dbihl

Seriously, I would consider a community college and an associates degree in nursing, definitely the most bang for the buck!!! You can do bachelor completion after your making money!! I also would get to know the folks in the financial aid office well, they can help you. I would start with the prereq's now while working in my present job. Talk to the other students getting started, many of them will be going for Rn as well. You can gain insight and knowledge from them. You can get a job as nursing assitant any time, I would not rush in too hard, NA is hard job and it might be good to start school and get going on prereq's and see where your at in a year!!

If your afraid to kill someone that is normal and if your not afraid to kill someone, well then, you are a murderer. No seriously, being afraid to kill someone is a healthy fear and having that fear is what keeps nurses on their toes. A good nurse is transparent when they are afraid, and asks questions until they get the right answer. A dangerous nurse is one who pretends they know the answers even when they don't.

I love being an RN, and I had a seriously difficult time deciding between teaching and being an RN. I am happy I chose to be an RN. I know that each persons choice is personel and you are asking for advice. I think it is also important to remember, that your feet are never nailed to the floor no matter what you choose. You can always make another choice during school or even after you are done. Enjoy the journey. I think I might have drove my family a little bonkers too, but hey, at least you have good choices!!!

more than that, first year RN's generally make between 43-55000 depending on location and night/day shift.

I guess to answer your question, on my floor not many get "better" some may improve but many of them are circling the drain so to speak.

Sounds like your referring to an MICU or Medical ICU. Many of these patients are older, or have multiple medical problems such as renal failure, copd, chf, cancer etc.., and many are trach and peg type patients. While these patients seem "warehoused" until they die, that does not mean that they are an excellent learning experience and also they are in need of excellent treatment because many of them are extremelly helpless.

definitely harder to go to ICU first.

you have the opportunity daily to serve those that often are at their most vulnerable and weakest point in their lives.

dbihl... that does really happen in education; or a teaching assistant is left with the responsibility of the classroom:uhoh3: It does not happen in education as a routine like it does in health care. It might happen once in a while, but I used to work as a special education paraprofessional for 5 years and I never saw it happen once. I hear of floors working short daily, so I fail to see your point. Do teachers work short staffed often in your part of the country?

No, I do not feel guilty at all. Management relies on this "no brother left behind" mentality. What we need is adequete subtitute systems. can you imagine being a teacher and callin in and another teacher has to watch two classrooms because there are no subs!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely pathetic!!!!!!!

Hey, You have to make up your OWN mind, that being said, you are asking our opinion so, I would say... IF you are half way through the ADN, (meaning less than a year from graduating) I would say finish what you started. Then, you can work part time with a good paying job and get your other degree!!!! Then you will always have the RN, which is an awesome thing to have. Remember, no matter what you choose, your feet are never nailed to the floor. Good Luck

because we all *know* high flow O2+Copd, can cause increase CO2 retention, which = loopiness (mental status changes). which = ABG time, get the CO2 down to WNL before the pH drops to incompatibility with life.

if you got a COPD'er on more than 2-3 liters, you better be assessing them for mental status changes. IF they are sleeping, wake em up and really check em for loopiness, if they are gettin loopy, you need ABG's, Bipap, or a vent, also some breathing treatments, steroids, etc....

There is nothing wrong with you, there is something broken with our health care system. The ER's around the country are like this. If you stay, you will get used to the routine and be able to know what is going to happen b4 it does almost. Maybe working nights on a med surg or step down unit would be a good start. Then you could see what a patient should look like when they arrive on the floor. Or what is missing that they could not get don in ER.

no they are supposed to be starched white with white stockings and a little white hat and........... j/k i just put them on out of the dryer, and I wear Landau's, I think they are wrinkle free?!