jmokeefe

Thank you! I did do a share day years ago but like you stated, I was more focused on the actual surgery at the time...I put a call in to the OR nurse educator also to find out specifically what RN roles we have in our OR. What about RNFA's? Are they utilized in most major hospitals?? Do RN's have opportunity for advancement? I am getting some smack from the other RN's on my current floor about my decision to apply for the OR internship at my hospital...they are saying that I will lose my skills and such, and that the OR is 'boring' because you stand and observe/document. One RN stated that the most a friend of hers ever did was insert a foley. I am still a 'young' RN...I don't want to throw my skills and such totally down the drain...

I am currently a floor nurse in a large hospital on the post surgical inpatient unit and we have NP's and PA's that work on our floor for the surgical line. They round on surgical patients pre/post-op, and write orders all day long for our surgical patients/support the nursing staff. I would think that the experiences in the OR would help you in the end because you would have a larger picture of the whole surgical line/process and the needs of such patients from beginning to end. This is the path that I am going to take, and I left cardiac/tele step down to go to the surgical floor I am on now. I am getting my BSN right now and intend on working in the OR soon and then hopefully returning to the floor as a NP once I graduate. We also have a RN on the floor that was an OR nurse who followed a neuro surgeon back out of the OR and she's his right hand for the past 15+ years. In my opinion the OR can open many doors...

Hello everyone! I am currently on the floor of a surgical unit, 5 patients at a time, medical sometimes but mostly post surgery inpatient. My "goal" was always to work my way into the OR...but I feel like I don't know enough about it to make a proper decision. My hospital has an internship for the OR that 2 people get accepted into every year (its about 6-7 mths of training, 5 days a week, 8 hour days) and then apparently we can work in the OR. But doing WHAT exactly? Are we scrubbing in and handing instruments to the surgeons? I thought scrub techs did that? I do not want to stand and document all day...is that mostly what OR nursing is? Thanks for the insight and info...

I am not sure about for new grads/for the PACE program...but I work at Franklin Square and I do not have a BSN, and I know of other nurses that just started here that do not have a BSN. Hope this helps :)

I wouldn't doubt it. I am at Franklin Square...we have the PACE program for new grads. Love it there!

I work at a Medstar hospital (actually have worked for 2 of them) and I LOVE it! Medstar loves their nurses :) We have many opportunities for professional growth, and many perks. Technology is cutting edge. FSH is a magnet hospital. New grad salary last I looked was aprox $24.50 base. They have the PACE program at FSH for new grads.

The HSA is a great idea. DH and I are looking into that, at least to get the tax break on the cost. While cost of all of this is a large factor for me, I also want my kids to have a great summer. For a 9 and a 7 year old, with 3 and 2 year old siblings, that is not at home when I am at work. So the au pair and nanny situations aren't best for us. I have a mom that lives adjacent to us (she works FT so can't do daytime care) that helps out with evening activities and weekend events...its during the week from 7 til 4 that is the issue, 3 times a week. Changing my hours at work is not an option. We work either days or nights on my unit and its 630a til 7p dayshift. I tried nights at my prev. employer and it TOTALLY wasn't for me or my family. I just started this new job 2 mths ago so transferring to another unit isn't in the cards either, so I am stuck with FT dayshift at the moment. I don't mind working overtime, because it would be on Saturdays or Sundays so that DH can watch them...no addtl cost and also he can have alone time with the kids, which he has assured me he actually enjoys. If I did pick up an extra weekday it would be on one of the weeks when I am already regularly scheduled to work that weekend, so it would be on the day that the kids were already scheduled to go to daycare/summer camp that I would work an extra day, instead of staying home. 3 days is part time at most centers/camps. They don't offer 2 day around here and that wouldn't work anyhow for the weeks that I work 3 days. I think we decided to send the little ones back to the YMCA for 3 day a week daycare, and sign up as member to get the discount. So it's $75 a month and that would include a family member ship at all the Y's in my state. It's worth the cost, pays for itself and then some in discounted rates for daycare/camp. For the older boys they have a summer camp (also run by the YMCA) that will only wind up costing us $150 a week after a $500 deposit for 3 days. The babies care is aprox $260 a week. Oh well, they will have a great summer, and we can spend the time I am off together at the gym and the pool :) Everyone has a different situation and what works for one person def. might not work for another! Thanks for all of the advice everyone, it has helped me put things in order!

