Joe1984

First of all, I am currently not a nurse, but I will graduate in May. I don't know if GPA is a factor regarding a research position but I will end up in the 3.7-3.8 range. I have always been very fascinated with Alzheimer's, and I was wondering if research in this field was something that was available to nurses. If so, what should I focus on when it comes to a Graduate degree? And, what type of unit should I strive to work in, in order to better my chances of obtaining this type of position? I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say. Thanks!

So sorry to hear about your father, nursing school is so mentally and physically draining by itself, I couldn't imagine attempting it during a difficult time in my personal life as well. What is your overall GPA? And, does your program allow students an opportunity to re-enroll, if so have you ever had to re-enroll before? I know my program will allow you to re enter the program one time, and many other local programs are the same. However, you may have to go on a waiting list since many of the schools are so competitive. If this is the first time you have had any academic problems, I don't see you having a problem getting back into your program or another nursing program. Personally, I don't see having 2 C's on your transcript as the sole reason for not being accepted into another program, unless there have been other issues in the past as well.

So I am looking for some help regarding a homework question. The meds that are part of the question are Dopamine, Hydrochlorothiazide, Nipride, and Epinephrine. How do I determine how each of these meds affect the heart in terms of preload, afterload, and contractility. I think I'm starting to understand, but I would like a little help with the subject. This is what I have so far, but we are just learning this stuff and it's driving me crazy! -Dopamine is a vasopressor, so does it increase afterload only? -Hydrocholorothiazide is a diuretic so since it decreases volume does it decrease preload and afterload? -Epi is a vasoconstrictor so that would have to increase afterload. -Nipride is a vasodilator, so does this decrease afterload only. (Or, would it decrease preload as well since there would be more blood in the periphery due to the vasodilation?) Am I understanding this or am I way off?? I feel like I'm starting to get the basics, but a little push in the right direction would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!

Congrats! I am down to 16 weeks as well!! May 4th can't come fast enough!!

I know I'm not in your area, but local grads in Southwest Ohio area are starting around $23-$27 (low $30s at the VA if you can get in) It just depends on the network.

You can always call a local hospital HR department and ask about good nursing programs in the area. If they don't mention the specific school your looking into, then maybe dig a little deeper. I know where I live in Ohio, my 2 year ADN program (Sinclair Community College) is much more competitive and our graduates are highly sought as compared to Wright State University's BSN program students. Our NCLEX pass rate is higher and all of the nurses I have spoke with say that we are much more prepared as new grads. Also, there are a couple of for-profit schools in the area that charge a ridiculous amount and it is VERY hard for their graduates to get a job, many hospitals will put their resumes at the bottom of the pile due to their lack of clinical experience as compared to ours. In the end, I think it all comes down to the school's reputation. Like I said earlier, my ADN program is great, but Ohio State's BSN program is top notch (many of their grads end up as a CRNA or in med-school). So just do your research and determine which one meets your needs the best.

I would LOVE it if our grading scale gave an A for a 90% or above!!! At Sinclair Community college in Dayton, it's 93-100 - A, 86-92 - B, 80-85 - C, and anything below 80 is failing... It's definitely a tough grading scale, but I guess that's why our board pass rate is always above 95%... Also, our exams are usually 50 questions each and most of my previous courses had a 100 question cumulative final

You definitely need to make time for yourself as well. I have a wife and a 2 year old, so I make every Friday night, "Family Night". Regardless of whether or not I have homework or an exam or whatever on Monday. If I can't get it done working on it all day Saturday and Sunday, then it probably wouldn't matter if I worked on it Friday night as well. So take a night a week, or every other week, and use it to just relax and let loose. You've earned it!

You are definitely just over thinking this one. You're on the right path, you just need to fix your math at the end. 950/80 = 11.875. So you have 11 WHOLE hours and 0.875 of an hour left over. There are 60 minutes in an hour. So, 60 x 0.875 = 52.5 minutes, which rounds to 53. So in the end you have 11 hours and 53 minutes!

So I will graduate in May 2013, and I start my preceptor class in January. I have worked at my current hospital job for almost 7 years in the Operating Room. I know most of the managers in the hospital as well. I have been offered a job in the OR when I graduate along with a preceptor position for my last semester. But, just the other day I had the ICU manager offer me a preceptor position as well. So, what does everyone think I should do? Should I take the OR preceptor and get my "on the job training" since I have been offered a job, or take the ICU preceptor in order to see what the ICU would have to offer. I eventually want to go on for my master's in Healthcare Administration, and I'm really not interested in the CRNA route so I don't see ICU in my future. Help!

Left = Lung! Left Sided heart failure will backup into the lungs! Anything that affects your cardiac output can be a ventricular dysfunction i.e. Preload, afterload, contractility, and HR... which will result in manifestations of CHF. Just remember, CHF itself is not a disease, just a group of s/s related to inadequate heart pumping performance.

I have had many on my instructors tell me that "men go farther in nursing". I don't know if we just don't want to settle for working as a floor nurse for the rest of our lives, or if we feel like we have something to prove? But, most of the male nurses I work with at the hospital are either CRNAs or Administrators, very few are content with being a 7-7 nurse... IMHO

This sounds great! I graduate May 3rd 2013, count me in!

I feel like I'm kind of going out on a limb on this one but I thought I would at least ask and see what you guys think... You have a patient with CHF who admits to drinking 10-15 beers / day and completely refuses to decrease their intake or change their diet. They state "I have made it this far, why should I stop now". Is it inappropriate to discuss another type of alcohol in place of beer. i.e. have 10 shots of vodka vs. drinking 10 beers? I know in the overall picture neither is good for this patient, especially when discussing alcohol intake and CHF, but at least by drinking liquor it would significantly reduce their fluid intake especially if the patient also refuses to change their already high Na+ diet... Just trying to think outside the box a little bit :-/ With the patient refusing to stop drinking, I was thinking the would possibly be the only positive in an otherwise negative situation. 1 beer = 12oz = 360ml * 10 = 3,600 ml / day of beer 1 shot = 1oz = 30ml *10 = 300 ml / day So this alone would reduce the patient intake 3300ml/day. Am I crazy for thinking this?? Thanks for your input.

i just had a co worker leave our hospital for the atrium medical center in middletown, ohio which is part of premier health partners. she said that after she works for them for a year they will pay for her to get her bsn, she is currently a surgical tech in the or. the hospital is affiliated with miami university ohio, especially the middletown satellite campus. give them a call and see what they have to say. here is their hr info (513) 420-5255 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. eastern time