All Content by KR
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AS a BSN RN, can I operate independently providing care to friends and family at no cost?
I would say check with your state board of nursing. Anytime I have worked private duty or per visit home health nursing by law we have to have a care plan, exact orders, diagnosis, meds, allergies, safety plan, and more and it legally must be signed by the doctor. I have not looked into doing it for myself, but legally if a company providing home health nursing needs to follow laws, codes, etc by DOH, JCAHO, etc I would think that an individual would have to do the same thing. Definitely check with your Board of Nursing and get it in writing. Regardless, if u are working/volunteering as a nurse, I highly recommend liability insurance. So glad u found something that ignited your passion♡
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What are you required to disclose to the board?
Not comfortable putting this kind of information in a public chat. Hit me up via email if u want to [email protected] and just mention All nurses & the chat topic. What I will say is lying to the board is never a option. U could end of losing licensure for LIFE.
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What is a reasonable nurse: patient ratio in ICU?
Last time I worked agency (local) I was making about $6-$7/hour more but what staff doesnt realize is THEY could CHOSE to be agency too. Plus I got u benefits and the average benefit package is worth I believe an estimated $6-$8k. Not to mention the hospital doesn't spend weeks or months orienting us, nor do they pay for my ACLS, BLS, PALS, CEU, etc and most importantly we are there TO HELP..... The rates for ICU & LTAC agency went up $10/hour the year after I got injured, because staffing is critically short. 20 years as a RN, back as a new grad, if a hospital offered u a signing bonus u ran, because u knew it was a nightmare. Now big hospitals systems r offering $5,000 to new grads to 2 years and $10,000 to over 2 years experience. My city has 2 450ish bed hospitals (one a level 2 Trauma), and a 3rd that is horrid, maybe 150 beds. We have 4 NURSING PROGRAMS graduating new nurses twice a year. If they would treat core staff appropriately (higher pay, listen to their concerns, safer ratios, etc), they wouldnt need to bribe nurses to come work. Pennsylvania is supposed to be one of the lowest paying states in the country, travel recruiters love to remind me of this, but at least the area I am in the cost of living is relatively low compared to most of the country. I have been staff, local agency, & travel agency. I just wish NURSES in general would team up and work together and LIFT EACH OTHER UP, the profession is harder enough as it is. I will say in 9 years of agency I only had issues with the Daytime LTAC Supervisors dumping on agency, but they did that to their one per diem too. I just went in with a positive attitude & genuinely made a difference. Money always came up and I tried to point out to staff the above mentioned items, but most did not want to hear it. Just my two cents.
- What is a reasonable nurse: patient ratio in ICU?
- What is a reasonable nurse: patient ratio in ICU?
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When a Covid 19 vaccine becomes available, will it be absolutely mandatory for healthcare staff?
W.H.O. being non-bissed? 15% of their money comes from Bill Gates Foundation. There is a reason, IMO, a good one, why the current administration decided to break away from the W.H.O.
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When a Covid 19 vaccine becomes available, will it be absolutely mandatory for healthcare staff?
Sadly, it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't FORCED (or an attempt wasn't made at forcing it on ALL Americans) . Not saying I am going to be a Guinea pig, but the way things seem to be going...
- What are some things you can't do now but plan on doing once this Coronavirus situation ends?
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What is a reasonable nurse: patient ratio in ICU?
I have worked in at least 8 different ICU's maybe more, either as staff or agency (local) and travel & only 1 hospital was 1 nurse to 2 patients the norm. Everywhere else a lot of the time being tripled (having 3 patients) was the norm the vast majority of the time. If u had a patient with IABP or fresh open hearts it may be 2, very rarely 1 if the patient was very unstable and practically coding the whole shift. I live on the east coast for reference. The hospital that staffed 1:2 in the ICU was out in Neveda. I'm talking Level 2 Traumas (ski/snowboarding accidents, MVA, horse accidents, etc), head injuries and people with ventricular drains in. Thankfully if the patients were in a drug induced coma, those ones were 1:2. This has been my experience over 15 years. Hospitals from 26 beds to 1,000 beds.
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Lower O2 sat parameters in babies with cardiac defects
Adult ICU Nurse here. Thank you for the very enlightening education on how very different NICU & PICU Cardiac kiddos are compared to adults. As others have said, u genuinely have a teaching gift, and I hope you get a chance to utilize it to the fullest. You will save a lot of lives by educating other nurses & obviously at the bedside too♡ Your hospital and patients are blessed to have you☆
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What are some good resources to read up on as a new graduate in the ICU?