Cost?? :)

That's funny I also ran an in home DC before nursing school :)

yes but then u would have to pay for FT, 5 day a week care...my only saving grace is that I only need care 2-3 days a week. My sister is becoming more and more unreliable as the days go on also...and my youngest isn't talking as much as he should. I am thinking center daycare (YMCA) is going to be best for the babies 2-3 days a week and summer camp for the boys. I will prob have to pick up overtime here and there to afford it.

$7000 up front? Eek

I guess I am being picky because my kids have been watched out of our home for the past year 1/2 and its ruining my house! I'd rather not replace my sister with someone else coming to our home...for the reason I just said, as well as the fact that my kids are so bored at home. I really think they could benefit from spending the summer 3 days a week doing something more constructive/educational...but I guess I am going to have to pay for it right?! I just can't get over how much money it is! AH! Here's the break-down so far: YMCA for the babies 3 days a week is like $280 (food included) Summer camp for the boys close to $200 a week for 3 days (food not included) I being home $1600 some in two weeks (pardon my honesty in revealing my pay...if I am anything I am honest hehe) so subtract the cost of daycare/summer camp and I will be spending close to $500 a week and bringing home only $600 for 2 weeks of work? That is only $100 a shift Oh my now I know what everyone said I was nuts for having 4 kids and going back to work for!

2011Nursing Student...that was exactly my thoughts also, that this past tax season we were unable to claim the cost of having my sister come to our home and it KILLED us tax-wise...I would be looking forward to writing off as much as we are going to spend...I wonder if we could also pay for it through the HSA at my husbands job too? I am not sure how they work...

laurah4k we do have a program, its called the Open Door/Child Care links. They are mostly for family providers though.

Thanks everyone! It would just be 3 days a week, during my husbands hours...which are flexible but aprox. 730 am til 430 pm. I RATHER not send them to a family daycare (nothing against it but my boys need more than that...I did fam DC out of my house for 2 years and it's just not for us). Our church is a great idea, thanks poster...I will look into it, although I think they are expensive. It's seriously going to cost me $500 or more a week this summer between daycare and summer camp

PERSISTENCE! Oh and you may have to take a job to get your feet wet that wouldn't be your first choice. Be flexible and open :) I worked in long term care, skilled acute rehab for 6 mths before I was offered a critical care position...then moved onto surgery, my passion :) I graduated in 2009. Good luck!

My sister comes to my house and I pay her $60 a day to put my oldest 2 kids (9&7) on the bus for school and watch the 2 babies (3&2)...yes I have 4 kids :) I had the last 2 while I was in the nursing program and my sister has been watching them all ever since. Well recently she informed me she cannot do it anymore (other job opportunity arose). I have looked into before and after care, which isn't too expensive, but summer camp prices are ridiculous! What do people do with their kids in the summer?!! I can afford to send the babies to the local YMCA 3 times a week, but the summer camp cost of another $350 a week is going to break us! HELP!

Where do you go to first? AC? I have the hardest time sometimes with some of our patients in CCare getting blood, and its embarrassing! I have had to call our IV team to draw for me because I don't like asking fellow seasoned RN's to help me in fear that they will laugh or just give me a hard time. Thanks for any and all advice!

One piece of advice (not sure if its already been mentioned) is that many places of work will pay for continued education, so get your BSN for free (or at least near free!). My job (in the hospital) pays for school after only a 60 day period of work to begin with so I say get the job first, then the BSN. I have found in all my interview processes that most places don't really care whether you have a BSN or not if you are a new grad, you are a new grad. Best of luck to you!

