ChooSoul

I gained 7 pounds in 2 months. Lol

So, I work nights. 12 hours. How do people like me stay healthy and in shape? I am always very tired after work. I am always eating anything to stay awake during the night. When I am off, I am mostly asleep. All of my days off is for sleep. When I wake up sometimes, I realize I have to sleep again because I work that night later. I'm still figuring out a diet that works for me. I do want to start working out so i could be in shape. Do you workout after 12hours? I just want to know how others do it.

So I have a pt who came in with cellulitis and he is on many antibiotics but he has impaired renal function so they have been giving low doses. 1 day ago, his renal function started to get better so they increased the dosages of the antibiotics. Fast forward to now, his urine output has decreased yet again. I'm expecting renal impairment again, or obstruction. Should I still administer the scheduled antibiotics that they ordered? Or what's a better smarter approach?

Informatics is interesting because it relates to technology but I still have no idea what exactly nurse informaticists really do.

That sounds amazing. What is the new career youre going into?

Med surg icu are definitely stressful and exhuasting. Many times have i gotten sick while working and had to go to ER. I'm so done with hospitals but i need income. Im gonna check out psych and prison, although they sound so scary.

Nursing is my first real job. Before that, the closest to work i did was volunteering and thats its. I want to go into arts or something creative, like the performing arts. Something that doesnt require much of going back to school again... I just dont know where or how to start.

I dont want to be a nurse anymore. I don't want to be in the medical field anymore. Im not just feeling burnt out, underappreciated, drained in all aspects, and all kinds of stressed out. I just feel like I have lost all my passion and interest. I still like people though. Its not just because being in the bedside sucks just as every nurse nurse knows, but I think the medical field in general is not for me anymore... I've been doubting my career choice since college. Now, I have been a nurse for almost 4 yrs and I think its enough time to realize that this may not be my life calling or purpose. I feel like I became a nurse because I was raised to be goal oriented, and I was challenged because nursing school is tough. I guess I wanted to prove that I was smart or something. I wanted to pursue a different career path but I just had to prove something. BUT Now, I also just realized that nobody cares. So, here I am, stressed out. I feel like going on a new journey to self actualization. I guess I still have to feel uncomfortable as I have to work as a nurse to pay the bills. I just dont want to work as a nurse while Im going through feelings such as this, because it would be unfair and a disservice to myself and to my patients down the line. I definitely have to get out and as soon as possible. I really, genuinely dont like it anymore. So, there's that. I just feel like I had to share. Is there anyone else that feels or have felt what I feel? Know anyone who's made a nonmedical career change? Thoughts?

Will my GPA of 3.4 even make the cut for CRNA school? I just know its not enough to compete with others who are vying for a seat in a CRNA program everywhere. But at the same time I am hopeful that I could get into CRNA school. I just dont want to end up working so hard taking all the other required classes and other prerequisites to apply and then get rejected. It would just feel worthless. I have so much more questions regarding CRNA schools and applications, but this one has been bothering me so much.

That is weird... To be an administrator, if you're not a medical professional, you need to have at least a degree in business administration or something. If she has no degree at all, then that is some sketchy situation. If she doesnt do a good job, then she should show proper proof of credentials. Its a major problem when non clinicians tell clinicians how to do their jobs when they don't even understand a bit of what medical professionals do.

I would like to have some advice because Im considering becoming a crna. I am currently working as an ICu rn in a level 3 hospital. Im planning to apply to crna school in 1.5 to 2 years from now. I only know that crna schools require that you have icu experience and go school full time. so I don't know what else I should prepare. Nursing is my only degree. I only have nursing courses and nursing prerequisites so what should I get out the way while Im still working? I have 3.5 cumulative gpa... Will that make the cut? I know every school is different and it's competitive, so should I apply to crna schools all over the USA? Are the prerequisites the same for all? Where can I find a reliable source of list of accredited crna schools? What are ways that I can financially prepare for crna school? What else should I watch out for that I haven't mentioned? Any other advice? thanks

What is the difference? I know that you need at least a masters degree. As far as autonomy, does a DNP needs to be working under an MD? because I know that NPs have to work under an MD. Or is a DNP kind of an equivalent to an MD cause its a doctorates? Tell me what I need to know please, and thanks!

I'm a new ICU nurse, and even I think this is scary. I suggest just get the regular position and not the charge. I dont think it matters very much if you were charge or a staff nurse in a CRNA application. As long as you got the solid years of experience. Im on orientation and my preceptor is the charge and she KNOWS A LOT. She also gets at least one of the hardest patients, usually gets the admissions, shes the patient advocate and the nurses' advocate, she has super assessment skills and critical thinking. she handles a lot of the floor's responsibility, shes the team leader and shes also like a bouncer, if you compare ICU floor to a club. it is a serious task. Me being new, wouldnt be so comfortable having a charge who isnt really that reliable just because you dont have the proper experience. I feel like youre just like me, a new icu nurse. sure, you had leadership in other fields, but ICU is different. you have so much past achievements, but every time you switch careers, you start over from scratch sometimes. so, just get staff ICU position and get experience then apply for charge later. what i learned, is employers will say whatever just to have their checklist done. the people who hire you are the floor directors and managers. sometimes the employers are desperate and theyll say whatever to get you to come to them and hire you. and if for some reason you do get hired as charge, which youre not ready for. sometimes you bite off more than you can chew and you end up risking your reputation and credentials because the employers goaded you. HR people know nothing about nursing...

