Brainiacster

This is another reason the nursing profession is denigrated: people assume it's as easy to become a nurse as it is to become a teacher (or some other fairly simple curriculum). It's erroneous to equate teachers with nurses. A teaching degree is much easier to acquire than is a nursing education. (The level of difficulty of the curriculum generally isn't close to that of the medical professions.) Back to generalities: in general, the public has been repeatedly told they're 'entitled' to the point of becoming jaded, obnoxious, and expecting something for nothing. In addition, the image of nursing is still glorfied hand maiden. The public would be rather shocked to see a nursing curriculum. Unfortunately, with hospitals propagating the customer service paradigm, coupled with having nurses implement it (rather than hiring other staff to do it), it adds to the erroneous image of nursing. From a pt's perspective, a nurse knows nothing except how to twiddle a few machines & do basic tech stuff...along with waitress/waiter duties. In their minds, only the MD knows anything. Even the public perception of MD's is starting to fall by the wayside. Too many arm chair 'medical professionals' who spend their time on simplified literature from WebMD. They have no REAL concept of what exactly it is people in the medical professions really have to know. As many have said, you have educate people.

Usually, I don't notice that kind of behavior at first due to just not thinking that way myself, so it takes a while before it sinks in that someone's pulling something. It doesn't happen often, but when it does (LOL & when I finally notice it), I'm usually flabbergasted which is quickly replaced by losing respect for the other party. It's generally a sign of insecurity in the other party (or parties). Sometimes, they're basically jealous of you. Other times, they mistake your niceness as weakness (even if they're not jealous), so they go for the jugular. Often, with these kind of people, the more you try to accomodate them, the more they mistake it for you being intimidated, so it can escalate. These people are best avoided, but if you can't do that, you have to do something to rectify it (they sure won't initiate that). Basically, keep it professional, brief, and firm without being overbearing, over emotional, or over explanatory. If they still don't shape up, you sometimes have to get a little terse with them. It usually shocks them & they tend to back off. If you can throw a little humor into it (while maintaining an assertiveness about your personality), it often deflects it too. Also, don't get involved in a passive-aggressive tit for tat game with them. That tends to simply escalate it. It can also get to be a vicious cycle since it tends to make the victim even less sure & less assertive which can feed the bullying behaviors. DO frequently remind yourself that you have a lot going for you. If you get caught up in negative thinking to the point where you bash yourself, it'll become a vicious cycle & spiral down. Force your mind out of that mode, even if it's difficult for you. Also, pragmatically, you might try to find some allies at work...people with whom to associate so you're not sitting there as the lone target of these gals. (...and don't use your allies to get back at the others...just rise above it & focus on your allies & job.) It also sounds as though they were being passive-aggressive with you in school. Now they've escalated. Unfortunately, there are people like this out there & we have to deal with them in a way such that it doesn't affect us and our jobs, etc. Also, most bosses have enough on their plates & are concerned with their own careers, so they're generally not too interested in being pulled into these things. They just want things running smoothly so their jobs run more smoothly. You're generally better off handling it yourself if you can. If it gets to the point where you've exhausted all avenues, sometimes you DO have to involve superiors. Never really good for anyone, so go to the boss only as a very last resort. One last thing, try thinking more like a guy. Focus on your job and you'll find if your mind is more focused on the details of your job, it'll be naturally less focused on these types of people, thus have less effect. If you're new & have to ask questions, there are usually a few 'go to' people who are willing to help & to impart their knowledge. Those are the people you want to seek out.

OP, Don't let a couple of difficult personalities rain on your parade. As one poster mentioned, if there's any way to trade off pts, that might be a good idea. As others have said: document. The biggest thing to keep in mind is your license.

OP, Keep the job, but also keep looking. You're keeping skills fresh and you've got something to put on your resume. In addition, supervisory experience looks good on a resume too. It's better than nothing until you find something else. BTW, this employer must be crazy if they're actually expecting anyone to stay around too long offering basically half of what you should be making in a full-time position.

