boogsmom

I'm there to keep them alive, not kiss their heiney. I would have said the same thing. Then explained WHY I have to "bother" them. If they insisted, then I would just chart that the pt was refusing care, let their Dr know (and the charge nurse, etc.), and let the Dr handle it from there.

Removing a pair of TED hose & dry, flaky skin wafting up around the patient. OMG, what if I inhaled that?! And those sores people get with MRSA, ya know, those little scabby things. Gross. I can handle pus, nasty stinky purulent wounds, emesis, poop, feet even... but those two things gross me out.

that's a big help. i've done the 9-5 thing for so long, i'm tired of it. seems like more & more doctors are selling their practices to hospitals too. i have zero desire to see kids (mine are enough, thankyouverymuch! ) thanks for all the info, you've given me a lot to think about!

i've just heard over & over that musc offers a rn to msn program & assumed (maybe stupidly) that included all of the msn programs. i'm planning on giving them a call tomorrow to see what the deal is. they have a anp program that i could do. looks like vandy is the only one that i remember that has an acnp program that is (maybe?) online. i've looked at so much in the last 2 days i'm almost overwhelmed. i was just trying to get this over & done with! i really didn't want to do another bachelor's program if i didn't have to. may i ask where you're going?

Another question... so what's the point of getting a MSN? What I mean is that I have found plenty of programs that offer just a plain 'ol MSN, no sub-category or specialty under that. Which confuses me. (Apparently it doesn't take much to confuse me at this point. I'll blame it on a lack of caffeine + pregnancy brain.)

I have found more MSN than DNP programs. Univ. of KY has switched from MSN to DNP/PhD already though, at least from what I understand from their website.

Thanks for the reply. My plan is to do an accelerated Master's program to avoid having to have a DNP. From what I understand, I have until 2015 to get everything done. Nothing like a time crunch to motivate a girl! :)

I seem to be able to find this information out without a questionnaire. Maybe by taking a few extra minutes with your patient you can do the same? Not saying everyone doesn't... I like finding out about my patients, but I would feel like an idiot asking them those questions during an admission H&P.

I get hit on by icky older men with new ostomies. Not exactly flattering.

I've tried searching & haven't been successful, so accept my apologies if this info is on the boards & I've missed it... I've got my ADN (May '10), a BA in another field. I want to become a nurse practitioner, I think. I initially set out to become a bariatric coordinator, but am rethinking that. So how does one become a NP? Do I go for my MSN then take the test for NP? I think Acute Care Nurse Practitioner sounds most interesting to me at this point. Would that require additional certification? I've been reading on various websites, but I guess all the information is getting jumbled - I'm getting confused & seem to have more questions than answers! Thanks in advance! -B

i'm a new grad (may '10) & pardon the pun, but it's night & day difference! on days, (i'm on a surgical unit btw) it feels like you're trying to keep your head above water the whole shift. dietary is in & out, pt is in & out... same for ot, the drs, etc... not to mention the patients need to be walked, meds given... patients being sent to/from surgery, radiology, etc. i can go to other nurses to ask questions, if i can find them, & hope they have the time to answer me. then again, you have the benefit of having everyone there (including the doctors) to get a lot done. on nights, we have teamwork! the more experienced nurses are super helpful. the aides work better with the nurses too. i have time to look up answers, ask questions, etc. on the other hand, you need to be independent. not too many doctors at our hosp (& i'm willing to bet this is the case at most) want calls at 3am for something you could do. so you have to think ahead. i love the pace of days, but as a new grad, i highly recommend nights. it has taught me to critically think, which during the days, i'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off keeping up with everything. also on nights, we are responsible for making sure that all orders written in the last 24 hours are correct, have been entered into the computer, & have been executed. all that time in the charts has been good for me as well. i also have more patients deteriorate on nights than on days, and while i have yet (knock on wood) to have to call a code, those experiences have taught me to think more critically than i think i would have gotten to on days. plus, the shift differential is awesome! love the paychecks! on the downside of nights, i feel like a zombie. add being pregnant to the mix & i'll sometimes sleep for 12+ hours at a time. either way, i love my job!

1 year for new grads at our hosp. I'm on a surgical floor, and we basically staff the hospital. Usually 1 nurse per shift is floated to another floor. I don't know how long it is for experienced nurses, I'd assume just a few months, if that.

I think Florence SC has a good pediatrics floor. It's nothing I'm interested in, so I've not paid too much attention to it. McLeod Hospital is the name (sorry if I misspelled it). I like in Myrtle Beach & there isn't much there for what you're interested in. Good luck! I loved SD (we lived in Palm Springs for a few years) so much when we were there. The South is a whole different pace, but it's home!