Www.ceufast.com is like $40/year for unlimited CEU. They have great online classes on ABG, Vasoactive Drips, Vents, and other ICU (and non-ICU topics). Also, www.aacn.org had a free online 6hr COVID-19 course. You just had to register for free on their site. Best of luck to you!
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What are some good resources to read up on as a new graduate in the ICU?
Not so much book recommendations at online Con ED classes. Many websites you can get unlimited CEU for a onetime yearly fee. There is one website in particular I have no affiliation with, but prefer. I'm not sure if I can post here, but feel free to PM me. I would go over topics such as Ventilators & patients, ABGs, Central Lines & Hemodynamics, telemetry, to name a few. Also the AACN has a free COVID-19 patient course on their website! I have not completed the entire thing, but what I have it is decent. For seasoned ICU nurses a lot is review, but I think it is still beneficial. And it is definitely worth it for new staff and non ICU nurses. Best wishes for your new career!
- Proning patients, face and neck positioning
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Transitioning to acute care
One tip that I have is to do as much ICU Con ED as you can absorb and definitely put the classes, hours, etc on your resume to show your interest. Vents, Central Lines, ABG, COVID-19 patients would be some good classes to take. Also, it wouldnt hurt to get NIHSS certified. Brush up on tele and EKG and think about taking an in person ACLS Class if they r having those in your area yet. Doing some of the above would not only show your interest, your intent, that you are a go getter, but it would help you out A TON, to learn even just a tiny bit of this before coming into the ICU. Many places are paying signing bonuses even to new grads, yes even in the ICU. If the hospital wants you to sign a contract that u must stay for a certain amount of time or you owe them, run! because they have a "wonderful ICU Program" that they put a lot of money into training new nurses. That is typically a sign that they cannot retain nurses. Feel free to message me if you would like some links for excellent ICU CEU Online resources. Best of skills to you:)
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Thoughts on Charge RN
I have well over a decade in various ICU (staff, local agency, & traveler). 26 bed to 1000 plus bed hospitals. Here is my two cents. #1 Charge Nurses have always had regular patient assignments on top of being charge (theoretically the easiest assignment, but patients can go bad in an instant). #2 One of the roles of the charge nurse in many of the hospitals is to be a "Resource Nurse"/Expert to help the newer staff, float staff, or just another nurse on the team. Yes ICU staff nurses help each other, but depending on the size of the Unit, staff, etc there may be a fair number of newer staff members. I honestly think you would be a great asset as a Charge RN with all your experience after you get some ICU bedside experience. And with as many different areas of nursing that u have worked in, I am sure u would likely pick up on things quick! Either way best of luck to u!
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Tax home question
R u the owner of Travel Tax Company?
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California travel & income taxes
Best thing to do is check with Joe at Travel Tax. Com I think. Over 2 decades he has been amazing at helping travelers with their taxes, he used to travel himself!
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Best ONLINE SITES for free ICU Review
Best ONLINE SITES for free ICU Review I am mainly looking for advanced tele strips, drips, vent settings, and such. My ICU books got ruined when my basement flooded. It has been awhile since I have been in the ICU but may be asked to with COVID19 so I want to brush up. Books on kindle r fine too! Ty and every1 stay safe!
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Masks at the nurse's station
Sorry I am no help as I am waiting to land my travel contract or decide to just volunteer with one of my teams. Wth wontthey let nurses that I'm assuming r not 6' away from each other, heck even if they r, where masks all the time?! That is not best practice and just asking for trouble. I would be wearing a mask regardless. Something I will be adding into my written contract. Prayers management changes their mind to keep ALL their employee safer.
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ICU Residency ; How I got let go.