Hi I am a new ICU RN and I am looking for a "brain sheet" to use when I go to work and get reports for my patients. I'm new, just got hired right into ICU (still in orientation) and when I get to the floor, its like I dont even know anything. So Im looking to see if anyone can help me with a sheet where I can take notes on and basically make it my other when Im lost, which is most of the time. lol Also, any tips for a new ICU RN? Im still new, so my assessment skills and critical thinking arent bloomed yet so any advice would be appreciated. thanks for reading

That is great to know. Thanks! You got a A, congrats! I could only sign up for 1 class this summer and it started yesterday, its nur3345. I just failed the orientation quiz... I know... of all things... lol I wish I could still get an A even with that and possibly other low scores. I just want to graduate with a beautiful GPA. haha

thanks, naponthebeach. How was the first class you just completed? Are you saying that it could be fine for me to double up like say i do 6 nursing classes per semester, while working full time? because I'm thinking of doing that.

HI. I'm accepted into the RN-BSN online program and I have to take 6 prereqs: 1 any literature, art appreciation, 4 classes that are us & state history and government... and then I have to take 11 Nursing classes... It's A LOT! I need help with mapping out my courses... How should I go about organizing this online program... I am working full time now. I' not married with kids so I guess I wont be as busy as others. So I need help please. I've heard of doubling up classes. How does that work? Is it that at once, you take 2 classes: 1 nursing class + prereq? or 1 nursing + another nursing class? thanks.

oh wow thanks to everyone who commented. personally, my view on medsurg still has not changed. I do acknowledge that it is stressful, it turns yo into a very critical thinkers and enhances time mgt skills, and prioritization and all your nursing skills. But that I believe happens in other specialties. however, im my case, I was very persistent and applied everywhere I could. I got turned down a LOT! But I didnt stop looking and got hired in ICU.

I dont know where to post this. I have a question about the nursing jurisprudence exam, theres no limit as to how many times you can take it? Cause I read on their website that you can reconnect to the test after 24hours but it didnt say how many times you can fail the test. I wonder if I could just take it without taking the prep course theyre offering so I can save money. as many times until I pass.

People who have no clue are surprised when they find out that Im "just a nurse" then they ask "why arent you a doctor?" its annoying

#proudtobeanurse Thanks for answering. so have you ever have to do something that isnt online like go see some sort of medical related event or a patient case-study? or is everything is literally online totally?

I called the number on their website and talked to an enrollment advisor and I was told its 100% online and no clinicals. What does that mean? i was also told that i need to have access to patients cause I have to some assignments that are not clinical hours but just separate from class(?). How does it work? I applied 3 months already and I havent had any update emails or notifications. I wasnt sent an email about classes that I have to take, i think its called a degree plan (correct me if im wrong). I did get an email saying my transcript has been evaluated but I looked at it and I dont understand it. I did see that there were some credits that were rejected, Im confused. Im guessing they're gonna make me repeat some classes... How are assignments usually? I know all online schools give a bunch of work but what kinds of assignments does uta give you? Is it mostly research papers? How about books and other materials? Do you use the books a lot? Do you need many for a class? Can you get away with not getting the books on time? cause there are times when you just cant get them as early as the first day of class. or not get all so to save money?

I notice that a lot of nurses that I've talked to hate the med surg area. It's too stressful even I see it. Everywhere you go, med surg nurses are stressed out and bitter. They don't recommend the floor some don't even recommend nursing. Some even say they regret their career choice. They eat their young. Also is like everywhere you go the Medsurg nurses have 8 patients or more. Thats dangerous and stressful. Thats to much for one nurse. It's risking patient care and the nurses license cause its to busy. Time management can only do so much. Now, I'm looking looking for a job but I just basically got my license so no experience. And the only area the places I've checked out are only willing to hire me in is Medsurg, that is IF they are hiring . I don't like Medsurg. Also I only have ASN and every websites I go to fill up applications, they always say bsn required. I wanted to be in an OR, ER or ICU. but you need experience in the area, how am I gonna get experience if I don't even get hired in those areas in the first place... The requirements are all the same. Must be bsn or higher and have experience. I just needed to rant cause I'm so shocked. And frustrated.

Oh shoot! Sorry! its actually 40gtt/min! haha! thanks for mentioning it

Im lost. you didnt give the rate. heres an example of what im talking about. Client is recieving 40gtt/H dextrose, IV set works as 10gtt/ml, the beginning volume of dextrose is 1000ml at 12 noon. How many ml will remain at 3pm?