IndependentMN

I work in a home care setting and one of my patients uses a non-rebreather mask with the side port tabs removed. Protocol states to start flow rate at 8LPM and once 90% reached start to taper to room air by 1L per 10 minutes. Is this safe? And if not can you help me understand. I'm aware the side ports were removed so that the bag will be less likely to deflate on lower flow rates but we had a situation where an aid tapered the patient to 1L on the non-rebreather and she was satting at 100% but was cyanotic (blue nails and lips) and I feel its due to improper use of the non-rebreather/taper. Thanks in advance

It will also make a difference if you are a 2 year vs 4 year for starting pay. I believe most hospitals that are union are on the same pay scale in the Minneapolis area. (which I believe is all major except Fairview Ridges which opened during a major nursing strike).

I graduate with my RN in December and I really would like to work in an ER. Anything I've seen locally requires a years floor experience minimum before moving into an ER. Background is I've worked as an LPN for 6 years and in healthcare for over 12 (3 years as an LPN for Mayo Clinic). I've floated to ICUs, worked in a correctional facility and most recent gig is with vent dependent patients. All this mentioned because I don't feel like I'm stepping out of nursing school completely naïve. Any advice or recommendations? I'd be willing to intern and I'm not set on staying in Minnesota either. Thanks in advance

I worked for Mayo in Rochester and am at Fairview now. Mayo started their RNs out at about 26/hr and Fairview is around the same, Mayo only hires BSN nurses now though from what I'm told by former coworkers. There is also Olmsted hospital in Rochester and Fairview in Cannon Falls (which is in between the two). Traffic is not awful, I live in Burnsville and work in Minneapolis 4 days in a month and it takes about 45 minutes for a 25 minute ride during rush hour (6-9am and 4-7pm). If you are looking into south suburbs of the cities there is Fairview Ridges in Burnsville so you would avoid the traffic if you lived in Lakeville, Apple Valley...etc. There is Allina, University of MN, Fairview has multiple branches so they are really all over the place.

I've been looking into a lot of schools out here and I decided to do the LPN program at DCTC first. I was wait listed at two other schools for the 2 year RN program and decided to just get my LPN and then do LPN to BSN because it is less competitive. For your 2 year RN it really is like a 4 year degree with all of the prerequisite courses that are required, I would say check out DCTC, I've looked all around MN (twin cities to Mankato to Rochester) and this seemed to be the fastest route.

I would say to go for your BSN and here is why: Mayo Clinic in Rochester is requiring a BSN for new hires effective immediately, Fairview hospitals has been asking RN hires who have only an associates to sign a contract stating they will go back for their BSN. There are now associates degrees being offered in practical nursing so in my opinion they are attempting to more up the gap that has long been there in the years of schooling vs pay in nursing. They are now in talks (in MN) to grandfather NP's in as physicians in certain fields as well. The starting pay is very similar (around .50-1.00 difference) but a lot of employers will not hire nurse managers w/out their BSN. I also work at the University of MN Fairview NICU and my nurse manager will ONLY look at applicants with their BSN, while it does not offer any more nursing skills so to speak it does give you better critical thinking skills.