Orange123456

Hi @eliskathenurse, In my light research I've found that each Canadian Province has it's own Board of Nursing- similar to how each state does in the US. And each BON recognizes different types of NPs. It looks like Family NPs are recognized everywhere (from what I have read), but Psych NPs are only recognized in Quebec, which is very hard to immigrate to. Other NPs recognized include pediatric and cardiac, but only in some provinces. I'm unsure if the psych NP role in Quebec is similar to the PMHNP role in the US (in regards to pay, autonomy, and other details). Outside of Canada, I've read that PMHNPs are recognized roles in The Netherlands and also New Zealand, and the roles are similar to the US re: diagnose, treat, prescribe, and can have your own private practice/ patient panel.

Just wondering if anyone else applied to the MSN PMHNP program at UNH. I'm anxiously awaiting to hear back!!

Hello, I recognize your question is many years old at this point, but in the off chance that you may see this anyway: Did you end up using your PMHNP in Canada? If so, is it possible to have a private practice there? Is the pay comparable to PMHNPs in the US?

@emtb2rn This is hilarious haha I got Walmart greeter hahahahaha Sounds about right... low BS tolerance.

I'm in a similar situation as you although I do have ER experience (but from 5 years ago). I stepped away from the bedside to work for a medical device company and really miss it, so I am going back to the ER. It's been 2 years since I was bedside and 5 years since I was in the ER (I was ICU in between). I'm nervous to run into the fire as well but they assured me that PPE has never run out and that orientation will not be altered due to the increased need for ER nurses. My husband has always been an ER nurse and is still there now, so here is our decon routine when he (and soon to be me too) gets home: Enter through the basement backyard door, at the steps inside is lysol spray, antibac, and Clorox wipes. He strips out of his scrubs and down to underwear, balls them into a neat ball and puts his shoes next to the door. Antibac's his hands, then Clorox wipes his phone, lunchbox/ cooler, and wallet. Everything else (badge, stethoscope, etc) stays down with his shoes in a work bag. He grabs a Clorox wipe and comes up from the basement into the house and goes straight into our guest bathroom, which has our washer and dryer. Any light switch or door handle that he touches on the way, he uses a Clorox wipe in his hand to touch. Uses the Clorox wipe to open the washer and throws in his scrubs and all clothes he wore at work. He turns on the shower, tosses the Clorox wipe, and then showers. And that's that! It has kept COVID out of our house since the very beginning of this mess in 2020. He also never eats in the break room even though it's been allowed- always either outside if the weather is nice or in his car if he needs the heat. He's also incredibly diligent about never touching his face, mask, or glasses with unwashed hands. In the beginning of COVID I was immune compromised, pregnant, now I'm healthy but we have a young infant so will be continuing this process once we both return back to work. Good luck! You'll do great.. they'll be grateful to have you!

I’m preparing for my TNCC course and am hoping someone can suggest some scenarios to practice. I have the ENA study book and it gives five scenarios to practice with… I think the scenarios are going to be my hardest part because I don’t do well when the attention is on me in a room! I’m a really good learner and a great tester but I get so nervous when everyone is paying attention to me in a room. Any ideas for other scenarios to practice at home? The ones that the ENA study guide suggests are: pediatric pt, pregnant pt, bariatric pt, thoracic trauma (stabbing), head injury.

Snacks! I especially love a good yogurt with granola... carbs, protein, and healthy fats to keep your brain working! I always snack more during night shifts. I also love my glass water bottle that is marked for one liter. It helps me meet my hydration goals, which always helps me stay more alert! If your unit has a Keurig, pack a few k-cups... good luck and congratulations!

That sounds rough and I can totally relate to you- my last job was really wreaking havoc on my body (and mind). Do you have a LinkedIn profile? I found this helpful when I was leaving my last job because I could look up different hospitals and employers and see who I know that works there, or who my contacts know that works there. At least where I am, nursing jobs are ALL about who you know. I've had five RN jobs and I knew someone working with that team for every single one of them.. check out LinkedIn, or maybe keep an extra close eye on employers who employ some people you know. Does your nursing program have a facebook page? Mine does and it doesn't get used often, but when someone posts for job openings/ information people are really supportive. Good luck!

