hellerd2003

Gosh, this could turn into a novel. High school-- worked at an Arby's. Yuck. During college (undergrad was in psych), I worked at a camp for kids/ adults with developmental disabilities. That was my absolute FAVORITE job. I also worked part-time at a group home, and for a bit of time (before I moved back to my hometown) was an activities coordinator in an alzheimer's/ dementia unit. I received my MA in occupational therapy. While I was finishing my MA, I worked as a mental health counselor. As an OT, I worked in psych (started a program at the facility where I had worked as a mental health counselor, assisting clients in developing independent living skills). Then I moved into a case management position in a senior housing program. Received my post-baccalaureate certification in nursing and went to work in ICU. Received my MS in nursing; now finishing up coursework to become a FNP. So, I guess nursing is a third career, and a stepping stone to me being what I want to be into the future.

Does your husband really support your career? If so, then nothing else should worry you. I was married before nursing school. Ironically enough, I was accepted to a PA program, and hubby supported me living there (at the PA program 1/2 a country away) and said he'd fly out to see me e/o week. I couldn't deal with that, so I stayed home . . . my choice. I got married prior to nursing school, but during nursing school, I dealt with issues related to hubby's previous marriage (knew about them prior but didn't realize how underhanded his ex was) and my stepkids (teens), and planned a cross country move. Still made Sigma Theta Tau. If you both love each other you'll get through anything. And your destiny is your own!!!

Greetings! I am hoping that someone will be willing to help me out with an assignment I have for a graduate-level NP course. We are to ask some questions of a nurse practitioner, as we begin to prepare for our first clinicals (this is my first semester in the NP program, and clinicals start in January). The questions I am interested in are: What was your background prior to becoming a nurse practitioner? What are your current roles/ responsibilities in your area of practice? What compensation structure do you follow (i.e., self-billing with insurance payment, salaried employee in a clinic, etc.)? What do you do to maintain your current competency/ certifications? What was your experience with taking your board examinations? Do you have any tips for NP students approaching boards? Have you met the goals you have set for yourself professionally, or do you have additional professional goals? Is there anything you would have done differently in pursing a NP degree? What surprised or challenged you about the transition from a RN to NP? What was your greatest difficulty in the first year of practice as a NP? Do you work with a physician collaborator? If so, what are the challenges and benefits of this relationship? What would you describe as the biggest benefits of being a NP? What is your greatest frustration with the role? Is your workweek fairly typical, or varied? What is your schedule like? Do you engage in any research, coaching, or consultative work? If so, can you describe it? If there is anyone interested in or willing to help me out, I'd greatly appreciate it. Some of these questions may be personal in nature, so if you could PM me, that'd probably be best. :-) It'd be nice to find a mentor that I could bounce ideas off of, as well, as I go through the transition from RN to NP . . . although if that's too much of a commitment merely answering the questions would be so wonderful! Thanks for your time! --Heather

My hospital system has the goal of phasing out LPN's/ LVN's in the near future. . . They are not finding a financial benefit to LPN's. . . If you could hire an LPN who needed to be supervised by a RN, and was limited in scope, vs hiring a RN, in this economy, where RN's are looking for jobs . . . what would you pick? Personally, I'd take the RN who could supervise others and do full assessments/ IV treatments, over a LPN . . .

I had the RNY back in 2001 and would never recommend it. Anything that reroutes intestines/ messes up absorption of nutrients, etc. . . . I just cannot get behind that. Plus I've had numerous complications-- anemic, requiring IV iron (and I get scoped next week because I lose so much iron they think I'm bleeding somewhere); deficient in nearly every vitamin out there; hiatal hernia and GERD (not present prior to surgery); thinning hair; lethargy; nausea/ vomiting at least once a week . . . And you can still gain weight, so surgery isn't a PERMANENT fix unless you still do the darn diet and exercise rigamarole. As for lap band-- the research is still fairly new, and some studies have shown an incidence of erosion of the outside of the stomach at the band application site. Also the thought of having a "tool" that you can inflate/ deflate when you need/ want to (going on a cruise? deflate the band! Wedding in a month? inflate the band!) is a bit crazy, and one needs to examine the psychology behind that "selling point" of the band. Once again-- as crabby as it makes people (myself included!), weight loss is all about calories in Good luck with your choice-- it's a difficult one.