These people are probably the same people who feel "entitled" to HC and such...that is, as long as someone ELSE's taxes increase to pay for THEIR cheaper insurance. Unfortunately, that's the majority of the public any more. It's a self-righteous "me, me, me" generation now. People want EVERYTHING, but they do NOT want to pay for it. That's really the bottom line in hospitals too. Patients...er customers...have a sense of entitlement but they do NOT want to pay for the extra care. The very reason staff doesn't have much time to spend with these patients is precisely due to money issues. It's not even the fault of the hospitals; rather, it goes right back to the patients. They do NOT want to pay for their own HC, yet they expect Cadillac service. They're constantly complaining HC is too expensive, yet they can't fathom WHY hospitals don't hire more staff. Folks...news flash: if you want more staff to cater to your every whim, it costs MONEY...and YOU are not willing to PAY for it. You have only YOURSELVES to blame for it. Unfortunately, hospitals are now operating on slimmer margins so are desperately vying for business to the point where they end up enabling such atrocious behavior from patients & their families. No nurse should ever have to put up with this type of behavior. These are the same people who vote for politicians who promise them freebies at other OTHER people's expense. Basically, the Welfare mentality has bled over into the middle class. (Ever notice how self-righteous the Medicaid pts are? The middle class is just as bad any more. It also goes beyond HC. This attitude of entitlement permeates their lives - yet they never want to shell out a dime of their OWN money - they're quite happy to just rip off some stranger to pay for all of this.) BTW, these will also be the first patients who are SCREAMING about 2 yr waiting lists for elective surgeries if Obamacare is implemented. (Some of these pts will also be shocked to find out their CABG surgery will be considered elective. Yes, that DOES happen in Europe.) Also, they're in for quite a rude awakening when they finally figure out Obamacare is NOT free. In countries such as Germany, the middle class public pays up to 15.5% of their annual salaries for national HC. Can also hear the screaming when the middle class is eventually paying 60% of their income in taxes if the US becomes a socialism. (It's a bit over 60% in countries like Sweden.) These people are letting their own greed override any logic or common sense. They won't figure it out until they actually experience it in a few years. Poetic justice in the end...unfortunately, it drags the rest of us down too. Seems we're on our way to becoming Greece II.

OP, Depends on what kind of experience the recruiter has. If it's strictly someone from an HR background who really doesn't understand the science or the nuances of nursing, the recruiter can be almost worthless. Sometimes, the recruiter's manager has been around long enough to know a good applicant when one comes along, but more junior staff frequently is clueless re what the job really entails. Often, they're given a list of Q's to ask & it's fairly obvious on the phone that they're pretty green. Also, a lot of places use a computer program to do the first set of selections. Often those programs will scan only the first portion of a resume (X number of words) and those programs also look for certain words to be repeated. Anyway, hope this info helps. BTW, if you can bypass HR & talk directly to an NM, you've just cut a lot of the red tape out. Good luck!

Seems like much more tattling going on in nursing than in other professions. It's a rarity for it to happen in most professions. Most people don't want to look unprofessional & whiny in front of their bosses. MD's don't rat on each other either - people cover their own asses and most people do that by NOT tattling. You develop a bad reputation if you're constantly tattling. The only logical reason for doing it in nursing would be if by not mentioning something your license was in jeopardy. Other than that, you just develop a reputation as a whiny trouble maker and you're screwing your own career. In addition, seems odd for a mere work acquaintance to nose into other people's business. We're thrown together as relative strangers & we're here to WORK. I don't really care who's doing what to whom, who is or isn't pulling their weight, etc; I just want to get the job done. Try to save your personal beliefs & emotions for those who are interested, and that's usually not in the work place. Maybe it's the hen house thing. If so, it's no wonder women don't get much respect.

It's no surprise CRNA's want to upgrade their titles. However, the level of ed/training doesn't compare with that of an MD. BTW, it seems a lot of anesthesiologists are running skin clinics these days. Apparently, they got a little too rambunctious hiring CRNA's. I would suggest other MD's be a little more careful re hiring NP's lest they suffer the fate of anesthesiologists. It may be more lucrative in the short term, but it'll come back to bite you in the proverbial ass. Obamacare will, of course, accelerate that. BTW, since when does a DO even begin to compare to an MD education regarding *quality* of education, residency, and, if applicable, fellowship? DO's, of course, will argue the point. If only I had a penny for every time I've heard, "We do the same residencies." For the most part, DO's certainly don't get the cream of the crop residencies. It's also interesting how DO's downplay the chiropractic aspect of their "specialties." It seems a certain sector created the title DO to accommodate those who didn't quite qualify for acceptance into an MD program. In my book, the only people who deserve the title of "Doctor" are DVM's & MD's. Probably moot with Democrats running the show now. Get ready for Euro style medicine.

sounds like the typical overindulged brat kid who has now morphed into a non-functional young adult. mama is still there enanbling him now. is it any wonder he's such a problem?

