tamale29

Thank you so much! after meeting with about 8 EMRs, I have chosen to use Kareo. It's decetnly affordable at 165 a month, and I am excited to see how it goes. I signed a 1 year contract so fingers crossed I love it!

Just kidding, I looked more into it, and it does look affordable so I thank you for the tip! Not sure why my old practice told me that was the reason. I appreciate the tip!

Thank you! Can I pick your brain a bit? I am self pay so do not really need the billing aspect, and the two big things I need are telehealth capabilites (I am a telemed business) and escribe because that's just so much easier. How would you say they compare

Yes, I used athena while I was employed in a private, very successful practice. They had to change due to cost issues, it is 7% gross income which could be hundreds and eventually thousands a month. Thank you though!

Hello, I am in the process of getting my own practice up and running and the thing I am having the most trouble with is finding a reasonably priced EMR. I do telemed and need that capability as well as I need escribe capabilities. It's a very small practice with even smaller revenue, so please let me know if there is anything you can recommend! Holly

It'll be a rough start. You need to know how to respond in a critical care situation, without getting a lot of experience in it because it rarely happens. That being said its not easy to start anywhere. Ask a ton of questions, always admit to needing help, and when in doubt, dilauded. haha. As far as interview questions. patient ratio. typical patient population. inpatient or outpatient. call requirement (thats a biggie)

I was almost done with my FNP where we had to find preceptors. Sadly my last two clinicals, after a year of looking, I could not find a preceptor for. Ended up dropping out and finding a program that found them for me. Dallas market was rough. Just food for thought.

This, in the grand scheme of things, is nothing at all. Learn from it, breathe, and move on. You say "so many things are going wrong" so I feel like this was more of a last straw. Evaluate what else is happening and make a plan. Nursing is the pits at first. You'll get there

I feel like this has changed since I started my RN career in 2013 I worked in the ICU in IL and they made me cover them. My next job was in Chicago in 2014 and my colleges and boss thought they were lovely. Patients, especially older ones, seem to love them. The only thing I don't like about it is people always think its OK to reach out and touch them. I'm an NP student now and I never gave a second thought to covering them and nobody has ever said anything, program directors or clinical preceptors. I have one full sleeve and wrist and forearm on the other arm.

So I took a year off, traveled (if anyone has ever wanted to travel nurse, I cannot recommend it enough) and I am happy to announce I am going back to finsh starting in January. It was exactly what I needed! I did trade programs, and will be finishing in Womens Health.

Hello all! I have been an ICU nurse for about 3.5 years and am exactly half way done with my Masters for FNP. Thing is.... I don't know I want to be an FNP! Ha, bad time to realize this, eh? I'm the first to admit that I have a short attention span and the past year and a half of school have be pretty burnt out. The constant clinical search and school work have me in a haze and I feel like I'm more so doing the motions than actually learning anything. Online school may have been a poor choice, but its a lesson learned perhaps a bit too late into the program. If FNP was my ultimate dream than I could put my head down and power through, but honestly its more of what seemed like the logical next step than my ultimate life goal. I've only ever done ICU and I'd love to see what else is out there as an RN. Travel nurse, or maybe even switch field and check out OB, OR, or maybe outpatient. But that nagging "ive put so much time and money into FNP" is always at the back of my head. Has anyone ever left their masters program and not regretted the waste of time/money? I don't know what to do. I'm just burnt out with school when the endgame isn't neccisarily super enticing. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind being an NP, but I also might not mind it if I wasn't Edit: All I really want in the long run is to pay off my loans and get a job where I could really do some good. Nurses without boarders, peace corp, etc. I know an FNP is more enticing than an RN

I just wanted to give in a little update. It did get so much better! Looking back its just lack of expierence. ANd the only way to do that is to keep at it until you are comfortable.

Hey there BeautifulDisaster! I Graduated in December of 2012, started as a new grad in Level 1 Trauma MICU last February. Been there a year now. I second every work bmendi said. Also... if at all possible, take ACLS class as soon as humanly possible. Seriously!!!!

