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A BSN isn't a management degree, nor is it for that purpose. It's the base for nursing now. Nursing exists in hundreds of fields beyond the floor, and yes the floor sucks, and it sucked before Obamacare further screwed up nursing ratios. If you're thinking about your BSN, get it, it's a great base for the thousands of other fields in nursing.

In most states, NPs can practice independently. Having non NPs manage you likely introduces risk. Good for you having physicians that have their heads on straight. I'd be damned as an NP to have a BSN 'managing' me...

Um... you're in one of the most diverse fields on earth. You can be a school RN, insurance consultant, case manager, floor manager, senior manager, other consultant, analyst, ehr analyst, rn educator, policy consultant, etc, etc, etc. If you're under the impression that nursing is only floor nursing, you're sadly mistaken.

...sorry, but who cares? She could write MD. Allnurses certainly doesn't verify, and there are likely troves of CNAs, EMTs, laypeople pretending on these boards...

My wife, an RN started having kids whilst working full time her first year. This continued through our 2nd, her working full time. She added graduate school on top. After this, for our next two children, I went to nursing school, and worked full time, and currently am working on my graduate degree, and am working full-time. So I guess the question is, what are you looking for? If you want to be a stay-at-home-mom, then there are part-time/prn options for that. If you are willing, you can work and have a family. It's a choice.

Worked at a magnet hospital for 8 years. Graduated as an RN, no jobs. 400+ applications in year 1. Worked in IT, volunteered as an RN. Year 2, 400 plus apps (graduated at the 'top of my class', which by the way means SQUAT), they all want 1 year of RN experience, plus BSN. Worked in IT, volunteered as an RN, prn an RN home. Year 3, ~100 apps. Same as year 2. Year 4. I mostly didn't care anymore. ~ 10 apps, got offers from Magnet, North, Magnet South, Magnet hometown, town 30 miles away, town 20 miles away all with large hospitals. The volunteering/rn home exp is paying off. Work prn now, took another job that I enjoy much more... and for that job, I put out close to 1000 apps nationally, and got the job I wanted. So, how bad do you want to work?

Pay, year 1 out of rn school: 13.00/hr as a transporter. Pay, year 2 out of rn school: 19/hr in IT, volunteer rn. Pay, year 3 out of rn school: 19/hr in IT, volunteer RN, 30/hr prn nursing home. Pay, year 4 out of rn school: 19/hr in IT, volunteer RN, 30/hr prn nursing home. Pay, year 5 out of rn school: 180,000/yr... bedside? No. Niche specialty nursing? yes. Consulting for insurance companies and health systems.

Took me 3 years of volunteering before I started getting hospital job offers. 5 scholarships, 3.99 gpa. 70+ nursing schools in a 100 mile radius will do that, and I wasn't willing to move. That said, there are plenty of rural RN jobs, nationwide.

Informatics is diverse as nursing itself. You can be: >an EHR analyst. >a database manager. >an educator. >a report expert. >an IT analyst. >an HL7 interface specialist. >policy writer. >report writer. >database designer. >senior management. >research analyst. >interface analyst. >etc, etc, etc. There are many informatics jobs that focus on strong science, technical, and mathematical skills. Others focus heavily on SQL/databases, etc. Some want clinical experience, others do not. Some want PharmD's, MDs, or RNs, (some specifically some not), and others do not. You are not limited, just more defined in your potential roles.

Hello, I am doing quite well, and all departments have states this and are quite satisfied. I think my 2 years of full-time acute care experience as an ADN student (which for some reason 'doesn't count), has been very helpful. I do know that many employers look for the clinical experience and wanted a feel for what others are seeing. Thanks!

Hello, I'm currently working in informatics. My clinical acute care experience is lacking. Due to the saturation in the market where I lived (40+ nursing colleges in a 100 mile radius), getting an RN job was not possible. I worked in IT for 3 years and volunteered for three years. I have 5 years acute CNA experience and 5 years EMT experience, but I'm thinking my volunteer only RN experience will be detrimental in the future. My current position rocks but will likely end in 2 years. I have the opportunity to start a nurse-residency program. It would mean likely taking a 30k pay hit (it would still be 20k more than I was making in IT), and I would be contracted for three years. I feel it may be the right choice to get the acute care experience as I'm more than solid in IT/informatics. Thoughts?

There are plenty of ni jobs. Your background is great. I'll send you a pm. Anyone who says they're are no ni jobs must not know where to look.

Actually, I PM'd you my email.

Hello, Having trouble finding info online, so thought I pose the question with OB experts. I came from a system that used EPIC. However, we used Philips OBTV for fetal monitoring. I know Epic has the Stork module... however, is this just an interface module? Does EPIC have integrated fetal monitoring or is a third party vendor required? I see approved vendors here: https://open.epic.com/Clinical/HL7v2

PM me.

I graduated with my BSN, with honors, paid for by my employer. Due to having, literally, 50+ nursing schools in a 100 mile radius, I couldnt find a job to save my life, other than volunteering. I took a job in IT for a few dollars less an hour. Then we were 'acquired' by the largest health system in the state. I lucked out... I had guaranteed hours. Nursing went from nagnet nurse satisfaction focused to money focused. Nurses constantly complain about being sent home without pay. The focus of the profession is now forcibly changed for us. Contact your representatives. It will change, but I fear only after tragedy.