Oh sweetheart I just want to say first that I am so sorry for your loss. And just because you felt it too tough to watch your grandmother pass does not mean you can't handle the profession of nursing by a long shot. My daughter was in the NICU after she was born for a week and I was in nursing school at the time. The constant beeping and machines and such drove me insane and I couldn't handle it. I was so upset for my daughter and such a mess about the whole thing I had the same concerns as you. This experience is on a lower level than yours but similar in that I questioned my abilities because of my reaction....and let me say this-when its YOUR family member, its SO different. Sure there are times when you have formed a bond with your patients and families of, but in no way (IMO) does it compare to the same as when it is your grandmother in the bed and you have no other family around to lean on and help you get through it. Take one day in school, one day at work, and one patient at a time and you will be fine. :)

I currently work in critical care as a floor nurse, 4 patients to me and its BUSY and makes me nervous sometimes with the level of acuity and responsibility. Anyhow, I may have the opportunity to work as a Nurse Clinician in a pediatric urologist office. It's 8 hour shifts, not 12's, and its a day position...I currently work nights and am always exhausted. Considering my husband also works M-F from 7-330, he misses me and I miss him and my 4 kids in the evenings. WWYD?? I know the pay and benefits all play a role in my decision (which to be honest I have no idea what the salary is for a nurse clinician I even is) but do I want to leave the critical care nursing scene?! I fought so hard to get here, its a tough decision to make...any advice or ideas you can lend are much appreciated! Thanks!

I work critical care now and I used to work LTC. LTC was very different obviously that there are more patients, less nurses (more techs) and more family visiting. This is all in my experience of course. Our hours in LTC were 8 hr shifts, not 12, so full time was 5 days-not for everyone. I actually had my first code in LTC, go figure. The facility I worked in was 1/2 LTC and 1/2 rehab, so there was a definite mix of patients. I built a relationship with the families and really got to know a lot of the patients, which was awesome. In critical care, as I am sure you are well aware of in the ED, its sooo not like that-in and out is more like it! The LTC setting was more like a family, if that makes sense. I liked it but left because I didn't like their 8 hr shifts, and also I wanted to chase the all powerful CCRN, which to be honest I am starting to think is not for everyone! Take the leap I say, see how you like it, you can always come back to the ED! The beauty of nursing :)

awww thanks so much! :) and to PP, "just for the record"...I don't prefer the LTC and SAR that I work at right now simply due to the fact that they only offer 8 hour shifts and we are required to work every other weekend, whereas in the hospitals its every 3rd weekend and 12 hr shifts, which in the end winds up doubling my income and making it "worth it" for me to leave my kids and pay for a days worth of daycare :) I can't afford daycare for 5 days a week, and in order to be full time there, you have to work the 5 days. If where I work at now decided to do 12's and self-schedule, as well as every 3rd weekend...I'd stay!

OP here! LOL - Well, I signed up for and paid for the ACLS, it was to happen June 7th/8th, I had an interview at Union Memorial a few days ago and they made me an offer! I am starting on June 14th, and they advised me that it showed effort and also enthusiasm that I would consider getting the ACLS now, BUT that they offer it for free there, and also that it would make more sense to me and also be more effective if taken at the end of my critical care courses that they also offer there for free, so that is what I am doing! :) Thanks to all replied :)

Thanks! That is my point, to actually learn ACLS so that I am more prepared for the job I am trying to acquire. I want to be ahead of the game and actually have an idea of whats going on before I start the job (if I even get it!). I will be sure to also play up the skills and experiences that I have acquired in LTC thus far, no doubt about that. But I was thinking that signing up for the ACLS also would make me look like a "go-getter" and also prepare me more for the cardiac eval unit that I am interviewing for. IMO any nurse manager or recruiter would see that on my resume and it would make me stand out from the rest of their interviewees. I wasn't trying to make it seem like I knew what I was doing before doing it, I just want to learn more and stand out. I don't know the first thing about cardio to be honest, so this IMO is a step in the right direction. Does ACLS prepare you enough for cardiac eval/unit in your opinion? I know that ACTUALLY working there will give me experience, but does the ACLS course make a big difference also? Do you think it will help me out to take it before even working in acute care? I am thinking yes, cause I will be more "oriented" and prepared, but what do you all think?