When you think about it, your situation is actually pretty desirable if you can move for a job. If they pay for your school and THEN let you out of a contract, you're free to work wherever you want. It's far worse if you are locked into 4 years of service, and they don't have jobs/ won't put you in the department/ area you want to work. . . .

I'd like to point out that they have created a new management career ladder-- thus increasing the number of managers in our hospital-- but when I ask for a CNA to ensure that we can give adequate patient care, I'm told it's not in the budget. Just curious to find out how many CNA's they can pay for if they cut out a manager or two? Too many chiefs-- not enough indians . . .

I once worked in a psych unit that required first and last names on badges. All staff covered up their last names with tape . . . easy to remove if mgmt does rounds . . . And we did this because pts that we knew were sex offenders moved into close neighborhoods and would call staff at home . . . I didn't care if I was disciplined or not.

You walk into work and have a critical patient crashing/ desaturating, and at the time you are about to start report on that patient, you receive a new ICU admit that is vented, thrashing, blood pressure in the 70's, and it's a fellow RN . . .

We got cookies from outside organizations. We could purchase a 32 oz. soda in a "souvenier cup" (picture cheezy baseball stadium cup) from the cafeteria. I also work at a non-profit who is in the process of purchasing additional hospitals. Yeah, right, they don't have money . . . Oh, and they also presented us with notices that if we don't punch out for lunch three times a month without having our charge RN sign off on our timecards that we'll be subject to reprimand, and then possible termination. Happy Nurse's Day.

Nope. Never have I worked in a profession which is so disrespected, not only by patients and MD's, but also your peers (eating one's young). Nursing was a second career for me, and in hindsight I'd keep the lower pay for the level of respect I had.

I created my own report sheet. I work in ICU, so have only two pts, so each side is for one pt. I divide the paper into four sections, and fold the paper in those sections, so I can fit it in my pocket. On the top left, I have room for pt sticker, allergies, categorization/ DNR status, history and reason for coming into the hospital, as well as family dynamics. In the bottom left, I include sections for neuro, resp, cardio, GI/ GU, skin, accuchecks/ insulin txs, and pt issues. In the upper right, I put a timeline of my day-- and as I learn my pt, I put all their meds and lab draws at their specific times on that side so I know best where I can time road trips, med issues/ lab draws, etc. In the bottom right I put a section for abnormal labs, tests to be conducted, any results to follow up on, things to pass on to the next shift. If I transfer a pt, and am getting a new one, I staple a fresh sheet to the old one, and continue adding sections accordingly.

Nursing isn't for you unless you can get over this. Today, I carried away a bag (yes, a bag) of feces, helped clean another patient who soiled the bed x2, emptied 2 foley catheters of urine (multiple trips for each), suctioned my patients' mouths every two hours, did deep suction via ET tube every HOUR for one pt (dark yellow sputum), and every two hours for another (clear sputum). On the pt with the clear sputum, I bathed him, changed his gown and bedding (since his skin is weeping so badly that it is felt through the glove and he gets multiple baths throughout the day), and did a dressing change including a wound that was weeping serosanguinous fluid. My worst nursing day was taking care of a person with lower extremity wounds/ ulcers that had a wound so bad that I had to double-mask, gown and glove to treat. I spent over an hour on my knees in front of the pt (she wouldn't go to bed due to pain), and I could literally, on one leg, insert my hand between her calf and achilles tendon. Nursing isn't pretty, and it isn't about money, and it isn't about "I think I can do it". Nursing is a career and a lifestyle all its own. It's either for you or not. Only you can decide.

Yes, you can get a job outside of a hospital with just a 2 yr. degree. If you're in a hospital, generally you'll have to work night shift to get a chance to day shift in my area (SW). Other areas of the country, hospitals aren't even hiring. If you're just entering school, you have a year or two for the economy to pick up. Do not think, even for one second, that the economy does not effect RN's and their ability to "choose" their "perfect" job.