flipflopsRN

So far so good, I'm more than happy with my decision to do their program.

Thank you for your input, gave me some things to consider.

Exactly, you're not an expert on traveling NOR on nursing. Okay let me specify, I realize I left it open by asking about daycare in general-- replies from nurse travelers please.

Considering traveling (OR nurse), would need to take 1 year old. Is this even possible? I don't expect any agency to just hand me child care, but are any agencies at least sympathetic? Ie, would tell me specific area of assignment so I could try to find care? I've never even looked for daycares before, are there daycares that accept children for just 3 months? I need a fresh start and I need to be financially independent.

I am about to finish my first semester at USA (RN with BS in other field--> MSN/NP ). I was pleased. I cut way back on work (only work few times/month to stay on payroll) and I have an 8 month old. Might sound easier than full time work and full time school but its not!! No kid and full time work would've been much easier. That being said, it was totally manageable. After reading bad stuff on here I was worried about the program but so far, aside from a few areas where timing and organization could be improved, I have had a positive experience. I feel supported by faculty and staff...in no way do I feel left alone. One of my classes (the graduate level one I think) had a ton of reading but I managed- I also found that much content was repeated in textbooks so...you can make your own decisions about how to handle that :) Assignment requirements for my first round of classes were very explicitly stated, which I appreciate very much. Lecture notes provided usually give hints as to which readings are needed for an assignment or exam, or which are most important so you can prioritize. I found that some textbooks I hardly used at all, and used the ones I "liked" more often. I have had A's and B's on all assignments thus far.

Soonergirl- I haven't gotten in and I'm wondering how we are supposed to find these modules we have to do and test on prior to Jan 16th webinar??? The message they sent from the dean says they have due dates but I can't find them anywhere.

how are you all liking it so far? How is the workload? I've been accepted for spring 14.

PHarrison me too...adult/geron primary care. Just got letter today. I don't know what to do...I was already looking into other specialties and things to do b/c I didn' t think I got in. I'm a little scared now lol.

Stocking rooms and restocking supplies in the sterile core are great ways to learn where stuff is. Also do outdates. Hang in there, it doesn't happen over night and no one was born knowing how to do their job. And knowing where something is isn't what makes you a good OR nurse. THere are plenty of people in my OR who have been around for years and don't necessarily remember where the schnickelfritzers are.

I wear compression socks from the sock aisle in the grocery store- to aid circulation. I'm 32 and I get terrible low back pain and all kinds of foot pains but it is much improved since I switched from 12s to 10s. I rotate several pairs of shoes- no shoe is comfortable for 12 hours. Sometimes I have to switch in the middle of the day, depending on what is bothering me. Danskos surprisingly are most tolerable, also a pair of foam clogs from the uniform store (anywear) with my own insoles, and a pair of merrell slip ons.

I'm in the same boat too! I have a BS, an ADN, and I'm wrapping up my first year on the job. I want more and I started on my BSN but its so much un-usable theory that I quite. i figure if I'm going to make the effort, i should go further and get a degree that will give me some role flexibility. I'm stuck though- looking at MSN-NP (but worried about that 2015 thing, i wouldnt be done with school by then and I think an MSN isnt helpful in my area...the MSNs at work do what i do for the same salary). Looking at MPH too. Everybody says public health doesn't pay but i think it's different if you are an RN too b/c it may open up some RN specialties. I have also though...maybe i should just finish that BSN in case it becomes required...but look at the aging population and need for nurses...can they really phase out ADNs??

THanks wanderingmistrel, might take you up on thhat. Wasy our MPH online? UFs program is for public health practice...no specialization for online. But its such a good school. The others I could specialize.

I've been an OR nurse for almost a year and am considering an MPH. I'm limited to distance learning options- no ground campus near me. But UNC, UF, and Nova have online programs. Do hospitals have a need for RNs with MPHs? I started working on my BSN but I really hate it and am wanting something more scientific. I'll easily have 3 yrs exp nursing in the OR by the time I would finish. What's the workload like? is it possible to do MPH full time and work full time?

