DawnEyes

off topic but.....if your horrible experience at grady (i'm sorry, it sounded terrible!) is a big reason for changing your major, please reconsider!! i withdrew from all of my pre-nursing courses this semester and was ready to change my major to anything but nursing after having a string of bad experiences with rn's that had less than stellar attitudes on the l&d unit i work on as a scrub tech. after sitting down and really thinking it through though, i made the decision that i can't let those experiences deter me from my chosen career. instead, think of a nurse (or nurses) that you have really had good experiences with, people you admire career-wise, and keep them in mind--how they motivate you to work just as hard and as well as they do with patients. i also think of the *icky* rn experiences and consider myself lucky to know how not to act with patients and fellow staff members. the thought of being the rn a patient remembers as being compassionate and knowledgable (or who a colleague remembers as competent and willing to help) is what keeps me driving ahead now. there's not enough time in our lives to let someone else's negativity get us down!

I've never minded "scrub tech" for what I do. Surg tech, scrub tech, OR tech, they're all the same to me...someone who's on duty to be able to scrub OR cases. As Lonman said, it really depends on what your state regulates. I know that Washington requires techs to be registered, but I don't know about anywhere else. On a side note...I've seen a tech that did ojt from being a housekeeper (initially hired and trained to be the private tech for an ortho doc, but moved up into other specialties) that was awesome to watch in action. I've also seen scrubs that were fresh out of school and still weren't comfortable with what they were doing. I think it just depends on whether or not one enjoys the job, how much effort/time they put in to learning it, and putting in their dues to gain experience. Cheers, Dawn

Hi all :) I'm 27-yrs-old and married, continuing with pre-reqs this fall in Hawaii (classes start on 8/23...getting anxious to get going!). I'm taking A&P1, stats, nutrition, and human growth/development. I'll have Micro, A&P2, and Eng 1102 to finish up in the spring. I'm applying for both BSN and ADN programs for fall '05 in the Dec/Jan timeframe (I have yet to take the NET), with CRNA in mind as my final goal. Since I'm taking my classes online this semester, it's nice to hear from others that are around the same area I am in regards to wanting to start next fall/graduate in 2007. I'll be looking back to see how everyone's classes and such are going.

Thanks much for your replies. I'm going to go in on Monday (when I work next) and speak with the HN and wardmaster about my concerns again, and see about bringing about a change/amendment to that description. I'll point them to Aorn.

Hello all, sorry this is so long! I need some information and I'm hoping that some of you can provide insight. I'm not sure if this should go here or in the L&D forum because it covers aspects of both specialties. And please let me say ahead of time...I have read the arguments asking for techs to be taken out of OR's and replaced with RN's due to a larger overall functional capacity. I'm not looking for that type of thread. It would be really great for our RN's to scrub (we have 2 OR's on our L&D. Scheduled c/s are done in the main OR; we handle unscheduled, emergency c/s, emergency hysts, etc.). Unfortunately, 1) we are short RN's for regular pt care, and 2) scrubbing is not considered a role of the RN here. We frequently have new RN's (lots of agency and new military RN's) and none of them are trained/instructed on instrumentation, OR sterile technique, or what is required of them in the general circulatory role other than charting. My problem has been...there is one nurse in particular that seems to pick and choose what is/is not in my scope of practice according to what she does or does not want to do at any given moment. To help alleviate the situation with this particular nurse however, I went to the head nurse and asked to see the surgical tech's scope of practice/major duties for L&D Mind you, I have a degree in surgical technology. No LPN/RN/CNA or other patient-oriented certification/licensure. What I found threw me for a loop. I'm listing the duties that seem questionable to me. Does anyone feel the same, or am I off my rocker? Major duties of the surgical technologist: Scrub 50%/Nursing Assistant 50% In the OR: -Moniters pt's under local anesthesia for minor procedures that do not require an anesthetist's presence. Takes blood pressure, vital signs, notes any changes in the pt's condition. Alerts surgeon to changes in patient's condition and the need for anesthesia. -Maintains and cares for specimens/Records information on the specimen sheet/log and the intraoperative record such as times, procedures performed, unusual occurences. -Assists anesthetist when patient wakes up. On the L&D Ward: -Records obstetric information, including retrieval of prenatal record, assessment of vital signs, significant OB events, assisting with admission and delivery paperwork. -Prepares patient for examination and treatment, explaining procedures and providing emotional support. -application of external fetal monitors, assist with the placement of internal monitors. -performs venipuncture for lab specimens and initiation of IV. -Obtain fetal heart tones by Doppler. -Correctly identify patients and newborn identification bands. -Under supervision of nurse or physician, assess newborn and assign APGAR scores. -Initial suctioning of neonate. -Complete delivery paperwork and nurses' notes IAW hospital policy. -Performs assessments of patients in recovery, providing close observation to include vital signs, uterine status, lochia flow, bladder status, maternal bonding/attachment, and level of analgesia/anesthesia. -Recognize abnormal findings and report changes to nurse or physician. Yes, this is straight from the ACTUAL job description. After reading this, I went back to the head nurse to confirm these duties. I told her I didn't think that these duties were within our (the ST's) scope, and had concerns on them being listed/expected (I have heard RN's ask techs to do some of these things on several occasions.). She told me that was what the orientation checklist covers, to make sure we know how to do these procedures. I'm not trying to shirk work/responsibilities in any way...I really enjoy my job here. 99% of the RN's have been excellent in teaching me what they can about general pt care (adult and neonatal) because they know I am applying for nursing school this year. The operative words being...I am applying. I am not yet an RN. I'm not sure where to go from here....comments?

