DC2RN

I just wanted input from people who are diabetes educators. I currently work as a high risk field case manager for the geriatric population. My job includes tons of one-on-one patient education, including tons of diabetes management education. My job description includes disease management education, but not specifically diabetes education. Would I be able to use these hours toward the 1000 hours required for CDE certification? Any help would be appreciated.

Great post! There is a great web resource for new ICU nurses at index. It goes through many of the subjects that you deal with as a new ICU nurse. It is a great place to start if you are just starting out.

You do not have a right to paid-for contraception. You don't even have a right to health care. (The Catholic church could legally cancel all it's health care policies instead of paying for contraception.) But you DO a have a Constitutional right to religious freedom. This seems like a pretty clear example of a heavy handed government forcing a religion to pay for something that they have consistently preached against. It will never clear the Supreme Court.

I work as a Case Manager for United Health Group. I am a field nurse doing home visits, but a couple days a week, I work from home. I really like United Health Group. They are a very professional company. They really set you up nicely by furnishing your home home office with a nice desk, filing cabinet, and office chair. They provide you a laptop, a business phone line, and a means of Internet access. I really like the mixture of field days and office days. If I am in my office a few days, I am itching to get out in the field. If I am out in the field too much, I want a nice quiet day in the office to catch up on my work. It is just the right combination for me.

Interesting. I have not seen that. In my experience, NPs play a significant role in the medical clearance and the post op care, but not during the operation itself. I work in New York where even the RNFAs do not play a significant role. I also worked in a teaching hospital, so first assisting was usually done by a resident.

If I could talk to administration, I would advocate for the 700 existing jobs that they are talking about cutting. It's rough out there, kids!

I just started in child psych after six years in medicine, cardiac, OR, and being a med surg nursing supervisor. I can honestly say that I feel like I have died and gone to nursing heaven! Maybe my situation is unique, but it doesn't get much better than child psych in my opinion. It might limit your options in the future. Most people on my floor don't want to leave. Congratulations on getting two offers.

I worked in the OR for almost two years. I completed a 9 month Peri-operative training program at a Level I teaching hospital. The most clinical thing that I ever did in the OR was take a finger stick. (Something the aides do on the floor.) Maybe other people have different experiences, but as a new graduate trying to build your knowledge of your pharmacology, time management, and clinical skills, I say don't start in the OR. I am not trying to diminish or put down OR nurses. They have an essential role, but I still think that Med Surg is a better place to start.

As a new grad, I would stay away from the OR. Anything clinical is done by anesthesia. You really have very few clinical responsibilities, so you function more like a technician than a nurse. After a few years in the OR, you cannot do many other things as a nurse. Go with med surg to build your skills and time management. Most Perioperative training programs will teach you to scrub and circulate. You will probably circulate 70% of the time and scrub 30% of the time. That being said, in today's job market for new grads, take anything you can get!

Sounds like cocaine! Elated... Fidgety..... Slightly paranoid!

I am only about halfway done. So far, it has been a lot of work, but very doable. All the programs are designed for nurses who work full time. You can make a nice, middle class income while you continue your education. You get great benefits and usually the hospital will pay for part or most of your education. Try finding that in chiropractic. I have said it before. I have never regret becoming a nurse. It was the best career move that I ever made.

I practiced for 10 years as a chiropractor before I became a nurse about 6 years ago. I am now pursuing my Psych NP. Some people want to add medication management to a chiropractic practice. I think that we have to be careful what we wish for! I think muscle relaxers and NSAIDS would be a great addition to a chiropractic practice, but we need to be careful about narcotic pain killers. For six years I have been dealing with people addicted to pain medications. These people will stop at nothing to get more of their medications. Their persistence is legendary. They have even been known to terrorize your office staff to get more. I would not want that as part of my practice. Just something to think about.

Does EC still take chiropractors? I enrolled as a chiropractor about 6 years ago. They used to take chiropractors. I know that they changed their policy and no longer allowed chiropractors admission. Maybe they changed their policy again. I have been a nurse for about 4 1/2 years. It was the best career move that I have ever made.

I also agree that nursing is a better path than PA. I think the differences in clinical practice are small. PAs have an advantage in the operaing room. NPs have a greater degree of potential independence. In the real world, they both usually practice in a similar manner. Directly comparing the clinical practice differences misses many of the career opportunities that are available to nurses, but not necessarily to PAs. Nurses run the hospitals and educate the staffs. Nurse administrators and nurse educators are highly paid professionals with plenty of opportunities for advancement. When you work in a hospital, you will see that there are so many positions available to advanced practice nurses. You do not see these positions from outside of the hospital.

I agree with hypocaffeinemia. If you really want a future in the OR, the best training is to get into a hospital peri-operative training program. That is better training for the OR than NP school.