ksuSN12

The update is that I finally found someone (In Cincinnati, of course) to do the eval that the board approves of. If anyone is curious, it's $500 and the provider is Abe Soliman. Just in case anyone else needs it. I'm going this Saturday, wish me luck!

It's the same here in Ohio. And unfortunately, the one I did find was not approved because he is not specifically certified in addiction, despite being a psychiatrist that does treat addiction.

what stinks is that they aren't even recommending a certain person to me. I WISH they would, because I can't find anyone. As far as filling beds, jeez, I certainly wouldn't need any of that.. I've had no issues with my mental health or substances etc in 2 years. But yeah, I've had improper diagnoses before so I know where you're coming from. It just stinks that I've done so much in my life to improve it all, and have been stable, but they are giving me such a hard time.

I'd pay out of pocket but I can't even find someone to do it!

Unfortunately, the board is giving me a hard time because the psychiatrist I was able to find to do the evaluation is not listed as an addiction psychiatrist! I can't believe this bologna. It was hard enough for me to find THIS one, and now they probably will not approve him! edit: yeah, my monitor just said this psychiatrist can't be approved because he does not have an addiction psych certificate. What a load of crap. I can't find anyone at all near Cleveland or Columbus that would do it, let alone also accept caresource.. This is so dumb. A psychiatrist should be good enough but noooo. It has to be one with a certificate in treating addiction..

Unfortunately, the board is giving me a hard time because the psychiatrist I was able to find to do the evaluation is not listed as an addiction psychiatrist! I can't believe this bologna. It was hard enough for me to find THIS one, and now they probably will not approve him!

Replying just to say that I did find someone in my area to do it! It took many calls, but I got through to someone. I will post an update again when I have my eval at the end of this month!

Yeah, I definitely see that, lol. What sucks is I was on restrictions already for mental health/suicide prior to this last incident where I was found unconscious/they suspect I may have been doing drugs or something (I was taking a prescription for anxiety, but haven't since my accident). I was unable to be a nurse for almost 2 years now, because I suffered memory loss/brain damage. I just want my life back. This is so hard. So, I had completed about 6 months of my original consent agreement before this happened to me, and I didn't have med restrictions and wasn't required to be tested for drugs. Obviously, now it will be different. I think the new consent agreement would be 3 years, but I'd have to look at the papers again. First, I need an evaluation though. Arghhh.

Yeah, my monitor told me to do that. He said I have to get the person approved by the board. That's awful, I'm so sorry that happened to you! Ugh!!!

My board monitor gave me a few names but none of them do the evals anymore/did them ever. He said it was my responsibility to find a provider and that the board does not keep a list of all current providers that do the test. Thank you very much for your reply ?

Hi, I'm on suspension pending a psychiatrist evaluation with an addiction specialist/psychiatrist. However, I am having a HUGE issue finding someone to do it. I have called everyone within an hour radius of me (and I live by two big metro areas, in the Cleveland OH area). I can't seem to find someone to do this for me. I am certain other nurses in my area have had to go through this process while trying to get their license reinstated, so I am hoping someone here has information for me. I spent over an hour and a half calling different places earlier, and my board monitor's name suggestions all didn't pan out (None of them do the evals anymore). I would be willing to travel up to 2 hours for this, I'd really not like to drive to Columbus if I can avoid it but I would be possibly willing if I can't find anyone more local. TIA everyone!

Ugh I feel sick. Im so glad I didnt actually have enough to get the diamond or whatever membership. I did pay the 34 though...am I gonna have to end up cancelling my credit card?!

So I have some floor experience, and other random experience equal to 2 years as an RN. I was hired and placed on an 8 wk med/surg/rehab unit. I knew not to expect a "real" orientation, but I was shocked that I wasn't even given computer training. I'm stressing big time because Friday is my first shift and all i know is where the equipment is. I mean, I know my skills too, but every facility has different policies. What do you do in report to try and give the best care in new settings? I was told I will have plenty of help, the supervisors are nice etc and my agency is on call 24 hrs for urgent needs. I've flipped jobs a lot but this is something else entirely. Do you get over those nerves? I know I don't have time to worry about silly things. I have the basic "musts" down, but doing paper charting until I get on the computer is a little scary....idk, does anyone have any stories about how they got through it? How to get acclimated and learn the procedures quickly while taking a whole assignment with just a lick of orientation to the unit and without knowing anyone?

