starryx2

I am curious if there are any duel programs in education and a specialty. I know there are some midwifery/FNP programs out there. I have been trying to do some research on such things.

Curious how did you secure the food coloring in the noodles? This sounds like an interesting idea I just need a bit more explanation. Thank you! Do you have a picture?

Hello, I am looking for some input from all you wonderful educators. When thinking about pursuing a masters degree with a hope of teaching in the future what is the recommendations for education. Is it better to go for an advanced degree such as nurse practitioner or midwifery vs. the traditional Masters in Education? Pros? Cons? I keep getting told that I would have more options if I went into a specialty like I mentioned vs. a general degree in education because I could still teach with that specialty degree. Thoughts?

I dont think you are ever to old to do anything. If you want to go into nursing the same as anything else, go for it. It doesn't matter how old you are when you graduate from nursing school it just matters if you are a good quality practitioner.

So there are just so many places to start but.... First off it depends on what state you are in and what the rules are for what you would like to get into. If you want to just go and take an EMT-B class thats fine. You will be able to practice as an EMT-B. I am from PA. I decided after spending 2 years in the ER, some people got me interested in prehospital. When it was all said and done, I now have my PHRN, and I work full time with a local ambulance service. I find it much more satisfying then where i was at with the ER. There are a lot of differences in peoples opinions in regards to scopes of practices, protocols, and what an RN vs. Medic can do. Again it goes back to what state you are in. In this state I had to take the EMT-P National Written exam but not before I passed an EMT-B Practical exam. RN vs. Medic, in the grand scheme of things, we all work off of orders from a doctor. It all kind of depends on what kind of order it is. We are all responsible for providing high level of care. I will caution people from saying that Medics can do more than a Nurse. Or a nurse has more training. Its more a matter of everyone on different levels and where people work. A brand new nurse that just graduated from a nursing program, would have a difficult time just walking out and taking the exams to get the PHRN cert. Again there are many differences. There is a lot of subject matter that I know much more then some of my colleges only because we discuss it more in depth in our education. On the flip side when it comes to critical interventions and EMT-P does get more in depth training with the education they receive vs. an RN. In an ED there are a lot of things that an RN can not do, not because they are not capable or do not know necessarily its a matter of there is an MD/DO there that is able to do these things. Again, all states have different requirements. I have a friend whom is an RN, but works as an EMT-B basic because he wants to do that instead of being a EMT-P. It's all in what you want to do and what you want to accomplish with those things.

Epona, Being new is never fun. We have all been there. Unfortunately, when you are new it takes some time to get used to the doctors, routines and orders. As the other posters stated, yeah it seemed like the conversation was a bit prolonged and some docs, just have no tolerance. (I know its not right but, unfortunately this seems to be the way of the world) Some doctors are nice and will be more than happy to explain things to you. As posted the correct way to go about the situation (which its hard to say exactly without knowing the specific med and level was) however you should have called said that this was the patients level and you are verifying that medication. Now if you feel that you have serious problems with the order being given, it would be wise to talk that over with your preceptors, or other nurses on the floor. Then after you have made a decision, document, document, document. Also, unless the doctor is who you are working for (for example in the office) they most likley can not fire you. As long as you did not cause any adverse problem with the patient you should be in good shape. Advice, its a rough world out there. The first few months are hard. Good luck, and keep your head up and take good care of those patients!

I must say I spent 6 years trying to find the right shift for me. I also spent my whole school carreer trying to figure out why I was so tired all the time and didnt feel like a normal human being, I cant get up in the morning Im always tired and had a hard time sleeping, however when I started working steady night shift that all changed! I love night shift! I cant imagine working any other shift, I can sleep on this shift, Im not late anymore, I feel like a normal person! I dont know I think some people are just meant to work nights!

