0402

If you are applying to a school that takes all qualified candidates and uses a waiting list, your service isn't going to help or hurt you- it's somewhat irrelevant at that point. However, many schools are going to point based admissions, and many schools give point(s) for military service. For the program I did, it was more "traditional" admissions, where they look at everything (grades, prior work/ experience, volunteering, test scores, etc). Having been a Marine was definitely a plus for my application (I did 8 yrs AD, working in logistics). Serving in the Marine Corps also helped me get my first RN job. Having real work experience on my resume helped it to stand out, and I had help in "translating" my military experience into civilian terminology, really emphasizing what was applicable to being an RN, even though they were 2 totally different job fields. Definitely look into taking care of prereqs while you still have TA and free CLEP testing to take advantage of. While prereqs do vary from school to school, there are many that you will see at any school, as well as gen ed that will apply to whatever degree you are seeking to get (ADN, BSN). If you know where you are planning on settling when you get out, look at all of the schools in that area and what their prereqs are, in order to get a good idea of what is expected in that area.

The VA would be the largest organization for what you're looking for. MTFs obviously deal with this as well, but if you are not near a base, especially one with a large hospital, that probably isn't an option. PP mentioned warrior transition units, and they have various roles for RNs, case managers, mental health RNs and visiting nurses. Navy Marine Corps Relief Society also has visiting nurses, as seen here: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society - Employment Opportunities. Are you near a VA hospital? It would be a good place to start, as I know that many VAs hire new grads, as quite a few have internship programs for nursing students.

Around here, if you're an ADN with experience, you'll be fine. If you're pursuing your BSN, that will look good, but from what I've seen, it's not a requirement (many job ads will put BSN/ MSN preferred, but really, experience is more of what they're looking for). From my understanding, FFx Cty Sheriffs aren't paid too badly, but the county website would probably help more: Jobs - Fairfax County, Virginia. Personally, I don't think that RN wages around here are consistent with COL, but with 2 incomes, it's doable. Do you have kids/ are schools important? A great thing about this area is that the schools are really good (there's always an exception, but throughout the majority of the county, there are really great opportunities/ choices. We are only stationed here, so it's temporary, but in the 2 1/2 yrs we've lived in NoVA, I've realized it's a pretty nice place to live (but, again, not a place where RNs are compensated compared to similar COL areas elsewhere in the country, but that's not everything).

"I know you guys keep saying that you have to bring the medicine 20 minutes apart, but I keep telling the nurses that I'm really ok with you just bringing my dilaudid, phenergan, benadryl and ativan (all IV, of course) at the same time. I'm just trying to help you guys save some time." "You'll need to push that dilaudid faster. When you push it slowly, it makes me nauseated." Mind you, I was giving 3mg at a time. I guess if she stopped breathing, she might not be nauseated.

I would also encourage you to talk to the VA about the GI Bill. The post-9/11 GI Bill made more people eligible than the previous one. Even people who did ROTC or came in through the academies are now eligible, and there's no money to pay in to it, like the old one. Even if you don't qualify for 100% of it, you can qualify for certain percentages of the new one, based on how long you served.

We have a hospital policy that sedating IV meds (e.g. ativan, dilaudid, morphine, benadryl, phenergan) must be given at least 20 minutes apart. However, you can give IV of one and PO of another together, so IV dilaudid and an Ambien or IV Ativan with PO dilaudid would be fine, for example.

I'm not in the Army, so I can't tell you about changes, but regarding O vs E, do you have a BSN? If you do, I cannot think of a logical reason to enlist. With other, non-specialized degrees, there can be benefits to doing enlisted time and then becoming an officer, for sure. However, as an RN (with a BSN), if you desire to join the military, becoming an officer is the only logical way to join.

We got brand new white, dry erase boards in the pt rooms with all sorts of fancy new stuff added to them a few months ago (used to be the regular boards that just had our name, the tech's name, their Dr, etc, but these were oh, so much better). I was lucky enough to work the first night they were used. In our am "huddle" the director asked how we liked them. I spoke up and told her that they don't erase well (she was looking for feedback on how we liked all of the information we were now able to "provide" for our pts, but for the sake of functionality, erasing is important). She replied, "Well, you probably don't know how to erase." Really? I must have been out during that day of nursing school when they taught erasing. To this day, they become this horrible mess of black smudge after they are written on just once, and we apparently have 1 bottle of the official cleaner for the board, that we share between 3 units. Luckily, alcohol swabs work decently. Perhaps next, I can pursue a post-Master's certificate in dry erase board erasing.

