idget16

I worked for the 2nd summer in a row at a camp I have worked at (in a non-nurse capacity) since 2003. I only do 1 week a summer to fill in, but it allows my daughter to attend a horse back riding (expensive!) camp and I get a little break from my routine. I will be going back next year. It is my 2nd home after all these years. I know the staff (they were my campers!) and I have a lot of say in how things are run as I have been doing this for so long. I am THE only nurse, only 45 kids, but with horses I sometimes feel like a trauma nurse! I get zero time off in my week, technically speaking. I must be available 24/7 from the minute I get there until the minute I leave. BUT it is 75% down time. I get paid accordingly (Ie poorly). And they deduct everything from that- all the extra stuff my daughter buys at the camp store, the deposit on the horse we take home. I walked away with $5 after that doozy of a week! haha! A lot of the nurses that come for a few weeks in the summer never return. Partly because they are bored. With only 45 kids, you do a lot of waiting for something to happen. I combat that by getting involved. They also sometimes don't return because the directors are a little difficult to handle. I know them, very well. So I kind of know how to deal with them mentally. I just do a lot of smiling and nodding. They are micromanagers to the extreme. BUT they know that inside the infirmary is 100% not their territory and they accept that. Can I just say a big congrats to everyone who survived the summer???? Ha! Camp can be tough at times, but the fresh air and sunshine make it worth it!!

I am a fairly new employee for a company that runs group homes. We have a consumer who is his own guardian and currently administers his own medications with oversight by a CRMA who uses a MAR to complete checks, etc. He is requesting a new medication self administration assessment be completed because he does not want to have daily oversight and use of a MAR. I have scoured the state regs and I cannot find definitive information about documentation for self administration. Our agency has not encountered this thus far. The regs only state that those consumers deemed capable of self administration of medications by a nursing assessment must keep medications in a locked box in their room. No information on who holds the key or documentation to complete. From all that I have read about this consumer, and reviewing his MAR, talking with him, I have a feeling the assessment will show that he is capable of self administration with minimal oversight. I want to be sure to have adequate documentation, at least weekly, that his pill counts are accurate, etc. I am charting unknown waters and could use any advice you have. For a quick background- this is considered ALF by state regs, the state of Maine. It is a group home of 4 consumers with a CRMA (someone to pass meds). He is his own guardian. Is permitted as much independent time as he wishes. He takes the city bus out and about, has a job, etc. And his medications are low risk, no controlled, mostly routine and are only once daily AM meds. Also in this agency I am THE nurse. No other nurse to ask. Administration here are not clinical types. They know the state regs, but can't provide much guidance in this area as he is a unique case. Most of our consumers have more severe issues requiring 24 hour supervision and meds administered for them.

Hi everyone! Just an update- I graduated in August from the USM accelerated BSN program and am now employed :) To answer the questions- my previous credentials- BS in biology, MEd in education both from a small private school, taught high school science (bio, chem, a&p among others) for 4 years. Previous GPA of around a 3.8. I never took micro at all.. but I did have an ind study on my transcript doing micro stuff one on one with a prof. I also didn't take the excelsior A&P exam until after getting accepted. I had some great letters of reference though, and I *think* a 4.0 or close to it in my science classes. Your credentials sound great! I bet you get in :) It is a challenging program- I studied more than I ever did before. I lived in the library during my free time. I consumed lots of coffee. But, I learned a LOT, made some great friends that I still see, and I felt like I really earned that degree!

So I have a confession- I have never actually visited the USM campus. But my family will not be moving for me to attend school so my options were UNE, USM, and SMCC or YCC. I did the research and chose USM. Now since I already sent my deposit I should get around to visiting campus! lol. Congrats to your acceptance as well. Maybe as we get closer more people will see this and we can all get together or something prior to May :)

Hi everyone! I have been a lurker for some time and just now have a real reason to post :) I was recently accepted to USM's accelerated BSN program beginning May 2011. I have one prerequisite to finish prior to starting and I am taking an excelsior exam to fulfill it- anatomy and physiology! I have been a high school teacher for years and I have taught this courae but I never actually took the course while an undergrad. Needless to say, I will be studying my tail off and taking the practice exam probably in march. I am wondering if, by any chance, anyone else in maine will be taking this test soon and could use a study partner. I also wanted to know if anyone else is in the program, or better yet- starting when I do! It would be great to make some connections prior to starting (and it might help calm my nerves!) I haven't been a student since 2006 and that was in education... so nothing close. The last time I took a science course even was 2004! Anyway.. thanks for reading. Hopefully I can meet someone :)