I just graduated in Dec 2012, and have been a nurse since March 2013. I got over the schooling, the "one year hump"..brutal but totally worth it. Im happy that Ive done this; Ive never been prouder of myself in my whole life. I am not offended when people comment that Im just a nurse, or ask if Im going for PA/CRNA/MD. Truth is, like many young grads, I have dreams of being a CRNA. Will it happen? maybe. But if life takes me another way, that's okay too! Ive honestly truly changed lives, Ive worked in outpatient allergy clinic, med/tele, and hospice. I also did a brief stint in L&D. In this year and 4 months, Ive seen birth, sickness, totally healthy allergy patients of all ages, tragedy, death unexpected and expected. Ive been the person a family calls for help when their loved one on hospice is having worsening symptoms or are actively dying. I hugged one wife of a passing man when he died and I pronounced....we both hugged and quietly cried together. it was one of the toughest experiences as a nurse, but made me grow as a human being, and that woman was so gracious for everything I did. When I went to the wake, she introduced me to everyone as the angel that was there that night for her. In other words, this time has been a huge growing lesson...Im only 24 and I feel like my maturity and inner strength has grown tremendously through school and especially once I began working. Im honored to be part of patients lives. They always remember you, even if you dont remember every single one. I got into nursing because I love science and I wanted to help people...I was going to go to school for med technology, but saw the nursing table during orientation and switched majors that day. That small move changed mine, and many other lives, in SUCH a huge way. I feel like my heart and care expand...from my heart and strength, to my patients hearts and will to fight/ready to go, and their families, friends, etc. It also has made my heart stronger for my personal life as well. If nursing is your dream, or you have other reasons and you have the guts- the strength- go for it! Why not try? You only have one life to live and it goes by way too fast.

Hi everyone. I landed a hospital job on a med-tele unit, the same type of unit that I began my nursing career in. However, in this past year, I have worked Allergy/Immunology, labor and delivery, and home care/hospice. I am still working at Allergy and plan to until I cannot anymore. However, Im worried that my med-surg skills have weakened, and that I wont remember most of what I used to be good at. I'm being oriented on days, until I begin my night shift orientation and eventual placement on the night shift. I am a night person; So having to train on Days is going to be very difficult. Ive tried to switch my sleep pattern to days, but so far, Im still staying up until 4am. I begin day shift training in a week. Im worried that my coworkers will think I am better than I am; that I will show up and seem like a new grad. I know they hired me based on past med-tele experience and have been a nurse for over a year. Does anyone have any recommendations on things to read up about important med-surg skills or how to survive day shifts? My brain is so fuzzy in the morning and Im not used to 12s anymore. I want to show them that I am capable and am actually a decent nurse. Im just afraid that working day shift combined with my lack of recent med-tele experience will leave a bad impression. Any advice would be appreciated.

I graduated from a BSN program in Dec 2012. I passed the nclex and worked as an RN in med-telemetry for a while. I got my ACLS. I knew I had a passion for ICU but couldnt get in anywhere. In the meantime, Ive done allergy nursing and RN Case Management for Hospice/Home Health. Ive gotten decent experience- I was still using med-surg skills with my homebound patients. But its been nearly a year since I actually worked in a hospital Anyways...I landed an interview in the SICU, which is SUCH a dream of mine. I love the low nurse-patient ratio that allows you to know EVERYTHING about your patient, you're always with them. Its high intensity, takes a lot of skill and knowledge. I love drips, vents.. Any nurses have any feedback on how to really sell myself to get this position? I dont want to come off too excited and too "OMG ITS MY DREAM"...so how do I show my enthusiasm without crossing the line? What do SICU managers want to see in their applicants? My ACLS and BLS and both current through AHA, and like I said, I have a BSN and SOME hospital experience though most of it has been allergy and case management. Thanks all!