If you are interested in a hospital setting, Alle-Kiski Medical Center is not to far away from Sarver, PA. Its in Natrona heights, and I know they are currently looking for LPN's. Just a thought.

oh yeah, I forgot to add to my little addtion, what about the dying patient, or very very sick not doing very well patient, with the patient and family and patient next door, im sure that is very uplifting while in the hospital setting, and im sure it does wonderes when there is a code or the patient passes on, that has to really make the next door patient feel good. PRIVATE ROOMS!!!! JACHO needs to make a recommendation ASAP!!!!

How does the nursing community out there feel about semi-private rooms vs. private rooms? How do you feel about in regards to patient safety? Medication Errors? Communication? Cleanliness? Confidentiality? Any other pros or cons? Infection control? Do the pros outweigh the cons to having a private room? How about private rooms, for "special people" employees, VIPS, people with money, how do you feel about that? Has anyone worked in a semi-private hospital and then a private room hospital or vice versa? Does being in a private room tend to bring the family closer to the bedside and care of the patient? Any other comments, opinions, personal experencies? I am doing a project for my nurse management class, so I was curious to get some opinions?

Ok, I wanted to add in some more comments to the thread. What about the younger patient, middle adulthood, that gets put in with an eldery patient, not necessarly confused, but definitly different needs, toilting ect. maybe a fall risk, and the younger patient begins to feel as though they are "babysitting" the other patient, not because they have to but because they feel they must. How often are two patietns together, and one ends up having some type of infection that requires isolation. Has any of these things happen to anybody? Sharing of bathrooms? especially with a patient that dosent have the best bathroom habits. Do you often find yourself not having enough room to work in because you are working in a double room? Do you think you would have an easier time communicating with your patient, without another person and family next door between a thin cutrain? Do you think any kind of medication errors would be avoided with a patient being in a private room vs. semi-private room? Hmmm I dont know just wanting to know some more opinions on the subject...

Oh my gosh, how horrible for this to happen to you, especially after all you have been through to get that degree. I ask too what state you are from, and ask if you have spoken with your state BON. I never knew that a school can exist that is not accredited, I would definitly speak to your board of nursing, and shame on the school for giving you a hard time regarding this. The other thing I would say is to see if you can transfer your credits to another program, and get a degree from an accredited university. I wish you luck and keep us posted!

Hair color shouldnt matter, but I think in basic interview practices, a bright "odd" hair color might be a strike against you. I do believe that patients remember how you treat them and how much compassion you bring to them, not what color your hair is. So good luck to you in whatever your future brings you! Odd colored hair or not!

Dear Melanie, I think that you are in right place, and you shoudn't call yourself a "vet nurse" just to keep the public straight but becuase you are care taker of those in need and their families. The only difference is that the ones you take care of are usually 4 legged, and dont have a voice as we do to tell us when they need help or that they are hurting. I for one could never do what you do, because I can't keep myself together when it comes to animals, my heart goes out to them. You do a job that many of us could not do. Also can I add aren't we all animals, haha, I know that many people would say that thats just not right and that isnt a good analogy but Im just trying to make a point. I think that we can learn from each other especially regarding dealing with families, and consoluing those that have lost "a family member" for whatever reason. Also I do believe that a lot of the procedures that you do at as a vet tech are very very similar to what we do, your just doing them on dogs and kittens, and the many other things that we do on a day to day basis. You save peoples "babies and children" and I know veteratnairy medicine has moved a long way. So Melanie, Keep your head up high as a Vet Nurse, and keep our little furry friends happy one life at a time. I extend a big welcome and hello, to you here.

To the MOMS out there that our BF GOOD JOB, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! YOU ARE DOING THE BEST FOR YOUR BABIES AND THEIR IS SCIENTIFIC FACT TO BACK IT UP. I think that breastfeeding should be done as long as the mother and child are able to do so. I think the reason for all the conversation on Breastfeeding is that people have mixed feelings on it due to how they were rasied and how the view it but this is the fact BREASTFEEDING IS NATURAL, IT IS HOW ITS SUPPOSE TO BE. I for one do not even have children and I look forward to that day that I can breastfeed my children and do the best thing I can for them. We should support all new mothers in their choice to breastfeed, and not make them feel like thier doing something wrong. So keep breastfeeding all moms out there, and just try to ignore the negatism from others, due to their insecurities.

