you're 18). depending on your state's employment laws, your employer may have grounds for termination, but it sounds like it probably won't be an issue if you've been employed 4 years already. by now you've hopefully demonstrated your professionalism and skill in the workplace, negating any negative light a disgruntled co-worker might try to paint you with.

And what if he's a great guy that wants to spend more time with his new bride? The OP doesn't tell us anything about the guy's personality. Does he try to control who she's with? Is this a one sided discussion? Does he have a history of abuse? We don't know enough about him to draw such cynical conclusions. If he dies, that's what life insurance is for. If he abuses/leaves her, divorce him and take half his stuff. (Leaving her better off than me I'm sure.) I already suggested she just find better hours to work, keeping her skill set sharp. It would be a waste for her to quit, which is what I keep trying to tell my wife.