txsummerRN

Yes, I imagine Dr. Hale would have some information on the subject. The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto also might have some good resources. I find most of the mainstream drug guides to be too conservative in their guidance on meds/herbs and breastfeeding. Please let us know what you find!

Thanks!

I know 2 managers who had to have the 'body odor talk' with an employee. They both felt terrible about it, but their coworkers were extremely grateful!

Hello All, I am halfway through a PNP program and am increasingly finding that my heart is just not 'in it.' For the past 2 years I have dreamed of becoming a CNM, but I also felt that I had already made my decision and needed to finish the degree I started. Now I am no longer so sure. My biggest question is, can I afford to make the switch? I already have a pretty big pile of student loans (>20,000), and starting over with a new degree certainly wouldn't help. What's the outlook for my salary? Is this a decision my family can live with or a dream I should put on the shelf? Thanks so much for your help!

It may also depend on your state. Here in Texas, NPs are required to have acute care certification to work in hospitals. All of the PNPs I work with (in a pedi hospital) had to get a post-master's acute care certification. I think I remember hearing that there is only one other state in the country that does this, so maybe it won't be an issue for you!

Hey Guys, Thanks for the great advice! I worked all weekend on a paper that I think turned out alright. The interview went well and I found out I was accepted into the program before even handing over my writing sample. Haha! Well, at least I'm in, and I got to brush up on my writing a little bit. Thanks again! :redpinkhe:redpinkhe:redpinkhe

I'll have to see what I can dig up, but I don't remember any incredibly well written papers from nursing school. That didn't seem to be a big priority. Thanks for the advice so far! :redpinkhe

I have an interview for a PNP program coming up and they've requested that I bring along a writing sample. Does anyone have any advice as to what they're looking for? I figure they want some sort of research paper, but I'm a bedside nurse and I've never 'bothered' to publish a big research article. I'm just a little panicky, so any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!! :redbeathe

Pediatric ICU is a great choice too! We are definitely Type A, overly cautious, follow-every-rule people, and people that aren't that way make us crazy! =)

All great advice! During my ICU externship I always worked under an RN. I could give some medications, chart, work on my assessment skills, learn more about interacting with the health care team, learn about reading EKGs and interpreting lab values, practice procedures, etc etc. The bedside nurse was always right there to help me learn. Ultimately, the RN you work with will be responsible for the patient, not you, so it's a great way to learn as much as you can without so much of the pressure to get everything right. So I say have fun! This experience will make your transition to graduate nurse much easier! Congrats!

I don't work at Methodist but I can answer some of your questions. Methodist is in the Texas Medical Center, inside the 610 loop, on the South side. Other hospitals in the TMC are St. Luke's, MD Anderson, TX Children's, Ben Taub, Texas Woman's, Shriner's, Memorial Hermann, the VA, etc, along with several med schools and nsg schools. The abundance of knowledge in the area makes it an exciting place to work. I hear that Methodist treats their employees very well and starting pay is comparable to other hospitals in the area, maybe about $25 by now. Maybe more. Good luck!

I agree, it's time to lay everything out on the table. I bet if you broach the subject directly, in your typically nice manner, it might help. Good luck! What a rotten situation though! Ugh! Mean people stink!

Hey srleslie. Did you ever get your questions answered? I want to know about APNs finding PICU positions as well! It seems like there aren't that many positions available since there are so few PICUs around!

Hi JT, Well, there are benefits to each different degree. If you get and ADN you are done with school and working that much faster. I have a BSN but work alongside ADNs in an ICU and they know just as much as I do. Many of them decide to go back to school for a BSN and our employer covers a lot of the costs. So, that's a positive. On the other hand, if you just go straight to the BSN you're already through and can go back for your masters or move into management that much faster. A masters degree will get you a job that, at least in the hospital setting, is usually not as physically demanding and you might get payed more too. I work with some PNPs who got their masters without any prior nsg experience and they are very intelligent, however, many people think that it's a good idea to work bedside for a while to gain some experience. I've never met a masters prepared nurse who didn't love their job. I guess what all this tells you is that you have to decide what's best for you. Good luck!

Nursing certainly has a lot of negatives, but overall, for me anyways, it's a great field where you can really make a difference. It's true that you really have to be dedicated, that you see lots of poop and pee, adult diapers, angry families. HOWEVER....I work in pediatrics and I love it! The families are great, they just need lots of information so they're not so scared. Peds also usually results in smaller diapers. =) Recently we are seeing more 150 kg bedridden teens, so it's not always the case. =( In clinicals you do it all. You'll do adult med surg and take care of pretty much every adult illness you can imagine. You'll go to hospitals, nursing homes, community clinics, psychiatric hospitals, pediatric hospitals, maternity, women's health, everything! But because there's so much to learn, you're not in any one place for too long. You also might be surprised. I always said I'd NEVER work in peds and somehow I ended up there, and like I said, I couldn't be happier. If you decide to go for it I would just recommend to be ready to work hard every day, you need to be an amazing multi-tasker, be ready for lots of paperwork, and make sure you take care of your back. It's the only one you've got! One final thought, if you want something easier there are always clinic jobs, the newborn nursery, school nursing, that sort if thing. Then there's much less of the 'nasty stuff'!!! Good luck! =)