Sorry your kid has probs, but we didn't cause those probs. People are naturally going to assume. You'll have to deal with it GRACIOUSLY. This attitude of self-righteousness is sickening. (Not to mention the nasty attitude towards "uneducated" Walmart workers...as though they're the scum of the Earth or something.) As if anyone cares if you "take your business elsewhere." Basically, I'd be thinking "good riddance." Betting this one also feels "entitled" to HC too. You are NOT entitled to ANYTHING at OTHER people's expense. If applicable, BUY your own HC and QUIT MOOCHING off tax payers. The world does not revolve around YOU! (Where IS that puking icon?!!!).

OP, Try to get a CNA or tech position to get your foot in the door (and don't rely on *only* online apps). Also, network...nurses, doctors, HR, professional organizations, clubs, anyone/anything related to the profession who may be able to bring your name up...all the better if they have some clout. In these times, who you know can make all the difference. Also, volunteer work will help you to establish a reputation as well as helping you to network. If hospitals won't let you volunteer as an RN, try some place that WILL let you. If you're allowed to volunteer as an RN, it will also keep your skills honed. Meanwhile, also start working on additional education. LOL and lastly, don't vote Dem...Dems tend to destroy economies which is never good for workers! (Actually, this recession has been in the making for a number of yrs, but if you research it, a lot of it had to do with Dem Congress during the Bush era and before - mostly to do with their housing programs including effects on banks...once the housing market went south, everything else followed.)

OP, There are several programs that allow people to move from a non-nursing bachelor's straight into a master's in nursing - even without an RN first. One such program is an accelerated 12 month program at the University of AZ in Tucson. Since you already have an RN and AD, your options will be even wider than that. Quite frankly, I'd go for the MSN if you can get it. Shop around. Check GetEducated.com. It's a pretty good resource for checking out various educational opportunities based on criteria you select (type of program, online/in person, cost, etc).

OP, Will the hospital allow you to work some extra hours as a tech or even volunteer (just paperwork or ordering supplies, for example) in the ED in addition to your capacity in your current role as nurse? (Might get a foot in the door.) If so, it might be worth asking for some extra moonlighting hours there. ...or possibly, doing some tech, nursing, or other moonlighting work in another hospital's ED while you're still at your current hospital. Also, as other posters have mentioned, you might want to *quietly* keep your eyes open for full-time ED nursing opportunities at other hospitals. In the interim, you might want to research other hospitals regarding where their needs are in ED...and perhaps fill a needed role in ED while you're waiting for your opportunity. Get whatever additional training you might need, etc. You might even ask some Q's of people in your own hospital's ED. Think outside of the box & try to make opportunities. Best

Whatever you say, say it professionally and make it productive for the CEO and the hospital. (Remember, this isn't about venting; it's about positive, beneficial, maybe even innovative yet cost-conscious ideas that will make the hospital & CEO really shine...hopefully, it's something that will be a plus for EVERYONE) BTW, this could also be YOUR opportunity to really shine & start building a foundation for a really great career. Not many people get the opportunity to hang out with the CEO! Professional & productive... This is a good example (Perhaps YOU could even be involved or in charge of implementing such a system...if your interest lies in that direction...or suggest something else equally beneficial...if he likes your suggestion, maybe you could offer to implement it! ...could be quite a career boost...heck, maybe even leading to working with the CEO!)Ideas like the one above, or ideas pertaining to patients' families (seems hospitals are always wanting to improve "client relations"), or find out what it was that caused the hospital to get a lower rating than expected and use that as a basis for ideas, are there new efficient ways of doing things that would benefit the hospital, can you streamline something, or...the list is endless. Try to also think of things that would also work well with your own strengths...are you good at organizing, are you good at writing, do you have technical knowledge in computers/software (could lead to informatics, for example), are you good with people, and so on... Brainstorm, do some research, leg work, and preparation, talk to co-workers both in & out of your realm, find out what needs to be addressed (esp from the CEO's perspective) & come up with some specific, well-thought out solutions & answers to professionally present...maybe even come up with several ideas...basically, present solutions to whatever it is that could be beneficial to the hospital, the CEO, and all...

OP, better to ask now than risk a snowballing situation over time. As others point out, try to develop some relationships with other nurses who may be more willing to share their knowledge, in addition to asking your preceptor. Any time one gets into technical jobs, there's always a learning curve for a few yrs. Stick with it and ask those Q's...and also maybe do a little extra research in your free time in areas where you need it.

