kht124

Im a new grad RN working in cvicu since January. I am looking to get a prn job since i only work 3 times a week and would like to do something fruitful with my time off (not much of a party person). I do study a few hours a day on my days off, but feel like I have too much time on my hand still. I liked NICU and maternal newborn a lot during nursing school. I am thinking about applying for a prn position in NICU...either that or high risk labor and delivery. My question is: is this a good idea? I would really like to pursue this, but I know that adult icu is different from nicu and l&d. Also, anyone doing both adult icu and nicu or adult icu and high risk l&d? If so, any tips?

I just turned 22 when I started nursing school. My first semester of school was supposed to be my last semester of undergrad. However, I changed major late and do not regret that. I do regret not wanting to get into nursing right out of high school, though. I wasted 2 years of college, but, oh well, I think I needed to take the long route anyway. I would not have been a very good nurse a few years ago. I am now in my 4th semester of nursing school and will turn 24 shortly after graduation.

At my hospital, the EKG course is offered after you have completed the basic cardiac monitor course (which is the course you need to take to become a monitor tech.). I got a certificate of completion for ekg course. I am not sure about the online one though. If you take it at a hospital, you get paid while learning.

I got my CNA, then CMA. Worked 11 months in a memory care/assisted living unit for a company that owns multiple nursing home and hospitals. Applied for hospital job and got job as a pct/huc at a new hospital owns by the same company. Worked in that position for about 11 months, then my hospital (finally) created an education department, which meant that students/residents can finally do clinical there AND student positions were created. I became a nurse technician after that. I am still working PRN as a NT for the same company. So my advice is: get your foot in the door anywhere. I did not want to work in a nursing home, but if working in a nursing home will make you an internal job applicator, do it!

Just wanted to update that I have been working as a nurse tech in the icu since july :). I am very happy and have learned a lot. I am also starting capstone this week in cticu at a different hospital :) I also took the cardiac monitor class and ekg class at the hospital I work at. I haven't had a chance to work as a monitor tech yet, but it has helped with critical care class this semester. Hopefully I'll get a chance to do cardiac monitoring soon.

Ok, I will float to icu more often. my hospital has an EKG class but I cant take it till August. I had an interview in micu at a different hospital but didnt get the job. Totaly bummed but oh well. ill just float to dif icus at my current hospitals and talk to the managers I guess.

Im so stressed out, idk wher to begin. Nsg school is stressful, this semester more than the last. I think it'll be less stressful if u just want to pass instead of getting a certain grade; however if you have to keep like a 3.3 avg or something like that for scholarship and NT job, its very stressful, especially if your are borderline

I personally prefer to read every word. Usually, I would get at least a stable A if I do my reading. I know some people that would barely skim the book and would study the powerpoint and would get an A. I tried that a few times and the best grade I got when skimming was a 91, which is still a B. I can't skim if I want an A. I think it just depends on how you study. Some people do really well with condense information while others, like me, like to read background information and everything else.

Thanks

Being in nursing school is making me fat. I think it is the stress, the fast food, energy drinks, late nights studying and snacking, lack of exercise and decrease of care in one's appearance d/t... well, aint nobody got time for that in nursing school...lol. I usually get quite fit in the summer since I actually have time to work out ( and want to work out) and care for myself. But, as soon as nursing schools starts, the weight will start to creep back in about 2 weeks. Apparently, according to people's comments on here, it's not going to get that much better once I am a nurse. -_-

So, awhile back...recently, I created a topic to ask for suggestions to find a tech job in the icu, well, I have a chance to go to an interview for one soon; however, I have some conflicting thoughts about it: 1. The position is part time and requires that I work friday morning shifts and some evening shifts in random days of the week. I can do all that in the summer;however, I am still in school right now and wont get out till after may 10. 2. In my fall semester, will have fridays free and will be able to work fridays when school starts again; however, I wont be able to work evenings on any weekday since I wont get out till 3p, and the shift starts at 3. I am conflicted because I really want this opportunity, but, at the same time, I feel that my schedule will not be that flexible when school starts in the fall. My schedule will be extremely flexible during the summer time though. What should I do? Should I go ahead and go to the interview or no? Also, usually, how long does it take from interview to actually starting a job...if I actually get it...? If it starts before May 10, my schedule will be very limited (only weekend), but if it starts after May 10, I am game.

Can I work as a monitor tech? Will the hospital train me for this or will I have to take a course outside of the hospital before applying? All the jobs I applied for were cna/unit clerk. I don't have an emt so I can't do much outside of clerk work in the er.

Eeek, this is what I was afraid of. I originally wanted to move to florida after school, until I heard about the job market overthere...not very good. I am still a student and haven't started to look for an RN job yet; however, I have been trying to get an icu job as a tech and it had been rough. I think your best chance is to search for a job in other cities and other states. Try to network, go to job fairs (I am going tomorrow), expand your friend circle (get to know more people in the healthcare field), volunteer, get a non-hospital job while searching for a hospital job... Best of luck:up:

If you give insulin, that will control blood sugar and help drive potassium into the cells, which will temporarily decrease serum k... Decreased LOC can d/t dehydration or hyperglycemia. Dehydration can be caused by hyperglycemia (hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state)....Dehydration can cause tachycardia. Hyperglycemia (lack of sufficient insulin and increased osmolality from dehydration r/t hyperglycemia) can cause hyperkalemia. There is not enough info, its hard to answer, but I would do with the hyperglycemia since I think it is causing everything else. Also, if you are treating hyperosmolar hyperglycemis state, you'll be giving a lot of fluid anyway...