Im a 2012 BSN grad and Ive been working part time for an ENT and Allergy practice for 2 months now. Its really awesome! I spent 3 years as a nursing assistant on med-telemetry floors, then worked as an RN after graduation on med-tele and L&D. Both were short-lived and didnt feel "right". Even as a nursing assistant, I just didnt care for med-surg. Anyway, after being unemployed for a while and desperate, I signed up with a local temp agency. Thats when I got the call for ENT and Allergy. I actually didnt realize the field existed before (not that I didnt know allergy/immunology existed, just that nurses actually worked in clinics for it, I guess). I knew NOTHING about it beforehand. Day in the life at ENT and Allergy: -Come in 10-20 min early. Set up supplies in shot room: Syringes, bandaids, tape, little ice packs (in freezer, they get taped to the patients arms after injections if they want them), allergy vial trays refrigerated when the office is closed, and shot log for the day. Sometimes, Ill check the doctor's schedule and see if I have any patients coming in for a special asthma injection called Xolair for the day. sometimes, now that Im trained, I can also help with allergy testing in between my shot patients. That has supplies too. -I plant my butt on a chair and look out the window usually until one of my lovely receptionist friends brings me a patient's sign in sheet. I use the sheet to find their record in my shot book. Then, according to their when their last visit was, any previous reactions, and the doctor's order for moving them up/maintaining, I prepare the injection(s). Every doctor has a different way of doing this. -I call patient back. Patient (usually- I do have some wheelchair bound/impaired patients too) walks into the shot room. I chit chat with them, as I know most of them already. I see these people as often as twice a week, or about once a month, depending. I love that. I ask how their last shots went (how did they do when they went home, local reactions, any signs of a systemic reaction, etc.) and then I clean the area with alcohol, pinch, poke (and actually aspirate, despite them being subq, because allergy shots can be deadly) then place a nice little circular bandaid on the sites. Sometimes, patients like the ice packs too. Some will take a little 20-minute timer off my shot table so they can keep track of wait time. -That patient goes and sits in the waiting area for 20-30 min (again, this may depend on doctor and policy). I call back any other shot patients in the meantime, and repeat the process. -In 20-30 min, patient walks back, we usually chat more, I check their arms for any s/sx of reaction. In case of no reaction/small local, some benadryl spray works just fine, and they just on their merry way til next time. Sometimes, I help the girls at the desk scan papers. Sometimes, I look out the window. But as mentioned, I get to do a lot of sitting, which is great because I have a bad back. -We get an hour lunch. I go to chipotle or somewhere and enjoy some great food with my friends at work. Some daily other tasks include sending out mixing requests for the vials (another nurse prepares them), filing shot records, checking exp dates on meds/vials/etc, calling in scripts for patients, etc. normal doctor office duties. -Ive had one patient with a severe anaphylactic reaction so far. She was there for a medication challenge. She was given small amounts of the medicine and experienced anaphylactic shock. We give 50mg benadryl deep IM in the thigh right away and draw up 0.3mg of epinephrine to also give IM. In her case, the first interventions worked for a while. She actually went back into shock and at that point, we took more aggressive measures. We put on an o2 mask, threw two 18 gauges in right away each with a 1000mL bag of NS wide open, laid her all the way flat (Important in allergy- if anyone reads all of this, please note this: Patients can actually die during anaphylaxis if you sit them up. They need to lay. In the process of recovery, they must not get up quickly. There is a lot of evidence and research to this, look it up if interested), pushed more epi and actually ended up calling 911 even though we had started stabilizing her on our own. You can never have too much help in an emergency. -Other less serious systemic reactions were remedied by us in the office with the deep IM benadryl and epinephrine. we lie them down flat. blood pressures q5 min or so depending on patient. doctor is on hand right away in these situations. we end up allowing them to sit up slowly, by placing more pillows under their head until they are fully sat. we give them water to drink. we encourage bathroom use and someone accompanies outside the door (Urinary symptoms are part of the systemic reaction process, all kinds of cool things to learn in this field). they end up leaving when they are well enough and we follow up with calls, then doctor adjusts their next shots accordingly. Crap that was long but I really love allergy. The nurse that trained me actually gives IVIG infusions too, which is VERY interesting. Thats a whole nother long story though. Ive done skin testing too, and its not bad. usually just draw lines on the person, then put the test drops on them, then prick the skin. Sometimes intradermal. Sometimes medication challenges and food challenges. Honestly, its all really cool. Its a mostly laid back environment (Ive had crabby patients, BUSY shot days- it is walk in-, etc but overall its very relaxing paced). Theres a fair level of independence/autonomy and you get to see all kinds of people. Young, old, boy, girl, funny, serious, tall, short, disabled, lawyers, schoolchildren, cashiers, I mean....literally anyone and everyone that can come into the office and is well enough to receive the injection. I only do it part time and am doing hospice now as well, and I can tell you that I know allergy is my true love :)

Thank you so much. I will look into those books. I can definitely understand why it will be challenging. Im not sure yet how much training I will get. They have me coming for one day of orientation and then I will follow another nurse on some cases, but I dont know yet how long that will be for. They are a small and relatively new company and their resources for training arent the same as other places. I dont want that to stop me from being a great nurse, and this is something I actually want to do. I just need to find relevant information over the weeks that will help me be everything I need to be for right now.

Hi. Im 24 and I graduated with my BSN in Dec 2012. I took and passed my boards this March and began working in Med-Surg immediately. I only stayed for a month because I was given an opportunity in labor and delivery, and ended up leaving 3 months later. From there, I did a small stint in skilled nursing, and they let me go without a reason. Ive now been an allergy nurse for a few months, administering shots for healthy patients. I have been looking for additional work because the allergy job is minimal part time. I found a hospice in my area and applied. Since I have 6 years of experience as an aid in addition to school and some clinical experience as an RN, they have decided to hire me. Im very nervous. Ive always been praised on my bedside manner and my compassion. However, being a newer grad with little experience, I dont feel that Id know everything to order for a patient off the top of my head. I started this thread in hopes of finding out things that I absolutely need to know. Ive been doing some research online and have come up with some things, but Id really like some more information from hospice nurses. I know I would love taking care of people and families that are dealing with death (My father passed away years ago, my grandparents too) so I have some experience with it myself. Any tips are greatly appreciated!

well..i graduated from kent last December with my BSN(2012). I took boards in March. I did get an RN job on the unit that I was a PCNA on, but I gave it up for an opportunity in L&D at a local hospital. I was fired when my 90 days were up, and the cleveland clinic hospital I was a PCNA at couldnt take me back due to budget. That was in August. Ive applied EVERYWHERE...and no calls. None. Until last week. I was called by a local hospice. So, well see. My friend graduated this May, and some of his classmates passed boards. None of them have gotten jobs yet, out of 5 people he knows. Ive heard of many others in the area being cut to part time or are being let go. However, UH is looking for experience and they are shelling out big bucks for experienced RNs. Heh.

Im small too. In clinicals I basically do the same thing a cna would do, and for lifting etc we have another person help. im 4'10 and about 100lbs so if i can do it then so can you :)