Your loyalty is certainly admirable; however, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. You have to do what's best for YOUR career over the long term. Which job will benefit your career the most over time (promotions, opportunities, pay, hours, benefits, working conditions, etc)? Also, you probably want to consider what effect, IF any, leaving your current position after a short time will have on your reputation (assuming that's even germaine). Overall, consider the long term and all ramifications. Base your decision on logic. Best wishes either way

A master's degree in what? Glorified babysitting???!!! Hate to rain on your parade, but there is absolutely NO need for teachers to acquire even bachelor's degrees; nevermind, master's degrees. Apparently, those in control are cooking up MORE busy work or trying to elevate teaching to a higher pay status by requiring more mindless, busy work education. The undergrad education teachers get now is a joke re level of difficulty. Me thinks you've elevated teaching in your own mind. Perhaps some haldol is due... To be perfectly honest, most nurses can run circles around teachers regarding teaching math and sciences. Certainly, those of us in engineering can too. The notion of teaching as a "profession" (cough) is laughable. Quite frankly, I doubt most teachers could handle a nursing or an engineering curriculum. You get paid what you're worth in the private sector. Apparently, teachers have to resort to unions & gov't to demand salaries they don't deserve in the real world. Many tax payers are fed up with teachers & other useless workers feeling "entitled" to our well-deserved earnings. Go back to school to get a proper degree and start paying for your OWN pensions & health insurance just as most in the private sector now do. Govt workers are tantamount to glorified Welfare bums. I might suggest you'd be happier in socialistic Europe! (Oh, did I mention most teachers vote Democrat too? Can't imagine why... chortle)

Having several teachers in my family, I can tell you their education is pure fluff. Literally, an ape could do it. They actually take classes that include lesson planning, classroom control, and the like. What happened to the 3 R's?! MOST teachers cannot even do simple algebra. It's atrocious. I'm not sure why they get 4 yr degrees...some admin types must have decided to throw in a lot of extra busy work to make it a 4-yr degree. Nursing curriculum is far more demanding; albeit, a year shorter (adding an extra yr for prereqs) for those with ADN degrees. Most teachers are state government workers and they are also union workers (NEA is the teachers' union). Teachers expect nurses & other private industry workers to work until age 70 to pay for teachers retiring in their 50's on govt pensions - often those pensions are 80% of their last 3 yrs' salaries and, after a few yrs, they end up making more during retirement than when they worked due to COLAs. Usually, nurses have to contribute their OWN money to 401k's while teachers (guaranteed govt pensions to which they rarely have to contribute) freeload off the nurse, etc tax payer. (Good luck putting much into your own 401k while you're stuck funding the teachers' retirements.) Adding impetus, teachers almost can't be fired (typical union-govt jobs) and many get bent out of shape if anyone expects to hold them accountable for performing their jobs adequately enough to get kids to pass national exams. Moreover, teachers work, on average, 90 days less per yr than the typical worker. I have actually seen some teachers who think MD wages should be cut while teacher wages are increased (putting their salaries at about the same as an MDs...for far less demanding and far shorter educations). Basically, government & union workers demand pie in the sky and they don't care that it's you and me who gets stuck paying for it. Cha-ching! If teachers don't like the pay, I suggest they get REAL degrees & stop their whining along with their gouging of the tax payer. Lastly, unions have NO business in govt jobs - that's tantamount to forcing tax payers to cough it up without even so much as voting rights on the issue.

I'm not a fan of nationalized HC (lived in the UK and it sucked compared to the US system - although folks in the UK may say it's OK since they've never experienced anything better). It's never as advertised. Rationing still happens so that CA pt may still be still denied. Also, HC isn't a "right." It's a service like any other. For everyone who gets free HC, some other schmuck is getting heavily taxed to pay for it (that's tantamount to stealing from strangers). BTW, with nationalized HC, unless one is poor, one usually pays for it. For example, in Germany, people pay about 15.5% of their yearly incomes for national HC. They aren't given a choice as to whether or not to carry insurance, either. Anyway, it ends up being just about as expensive for the avg person as it is now...the big diff is the waiting lines (up to 2 yrs in some cases) for non-emergent procedures & heavier rationing. Also, our poor already receive free HC, so no need there. (As you can see, I think Obamacare is a joke...the "almost" poor are basically just getting stuck on Medicaid and everyone else is getting screwed and being forced to pay for it.) Quite frankly, I don't think hospitals should be required to treat emergency cases when it involves illegal immigrants. Upshot: if I get sick and can't pay, it shouldn't be your duty to pay for me. My tough luck. Hopsitals are businesses like any other. Overall, the only people who may benefit from Obamacare are PA's & NP's whose scopes of practices may be expanded even more as MDs/DOs leave the profession due to anticipated poor pay under Obamacare. Even the PA's/NP's will end up suffering lower salaries though. (Also, in the UK, you're often stuck with a foreign physician...they import a lot due to their willingness to work cheaply...sounds some like nursing...ah, but I digress...)

