suern2b

Our unit has the CNA/LNA scrub (they are called OB Techs) and the RN as circulator and PACU (we recover on the unit). Our OB techs have 5 weeks of training in the OR by CSTs. Our RNs complete the AORN Periop 101 course for OB and are trained for 7 weeks by the OR as well. We have to circulate at least 1 case per month to maintain competency. This is in the LNA scope of practice in our state (NH). It has worked well and honestly has been wonderful for the patients. We do skin to skin in the OR immediately after birth. If the case changes to a hysterectomy we call in the OR team but have been trained to get that going. While the perioperative nurses are experts in the OR. We are the experts in OB. We forced RNs to take the training and that did not work well. We lost some great nurses because of it. Circulating is not for everyone. We will eventually cross train some RNs to scrub as well but only those who wish to. As one of the RNs that was forced, I am frustrated that the new RNs do not have to go through the training as it would help share the burden i.e. call and changing schedules is a challenge as there are limited circulators and scrubs. We can't train everyone as it would be difficult to maintain competency.

How about something dealing with skin to skin time at birth? We have started a skin to skin in the OR for sections and that has been very successful. I believe it was just presented at AWHONN.

I am in the northeast and we are saturated with new grads too. I only was able to get one interview and I just heard that I got the job :) When I interviewed she said that there were hundreds of apps and so they went right off the top and chopped anyone without a BSN then they went by gpa! Others have said that they interviewed and the postings were up for minutes and received over a hundred apps. I was in an accelerated program that graduated in august rather than may and out of 24 of us there are 5 of us with jobs. I don't know the stats for the huge class they graduated in may. I added to my resume with volunteer work. Many of the hospitals let you be an internal applicant if you are a volunteer. I didn't volunteer for this hospital but it still helped me get in.not trying to discourage you but keep up that gpa and volunteer now while you can. Network like crazy because the majority that have jobs have them because they know someone.

I took it on Saturday so I only checked it after the update. I never got the original "good pop-up"

Thanks for posting the new "good pop-up" I was going mental thinking something was screwy when I got it!

I have worked 30+ hours and have a large family all while completing a 15 month accelerated program so it can be done. I agree with the previous post.. plan ahead.. plan meals, plan homework, study time, family time, chores, laundry, everything. Taping lectures helps, I have a one hour commute each way so plenty of time to listen lol. I always spend one night a week planning

I did well. got a 79.6 which translated to a 97% chance of passing. I am glad I did well because I don't want to take it again, but I am not putting too much stock in it because it's not really like the NCLEX in that it doesn't change questions based on what I answer. It was a mixed bag on the mental health. Really not a lot of meds but there was a little bit of therapeutic communication. Good Luck I am sure you will do fine!

auditor for documentation and coding, consulting, reviewer for accreditation (spelling?) organizations or even the state, educator for chronic conditions. Case management. Just a few ideas. :)

We just took it. Focus on prioritization. There was a lot of which pt do you see first type questions. Unfortunately not cut and dry and that requires you to know about the different systems and disease processes.. hard to study for that. there was a lot more mental health than I expected, Health promotion- especially safety type questions particularly pediatrics, know your normal lab values and drug classes and typical side effects. Only a few calculations, nothing terrible and I HATE math, just a few pharm. Good luck!

You can do it!!! flash cards.. drill drill drill.. learn the classes and the suffixes common to each class like -olol for beta blockers etc. then you can usually (not always) figure out what the drug is for or what it does by knowing the class. Once you have the meds over and over in clinical they sink in. Our professor gave us just 2-3 meds per class to remember. That helped a lot. Mnemonics help too.

Oh dear! sorry that post does sound awful scary. I'm not tryng to scare you.. and I think it's more that being a mom makes this all super stressful, not because the kids need to be taken care of but more the guilt that I can't be with them as much because I am going to school AND working= even less time with the kiddos. I can certainly understand not wanting to give your dream home up. It can be done.. YOU can do it. 2 years flies by. Just want you to go in with eyes wide open. I am no slacker either btw.. this is my 3rd degree always 4.0 gpa. I have to have a strict study schedule and a good bedtime so mommy can study. I have been known to study in my car for some quiet. I also have to schedule down time for playing with the kids and to remind myself why I am doing this :) Needless to say I have seen alot of sunrises this year. :) Is there any room to rent a room to a fellow student? that helps with the mortgage, gives you a study buddy, and helps out a student. just an idea. I know alot of students were looking for better housing than the dorms. Especially experienced students which are great roommates not party animals. Jobs at a hospital that don't require certification generally don't pay well, but given your experience check for switchboard or dispatch work. We have answering service for our docs.. that would also give you some experience with the terminology and get to know the physicians in your area.

I had to drop from 40+ to 20 hours (my job is in healthcare) I also have a supportive husband to help with the kids (4) and I can tell you flat out... find a way to do it without working, or find some kind of work that is SUPER flexible. Nursing school is NO joke. I am carrying 3 classes and clinicals this semester and its a struggle. I have the best bosses in the world, and I am blessed to be able to come and go as I need to at work but that is not the usual especially in healthcare. As for school, it is not uncommon to have several journals, a care plan (that takes several hours to complete), a research report, various powerpoints and podcasts to review and 15+(complex) chapters of reading to do in one week. Day before clinicals you have to go research your patient too (couple hours there) Oh and you have to remember all of this because you have a test next week. Add that to work responsibilities and various kid stuff (doc appts, projects, homework) and well.. something has to give. If you do plan on doing it, relax your academic standards now. No way to get a 4.0 with that much going on. Clip coupons, eat beans and rice, cancel the cable, do what you gotta do to keep from working if at all possible. Heck even if you have to max out student loans to get money to live on its better than flunking out due to overextending yourself.

no worries :) Just letting people know there are other avenues to use these nursing licenses and degrees especially in this awful job market..

there are many nurses who are also coders.. we are auditors.. generally you would be better off looking on the coding sites like aapc or similar.. but since I am here.. UHC is notorious for delaying via denial.. take it to a second level appeal, photocopy the notes, clearly underline (not highlight everything is scanned) the sections that support the codes, copy the cpt book that describes the codes you use, and if you really want to be done with this the first time (well second) have the provider add a letter explaining what was done. Follow the instructions for a second level appeal for mailing. Copy your provider rep, who apparently doesn't have a clue, those codes are destruction by neurolytic agent, so that includes chemical agent. If you have any books that more clearly define the codes like expert coding books send those. spell it out in crayon for these guys. If they keep it going and deny again ask them for a copy of the specific UHC policy that allows them to deny this code and what coding rules they use to deny this code. Hope that helps :)

Did you try Bayside Village? http://baysidevillagemaine.com/ This is a short walk to campus in Portland, just a few blocks. A lot of students live there. Very reasonable.