rnspark

Check with the bon. Most bons require you to diclose all arrests. I was in a similar situation where a DUI got dropped to reckless driving. I was required to supply the bon with all my court records and arrest records. It took a little longer than normal but I was issued my RN license after all my paperwork was reviewed.

I have been through this process. At this point you do not need an attorney. Send in the paperwork with a statement of what exactly happened. From that they will decide if they need to have a hearing with you or give you your license. If you feel uncomfortable writing a statemtent, you can get help with that with an attorney. However, if it really is just a case of you speeding, it sounds simple enough to explain that. If they decide to have an informal hearing with you, that is the time to hire an attorney. I'm pretty sure they will give you a license, but each situation is handled as a separate case and it just takes a long time. Unfortunately there is no way to expedite it.

I have a few friends who work in some nursing homes. From what they tell me, many nurses can't get all the work done that is supposed to be done with the patient load taken. They tell me that everyone cuts corners, charts things that really were not done, and overall the care is poor. If you don't see how your coworkers are getting their work done, maybe its because they really are not getting their work done. While working in a clinic may not get you the skills you want, I feel it would be better than providing poor care to people who need it. However, you still would be learning a skill set, just not long term care skills. All different sides of nursing are difficult, even working in a clinic. Don't worry about what the others are saying or doing and just concentrate on yourself. If they have time to study what you are doing, they are probably not providing the level of care that should be given.

Chicago State just recently got in trouble for letting failing students remain in school. It is their policy to expel students if they cannot keep a certain gradepoint average. The school then lied about their retention rates. Their accreditation as a university as a whole is being reviewed now and may be revoked. Be careful if you decide to go this route.

Thanks for the reply. I interviewed for USC University ICU float. I would love to PM you but I have not posted enough to do so. Maybe you can PM me and I can give you my email?

Dude, I don't understand this post one bit. Who said what to who?

Has anyone worked as a traveler in their ICU? Can you shed any light on how the facility is and how they treat travelers? Considering a contract here. Thanks in advance.

I think there is a shortage. Hospitals don't hire based on what the nurse to patient ratio should be though.

Hartgrove Hospital

You sound like you have good experience at a good facility. It is not nearly as difficult for nurses with experience to find a job as it is for new grads. Me and a few co-workers all wanted new jobs and we have 2 to 4 years experience in icu. We all had job offers within a month. I don't know how good the market is for OR but compared to new grads, it seems like they are fighting for very few positions.

All aspects of nursing are difficult and requires knowledge and critical thinking. Med/Surg nurses utilize a different skill set than an ICU nurse. That's not to say one is more difficult than the other. I know ICU nurses who can"t survive on a med/surg floor and vice versa. People let their egos get in the way and want to create some hiarchy. Regardless of what kind of nursing you do, we should all agree that it is a difficult job that requires smarts to do it well.

Ummm. Yea, doctors order nurses to do things all the time. Anyways, the incident is done now. Don't beat yourself up about what you could have done. You can learn from it so your actions will be better next time. Wrong or right, the bottom line is you were trying to help this person. Sorry this happened to you.

icechick i got your pm but I can't pm yet. if you pm me your email i can give you some info.

I have gone through the new grad program. Started there in 2008 and worked ICU and just recently quit. From my understanding they were not hiring new grads this year. But if there is a posting online maybe things have changed. Earlier this year there was a layoff and with the layoff the new grad program was cancelled for the year.

Chicago doesn't have too many travel assignments if any at all.

If you are scared of poop. I think you should just run the other way. Tons of things that are way worse than that within nursing. But on the other hand there are nurse jobs where you never see poop.

The new grad job market is not bad if you are willing to do your time in a nursing home. Not everyone can start off as a new grad in the icu and er. Its not impossible to do so but there are limited spots for these positions as a new grad. I understand that a nursing home is not ideal for everyone, but its better than being unemployed and getting no experience. In my icu, we consider nursing home nurses before the new grad at this point in time.

Levophed vasoconstricts not dialate. I would first get familiar with hospital protocols such as the max rate for neo, levo, dopamine, etc... Some hospitals allow these to be run at small doses through peripheral lines, but many only allow to be run through central lines. Side effects of these medications are a huge help. For example, a person with a high heart rate on levophed may do better with a neosynepherine drip. Definitely know the drug, what it is used for, and its mechanism of action. Experience titrating these drugs varies greatly from patient to patient. Some are very sensitive where titrating just a half a mcg makes a big difference on blood pressure. I know it may say 8-12mcg initially but all that goes out the window when you have a crashing patient and you may have to just max the drip out from the get go.

I would take the ICU position. ICU is difficult to get in Chicago right now with no experience. It can transition you into a better hospital. The experience is what you make of it and even if the hospital isn't as prestegious, you will definitely see a variety of patient conditions and treatments that you will never see in the OR and home health. Pass on it now and it might not come again for a long time.