I stepped away from the bedside about a year and a half ago. I worked in pedi critical care and we had a ton of unimaginable child abuse cases over the course of two years... to cut to the chase, I developed secondary PTSD and took a necessary step back from the bedside. I've been working for a medical tech company but I really, really miss the bedside. I saw a therapist, took care of myself, and I feel more than ready. I was an EMT for 5 years before becoming a nurse, at which point I was a new grad in an ED. I stayed there for 2 years, then went to pedi ICU for three years before stepping into a desk job. I've started applying for L&D... any tips on how to make myself a good candidate or get on the managers' radar with my little step away on my resume??

Thank you! All of your input means a lot to me. After reading this, I did call EAP and they are sending me a list of providers to reach out to. The suggestion about my dog--- you're right! I do have a dog and he is actually a therapy dog who visits patients at the hospital that my husband works at. When I read that, a little light went off like "Duh! Snuggle the dog." I am also going to make more of an effort to stick to my running plan. I am impressed with the level of validation and compassion that I am receiving from this platform/community. Thank you so very much!

I work in critical care and I think I am burned out. It's pedi, and we deal with a ton of abuse cases. Lately I have been getting more and more frustrated with a couple of the doctors (who have bad reputations for either clinical judgement or their character- my patience is running so low), I get irritated with my completely innocent coworkers, I no longer feel motivated to accept more responsibility- like orienting a coworker, having a nursing student with me, or wanting to become a charge nurse. I simply want to clock in, clock out, and go home. And when I'm home, I just want to not think about work-- but replaying the most frustrating or heartbreaking moments over and over again in my head is inescapable. I've noticed that since my last day at work, about 4 days ago, I have been more irritable at home and in my personal life. This has happened before- maybe after work, before I fall asleep and am able to shake it off with good sleep- but it's just not going away like it used to and I am absolutely DREADING going back. The thing is- the frustrating doctors are in every part of healthcare. Frustrating moments are inevitable. Where I work is actually wonderful- I have a great team and if I leave I will probably never work for a manager as awesome as the one we all have now. So, what's wrong with me? I'm considering getting a therapist to help me sort it out- but I figure until then, I must not be the only nurse experiencing such awful burn out. Anybody else out there experience this and find the light at the end of the tunnel?

Hi Amy, welcome to the ER! I'm new to it myself. I oriented on a "swing shift" (3p-3a) before asking to be moved to 7p-7a. I'm a new grad and was an even newer grad at the time. I can tell you that the best part for me was that my department starts to clear out around 11pm, so it was nice to end on a calm note and be able to catch up on any loose ends (simple documentation, email, learning modules, etc...) before leaving. Most of the 7a-7p nurses have to stay late in their shift to accomplish that. But I will say that the only down side is exactly why I switched shifts. There is only one swing shift person a day and it was me. When I would be assigned to take over another nurse's patients, they weren't accustomed to handing off their patients 4 hours before shift change and would ALWAYS try to leave me with a sloppy patient load- or dump a very unsafe one on me. I fortunately (or unfortunately?) worked in my department for years before being hired as a new grad nurse and became friends with all of the nurses before I ever was one, so when they would try to leave me hanging like that I was comfortable enough with them to use my back bone and openly state my concerns. It got tough though- people don't like to be called out on trying to dump their unsafe patient load on you or leave you with their loose ends, no matter how nice you say it. But you've got to be safe and you've got to be professional. My BIGGEST word of advice to you is DO BEDSIDE REPORT!!! Regardless of what they fail to document, 5 minutes in the room with the patient with that nurse by your side holds them accountable, keeps you both on the same page and helps you prioritize. It helps you do a quick assessment of your own, which allows you to prioritize their needs better than you would based on someone else's "story". I found that those 5 minutes in the room with the other nurse helped a few times, and I can think of one time where it would have been very valuable had I done it. Also- from one newbie to another, standing with another nurse gave me the opportunity to ask questions about the many things I was not (and am still learning about) familiar with. Some old school nurses I work with aren't big fans of bed side report, and there are certainly some situations where it isn't appropriate, but my department really pushes for it to be the standard and I do find it much safer. Good luck on 1p-1a :) If you're a busy body like me, you'll love it!