Just last night, a pt asked one of the nurses for one of our "star" cards so that she could write one for the nurse "with the dark hair that's in a bob," which is me. I had had the pt the previous 2 nights, and the pt mentioned my name when the charge nurse rounded at the beginning of the shift. However, by the time she asked for the card and wrote on it, the name on the card was "Nika." Nika is not my name, and in fact, only the 'a' is even in my 5 letter, fairly simple, fairly common first name. The charge nurse did clarify that she was actually talking about me. For the rest of the shift, I was referred to as "Nika" by my co-workers. I guess I should be happy that I'm not being disciplined for her not remembering my name. =)

The most "commutable"- if you were living on base- would be Stafford Hospital (the closest but not very big, from my understanding), Mary Washington (Level II trauma center; south of base) and Potomac Hospital (in Woodbridge; north of the hospital). I live up in NoVA, so I don't know a ton about those hospitals (I wasn't an RN when we were stationed there), but the names should give you a starting point for research. Are you set on living on base? It wouldn't be a hard commute for your husband if you lived north of the base (reverse commute), so you could live somewhere between Quantico and Falls Church (where Inova Fairfax is- the large hospital with Neuro ICU) and both have a decent commute.

One big difference, to me, between my last job (union) and my current job (non-union) is the differentials. At my last job, if you worked night shift, you made night shift diff for all 12 hours (we had a few 8 hrs people left, and they made evening or night diff, based on the shift they worked). Right now, even though we don't have 8 hr RNs, we make evening diff from 1900-2300 and night diff from 2300-0700. I know they used to do it like this at the union hospital, as well, but when the hospital made a push to switch the majority of RNs to 12 hr shifts and all new hires to 12s, the union pushed to have the differentials reflect appropriately. As much as I would love for things to happen on a night shift schedule, like meetings and classes, I don't see it happening. Our hospital does do a night shift session for things like forums with the CNO or if the unit wins/ earns pizza, they do it separately for day and night shift, but otherwise, they don't do a ton for night shift, specifically.

My school did them separately, with neither being a prereq for the other. Based on when I could actually get into the class (I was waitlisted for all of my sciences), I took physiology before anatomy, without any issues.

Experience in no way proves that you are competent- it merely proves that you have experience (in this case, in another role). It's like saying that education makes you smarter- it, alone, only makes you more educated. I guess I could go to work tonight and survey the RNs that I'm working with to find out if they were techs before they became RNs, but really, it's irrelevant, because I can look at the schedule and know whether or not I'm working with good RNs, based on the fact that I have worked with them before, as RNs, regardless of their previous life and work experience.

I have an MSN and did a MEPN program. I am not an APRN; my MSN program was a CNL program. As a new grad, I did a new grad residency, just like any other new grad. For me, part of the decision was not earning another bachelor's degree, the fact that I had years of management experience and might want to go back into it as an RN (once I had bedside experience) and going to through the best program available to me, at that time. We are military, and I was restricted in where I went to school, location-wise, as well as being able to complete school within the timeframe that we would be at that duty station. Yes, I could have done an accelerated BSN program (ADN was not an option d/t the length of waiting lists where we were stationed), but the quality would have been lower than the program I did (I'm not saying that getting an MSN made it higher quality- it was the actual program, regardless of degree). I don't really see how this is "disgusting," but maybe I would have learned that, if I had gotten a BSN. I have never had a problem getting hired- and yes, I make as much as any other bedside RN with the same amount of experience. I would like to put my MSN to use, through obtaining some post-master's certificate and trying to move "up," but for now, moving every couple of years isn't allowing that to happen. I am getting bedside experience in the meantime. I have more respect for nurses who've worked as CNAs and NPs who worked as nurses for a couple years before. See, I have respect for people who have earned it and who are good at their jobs. Do you ask every RN you work with whether or not they were techs/ CNAs before they went to school or do you observe what type of RN they are, and just as importantly how good of a team player they are? I have worked with many RNs who were CNAs or LPNs, and made horrible RNs- and every variation on that statement is true, too- RNs who were CNAs or LPNs and are amazing RNs, as well as both good and bad RNs who had no previous medical experience of any kind. I care more about the person I am working with now, in the role they have now, than what they did before.

I would probably just write an event note (in our charting system, it's an open narrative to chart things that don't really have somewhere else to be charted) to describe what happened and what I did about it, but I wouldn't do a formal incident report.

Just like for civilians, where you are makes a difference. I went to NS in San Diego, but very shortly after graduation and taking the NCLEX, we moved to the DC area. I applied for jobs just like any other new grad. I researched- well before we left- to get a list of hospitals within a 1 hr commute (I have 3 young kids and that was my personal limit). I called all of the hospitals to get an idea of how their new grad residencies worked and when they anticipated start dates in the summer and the fall (we arrived at our new duty station in July). I didn't find the DC area too hard to find a new grad job, though I'm sure others would disagree. It's definitely much more challenging when you don't know anyone, and you don't know the hospital systems. I had a lot of connections in San Diego (both at MTFs and civilian hospitals) but then had to start over fresh, as a new grad. I do know that being a 2nd career RN, with a good amount of time in another occupation helped, so I would assume it could be different for someone without work history. Once you get experience, it does get easier.

Yes- on Scrubs, Dr Eliot Reid dated Nurse Paul Flowers.