Hello Everbody once again Ok we are now on the beginning of week 4 as an RN. I had a decent week, in aspect of the I didnt have more than 8 patients at any given time. Although they tried to give me 4 post op's within 2 hours of each other which luckily there was an extra RN, so they I cant possibly take another person at this point of having 7, worked. Only because there was a so called "Extra" nurse that came in early. I would like to comment on everybody saying that we as nurses and new grauduates need to stand up and get something accomplished. Also I can see that their have already been instances of people losing their jobs. I can see in the short time of being here at my hospital and on my floor, that a lot of the nurses do see as having a high number of patients as being the norm. I even kinda get some negative aura from some of the older nurses that I am even saying anything due to the same reasoning that I just mentioned. This is nursing, get used to it, or we all do this everyday. Well my reply that I am thinking is that hey I see the care that They are receiving also. Which another point and purpose. I dont know how other hospital are with care plans. But I can say this HAHAHAHAHAHA, a care plan, that is the biggest joke at my place of employment Its like right something down on the paper thats what its like. They are unimportant, never looked at, never reviewed, It is marked that they are updated and reviewed but yeah its a joke. There are many things that are overlooked and its very very sad. Also again like many people have said on this post, this is how it is, and nobody is doing anything about it. I am in the state of Pennsylvania, We do not have a union at my place of employment, and our hospital is part of a larger system. I will give you a little run down of this day. I started with 6 patients, which isnt Horrible, but I know that there is no possible way to deliver great care with that load to begin with but I go with it. Get report from 3 different nurses, because I am split on 2 sides of our 3 sided unit. I have to use 2 different med rooms, because we have a PYXIS med machine. So I have to go to 2 differnt places to get my mars and my rooms. I most likely walked 20miles today wouldnt suprise me. I had 3 patients that were going for tests, extensive invasive tests that when they returned needed some close monitoring, which I wasent able to provide as close as need be because of the time restraint. ( at this time is when they were bringing trying to call report on the fresh OR from PACU) Also my afternoon meds I was still trying to catch up on. Two pateints were fall risks and skin breakdown risk due to inactivity and becasue of trying to crawl out of the bed/wheelchairs so Im running back and forth trying to keep an eye on them. I have 4 IVS running, one went bad, calling IV team. Drs. needing called to give them test/lab results. Thats if I can find the chart. Drs. come in write new orders and maybe maybe not the charge nurse will come find me to tell me if its important enough. People not happy about lunch trays having to call dietary, because we have to make the patient happy, so they are fussy at me on the phone becuase they are short staffed and im bothering them. My aides I was working with were primarly with other nurses meaning that they have more patients of the other nurses, so I was kinda hard hit of seeing them most of the day. I felt like a glorified med passer today I had so many to do IV pushes your routine pills, pain medication (4 of the 6 were needing to be medicated on a routine basis) AGAIN I will state I know im not perfect I must work on my prioritizing and organizational skills, I am new it comes with time BUT, did my people get washed up today... haha thats funny if night shift or the aides got to it today which I dont know I didnt see them most of the day, I sure as crap didnt have time which is sad. Rooms are trashed with old food the patietns try to keep off their trays old juices and beverages, on my one side the aide was so busy she didnt pass new water until almost 3pm which wasent her fault she was busy too and that wasent the priority but the poor patietns have the same water for most likely 16 hours or so this isnt right! Call lights go off for approximantly 5-10minuts to get answered maybe, which makes it really bad is that I know a call light is going off and I can not possibly go answer it because it maybe something that an aide can handle that If I get caught in the middle of my already late 8-9:00 meds will be given at noon instead of already being given after 10 even 11am this morning. I am trying I am working as fast as I can, Oh and again if theres anything new that I may not be familiar with well I might have two seconds to look it up..... but again that just throws my day off more... since I have so much still to do..... I am trying people I am trying! And when they said there calling report from PACU on my second post op I looked at the charge nurse and said I can not possibly take another patient I'm up to 7, and still behind. My charting is less then to be desired mostly because I dont have time, and I really try really hard to do the best job you can do but when your running around ready to rip your hair out on the inside ready to scream, and your barley holding it together, just taking things one at a time, its kinda of difficult to remeber everything and chart the most awesome chart ever its not going to happen, Of course Im not giving the entire picture of my day for again fear of HIPPA, but thats the surface of it. EVeryone keeps telling me it will get better, Im new, it will pass, it will be ok, so I start thinking that its ok to have 7-8-9 patients and I am suppose to be able to handle it, I am fortunate enough to have nurses that do care enough to tell me words of encouragment, but I do believe that they have been brain washed and they think that it is ok. I dont think Im unreasonibly stating that a ANY RN should not have more than 6 patients. Also If an experiecned RN happens to have 6 patients, and gets their charting done on time, has time to converse a little with the patients they say their bored, because there so used to it being rediculously chaotic and doing the bare minumum necessary for that shift, they say their bored!!!! That is why nothing ever gets done in the nursing field Am I not right? Also the much encouragment that It will get better makes me thing im being hasty, even my unit manager aggrees that it is busy and hectic and just tells me to take my time and do the best that I can do. Once I master this floor I can do anything. Also one more statement, someone commented on there is no time to critical think when you have 4 patient, I SO AGREE, critical thinking I have pretty much forgot what critical thinking is. BAsically I get through my day by starting in my head a list of things that must be done, and praying that I choose the correct order to not get myself in a bind, and cause harm to any of my patients. I keep feeling like Im incompetent, and Im a bad nurse because I cant care for my patient assignement, when I know in the back of my mind that I am not wrong, and what is occuring isnt right, and needs to change. BUT WHY DO I FEEL THAT WAY? Not to mention, here are my things that i definitly feel, The nursing process, haha, Assessment is less to be desired, Implimentation whatever has to be done to get through your day, Diagnosis - care plans mean little to nothing. Planning, plan what? only what social services plan to do to get them home. Setting goals, yeah, everbody gets through the day in one piece thats the goals, Evaluation, people are breathing and their origial problem is half taken care of and away they go out the door. I don't know... I just continue to feel frustrated. Is there a place that actually cares for the whole patient, physically and emotionally, the nurses actually work with the doctors and know whats going on with the patient, works together as a collective team with all departments and Families work together to get the patient to their optimal health, not just fix their admitting diagnosis. Where is this place?