I just wrote a long well thought out comment and it didnt post, now i'm all irritatted Thank you all for the responses. The short and sweet of what I wrote was when things go wrong I panic (vtach, pressures drop, cardiac arrest, stroke) and I don't know if my panic is a sign of not being able to hack nursing or if its a sign of a new grad or if its just how life is in the ICU

I already moved from Chicago to a rural area for the job. I'll have to keep looking I guess. I may be moving to Seattle. I guess I'm just curious if its a new grad thing or if ICU is just too much.

Ever since I was in 5th grade I've wanted to be a nurse. In Jr. High we had to present on our heros and I went as Clara Barton. It's what I've wanted to do my whole life. Now that I am finally a nurse I am afraid it might not be for me. I graduated in Decembber and got a job in a nurse residency program in the ICU. I worked 3 12 hour day shifts and had two patients and I could not have been happier. I loved my job. Then once the residency was over, I got switched to nights and and more days than not we have 3 ICU patients. I don't have time to care for any of them properly. I have had patients extubate themselves (yes, while restrained), pull out lines, leave AMA, have to sit in there own waste until I have time to clean it, get meds late, and not get the proper care in general. I feel hopeless when it comes to getting to learn stuff because I don't have time to look anything up or ask questions. It is really disheartining. On top of that I can't adjust to nights. I don't sleep well during the day and it has caused me to start having severe panic attacks, both at home and at work. Does any of this ever change? I feel like maybe I shouldn't be a nurse and that all I do is harm people more than I am helping them. I just wanted to help people but instead all I do is get yelled at by my patients all night (not to mentioned duped {ie. sneaking ice chips when NPO, getting up to bathroom while on bedrest, etc}). HELP! PS: I never wanted a job in ICU (it was the only spot left in the residency) I really want to do something with babies, OB or NICU, but it seems like it is an impossible field to get into. Any advice there also welcome.

I have Asics and i am in need of new shoes. I have pretty bad back pain all day at work that affects my job. all tips welcome!

That would be scary!! Yea any time anyone tells you something that is directly against a doctors orders I would always double check that someone specifically asked that doctor, and get thier name and when they asked. If noone had make sure you do it thmeselves. Then document "given with applesauce per md".

What I did is during open labs I would ask my instructors to do a run through. I would ask them not to stop me or anything until the end. Really its like you're getting to take the test first and then get a grade, and then you get to practice and go back and take it again. And bring it up to your instructor that you feel nervous, talking about my nerves usually helps ease them. You got this, and good luck!

This article could give an idea about providing them saftey To provide health care in Chicago's violent communities, some nurses, health aides require security escorts - chicagotribune.com

CAUTI is always a good one

What is in the books is on the test, but some of it does require reading into it. You def need to understand the concepts as well as the facts. However I always did better on the tests than I did on the ATI. Community health is a wide variety of things so just keep studying and you'll do fine. Good luck!

I'm glad to hear it does eventually get better. I am a brand new RN and I got hired straight into a level I trauma ICU. So far it has been pretty scary but I've learned more in one month than in 4 years of school. Hope it keeps just getting better

Well, I've only been in a level I trauma center for just over a month but I can give you me two cents. A typical day can range dramatically from not even having time to use the bathroom to some days I sit around and twiddle my thumbs. When we do get traumas we take them in and assess them. We keep a steady eye on their vitals and make sure that everything is done such as nero checks, monitor I&O, turn them and make sure all devices are in place. Sometimes with severe traumas we spend our time running blood, trying to chase BPs giving meds and even doing CPR when needed. However there are not always traumas and when there are not we usually get other ICU patients or even gen med patients. We still only have 2-3 at a time so you will find yourself with a lot more free time. These days have been VERY few and far between with the sparetime and what-have-you, but you learn to enjoy them. Hope this helped :)

I just graduated in December and have been working in the ICU for about a month. I would be happy to help you, please just let me know what you need :)