Hello! I am also a new grad ER nurse (9 months experience with the hospital, 6.5 months in the ED). I am in a community hospital ED, not a large city hospital like it sounds like you are (we see approx. 40k people a year, 25 beds in ED, 100beds in hospital) so my experience may be different for a number of reasons. In my program, the 3 of us in the department were off of orientation after 3 months. Each of us previously worked as ED Techs in this same department for years, prior to becoming nurses and starting this program. In my similarly limited experience, I totally hear what you're saying. I've found recently that it really helps me, even in situations that I feel like I understood, to read about them in my Emergency Nursing text book (Sheehy's 6th edition) after work. Even in situations that I predicted and handled well, it connects a few more dots for me every time I read about various situations. It may help validate your progress and ease your concerns if you talk to someone in the department who you feel knows your practice thus far and also is someone who will tell it to you honestly (and is not a bullying type of coworker). Ask someone in private what they think and if they have any advice, go from there. About 2 weeks away from the end of my orientation I got REALLY nervous ("How the hell am I going to be able to do this alone!?") so I confided in a friend of mine at work. She has no interest in bullying anybody in the department, isn't the type to talk about other people, and tells it to me like it is. She gave it to me straight and it eased my concerns. She basically said... you'll never know everything in medicine and nursing, you just have to be safe and know when to ask for help. I knew (and still know) when to ask for help.

I joined a new grad program in the ER with a community hospital in June '15, so I've been there for just 9 months. My fiancé and I live in Boston and it is my end goal to work at one of the trauma facilities in my area. I understand that time (AKA experience) is a huge factor, so while I am getting a couple of years under my belt I want to be doing everything I possibly can to be making myself marketable. I have ACLS/PALS and will be getting NRP very soon. I'm studying for TNCC and the CEN. Other than these 5 things and a couple years of experience, can someone suggest some things that I can do to make myself more marketable and knowledgeable? Oh also, I have a BA in psych and my nursing is an ADN. I have student loan debt and I would like to get my master's in nursing (ADN-->MSN program) instead of paying for another bachelor's degree. Do you think it would suffice, when the time to apply does come around, if I am enrolled in a higher education program (as opposed to having one)? I'd like to get into a Boston hospital within the next 2 years and I anticipate starting an MSN program within the next year. I'll probably have my MSN in 3-4 years. Any and all advice would be so appreciated! Thank you!

Hello, I really need some advice because I am having a hard time in my current nursing field and have no idea if I should continue to become a nurse or if there is a different healthcare career that may be better for me... I became a CNA in May and have been working at a LTC center for three months. I love my patients and some of my co-workers are very nice, but for the most part every interaction most of them have with each other is all drama. The conversations consist mostly of trash talking the most recent person to leave the room. At first I wrote it off and thought that it was only the CNAs and that being an RN wouldn't be like this, but after some time I realized that the RNs did it just as much WITH the CNAs. The RN who often works my shift comes to give us a daily report and starts the conversation talking trash about the nurse who she just relieved and the day shift CNAs. I have a few friends who are CNAs at other facilities and are so sweet, they're the reason I thought I would enjoy becoming a CNA as a bridge to learn more about the nursing field and become an RN! Three of my aunts and one of my uncles are nurses and they love their jobs! I really want to work in the nursing field, but is every job environment like this? It's brutal. I have come to stay under the radar so that I am not involved in the drama, but doing so has restricted my relationships with my co-workers very much. The thing is, I just don't want to be involved in their conversations about our co-workers. This is my first healthcare job and I want to use it as a reference for nursing school, but it's hard because I am not bonding with my co-workers the way I would like to. One of the other new girls is from my graduating LNA class and her and I have talked about how uncomfortable we are when we work with people who talk trash about each other. People have complained to the director and assistant director about the hostile environment, but they ignore it and have even told us to just "be careful who you talk around" and "keep your voices down next time". I have never worked in an environment that was this hostile and it's very discouraging. As a new person, it was really hard to learn my daily duties because no body wanted to help me learn or answer my questions. I'm having a really hard time with it because I love the healthcare field and I want a career where I can continue to learn and help people. I thought nursing was the way to do this, but is it? Is every nursing environment like this for RNs? Any advice anyone has to offer would be great!