Hey Everyone thanks for all the support!!! Just as an update to some of the questions that were asked Yes, I am off of orientation, today was my eighth shift being off of orientation. Yes, I just graduated June 2006, and I just passed boards as of 2 days ago! I had 5 1/2 weeks of orientation which they offer 6 on that unit. Now do not get me wrong, If I would be handed 4-6 patients I do feel as though I could somewhat manage in a decent safe manner, busy but safe at least. Which is why I was cut a little short, and before yesterday, I did have the poor souls, that I was working with had to cover me while I was still a "graduate nurse" I have one problem in regards to quiting or leaving, I went through the hospital and they paid for my school and I owe them 3 years. I really really really dont want to pay them back almost 20,000 dollars plus my student loans that I took out just to live for the 22 months in which at the time I thought was hell, wow was I wrong. That is one of the nagging things in the back part of my head, as I go through each day. The second question I have to pose to everybody is Is it actually legal to not accept the patient assignment given to you, can you actually say no I am not taking that, because I was told that if you do so then you are neglecting your duties and your patients and can be held liable for that. That is why I pose how is the best way to handle that. I do believe that my next step is to speak to my manager, she is for the most part a reasonalbe person, I do believe she is managing the best way she can minus, the fact that she is not fighting for her staff to the "powers that be" Also to add the last 2 days have not been any better I didnt have 9 patients but I did have 7 yesterday and 8 today!!! I dont know I am just very disgusted, and it is definitly unsafe, I just guess Im still in shock that this occurs. Of course only the patients suffer and maybe my bladder!