I'm in my first year as a nurse. I work in a busy OR. I like it but I think I can do more, especially intellectually. I'm a quick study and a responsible employee- my supervisors love me and consider me a rising star. I have at least another year in my contract, maybe 2. In that time, I may love it more than I do now, but I was interested in corrections nursing before graduating and I still am. Maybe it will be an option for a specialty change. My question now is- I have at least a year. Job/experience change is not feasible, but I do have college benefits leftover from the military. I started my BSN but honestly, I hate it. If they make BSNs manadator for nurses..well...I'll be looking for a new career. I think experience and attitude are worth a degree anyhow. But- is there some other degree that might help? I have been looking at health sciences but it doesn't look different from a BSN. What about corrections/criminal justice? Would that make me a slightly better candidate in lieu of my limited clinical skills transferrable from the OR?

I've been circulating for 9 months and have wondered the same thing. I went to nursing school and now I spend my day pushing heavy things (stretchers, equipment, patients), opening things, plugging things in, taking things out, and putting things away. Most days I feel more like a technician. There have been moments that others mentioned in earlier posts where I see why it's good to have an RN helping out in a room. It's a unique specialty, that's for sure. One MDA i work with has joked that each room doesn't need it's own circulator- a circulator could go between 2 rooms.

I just started working as an OR nurse (first job). I have a 2 year contract here but when I am finished, I think I would like to try corrections nursing. I have been and will continue to research (got plenty of time). Will I be considered "trainable" with only OR experience? I have experience working on strict, austere environments but not as a medical person. I live in Volusia county, FL.

I was circulating for a knee arthroplasty, my first official solo case. The phone rang, I identified myself and the OR number. The voice on the other end with a drawl typical of this region said, "Hello? I'm alone on my portapotty. My nurse left me. I don't have any toilet paper." I said, "Sir, this is the operating room, I can't help you." He sighed dejectedly and gave me his name and his room number and repeated his desperate plea for toilet paper. After hanging up and having a good laugh with the team, i called the operator and got a hold of someone on his floor (a secretary ? a nurse? who knows). I said, "Hi, this is so-and-so from OR 14, your patient so-and-so in room 1414 is alone on his bedside commode and needs toilet paper." He might have been out of TP but at least he had a phone!

That patient was out of line. You wouldn't curse a nurse in a spanish speaking country for not knowing english.

I took the test today and it was ridiculous. I barely passed. My teacher missed by 1 % point!! So many of those questions are vague and poorly written and not a good indicator of OR competency. Overall i was disappointed with the quality of the entire program, esp considering how much money my hospital paid to buy it!! Videos from 1987...SERIOUSLY?

I just started a job in the OR, fresh out of nursing school. Yeah I know you should have a year of med-surg...but it was the OR that offered me a job despite all my applications to different floors. I had the same feelings...still do sometimes. I'm finishing up periop101 and while it's not particularly helpful for day to day functioning, I'm doing my best to read all the stuff so I can at least be confident that I know the right way to do things in the OR, even if it's not the most preferred or efficient way. I too was amazed at the big egos. I found my rotations in other departments like holding, PACU, SPD, and even one day to scrub in, very helpful in seeing others' point of view. Everyone in the OR should have to spend a day doing someone else's job. It's very enlightening. I think circulators get picked on alot b/c everyone else is scrubbed in and standing their with their arms folded not doing anything, and its easy to forget that the circulator is only one person with only 2 legs and 2 arms and can only do or get one thing at a time. I'm still only a few months in and I have days where I think I picked the wrong specialty..but I'll put in my 2 years and see what happens.

is it possible to become an RNFA w/ little or no scrub experience? At my hospital circulators do not scrub, only techs scrub...so I have no way to get the scrub experience....

I have KSOs and Bikilas. I wear them walking, running (to include trail running), indoor rock climbing, and kayaking. THey're great. Perfect for the gym. I love them for running- I'm a severe over pronator, have knee & hip issues- and I reduced my aches and pains by about 90%. The alternative is 140$ running shoes which wear out in 6 mos or less. I don't think I would feel comfortable wearing them at work, esp in the OR.