If you leave, be sure to deal with your 401k appropriately. You may be able to leave it there for a while & then deal with it later when you have more time. Whatever you do, do NOT pull it out unless you're in the mood to be heavily taxed on it. As other posters have indicated, roll it over (whether now or later). Talk to a financial planner about it (or look it up yourself). You could talk to HR too, but that might tip them off re your possible departure before you want them to to know (also depends on HR too and how you phrase the Q). BTW, I'm not so sure I'd file a complaint or mention anything in an exit interview. People have a way of gossiping informally & you may find yourself black balled in the future...it's a small world out there. If you plan to leave,best to line up another job and then give the expected 2 week (or whatever it is) notice and leave quietly. Quite frankly, unless the situation is intolerable or leading to an imminent termination, I'd stay. You're always going to find a few idiots on any job. Best to ignore and keep your paycheck rolling in. As I said, however, if it looks like a termination is imminent, start looking now. Either that, or get to know the right people (chief of staff, chief of medicine, etc...lol get a moonlighting job in their private practices if they have outside practices which many do)...LOL if you're best golfing buddies with them, the DON will be out on her ear soon!

AGREE! It's highly unprofessional to act out at work. You're getting paid to do a job, so do it. If you're irritated, etc, you don't have to plaster on a fake smile, but you should maintain a professional demeanor. That includes EVERYONE from the CNAs to the MDs. I've worked on site with construction workers inspecting projects I've designed and they always act very professionally. I'm surprised to see this happening in the nursing realm.