Here I am, it has been 6 days, since I have been off of orienation, I am disgusted. I took boards yesterday, keeping fingers crossed, but actually I'm a little worried about having the RN title, because that means more things that I have to do. Which that would be no problem, besides the fact that today alone I had a 9 patient assignement! Come on 9 patients? A experienced seasoned nurse shouldnt be taking care of 9 patients. I am a new graduate with 6 days under my belt, by myself. We are on a med-surge unit specializing in orthopedics and gynecology, due to the recent close of our OB/Gyne floor that is our newest addtion. My head is spinning, I cant keep up, I am trying like heck to get everythign that needs to be done, but I am not even coming close, I do not feel that it is my inability to do things quickly, I am moving at a very quick pace but, here is the question i pose, Why is it that a new graduate nurse or any nurse for that matter should have to take care of 9 patients on a daylight shift? Why do we allow these things to happen. I am curious to know from the California RN's how the patient:staff ratio is working out, does it work to have mandatory Ratios? Make no mistake it was not an easy patient assignent load either, I had 2 patients on complete bed rest, which were complet cares, I had 4 post ops, which besides PCA's, Foleys, dressing changes, and routine meds, have to be down for Physical Therapy twice a day. Also you have all your routine meds, pain management for the other patients, I was lucky if I say 2-3 of my patients once in the 9 1/2 hours I was there, and that was to give them there medications and give them a very brief once over, which is complety inadeuquate, but what are you to do... I was still passing medications at noon, of course no breaks, no lunch, and the 2 RNs, and Myself along with the LPN whom which all carried the same load today were sinking. We have a charge nurse who was taking off orders ect, and another RN that got mandted due to not having a unit secretary. Another RN came out at 11 to take over for the mandated night shift nurse. Why are these things happening, I feel fortunate enough that I am able to keep my cool and keep moving and doing the best job I can do. I feel that this is such a joke, and such an inadequate way to do nursing, THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS PROfESsion is about , I feel like im doing TURBO nursing. You walk in the room, and are trying to keep moving you cant talk to the pateitns, your in their for only 5-10minutes at the most, how are the pateints getting good care, why is our patients not getting excellent care! Why are we not able to do what we are taught a nurse is suppose to do? Doctors are coming in and out writing orders that you come and find or are told about 2-3 hours later. You simply dont have time, I did not sit down today, until 4pm 1/2 hour after I should be on my way home, I sit down to chart, and try to look at my hands my papers, and sort through and see who had what going, and what I need to chart, I finish that after about 45minutes, and I am not satisfied with it, but hey its 5:15, I am exausted my feet ache. One of my co-workers come to me and says, do you have heart burn yet? Dont worry you'll get it, and turns to our other co-worker and asks what do you take, prilosec or protonix? I sit and wonder to myself, they are serious aren't they? This is so sad. I love this profession, I love what a nurse is suppose to do, I want to help people and I want to go to work everyday and do the best job I can possibly do but this is rediculous, I am managing for the moment but I do not know how long this will last, until it catches up to me. I knew this was a tough profession, and that is one of the reasons I got into it becuase I wanted a challanging profession, BUT i didnt want a unsafe, tiresome, work yourself into the ground, barley remember your patients names at the end of the day. On account of HIPPA, I can not paint a complete picture of my patient assignment, but believe me when I say, It was definitly not an assignment anyone should have. My manager and charge nurse, knew it was bad they were trying to help, I can't complain about my co-workers, they try as hard as they can to help you, but they have 9 patients a piece, and their own problems to worry about, I cant blame them for not being a little annoyed, but again why is this happening? I know this is not new, I know this is not a new concept, I also know this is happening all over the US. I just am very disgusted. My question to all of you out there is, WHat can we do to change this? Or has anyone encountered this at their hospital or facility and took a stand and decided to do something about it? I know that my co-workers want these things to change, but nobody knows what to even do about it. We dont even have time to think about it, we cant even stop for a moment to think, wereway to busy trying to give our patients 1/10th of the care that they deserve. Were doing our best, I am doing my best. I just cant keep asking myself WHY, and What can I do to make a change?

