EastCoastLA

I passed the CNML. It was a very hard test. 50% pass rate versus the CCRN which is about 65%. Key points: Time factor- You have to pace yourself. Only 2 hours for 110 questions. Point of view of a Manager-All the questions should be answered in the context of a nurse manager. Test tacking strategies-Answer all questions even if you have to guess. Remove destractors and pick your best guess. Mark it to return if you have time towards the end. Practice your math-A few math questions and since you can't use calculators you have to remember you elementary long division and multiplication. Practice, practice, practice. I had 3 long math questions email me if you have more questions.

NYP - Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York in Manhattan hires new grads into their Pediatric Critical Care Internship program. They have very limited positions in the PICU and PCICU every year. The selection is very competitive. Here's the link... MSCHONY. Good Luck!

I'm starting to prepare to take the CNML test at the end of September. Anyone taken it yet? Anyone have any good study tips? They have a very extensive reading list on the certification website. The reading list alone could take a year. It would be nice if a study guide was available. Anyone want to set up a study group?

Also, look for your hospitals new employee handbook and find the section on professional conduct. Hold everyone accountable, including yourself, with professional behavior. HR should support you if you have clear documentation of any disruptive behavior. Please contact HR and see what specific policies they have to support discipline, if the behavior does not improve.

It's about that time of year to celebrate nurses week. I'm again looking for some unique ideas for a staff of 80 - 90 nurses. Breakfast, lunch, dinner will be taken care of by the hospital in various ways during the week. What else can I do show my / the hospitals appreciation, but also be unique? My budget is about $1000.

UMD PICU in Maryland NYP-Columbia PICU in NYC

I work in unit that practices self scheduling so everyone schedule is very random and unpredictable over the long term. I would think every person on the care team would need to plan the patients primary team staff about 3 to 4 shifts in advance, to assure primary coverage. The assumption is that patients are long term or in the PICU greater than a certain numbers of days, before a care team would need to be formed. Average length of stay is 4 days in the PICU so 2 weeks would seem ideal. I can see the benefits to the family having the same familiar group. I worry about burnout for some members of the team and also when no primary is available. Building the system to support the sick calls, moving the primary to run charge, or a skill set they have the causes them to take another assignment. Great and very helpful input. Anyone else with a formal system in place in a 12 self-scheduling PICU?

Great input janfrn. Anyone else use this model of care and have it successfully work? The needs of the unit would always cause change in the assignment and the primary nurse/team can only be spread so thin. Keeping track of the team, probably a project in itself. Any success stories?

I am looking to find out more about Primary nursing care model and it's use in PICU. I see a lot of adult ICU using the model, but are any PICU's using this model and willing to share their process or policies. Assignment of Primary nurse / team, etc... especially when nurse work 3 - 12 shifts and then are off for a stretch? I have lot's of questions and I know it is being done successfully at other hospitals. Thanks !