jrkingRN

If you're happy in your trauma ER and your local CRNA program will accept that as the critical care requirement, I suggest staying put. If you want to become more familiar with vasoactive gtts and vents try finding a PRN position in a critical care unit. That way you can have the best of both worlds.

You MUST have at least one year in a critical care unit. CRNA school is competative, so the more experience the better. Also, once you start working in said unit, you will realize how valuable that year is. No matter how great your school is, you don't learn how to be a nurse until you ARE one. And CRNAs are nurses that know their ****. They are the "right hand man" in the OR. Different states and facilities have different rules regarding the anesthesiologist part of your question. You don't necessarily have to work FOR an anesthesiologist, but you certainly have to work WITH one. In my hospital there are 5 OR suites, 5 head CRNAs, and 3 anesthesiologists. The docs hop from suite to suite, but they trust the CRNAs to do their own thing.

Vandy pays for 12 hours per year (not semester) if you are taking a NURSING degree. The 70% off is for non nursing classes.

Resign. And make sure the LVN got written up too, and the pharmacy. 0.75mg is a LONG way from 75mg and someone else should have noticed the error before the med was dispensed. The LVN should have asked why she was handing someone 100 pills instead of 1. Also check the policies in your facility regarding order checks. As far as any "other" issues, maybe bedside nursing is not for you. There are many other things you can do as a nurse. Getting terminated for a med error is bad. Resigning because you didnt agree with your facilities medicine delivery policy is better.

I know the feeling. But working in an ICU setting will further your career. Maybe you could look into some per diem work? I had a doc tell me yesterday that if he had to think as much as a nurse all day long he would need a pay raise!

If everyone was healthy and perfect we'd all be out of jobs...

I think you have to have a years experience in an Intensive Care setting.

Ok so let's assume you're going to do your careplan on Angina (chest pain) 1.acute pain 2.ineffective tissue perfusion 3.activity intolerance ??? Any good?

Definitely get a lawyer. Definitely definitely. The lawyer will halp you get to the medical records of the patient. Hopefully good nurses notes were taken. What if this patient has made this claim about other nurses? A lawyer could help you find out. What if the patient said the SAME thing about the nurse that worked before you, but your mean supervisor only included you? That could be a serious civil suit. So far all you know is what you THINK you know. You need the means to get to the facts. It may be costly, but peice of mind is priceless.

I've been (and still am) in that EXACT same predicament. I spoke to my manager about it. Unfortuately, there wasnt much she could do scheduling wise because EVERYONE on nights is a new grad (except me) One night when we all finally had 5 minutes to talk at the desk, I explained how I was feeling. I told them that like them I was very frustrated and I didnt mean to take it out on them. We (as a group) decided that we would split the additional charge nurse duties (all the extra paperwork) and we would work as a team when we got new admissions. It takes 4 nurses 10 minutes each vs. 1 nurse 2hours because she has to find me and ask a million questions. Now I feel like they are a much more cohesive group that utilizes teamwork. They arent scared to ask a question out loud for a group discussion, and we all pick up when someone is in the "weeds". My group of new grads are sweetie pies and I love going to work every night now :)

Anytime...Now that I'm a nurse, care plans seem so obvious. And I LOVE to help with them :)

Well you hit the jackpot! If I had a patient with a history of Afib that fell I would DEFINITELY be thinking about afib's tendency to cause blood clots. And then maybe that blood clot traveled to his brain and made him dizzy, (impaired gas exchange!)which made him fall... If you have one of those instructors that only lets you do a care plan based on their admitting diagnosis (which is stupid) this is what i would do- 1. Acute Pain 2. Risk for Ineffective Tissue Perfusion (definitely mention AFIB, and fat embolism here) 3. Impaired physical mobility Is the patient on Coumadin for his afib? If he is then you could always throw in Risk for further injury because if he falls again (because of the impaired mobility) he could bleed to death from the coumadin use.

Tell me more about the patient, maybe I can help you out...

Because there are so many things that could happen with a fat embolism, I can see why it's hard to pick just one...

Or how about risk for ineffective tissue perfusion?

Chronic Confusion Risk for falls http://www.ehow.com/how_4612257_nursing-plans-alzheimers-patient.html

I thought "Increased Risk of Fat Embolism" was one...how about risk for ineffective air exchange?

I'm sure you will be able to. Are you a nurse? I have my NY license and have NEVER lived there.

Hmmm... what WAS she admitted for? Angina is certainly a disease, and you CAN do a care plan on it, however if you KNOW she has a bicuspid aortic valve, perhaps you should do your care plan on that? Angina and fatigue are certainly side effects of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease. Here's a website... http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/bicuspid-aortic-valve-symptoms.php

Don't worry honey...your social life may suck now, (mine did too in nursing school) but when you graduate you'll be working 3 days a week and wondering what to do with so much free time!!!

Look at other hospitals besides just your rural one. I don't know if you have a family or if you can up and go, but most moderately large hospitals have a "student nurse tech" position (it may be called something different in your area). These positions only require minimal hours per month (8 at my hospital). That way you can have plenty of NCLEX study time AND a foot in the door.

:redpinkhe I agree with the first post entirely. I've worked nights for 3 years now. If you have self scheduling, try to work your 3 nights in a row. When you get home from your last night only sleep until about 1. That way you can get up, tired, but up. Then go to bed that night like normal. And live youre next 3 days ona day schedule. I have never been able to "keep a night shift" schedule. Ofcourse if you can't self schedule, this is all mute. If you truelly hate it TRY to get a dayshift position. I know that's impossible in some scenarios, but speak with your manager about it and maybe he/she can help you out.

OMG. RUN from that facility right now! If they are treating you this way already, things are going to go downhill fast. When hiring new grads a GOOD place to work is going to have a special program JUST for new grads. As a preceptor myself i LOVE when someone asks me a million questions and here's why:1. it shows me that you are paying attention 2. I don't know what you know, you need to tell me and 3. (and most importantly) it keeps me on my toes! I have to actually know what I'm talking about to answer the dang question! I would REALLY recommend that you start interviewing at other hospitals, find a program that is specific for new grads, and when you put in your two week notice at this shameful hospital make sure you write a LONG and detailed email about why you're leaving and send it to the preceptor, the nurse manager, the DON, and the president of the hospital :)

3 holidays. No sick time but we get PTO (paid time off) of about 12hrs a month which can acrue as long as you like. 401k, no pension. Health insurance varies.

My post was intended for Imagine720