My suggestion: Get the prereqs for community college associate's degree nursing programs (competitive & non-competitive)...make sure you keep your prereq GPA high (your bach degree GPA may or may not be counted, but certain of your prereq courses will definitely be counted in your GPA, so be aware which classes each school counts in GPA for admission). Then when you have those prereqs done, immediately get on the wait list for those schools. Then finish off any extra prereqs you need for the accelerated BSN or even a master's in nursing (there are a few of the accelerated master's programs if you already have a non-nursing bachelor's - there's one in Tucson AZ at University of AZ (U of A) for a masters...only ONE yr long, BUT you need the 2-semester chem sequence, so think about that before you take your chem - most nursing programs whether associate or accelerated bachelor's require only 1 semester of chem. It's basically a chem survey course that rolls the 2 semester chem into one semester...the associate's degree & accelerated bachelor's degree programs will usually take the 2-semester sequence instead of the 1-semester course...either way you cover the same material, but more in depth in the 2-semester sequence...but check to be sure first. Also, make sure whatever school you apply to requires the 2-semester sequence for a master's degree...I know for sure the U of A accelerated master's program does, but others might not. Anyway, if you're careful with order in which you take your classes and you check the prereqs for several programs carefully, you could have those preqs done pretty quickly. Also, a lot of community colleges offer all the prereqs pretty cheaply and even online if time is an issue (although some online courses require essays as well as regular tests & quizzes). Another thing, in your particular case, you might think about starting to work on a MSW or something...you could take some of the courses in addition to some of the easier nursing prereqs...or maybe start taking them if you end up on a waiting list for a non-competitive program or if you have a semester wait before you get into a competitive assoc, bach, or master's accelerated program. The upshot is, if you plan carefully, you could be halfway done with a MSW by the time you get into nursing school & then finish the MSW (maybe online) after nursing school while you're working as a nurse. It would give you 2 decent career options in just a little extra time than it'll take anyway to get through nursing school. By the time you have the prereqs for the associate's degree, there's only a few more prereq classes you need for most of the accelerated bachelor's or master's nursing programs, so you might as well take those too and apply to those too (just make sure you apply to the assoc degree programs first though...ie. the minute you have the prereqs for the assoc degree programs, so you're not delaying applying to those programs while you're finishing any extra classes you need for the accelerated programs). If you plan carefully, the beauty of it is, you've knocked off the prereqs for the accelerated programs while on the waiting list for the assoc degree programs anyway. Here, I'm assuming you're looking at the non-competitive assoc degree programs which usually have a wait list. IF you're looking at the competitive assoc degree programs, there's usually no wait list except for the semester or yr early that you have to apply...which still gives you 1 or 2 semesters to take courses for the accelerated programs). Overall, choose your courses & the order in which you take them carefully so you won't be wasting any time...and remember just because you apply to a bunch of programs doesn't mean you can't turn down a seat if you get a better program. Also, if you end up taking the extra courses for the accelerated programs while you're waiting for the associate degree programs, keep in mind those extra courses will also make your assoc program easier. (The reason you have to take the extra courses for the accelerated programs is because you usually get those courses or similar in the 2-yr program & you'll need to know them for the accelerated program to do well...and if you end up sticking with the assoc program, those extra courses will make your 2-yr program that much easier!) Also, don't forget: if you need to, you can CLEP out of some of the more basic prereqs too (yeah, it requires some study time, but it's a lot faster than taking the courses...esp with some of the easier courses). Another thing, some community colleges offer 8-week courses (double the work in that time relative to a 16-week class though)...and some even start up once per week (ie not on a regular semester schedule...Rio Salado College in AZ is an example...same with other Maricopa Country CC's...and it's all online...even labs...but you have to be disciplined to do it that way). Pretty cheap for AZ residents (71 bucks a credit hr)...more if you're out of state, but still not bad...plus, your own state probably offers something similar if you look around. Actually, I think there's a CC (community college) in Calif for 20-25 bucks a credit hr online (although dont know if that applies to non-Calif residents too...might worth checking though). As long as the school is accredited by one of the major accreditation bodies, you're usually pretty safe (check with the nursing schools where you intend to apply to be safe). Anyway, the point is: there are relatively cheap ways to get the prereqs done pretty quickly, so GOOGLE! (http://www.geteducated.com/ One other thing: different schools & different programs often have different requirements for HESI-a2 or TEAS entrance exams. For example, the CC I applied to requires only the HESI-a2 basic math & English (reading comprehension, vocabulary, etc), BUT one of the accelerated programs I applied to requires HESI-a2 math, English, A&P, chem, and biol. Other programs may require just HESI-a2 Math, English, A&P. One particular school to which I applied: they wouldn't let me just take biol, chem, and A&P on that HESI-a2 and add it to the HESI-a2 Math & English I took for the CC...had to take the whole test including the math & English plus biol, chem, and A&P because they wanted a composite score...so make sure you ask the schools where you're applying what their policies are on that.) Other schools may require require TEAS instead, and so on. Lastly, best to take whatever tests you need to take when the prereq course material is fresh too (plus your regular studying for those tests). LOL and when you're ready to scream about so much studying for so many tests, keep in mind all that studying will also make your nursing degree that much easier when you finally get into school! IF you decide to take any MSW master's classes online, check out University of Idaho (about $500-$600 per credit hr...which is a lot cheaper than most master's programs...I know they're accredited as a major university (can't recall the name of the accreditation body for major uni's off the top of my head, but you can Google it or it might be on GetEducated too) and U of I is also accredited in engineering by ABET (the biggie for engineers)...just double check they're accredited in whatever the biggie is for soical work IF you decide to go that route on top of nursing prereqs...guessing they ARE...but check)

Bottom line: don't vote for Democrats...everything Dems do screws up jobs in the private sector...and that does include nursing jobs. Bottom line with businesses (incl hospitals, etc...most nursing jobs are private hospital, etc jobs), they're in it for money & if they're not making money, they're not going to hire. Dems are good for only govt workers and heavily unionized govt workers like teachers (who, BTW, are have much easier degrees than nurses have to get...fluff)...SEIU & nursing unions aren't enough (private sector unions just drive jobs out of the USA in the long run (in the case of nurses, union demands just end up encouraging hospitals to import foreigners)...only govt or govt-union jobs stay in the US...and that screws the tax payer (YOU & me), BTW!)

