EverGraceRN

I got teary-eyed when I read your post barnstormin'... although I think stress makes me bit emotional anyway "Stressed all of the time" is me right now. I almost don't recognize myself. I say things before I think to my kids, snap at people for no good reason... this is not ME. Reading your post made me feel like I'm not a loon and someone has been where I am. It stinks. I'm beyond grateful that I'm even in an MSN program! Maybe I just haven't found my footing/my groove yet. I've gone through a world of personal changes the last year and a half and now I've tossed grad school and navigating single-parenthood into the mix. Not to mention I've been training for a new position, attending LOTS of extra classes for work (in addition to my regularly scheduled 36 hours) AND our hospital is getting a brand new EMR program system-wide... I have at least two 46 hour work weeks coming up to train for that and a two day Pediatric ALS class to complete soon too. Holy cow. Maybe once I get all of my work extras out of the way I'll be able to focus a bit more. So I think that, after talking to my friends and family, I'm going to push through (for now)... if it just becomes too much I can step back and re-evaluate (I have 5 years from admittance to finish per my school). I haven't even started the clinical portion yet and would kick myself if I didn't at least give it a fair shot. After this semester, before the next starts, I'll take a hard look at what I can change to ease my burden... My mom always says "if grad school was easy, everybody would do it." I'm not sure everyone would, but I see her point. I'll just keep swimming in the meantime. :) Thank you ALL for your ideas, thoughts and encouragement! I've taken every post to heart... I will find a balance eventually!!!! This isn't my forever, thank goodness! Ha!

Hi friends, I need advice badly. Here's a quick background. I'm newly divorced as of this past December, have two little girls that are 2 & 7, with the 7 y.o. in grade school, working full-time in a new RN position (RN of 4 years), and began online FNP program full-time in January. I have my girls just over half-time. When I have the girls, their dad works and vice versa. I squeeze in study time during naps and after their bedtime... Here's the dilemma... clinical rotations are to start in the Fall, which means I will likely have to cut my work hours to part-time AND find at least part-time daycare. Income goes down and expenses and time commitments go up. Oy. The plus about powering through clinicals and my full-time program is the faster I finish, the quicker I can gain some semblance of normalcy for my babies. They are bounced between parents and family members constantly due to our work schedules. Its tough! OR would any of you advise me to delay clinical start a year and in-turn lengthen my program by a year (Fall 2015 graduation vs Fall 2016 graduation) in order to avoid a year's worth of childcare expenses and save for a longer period of time (working full-time)??... my littlest will start full-time pre-K Fall 2016 and its FREE! The thought of lengthening this process at all is a tough pill to swallow, but I'm not sure it's wise to push through at the demise of my own success... and the knowledge I need to have a firm grasp on to do right by my future patients. I'm really torn. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated for this mentally and physically exhausted mama! Do you all have any other ideas? I just want to make a better life for my girls... "normal" hours (compared with school hours) and better financial security. It's the getting there... From the bottom of my heart, thank you in advance for your thoughtful replies!

Hey there! I actually just took and passed the RNC-NIC exam this past Thursday (woo!) after nearly 3 years of Level III NICU experience. I used all of the books you mentioned but the cardiac S.T.A.B.L.E. book over a span of 3-4 months, but really cracked down 2-3 weeks prior to the test date. So here's the deal... I felt quite confident in some areas (cardiac, respiratory, assessment...) and a little weaker in others, namely endocrine and metabolic issues. My test, of course, had SEVERAL questions over the latter and lots of circulation-related. No films to interpret, no plain reading ABG's, but ventilator management and effects on baby, yes... what else... a few syndromes. Of course, each test has it's own thumb print, so to speak. But listen, what I was getting at is that you need "approximately" 65% correct overall to pass. There are 175 questions total with 25 of them not counted (kind of like NCLEX did) and 3 hours to take it. You basically get more "points" for more difficult questions and less for easier questions... But there's no exact way to break it down specifically. You can flag questions and go back to them too, which is nice. The testing site I went to gave us a piece of scratch paper, a pencil, ear plugs, and a calculator if needed (I only had one simple ml/kg/day calc). At the end, I took a brief survey over my experience and my reults were printed in about a minute or less. I honestly squirmed through the entire thing and was sure that I had failed. I'm beyond proud and thankful I did actually pass. Whew! I attempted the exam when I was scoring at least a 70% on each section of practice questions that I took. Other than that, I relied heavily on my experiences and gut instinct. Best of luck to you! The fact that your even taking it is a HUGE deal. Also, I'm planning on applying to a few PNP programs to begin Spring or Summer... any advice to set myself apart? I have a 3.6 nursing and 3.5 associates, RNC, and a tiny bit of volunteer experience. Any advice would be so helpful!! Let us know how it goes!!!