I smoke, I am a recent graduate, just started working. Smoking is a bad habit and I am speaking for myself that yes it is a bad thing to do, and I know the effects of it on my heath, I am only 23 years old an can feel the effects of it. Unfortunatly, you have to really rev yourself up to quit, I take care of people everyday who had smoked and now are terminal because of it. I think I can speak for most though when i say that alot of us don't want to smoke but became addicted its difficult to quit, so I appoligize OP, I know it must be frustrateing to see people you care about smoke especially those of us know that are truly aware and see the effects, all I can ask is that you try to support these individuals, and try to get them to quit, and help if possible, but you cant force it. Its one of those things.

I feel that this is a very controverseal subject, and everybody has alot of different opinions and reasoings for what they believe, but this is my 2 cents. IF the patient wanted to be a full code OR their wishes were not ever let known to the family, then as a family member although we see what the patients go through, we are also treating the patients families not just the patient, and if something is sudden or even terminal and someone has not come face to face with it, why are we downsizing that, we are not suppose to be judgemental, we can be patient advocates, and make sure the meaning of "full code" is understood by the family members, and that we are doing everything in our power to keep the patient comfortable in the process. Again we should not let our emotions and our beliefs interfere with our patient care, except for what the family believes. Now even if a patient had let his wishes be known, and his family still chooses to continue treatments, all we can do is try our best to make sure the family understands the situation, what treatments would be implemented, and to support the family in their decisions, I just think somtimes for things like this we let our emotions get the best of us... and I hate hearing while were on the floors, how this nurse hates this family how can they do that to their grandma... This isn't how its suppose to be, we are patient advocates, and family advocates, teachers, supporters, anything in the book you name it and thats what we do each and every day, I just wish everybody tried to be a little more supportive of the families, and understand that this is a very hard and difficult time in their life and watching a loved one die... Although I have not expereniced it, I can put myself in there shoes and imagine that it is a terrible tragic thing to go through, especially if one is not prepared for it at that time. All we can do is speak and inform, and be advocates, and not judge. I do not mean to offend anyone by my post, and Im not trying to put anybodys else down or anything, I just want to clarify that point. Thanks for listening.

Alright I got to chime in here.... im a nursing student... in a diplioma program... i have worked in the ER for 5 years prior to school.... so many pet peeves... 1) Schedual Changes - We acutaly were going to get a poll going on how many times they were going to change our scheduals, and we do have people in our class that have to work, have familys... and have to rearage constantly to accomidate there changes... and thats no fair to nobody adn it pisses me off 2) the student who constantly is asking to leave early or talk about how to leave early 3) Cell phones dont bug me much... everybody has days they may forget to turn it off or on silent.. but if it happens 2 times in the same day... then im getting a little pissy... Also if somebody has bad breath, simply tel them... hey im not trying to be mean or anything but your haveing a bad breath day... nicely... say it... thought you may want to know...

What happened to leaving home at home and work at work... and if somebody is activily endangering the staff or patients by actions... then by all means let somebody know.... but if its all talk and no active problem at this point in time.. just simply say whta the prior post said regarding do not talk about things that i may feel legally and ethincally bound to report.... Just my opinion.... Also all drugs effect people different yes... but somebody shooting heroin and somebody smoking weed is a little bit different if you ask me and a whole other set of problems...

I am going to graduate in 4 months, and I work in the ER at our facility and I've heard similar tells because i really like med-surg. This is what I think... If you like what you do and that is where you want to be. Then go there... If you ever want to go elsewhere... you'll be able too.... Good Luck!!

Im a graduating in 4 months and I think this is funny..... and I'm sorry but so true.... maybe not for everybody but for the most part.. from the people ive been around.. yes this is true.. and I find it quite amusing.

I think I'm a little of both, I try to be organized as much as I can but I also feel as though if my patient needs to talk to me I want to listen.. but then in the back of my mind all I can think of is that I have to chart, or do something of some sort... or else somebody will say im not doing my job......