Depends on which employer you're looking at. Some want report writers. Some want EHR specialists. Some want Nurse Informaticists. Some want template builders. Some want database administrators. Most employers don't really know what they want, a few do. I got an NI position as an RN/BSN with comp certs and extensive IT experience. I've met nurses without the IT exp and it really hurts the end user due to the NI's lack of knowledge. I'd say a really good NI today should have (and no, colleges don't require this), 1.) comptia A+, comptia network+, basic experience with pcs hardware and software (i.e. can you install a program? Uninstall a program? basic troubleshooting, can you set up a wireless network at home?) 2.) basic exposure to databases Access, SQL, Mysql, Crystal reports... all this knowledge is free on Youtube. 3.) An understanding of what NI defines itself as, what employeers think it is (see above), and what will be expected. Some employeers will want just an analyst, just a template writer etc. But, employeers who really want an NI will want someone proficient in IT skills that can also navigate their chosen EHR, gather data from that EHR and make it useable to clinical staff (but have an understanding of it from and IT standpoint). Be able to gather that data (databases) be able to (in some jobs) support the EHR (i.e. install the program), be aware of and help the company meat federal and state guidelines: i.e. meaningful use, eQM, PQRS initiatives etc. In a facility that truly wants an NI, you'll have a great job and great potential for advancement and satisfaction. However, a well versed NI should be able to do any of the listed jobs above... it's just that NI should include all of these and not just one. There's a reason they hire a NURSE informaticist... you know the clinical side of IT, and the IT side of medicine. An 'analyst' generally is just an IT dude... etc.

What Nursing Informatics IS, and what employers think Nursing Informatics is varies by employer. Some employers, very few actually, have a real and true idea and understanding of what a nurse informaticist is and should be. Others title their jobs as nursing informaticist, and actually want: an application analyst, an IT technician, a report writer, and EHR template specialist, a programmer, a federal law EHR specialist. I recently started a NI position from an employer that knew what one is and what they expected. However the job also includes being an app analyst, which I'm stoked for as I worked in IT as an analyst and I get to use my IT skills. Personally, I've worked with RNs who went into NI with no previous IT experience and they are very lacking at what should be basic computing, i.e. how to install a program, how to uninstall a program, basic troubleshooting. The pay has steadily been going up thanks to increased demand for specialists thanks to Obamacare. Glad to see a comrade here!

With the Affordable Care Act in Effect, the ramifications thereof have made NI specialists in hot demand; this will continue for many years. One of the few benefits to Obamacare.

Spot on. I went to nursing school in Laramie, WY. Lived in Ft. Collins, CO, 60 miles North of Denver. NO NURSING JOBS. WHY? Well, within a 100 mile radius, there's the University of Wyoming, University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado-Denver, Denver University, Laramie County Community College, Aims County Community College, Denver Community College, 20+ IBMC's, Everest college, U-phoenix, Regis, etc, etc, etc. Unless you're someone super in with senior management, without 5+ years previous post grad experience, plus BSN, there's no hope getting in anywhere... and the 'good' places where 'acquired' by UCH. Everything is census based now, nurses are sent home on a whim. Rack up student loan debt and only DNPs and CNMs have a chance to qualify for any sort of reasonable loan-repayment outside the military. Welcome to reality post 'nurse shortage' bubble. Most of the community colleges in the area and the private schools push out a new class of 'new grads' EVERY SEMESTER.

So, I'm a student. I graduate in a few weeks. I've heard that they give glucose for hyperkalemia. While researching this, I see that it is insulin and glucose that is given to push the potassium into the cells. http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0115/p283.html So, I'm wondering what the mechanism is for this. Please don't respond based on assumption, I'd like to know the actual mechanism and not the assumed one. I'm thinking that glucose must be electronegative and thereby creates a complex with potassium and pulls it into the cells with it. I've only taken chemistry to organic II, but not biochemistry yet. Thanks for your informed responses!

Thanks for your responses, really appreciated. Will thoughtfully consider it! Thanks for not sugar coating it as well.

It would be more than, 'just for a job'. But, at the same time, it would NOT be, 'just for the lifestyle'. As for the days, I hear they are often 12 hour days... Is it 12 hour days, 5 days a week?

Thanks. I am currently enrolled and taking classes online for my BSN. Thanks for this and any other comments. As for your response in #1.... why not? I can see myself serving. It is a viable alternative that my wife and I are considering and that is why I'm exploring and asking questions. Thanks!

I am considering the navy given the LIE fed to us about some nursing shortage. New Graduate is the new worst curse word in medicine. I will be done with my ADN in Dec, BSN shortly thereafter. I may consider the Navy should I find myself unfortunate like so many other new grads. I have 3 kids and am married. What are the pros and cons of military service? Can I pick my own preferred 'floors', i.e. surgery, emergency medicine etc, or will I get what I get? I've seen several posts about 'collateral' assignments... What are these? How much extra time do they add. Lastly... would I be able to complete my MSN while in? I"ve seen several online MSN informatics degrees I'm interested in... would I have time for that? Thought, suggestions, comments. Welcome.