Enfermera85, I'm sorry but I'm not a PNP and can't be of any help... I hope you found what you were looking for! BUT maybe you would answer a few questions for me? I'm looking into the PNP program at USA and also have only Level III NICU experience. Obviously you were accpeted (that's great!), but was your lack of "peds" experience ever an issue? Mind sharing your undergrad stats? Any additional insight would be much appreciated!! THANKS SO MUCH!! Yours very truly, EverGraceRN

Hello to all! I'm a current RN, BSN with 2+ years of Level III NICU experience and would love to further my education to become an NP... a PNP. Although I really enjoy what I do, I have zero desire to work primarily in a hospital setting (like most NNP's). I'm aware that many BSN students have gone straight into NP programs and have done very well not having had bedside experience at all, so I don't see how my previous bedside experience, even in just NICU, could hinder me from my chosen career path. I assume at least some experience would be seen as an asset. I mean, hopefully Can anyone provide some insight? Thanks so much! Yours very truly, EverGraceRN

WOW! Thank you so much for such an encouraging, thoughtful reply! You it the nail on the head; just what I needed! I'm super excited to apply... I'm refining my resume now, then I'll have to wait and see. Many many thanks! :)

Hey friends, I'll try to keep this brief. I graduated with my BSN in the Spring of 2010. I am approaching 2 years as an RN in July, working solely in a Level III NICU. I also began at the same NICU a year prior, working as an extern, then being hired as a PCT while I completed my senior year. Soooo, I really enjoy my job but a position has become available for a Peds Float. I would LOVE to experience all areas of peds... what better way than to float full-time? :) I'm quite confident in my capabilities in my current position, so far. Obviously, I still ask questions, but I don't break out in a nervous sweat just showing up to work like I did fresh off orientation, ha! I've been a preceptor to new staff, as well. I haven't done anything ground-breaking, like make a unit wide change, nor am I a part of any committees. However, I've never been reprimanded and have excellent annual reviews. HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS: 1) Is this too soon to pursue another position? 2) Advice on how to set myself apart?... considering I haven't done anything above and beyond regular duties. I've had multiple requests from families to "primary" their babies, though, which I'm sure must say something about me :) 3) What questions should I expect during an interview?-- keep in mind I have had ZERO experience as an RN with any peds population other that neonates. 4) Any other advice, pointers, etc. are welcome (like, should I include the externship & PCT positions on my resume although they were not RN positions?... you get the idea.) THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! Warm regards

Sunbaby, I have the playtex drop ins, so fingers crossed that will work. So I think I'll just send her with frozen flat 2 oz bags of breast milk (they thaw and warm them in a crock pot, so shouldn't take long to warm) and the bottle/drop ins separate. Or do you think pre making them will be better? I just truthfully don't know how much she's eating and I'm afraid it'll get wasted. GREAT idea about mixing a little formula in if I'll be short!! I'll have to tell the dcp's about that. So no problems with the medium nipple and still breast feeding? I bought a couple today and was still contemplating slow flow... Finding it hard to pump when I'm around her all the time, but hopefully my 12+ hour days at work will solve that! Actually, after your post, I decided to give pumping a go before bed... So thanks for the kick in the bum in that respect!

BMATHIS!!! I just read your other post... 2 oz each bag, GENIUS! thanks!!!!

(I meant offer formula before she starts daycare to see if she'll take it)

Great input and ideas! I never thought about offering formula BEFORE she goes just in case I don't have enough milk pumped (I only have about 10 oz right now-- eek!) or sticking with a slow flow nipple since I'll still be nursing her at home... I was literally pondering slow vs medium flow just today at Target. Don't laugh, I'm a newish (about a year) NICU nurse. For me, all my work experience practically went out the window and I'm just like every other mom out there figuring things out, asking for help and advice, etc. Who knew? Anyway, I was considering waking her in the morning to nurse, but DUH, I can just pump before leaving for work (thanks @bmathis!) and leave a prepped bottle for dad in the refrigerator to use in the morning. I can always pump at work, no prob. My floor has plenty of rooms to use with hospital grade pumps, so that's lucky! Thank you (sincerely) for your input friends... I'm starting to get a plan together after many nights of freaking out just thinking about it, so THANKS!!!

To all the working mamas out there, Hey ladies, here's my situation: I'm heading back to work this coming Tuesday after having 12 wonderful weeks off with my new daughter. I'll be working three 12 hour shifts each week (with one weekend a month), so she'll be at daycare 2-3 times a week, depending on my schedule that particular week. I leave the house at 6:15 in the morning and won't return until 7:20-30ish. Dad will be taking her to and from daycare on my work days, the only days she'll go. I've been exclusively breastfeeding her, but she's had a bottle once (mama got her hair done! Woo!), so I know she'll take it... My question is, how did all of you breastfeeding, working mamas out there make the transition to bottles at daycare? I have no idea how much she eats in a feeding (guessing 3-5 oz). Send supplies and let them prep or pre make bottles? She eats on her own timing right now, so I hate to give them a schedule. Blah, I just what's best, but because I've been with her since birth, this mama's a little lost :/ So what has worked for you? Examples would be so helpful! Thanks!

Oh, well, I guess that'd just be the smartest thing to do... Just call HR and get a straight answer, huh. @UK, thanks for the question suggestion about date of hire vs orientation completion! Thanks so much :)

Hey all, So here's the long and short of it... I signed a 2 year contract (I'm 1 year in), just had a baby and took 12 weeks of FMLA. I took all of my accrued PTO during that time, receiving paychecks for most of my leave (sorry if that's irrelevant). Will my contract now be extended an additional 12 weeks? Anyone have experience with this or have tips on how to go about finding out without necessarily spelling my longterm plan out to the higher ups?.. Or anyone else really. Just not yet. I'd like to fulfill my contract and stay home with my kiddos while they're little... Return later. :) Thanks for your input friends!