I work 3 shifts of 1900-0730 each week. The only consistent thing (supposedly) is that we have to work every other weekend, but they can't even leave that part, as is, so some people end up working only one day of their weekend, randomly having a weekend off that they expected to work and worst- being scheduled on the weekend that isn't "theirs." I try to work a consistent schedule of Fri, Sat, Sun, when it's my weekend, followed by Wed and Thurs (I'm night shift, so I really don't like working Friday when it's not my weekend), followed by Monday- wash, rinse, repeat. We put in for 4 week schedules each time, and I would say that I get my requested schedule 1-2 out of every 3 times I ask for it. The thing that kills me is when we have mandatory classes- which are always on day shift, and my whole schedule gets thrown off. It's a big reason I am ready to get out of the hospital. In the hospital, I really do prefer to work night shift, but I cannot balance my home life, with 3 kids, and all of the irregularity and disregard for the unique challenges of working night shift. My previous job required a 50/50 rotation of 0700-1930 and 1900-0730. I really did not like rotating.

Have used a VA loan twice now, to buy a house, but never heard of such a thing for education- perhaps they meant using the GI Bill? I paid cash for prereqs and used my GI Bill for one semester, as well. For nursing school, I took out loans, got one small scholarship as well as a small grant, and used my GI Bill. My first year of nursing school, I had the old GI Bill and for the 2nd, I had the new, post-9/11 GI Bill. If I had had the post-9/11 GI Bill for both years, my loans would be about 1/3 of what they are now. The old one barely covered my childcare costs, while the new one covered a substantial part of my tuition, along with housing allowance which more than covered childcare, as well as a book stipend.

Are you positive they weren't eating or drinking?

If they are really hairy, you can use the first set of pads to "give them a wax" and then apply a new set of pads.

I had sx in May, and I was also told there was no light duty on my unit (I also work m/s). I was told that "back in the day," they would let RNs work as the unit secretary when on light duty, but the organization does not want to pay RN wages for a unit secretary. As much as I would have loved to work something out so that I could have a full pay check, I will say that I was impressed as to how easy the process was to apply for STD and to get it approved.

If it's available, and safe to give, I will give it, if the pt wants it. I redirect when a pt uses the word "due"- that is for scheduled meds. PRNs are available, if needed, at certain intervals. If a pt wants to set their cell phone, I don't really care- we tend to get good report from other nurses on these things, and I will note each time the med is "available" during my shift so that I can plan for it- I'm fine with that. I totally agree with the pp- we are not going to make them an addict, nor cure them of addiction. Safety is paramount and if that is maintained, then they will get the requested meds, as ordered. I will dilute meds appropriately, so that I can push it at a safe rate, and if they'd like to complain, they are welcome to speak with the charge nurse, the manager, the pain nurse, their doc or anyone else- I'm yet to lose that fight. Our hospital just instituted a policy that does not allow the administration of sedating IV meds together- they must be given at least 20 minutes apart. Gone are the days of "I want my dilaudid, benadryl, phenergan, and ativan together." I'm happy to print off the policy and show it, if need be. I do enjoy when the pt tells me that it would be so much easier on me, if I could just bring them at the same time. This post reminds me of a recent issue we had on our floor. Pt was getting 1mg dilaudid q3h and 6.25mg phenergan q6h. Pt was "stoned," lethargic, slurring her words and nodding off, repeatedly (even trailing off in the middle of sentences); however, VSS. While speaking to the pt, I realized that her statements and behavior regarding her pain and nausea were inconsistent and "off" (some even inappropriate to the situation). After reviewing her hx (which included PTSD from a motor vehicle accident, as well as anxiety and depression), it seemed that she was dealing with psych issues that were being "medicated" by these narcotics/ sedating meds. I requested a psych consult, as an adjustment in her psych meds and/ or further therapy seemed like a better way to deal with what was going on, and I expressed my concern about her LOC and safety matters (she actually did have a fall at a different hospital when given the "magic 3" (dilaudid, benadryl and phenergan) as she requested). Instead of getting the psych consult, they upped her dilaudid to 1.5mg and doubled the phenergan because she told the dr the current doses weren't helping. She was DC'd 2 days later, with no further psych help, and I fully expect to see her very soon. My concern wasn't with the "drug seeking;" it was a safety issue, but what does the nurse know? I only spent 12 hrs at a time with her, talking to her and observing her. The Dr saw her for about 2 minutes. Thanks for letting me vent.

With school-aged kids, I work 7p-7a. I get up when they are home from school, and most days, I get home in time to see them off to school, as well. I do sacrifice sleep sometimes, but I am still able to make most games and practices and even occasionally help with school activities. We do pay a good bit for child care (an au pair) that allows for these hours, though. I am only working this schedule through this duty station (I will have 2 1/2 years as a FT M/S RN when we leave here). Although this works for me now, I cannot see carrying this on for much longer, until my kids are older. Next duty station, I will either get a M-F job that works with school hours, work PT or most likely, work PRN. I could probably do 3 11-7's without a huge issue, but I'm not a huge fan of 8 hr hospital shifts, so we'll see what happens. In order to do my time when I was a new grad, this is the best shift for me (my kids will be in K, 2 and 4, this year and the youngest was in FT preschool, last year).

I got puked on once at clinical- just my pants- and they gave me a pair of the hospital scrubs. I had 3 or 4 sets, I believe, but we had clinical up to 3 times a week. If it was just one day/ week, then two might be more convenient, but one should be just fine.