Do.not.let.the.haters.win! Nurses eating their young, their old, their this, their students, their that totally disgusts me! I started 20 years ago in a new grad ICU internship program. By thd grace of God I survived, that, lots of prayers and having 5 years of EMS under my belt and I can remember those first days like it was yesterday. You will have "strong personalities" BULLIES in all areas of nursing, but ICU tends to have more. If it is your passion, dont ever give up! Prove them wrong! IDK if u have choices in a different hospital system, but I woulsnt want to work where even the Director of Educatipn is that awful. They failed u too, by not being kind, by not mentioning the many positive things u have done and still do. Everyone told me to do a year of med/surg first. I wouls have never made it. Not my cupf of tea. Inhave a friend who started ICU with me, but got demoted to m/s. She aent on to get her Masters, become and Acute Care NP, teach @UC Davis and manage on of their ICU units. Attitude is EVERYTHING! Iam not on here much, but my inbox is always open. Best of luck to all of you! One suggestion I have is subscribeto an online year membership con ed site and do as much relevant ICU CEU as possible, learn, learn , learn. Most memberships run $80-$110 but swveral companies are running specials thru tomorrow for like $40 for the year (CEUfast and elitehealthcare) are 2 I believe. Chase after those dreams and dont ever loose your compassion for your patients, coworkers, rookie nurses, and students, it will set u a part:) Online education won't teach u all, clinical hands on is really important too:)
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Certified Peds Nurse Exam-Studying
Thank you both so much! Very helpful♡ I greatly appreciate it:)
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Certified Peds Nurse Exam-Studying
On the CPN website, they have the exam content outline and some suggested books, but do not endorse any. They have a few free practice questions. Plus u can buy 2 50 question modules for $35 each on their website. I need to get an updated Peds book as I graduated in 2000. I will list the 3 pages I'm talking about below. Best of luck to you! https://www.pncb.org/cpn-exam-resources https://mypncb.pncb.org/pncbssa/ecssashop.show_category?p_category_id=PREP&p_cust_id=&p_order_serno=&p_promo_cd=&p_price_cd=&p_session_serno=142786&p_trans_ty= (Make sure u choose CPN) Lastly, on the resources page there is a pdf download for Exam Readiness Checklist. Hth:)
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Private Duty Nurse NOT through a company
I have thought about working on my own but won't for several reasons. 1 being insurance. 2-I don't know all the State/Federal Rules/Regs/Laws that the companies make sure we as nurses follow. For example, there are specific things that need to be addressed on their 485/Plan of Care that needs recertified every 60 days in most states. Also, depending on the state docs have between 7 to 14 days to sign verbal orders & fax them back. So there is a lot more to do and know than just the Private Duty Shift Nursing part you are doing now. You would also have to do the Supervisory and Case Managers roles and be expected to know all the rules & regs.
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Will I get in trouble with the BON for receiving mental health care?
Personally if stuff needs reported to JCAHO, regardless if u stay or go I would do that. Not sure about HR, but I wouldnt want to stay somewhere I was being harassed. Nursing is stressful enough on it's own. Praying 4 u. So sorry u r going thru this
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How to be successful with mental illness
Hi there! Bipolar, GAD, Social anxiety, PTSD, severe back injury 4 years ago (none of my doctors want me working because I can barely stand somedays the pain is so excruciating) and two 3 year periods sleeping 10 hours a week. Tried for Disability twice at my Doctors and Families Insistence but I'm educated and younger (39) and so keep getting denied. I have been an RN for 19 years, worked 12 of 19 years, mostly Part Time & Per Diem after my 3rd year in nursing. My main specialty was ICU (mainly local agency, some travel) until I got injured. I'm just re-entering the workforce after 4 years off this time. I will be doing Peds Private Duty 3rd shift as the child won't be as active, just 1 or 2 nights a week as that is all I can physically handle and that will be a stretch. I *totally* get missing bedside nursing, i miss ICU a lot! I have a ton of employment gaps in my resume (I'm talking 2,3, and 4 year gaps). Somethings that have helped me. For one, if I was only at a job a short period of time, unless it was a travel contract, I don't even put it on my resume. Secondly, do a ton 20, 30, even 40 or more hours of very recent Con Ed in the specialty you are applying too. Also, you do not have to disclose what your health issues were/are. Some do so they can be protected under the ADA act, some don't. Whenever asked about gaps in my resume I am honest, but vague. "Health issues", "families health issues", back to school, busy with church ministry etc. They can ask for details, but by law they can't discriminate and you do not have to answer (unless u have previously filed a worker's comp claim, and that I'm not 100% sure on.) When you did hospital nursing before was it a steady shift? I highly suggest working the same shift and sticking as close to the same schedule on your days off, with having psych issues, *especially* if u r on meds like me. Also, do u have to work full time? If not, I would suggest part time to ease into things. Also, try to get as long of an orientation as u can. Some hospitals have New(er) Nurse Programs to help transition easier into practicing on the floor, where they have weekly classes, meetings, etc. I hope my ramblings help some, and I wish you nothing but the best. Also, I have worked in hospitals 26 beds to 1100 beds. The smaller hospitals tend to be friendly and may be a better fit and more understanding. Lastly, going with the education piece, there are online CEU sites that you pay a flat fee for a year of online with over 100 courses. Some sites are only $70 a year, some are double. I have gone with netce dot com in the past. They offer over 1000 hours on a wide variety of topics and a year is only $69. Best of luck! You can do it♡