tmartin83

I took the exam (through AMSN) a while back, and I can definitely say with confidence that their exam is Level 10 in comparison with NCLEX. It was a bit harder IMO. I believe using floor experience would be more valuable. Good luck!

Answering your last question, yes. It was one of the biggest changes I've made as far as rearranging my time management skills. I also worked 3-11, and usually with that shift your 1700 and 2100 medpass are your biggest. Well, with 7-3, you have to g...

This recently happened to me (choice between med-surg and endoscopy), and I had to go with the med-surg position. I'm sure some folks would say that I was crazy for that, but given the fact that I've been a med-surg nurse my entire career (only 3 yea...

Hi All; Just wanted to get some insight. I recently sent a resignation letter to my supervisor of my fairly new job (I was only a week into orientation before I decided to quit). I ended up leaving for a large number of reasons, which mainly encompas...

Thanks BlueChocolateCat :-) It was painfully obvious, unfortunately. Being on the floor, seeing and hearing nurses bad-mouth the floor, severe staffing issues (on my third day of orientation, THIRD DAY, I was actually pulled to be a CNA with 13 pts o...

I second M/S :-).

This makes me thank sweet baby Jesus that I dont have crappy MDs or residents like this.... Id leave quick, fast, and in a hurry! As first poster stated, you are your patient's advocate, not the doc's butt kisser.

Hi; Im not 100% sure about Kona, but here in Oahu it's highly suggested that you are here and have a physical address before even considering applying (I'm military, so I applied to hospitals here when we were in OK, and never got a call back, lol). ...

I really think it varies on the state you're in. When I was in Virginia, it took 2 weeks for me to get my ATT to register to sit for NCLEX. I've heard of people getting their ATTs weeks after, and even 1-2 months. Did you just graduate? Has your degr...

Residency is not required in order to obtain a license in the state of HI (I know this from experience). I actually graduated from school in VA, but sat for NCLEX in OK. You can sit for NCLEX anywhere in the US. I hope that makes sense :-) Good Luck.

We actually carry workplace iPhones and we are able to call/text interpersonal staff (CNAs, RT, SW, etc.) when we need them, and it's so convenient when you're tied up in a pt room and don't wanna walk around the unit to find help. The system is call...

My school made us use it. Passed on the first try with 75 ?s.

When I applied for a job here in 2011, it took me 4 months to get a position (however, it wasn't the position I really wanted). Have you gone to sign up for military spouse preference with CPAC? If not, go ahead and do that. Yes, it does take a while...

I don't think you asked too much... Very touchy subject indeed. Although I've only been working for a little less than 2 years now, I can definitely say to stay clear from giving out or hinting at diagnostic results for things like CTs, XRs, and all ...

I agree with pp in regards to trying to get as much experience as you can on the mainland before you decide to come here. I know it's a hard decision, and I was actually going to stay behind myself where I had a great job, but at the end of the day I...

Scalpel and Scapula seems to be common, lol.

Hi All! So to make this story as short as possible, I recently admitted a pt. who came in for hyponatremia (Na apparently at 117 at 1500), so we ran IVFs (just NS) and such until the doc made his rounds. After such, he ordered supplemental IVFs and k...

Thanks! That makes more sense. BUN and Cr were WNL. I think her K was 3.1, and her Ca was like, 7.8. But now that you mention it, i think the false high would be more plausible, because I dont see how just NS could do that in a matter of 4 hours.... ...

1:6 max MedSurg/Tele Unit. We have aides only. Our CNA ratios are 1:9 max, I believe.

Hi All! So to explain my situation in a nutshell, I moved to HI 3 months ago (pretty much as a new-grad RN; I got 4 months of experience on a Med/Surg floor before my husband got stationed out here), and I just got a job in a hospital facility (at a ...

Hi BenTram! I, and a few of my other peers, actually graduated with a 4.0 from nursing school (4-year degree), and I also did a few independent studies, and completed a minor (psych) in addition to my nursing curriculum. So to answer your question, y...

Oh, it's definitely who you know on the island, no question about it. It just gets very frustrating when your resume is top-notch and employers don't even bother to look at it because they "know someone else," ya know?

I agree. I've been on the island since Nov 2011, and I even got so discouraged that I went back home looking for work for a few weeks :-/. I decided to come back because I felt that there were more important things than picking up your life and going...

@sophialfonze, aaahh, it's been a few months, and i honestly do not remember where i started. i know that meds were a big one that I studied, though. I think meds are like, 30% of NCLEX, so make sure you at least know your basic meds. Are you taking ...

Hi MAL, RN; I am in the EXACT situation as you, but i only have 4 months, and was pretty much forced to leave my awesome job also. I wanted to stay, but it was just too much with being hundreds of miles away from any family. My husband PCSed here a f...