I guess getting into the float pool might be good for me, might not be too bad since I already float a lot. My concern is not having a home unit and possibly being the first ones to be let go if there is a budget cut (in the past, the float pool had been the first to go d/t budget cut). sunnybabe, I haven't thought about transfer difficulty with managers...hmmm... tigerita, I hope you are enjoying your job and learning lots. I will remember to emphasize on patient satisfaction and patient care...if I even get an interview...

This is so embarrassing, but I habe ibs, so when I eat something wrong or forget to eat and/or forget to take my anticholinergic med I get extremely frequent gas and cramp. I can totally relate to the embarrassment and awkwardness of the situation (I mean, there is not much you can say or want to say after such incidence). Usually, I just apologize sincerely and confess to being embarassed or ignore it (like when I am in a room with a patient with a leaking rectal tube and c-diff). It sucks and you are probably feeling petrified, but you are only human, and some things are out of your control.

I do work prn in the hospital, in a rehab unit within a hospital. I also float to other units and affiliating hospitals as needed (i have to work atleast 12hr every 2 weeks, so if rehab is low on census on days i can work, i float to other units (mainly med-surg, cardiac, surgical and er twice; could only work as health unit clerk in er). I haven't been to the icu much, just a few times to sit patients, Technically, i should be an internal applicant, but i am still not getting calls. I'll try requesting to work in icu or stepdown. I am trying really hard to land a job in icu.

geez, people are making food wages as pct/emt! I currently make $12 base as a prn pct/huc. I can make anywhere from $13.50- $15.50 depending on shift differential and/or weekend differentials. I make $15 base as a prn student nurse tech. I can make anywhere from $16.50 to $20.25 depending on shift and/or weekend differentials. I work in kansas and have 1.5 year of experience.

Hi, I am a 3rd semester nursing student. I have been trying to get a tech job in the icu in vain. I have applied probably 6-7 times within 1 year (for 85% of icu tech jobs opened) and have only had one interview. I didn't get the job . I really want to get my foot in the door while in school to get experience and to prepare for after graduation. My dream is to work in the icu for 3-4 years and then become an icu np or a travel or flight nurse. experience on me: *Past job: 10 months of experience as a CMA in a ltc facility. * Current job: 9 months (and counting) of experience PCT/health unit clerk in a rehab unit within a hospital facility (same company as CMA job, I just transferred from a ltc facility to a hospital facility). * Current job: 3 months of experience as a student nurse tech in a step down med surg unit. I am PRN for both of my current jobs. I like my current jobs very much and feel very blessed to have them; however, I want to pursuit my goal of getting an icu tech position. Here are my questions: 1. Could someone look over my resume to see if I am doing something wrong? (I will post it if someone will read it). 2. Is it something else that I am not seeing, that is keeping me from landing an icu job? 3. Do companies track interview records? During the one interview I got, I mentioned something extremely stupid and naive . you can look at my past threads to find out what, I wont repeat it Could that be the reason why HR isn't looking at me? 5. If that is it, what else can I do? am I marred forever due to that incidence? 6. What advice can you give me? I would appreciate any. Feel free to just answer one, some or all of the above. Any comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I can relate to this. I have always been an introvert. However, at work, I try really hard to input my opinions and talk to my co-workers, just so I am not seen as the "weird one". At school, sometimes, I lapse and revert to my introverted nature and can sense how uneasy that makes some people around me feel (no body likes the awkward silence). Now, I go out of my nature to be "part of the group". It makes life much easier, it's not entirely fair, but that's how it is. p.s. it doesn't help, either, that mass murderers and serial killers usually get described as shy, quiet, a lone, odd and such...gives such a bad connotation to introverts.

I work every other weekend while in school and go full time during summer and winter break. Although, I am not exactly prn, I am .3 (.6 is part time and 1.2 is full time), which means that I am guaranteed 2 days of work every other weekend but don't get any benefits at all (part time workers do). PRN pcts at my hospital are not guaranteed any hours, but instead must call to find and maintain atleast 12 hours per pay check, which is why I chose .3 instead. I can pick up extra hours when I want.

50 questions with a curve (based on median scores, average scores and standard deviation). Passing is >75%. Although, the ones that are really passing would cry at anything

I got my cna license in Jan, 2011. Applied to 6-7 CNA positions, nursing homes and hospitals, and could not get a job. I got my cma license in August 2011 and had a cma/cna job right away, although I had to work nights. So, I guess it took me 7 months to get my first cna/cma job. I knew some people that got a CNA job in the hospital right off the bat though.

I read through all the comments. I had another nurse technician interview a week ago. I just got a call today and found out I was accepted for a prn nurse tech position at a different hospital :) I reflected through what went wrong during my last interview and took some advices from here and got the job!!

I was asked to mention one mistake I made that I regret. I don't get why they even asked that question if they eliminate honest answers.