DeliveryRN2007

oh night shift! I feel your pain, I ALWAYS wake up around 230 and couldn't really tell you why. I have found that if I go to the gym for about an hour around 630PM and force myself to stay up until 10PM, I can manage to stay asleep untill 5 or 6. The only other thing that works for me are sleeping pills but that was never a habit I wanted to start so I usually just suffer through it Someone else also told me that eating light foods and not heavy fried foods would help with sleep.

Not sure where it is that you work but where I am L&D (my spot), nursery, and PP aren't "fluff". I don't see how a 29 weeker found unresponsive after having an eclampic seizure and now a brain bleed is laid back. I guess it has to do with your facility. To the OP, CONGRATS!!!!!

Thank you TraumaRUs!

It isn't like you are going up to non medical person or family member and disclosing that they have some form of contagious illness. PCTs are also drawing labs in some places. These people come in contact with bodily fluids. If it was about protecting the patients privacy then NO ONE except the dr would really have to know about any contagious illness (that isn't medically pertinent or affecting the patient at that time) because it should be assumed that everyone will use correct precautions. HOWEVER, in the real world, how often are universal precautions over looked? I do not agree that it is should be "oh, you snooze you lose and now you have XYZ". If you are coming into contact with bodily fluids, you should know. If you just walking in the room to talk to them and not doing anything involving bodily fluids then you really don't need to know. I never ran into this issue as a nurse tech because both hospitals I have worked at as both NT and RN see the need to know as you need to know when you are messing with body fluids. JMO. :)

Personally, if I am dealing with someone's blood (finger stick) I would like to know if they have a bloodborne illness. I would wear gloves either way and would not (and never have) treated the patient any different. I have however double gloved just to make myself feel better. I am also even more cautious than I usually am about splashes or other types of exposure issues EDIT: I feel the same about MRSA, VRE, etc... I know in labor and delivery the external monitors are often put on the mother's adbomen WITHOUT (typo! corrected to without) gloves. I'm not saying it is right or wrong, it just happens that way. It is nice to know if they have any contagious skin issues (although usually you can tell by looking but regardless).

Your post is making me re-evaluate why I got offended in the first place. It isn't so much that I got an opinion that I disagreed with it was more so that I was expecting facts. & to the bolded, us nurses definitely do have the strongest opinions!

Agreed

I think it varies from state to state and even from hospital to hospital. I worked at a hospital as a nurse tech a few years back and we were allowed to start IVs and draw labs but at the hospital where I currently work, nurse techs are not allowed to start IVs or draw labs. I would assume the same goes for PCT. Scope has to do with the area you live. Hope that helps some! :)

I understand that there are varying opinions. I posted here to get facts about programs not to hear opinions about why I shouldn't go for it. The question about experience was pertaining to NP programs. I've heard that many require at least 2 years critical care etc... And yes, answers that I wanted to hear would have been nice because the questions that I asked were 1) where there were programs 2) How much experience is required before applying 3) Do you get a masters in something else first and then apply for NP and 4) what areas are going to be helpful in teaching me skills for my future goals. I am all about opinions and agreeing to disagree but I didn't ask "should I keep working on the floor or apply to NP school now". I guess I need to look back at my own reasons for posting my questions here. I thought that this site was not only for opinionated discussion but also for nurses and prospective nurses to seek answers from other people who have been there and done that

Oh man! I truly HATE those posts by people about how "the older nurses are so mean to me because of my youth and how pretty I am"!!! No, the older nurses are mean to you because you constantly walk around talking about how pretty you THINK you are :)

I went back and edited my original because it read as though I thought 2 years was a lot of experience. The bolded is exactly why your post was offensive. With 2 years, I REALIZE that I am very new especially since I will be at this job for at least 20-something more years. I posted questions and I appreciate those that responded to them without cutting down my experience level. Also, an "honest" question, do you talk down to everything with less experience than you who has future goals?

Thanks RNewbie! & GAVagabond RN, My intention is to go back to school in a year or 2 and go part time (University of Oklahoma has a 3 year part time program in Tulsa for a FNP if I change my mind to do that) while working full time. So, that'd end up about 5 or 6 years bedside experience. I have no problem with "the ugly" side of nursing. In fact, I love my job. & yes, I understand that you are being honest but the post is offensive especially when you just assume I am trying to bypass bedside nursing. There is nothing wrong with wanting to advance yourself

JenniferWilson74 nailed it well! My BSN program spent a lot on the heart so A&P of the heart and circulatory system is a big one.

Hello all! I wasn't sure where to post my questions so I apologize in advance if this isn't the right place! :) I am currently a Labor and Delivery nurse in Oklahoma. I have recently been thinking about how I can further myself. I have always been the type to want to learn more and go further (& I picked a great career for that!). I am thinking about a women's health NP or CNM. Neither of these programs are available in Oklahoma as far as I know. If anyone knows of the nearest one and could let me know that would be wonderful! Also, typically, how much experience is needed before applying to one of these programs? Is it necessary to have a master's degree? If so, in what? Lastly, is labor and delivery the best place to be getting experience for either of these to NP paths? What other types of nursing would be beneficial? Your responses are greatly appreciated!

The facility that I work in has seperate units for L&D, Nursery, and PP. All of the L&D nurses are cross trained to nursery and postpartum but the nursery and postpartum nurses only cross train to those areas. I have questioned this and the answer that I got was "L&D is too specialized". However, I would think that PP OR Nursery training would be a good stepping stone! For one, PP nurses learn post op care of C/S patients and also fundal rubs/recovery of a lady partsl delivery. ALL of those things are used in L&D. Also, at least on my unit, a background in nursery is fantastic in case nursery doesn't make it in time and you are the one to catch the baby in a lady partsl or cesarean delivery. Also comes in handy when the nursery nurse is alone trying to resusitate a bad baby. Labor nurse jumps in to help. All in all, I think any kind of OB experience would be handy! JMO :)