Mare, I know you didn't mean your last post to go to anyone in particular, but I just wanted to clarify...I've never told anyone I am a registered nurse, nor will I until I complete the nursing program and pass the NCLEX. Then (and only then) will those words come out of my mouth. I always correct our L&D patients when they refer to me as "nurse," letting them know I am a surg. tech that will be helping her RN during her care. I want to be a nurse, which is why I am going back to school, but I'm not in such a rush to take that role that I would flat out lie about my position on the floor.

This just cracked me up. :chuckle First paycheck as a RN...I have the bmw I want - specs, color, and all - chosen and saved at bmwusa.com. I can't wait to hit the *purchase* button after graduation! After that, money will be spent on "Conceiving for Dummies" books and equipment, a crib, stroller...the complete baby package. It will finally be the time for my husband and me to have our first child. *edit* This is a great thread. It's nice to see what everyone is looking forward to!

MissBerry, I pm'd you. I'm applying to several Georgia nursing programs for '05.

Thanks for all of the info! I'm going to have to take the NET as well, and at least I have a better understanding if what it covers.

When I started taking classes, I wasn't required to take the SAT for my school. I had been out of high school for 5 years at the time. I had to take the college placement exam for math and ended up taking college algebra. In fact, I've never taken the SAT's at all (though I did take the ACT's about 2 years out of high school.). On a side note...a couple of the colleges near where I live have daycare on campus, it may be something to look into at your school. As for negative feedback...try to ignore it the best you can. You've made a decision to further your education and try a different career...a strong move indeed! Pre-reqs can feel like they're going to take forever, but they will end eventually. Keep your chin up and keep plugging along. Take heart from the people encouraging you here. There are a lot of people here that worked/are working hard to become an RN and understand some of what you're going through. Good luck, I hope it all works out for you! *Edit* You mentioned in your first post that you have a speech impairment? Check with a college counselor or someone similar at your school, you may qualify for extended time while taking your SAT's.

I'm not from Hawaii, but I've lived here for a little over 3 years. My husband is stationed here, I'm just along for the ride. :)

I didn't differentiate either. I certainly wouldn't mind having a student nurse or OB course RN in the room with my regular nurse. Me, my hubby, the cnm, and a nurse (and one student, if they are there) I could handle...I know everyone there is working in/for the best interest of me and my baby. But a lot of times where I work, the MED students come rushing in as delivery is imminent, without anyone having asked the mommy to be if it's okay. Talk about a circus!! I hate it when they do that. It's like the patient isn't even there, she's a "mechanical teaching tool" that spits a baby out for them. Like a birth/lady partsl repair simulator they can work on hard, technical skills with or something. I would feel much better if they just took the time to ask the mom/dad ahead of time if it would be okay for a med student to observe the delivery, and I think it would leave a better impression of the place with the mom. Amen to that!

For a direct commission (ie: you did not do ROTC in college), you can have your first duty station and/or a specialty school written into your contract. Don't let the recruiter tell you differently!! If you know you want to go to ICU or ER, make sure the identifier school is listed in your contract [bold]before you sign it.[/bold] There are several nurses I work with who got both the school and the duty station they wanted upon entry. Sometimes recruiters will try to tell you they can't do it, but stick to your guns!! After you join, they should either send you directly to the course or have you go to your duty station first before a school date is selected. But if the course is in your contract, they have to send you within a certain amount of time or it's a breach of contract. Again, this option is available to you only if you didn't do ROTC. If you did, the military will dictate what duty station you get and where you will work. Good luck!

That's very good to know indeed. :) I'm planning on joining the AF sometime after graduation, as well. I still haven't made a decision yet on when, though. I know I want to be a CRNA, so I could either join right after grad and have ICU course put into my contract, which would mean I'd have to do the application process for CRNA through my unit. Or I could do 1-2 yrs civilian ICU and join to have CRNA school in my contract. I have no idea yet. Any ideas on what a better course would be?

Rnav...yes, they do combine the preferences. Since your wife is going into the AF, this site may be good for you to check out: USAF Civilian Personnel: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/ As for the SITES webpage, she may be able to access it with her information, wouldn't hurt to try. Worst thing that could happen is that her SSN/Name won't allow access until she's active duty. I'd give it a go. :) I think that unauthorized access stuff is meant for people trying to hack the site or something. I don't know what GS level you would start out at, it differs depending on your specialty and the amount of experience you have. I would think it would be somewhere near GS-11 though. Good luck! Dawn