Problem #1: The order calls for 1/100 gr and you have on hand 1/150 gr per 2 mls. How many milliliters would you administer? So were gonna make an algebra equation here: (1/100)gr/X = (1/150)gr/2ml which is the same as writing 1/100 * 1/X = 1/150 * 1/2ml (when I do dimensional analysis, I like to have everything written as a convenient, easy to see set of multiplications...easier to see the units so I can cancel the units out until I'm left with only the units of the unknown for which I'm solving) so using algebra to solve for X we have: (a) multiplying both sides of the equation by X gives (remember, with algebra you can multiply or divide by anything as long as you do it to both sides of the equation): 1/100 = X * 1/150 * 1/2ml NOTE: the way this is written is 1 2ml NOT 1ml BE careful with that because it can trip you up 2 Anyway, THINK about it so you can decide which way is correct for whatever problem you're doing when you're doing these probs...because if you're not careful, it can mess up your whole equation and, thus, answer. BTW, this is also WHY I wrote (1/150)gr and (1/100)gr using parenthesis...so there is no confusing that the gr is NOT on the denominator in THIS case (this may also by WHY your teacher is having you do the decimal conversion first if she's having you do decimals first....it makes it easier to see that the gr is in the numerator....for example, you have 0.01gr not 0.01/gr when you convert (1/100)gr to a decimal)... BUT if you convert to decimals first, be SURE to use the correct number of significant figures when (see notes below)...I suspect your teacher's rounding rules are based on sig figs (you'll have to check that with your teacher though) (b) multiplying both sides of the equation by 2ml gives: 1/100 * 2ml = X * 1/150 © multiplying both sides of the equation by 150 gr (again, remember, you're trying to isolate your unknown X on one side of your equation) gives: (1/100)gr * 2ml * 150gr = X (d) rearranging so X (what we're solving for) is on the left gives: X = (1/100) * 2ml *150 (e) canceling out units gives: X = 1/100 * 2ml * 150 (f) actually doing the math gives: X = 3ml (or if you're using 2 significant figures, you'd get 3.0mls) NOTE: the reason the other poster got 3.3ml is because she rounded when she converted 1/150 = 0.00666667 (she rounded 0.00666667 to 0.006, SO IF YOUR TEACHER SAID TO ROUND to 1 sig fig at this point, you WOULD get 3.3mls in your final answer....I'm not in nursing school yet, so I don't know if your teacher said to round at the point of 0.00666667 to make it 0.006). ALSO, I wrote 1/150 instead of using the decimal for 1/150 (ie. instead of using the 0.00666667, so I did not need to round to 0.006)...you'll have to do it whatever way your teacher told you to do it. BTW, this also illustrates WHY it's so important to use the correct number of significant figures in calculations. For example, when you change 1/150 to a decimal, you get 0.00666667, BUT if you use 2 significant figures (assuming 150 is 2 sig figs), then your rounding should be 0.0067 which would give you 2.98507mls, so using 2 sig figs would give you 3.0mls. If you were using 1 sig fig, when you change 1/150 to a decimal, you'd get 0.006 as the other poster used...so you WOULD get 3.3mls as an answer, BUT if you use 1 sig fig for your answer too, your 3.3mls would become 3mls (note: it would not be 3.0mls if you're using 1 sig fig...if I recall sig figs correctly) ****NOTE: I'd have to look up the sig fig rules to be sure on whether you're using 1 or 2 sig figs here (haven't used sig figs in a few yrs, so DO look it up for yourself...but I suspect it's 2 sig figs) ***The other thing: if your teacher told you to convert the 1/150 & 1/100 to decimals first, then DO that first as the other poster did...and then be sure to use the correct umber of sig figs or whatever your teacher told you to do when rounding the 0.00666667) (I suspect your teacher is basing any rounding on sig figs, but check to be SURE...also, recall when using sig figs, you have to use the correct number of sig figs at each step in your calculations) Problem #2 1 tablet / 200gr = X / 0.006grams which is the same as writing 1 tablet * 1/200gr = X * 1/0.006grams you want to solve for X so, using algebra, (a) multiply both sides of the equation by 0.006 grams to get rid of the 0.006 grams on the right side of the equation to isolate X (the variable for which you're solving), so we have: 1tablet * .0006grams * 1/200gr = X (b) rearrange equation so X is on the left, so X = 1tablet * .0006grams * 1/200gr (traditionally, we put our unknown variable on the left) © now we need to either convert grams to gr or convert gr to grams (we need the mass units to cancel out so we're left with only the tablets unit; which is what we're solving for), so X = 1tablet * 0.006gram* 1000mg/gram * 60gr/mg * 1/200gr (when you're setting this up, keep in mind your goal is to get all the 'unwanted' units to cancel out so you're left with 'tablets' as your only unit...which is the unit you WANT in this case because the question is asking for the number of TABLETS) (d) now cancel out units and do the multiplication & division to get X = 1.8 tablets, so if you're rounding 1.8 up, you have X = 2 tablets (Again, I suspect this rounding is based on significant figures...and it also appears you're using 1 sig fig in THIS case (which also makes logical sense in THIS case when you think about it!)...BUT check to be sure...ask the teacher or check your book) **The big advantage of using dimensional analysis is you just keep multiplying until everything except for the units you WANT is gone....so you're left with ONLY the units you want. If you're doing dimensional analysis correctly, you'll automatically know whether you're finished with your problem or whether your missing something you're supposed to multiply by (if you're missing something (OR doing the dim anal wrong), your units won't be coming out to the unit your solving for) **Also, if you're using the correct sig figs at each step, your rounding will come out correctly too (again, check with your teacher or book on this) ** your CHEMISTRY book will ALSO have a lot about significant figures (probably in one of the early chapters) AND also about dimensional analysis (remember all those mole, gram, etc dimensional analysis probs from chem? Good place to look if you need practice...if your nursing med calc text book doesn't cover the topic too well) ** Overall, I suspect if you learn how to do dimensional analysis AND you also learn how sig figs work, you'll find these problems to be much easier as well as making a lot more sense to you! Hang in there with your marriage & with nursing school (reapply or whatever the protocol is). You WILL be a nurse & 1 or 5 or 10 yrs from now, this will be nothing but a distant memory. The key is to NOT let it stop you. You CAN do this...it just takes some more effort applied in the areas where you're having problems. No need to give up! Best

This particular teacher was way out of line - as were the other teachers who were yelling (inappropriate way with which to deal with this kind of situation). Also, you indicated this isn't the first time this teacher has lost her cool. Moreover, as others have pointed out, withholding food is NOT appropriate. Also, it appears the child was singled out for punishment, while the other kids weren't. To be blunt, it almost seems as though these teachers are losing their professionalism & taking their anger out on this child. The child obviously has acted out in the past and it appears as though the teachers have pegged him as a problem & they seem to be inappropriately & unprofessionaly unleashing their irritation with his behavior on him. Seems the teachers need a course in anger management. Understandably, they're fed up with the child's repeated BEHAVIOR (as opposed to the child himself), but they need to remember he IS a child and he DOES have problems and THEY are SUPPOSED to be professionals. Bad enough any adults would inappropriately handle a child, worse yet that it's coming from supposed professionals, and adding to that, it sounds like this child has enough problems without "professionals" adding to it. This child also probs with mother & certainly doesn't need teachers piling more probs on. It appears the teachers either don't KNOW how to handle such a child or they're letting their own anger dictate their response to the child's acting out. Totally inappropriate. These teachers are inadvertently creating MORE probs for this child. Not to imply the child should not have to answer for his behavior - he most certainly SHOULD answer for it, but it should be done in a non-angry, professional manner & in such a way that the child's benefits in the sense that his "punishment" should be something that holds him accountable yet also enables him to become a more appropriately-behaved individual, which is important in one's life. Can also understand the teachers need to maintain order in a school, but surely, there are much better ways to maintain control & discipline in a school setting. Lastly, the psychiatrist is "technically" correct in saying you "split" things, BUT that really was NOT the ROOT of the problem. The root is the child DOES have problems AND also the teachers' (all who were out of control) response to it. The shrink sounds like he's totally missing the boat regarding the real problems AND the solutions. The child sounds like he needs some counseling & also probably some limits, but limits should be set in such a way as to not exacerbate this child's problems. Would think a shrink SHOULD be able to handle that, but this one fell short of the mark. In addition, the whole hostile, unprofessional, losing control reaction of those teachers should be addressed and rectified. This is ridiculous. You did the right thing. In a nutshell, it appears the teachers have had probs with this child and are fed up, so are losing their tempers & taking their anger out on the child rather than APPROPRIATELY setting limits or 'disciplining.' The shrink is adding to it by inadvertently encouraging the teachers. How did this guy get through medical school? (eyeroll) The ADULTS/PROFESSIONALS are acting worse than the child. In addition, it's not helping the child either. In this case, you have to be the child's advocate in whatever form you deem approriate from a professional perspective. Possibly adding to it: Even though you're working at the school too, most nurses aren't in the "government worker" mindset - basically, meaning government workers almost have a "tradition" of pretty well doing whatever they want to do without fear of losing their jobs. I suspect a lot of teachers are of that mindset since, as a group, teachers are used to having a state govt job. In addition, teachers, in particular, have been somewhat spoiled because they also belong to one of the most powerful unions in the country (NEA). The point is, teachers, in general, get away with a lot in their jobs. BTW, I wouldn't be surprised if the principal does very little. Guessing he/she will take the path of least resistance: basically shutting it up & doing a CYA. On the other hand, the principal may be amenable to your suggestions if that appears to be the best way to protect his/her own job. Either, way, good luck to both you and especially the child.