knittygrittyRN MSN, RN

knittygrittyRN has 6 years experience as a MSN, RN and specializes in Med/Surg, OB/GYN, Informatics, Simulation.

knittygrittyRN's Latest Activity

1. 

   NURSING STUDENT ADVICE

   knittygrittyRN replied to dominique622's topic in Connecticut

   Well have you looked into any of the programs close to you? Or have you decided what type of school you want to attend (ADN vs BSN)? BSN will give you the most options, job wise in most parts of the state. Look at schools and see what they want for prerequisites. If your motivated you can do anything!
2. 

   Cleaning Simulators

   knittygrittyRN replied to Saalbunch's topic in Educators

   Goo gone and Krud kutter seem to work the best for us!
3. 

   Career Advice from Nurse Educators

   knittygrittyRN replied to cowboysandangels's topic in Educators

   I'm finishing my graduate degree this year, I can say it has opened more opportunities for myself but I agree that you'll have to examine your own needs. I worked in informatics and now simulation education because of my degree both of which are higher paying then a university would be. You might want to consider jobs that might be open to you as well instead of a 'traditional' nurse educator position.
4. 

   Training Software

   knittygrittyRN posted a topic in Informatics

   I was curious for those involved in informatics education at their facilities, what types of software are you using, how are you presenting classes etc? Currently we use Lectora, Snagit, PromisePoint and Camtasia. I'm looking to branch out into other software programs. We currently offer one on one sessions for providers (although I'm trying to transition this into classes). We offer classes for other roles but we are slowly transitioning to having end users complete web-based modules and then come to a class that's more scenario based, so it's more interactive instead of a traditional lecture.
5. 

   Transitioning to informatics

   knittygrittyRN replied to ChefLibrarianNurse's topic in Informatics

   Yes, so I transitioned into Informatics without a MSN in informatics. I do have a BSN, and I'm currently finishing my MSN in Nursing Education. I was a super user and did support/training for a few go-lives and then transitioned into a fulltime clinical informatics education position. The hardest part was the shift to daytime hours for myself (since I worked third shift previously; and feeling like I was ill-prepared for the role since I never really taught in a classroom before). Most entry level informatics positions I've seen, are educator/trainer, which don't really require a master's degree. From there you can transition into an analyst position and because you'll have work experience it's usually an easier transition. I'm not a member of HIMSS yet, although I do plan on eventually sitting for my RN-BC in Informatics and the CPHIMS in the next year.
6. 

   Informatics Nursing

   knittygrittyRN replied to happyfuturenurse's topic in Informatics

   Do you know if your area really demands a master's in informatics? Or do you want a graduate degree for yourself? I was asking myself the same question, because I figured a masters in informatics would put me a step ahead. I ended up talking to numerous people at my facility and found out that they really cared more about work experience not so much a degree. Often they felt the the degree was nice but didn't really prepare anyone for the role. They suggested volunteering and becoming a super-user so I had more experience with our applications. I went on to support our go lives and did a little education and training for all employees during our transition. I ultimately ended up interviewing at another facility and getting a full-time job as a clinical informatics education specialist; I basically teach all employees how to document in the system and create various types of educational materials. I am finishing my masters in nursing education simply because it opens more doors, and I wanted a higher degree for myself. As far as certifications go there's a couple you can go for but all of them require work/ education experience. There's the RN-BC in informatics which you could get if you meet the educational requirements. CPHIMS or CAHIMS which requires work experience. I would focus on getting experience to see if that's what you like, and try to get experience with various applications. While I'm a great clinical resource, its my IT skills that sold me and my experience with various programs (like Lectora, Camtasia, web design etc) since I create materials/web site maintenance using those programs.
7. 

   Post-operative Hypertension

   knittygrittyRN replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in Med-Surg

   What about discussing this with a nurse educator? Obviously there seems to be a learning opportunity for these units. (My guess is since you're not having problems with the med-surg units, and it sounds like this particular unit I'm almost wondering if it's just a few bad eggs permeating this idea that patient's need to be picture perfect to arrive back and teaching other nurses this behavior. Or sounds like they want to avoid admissions!) If your manager isn't getting anywhere, they need to escalate this situation because it not only does a disservice to patients, but removes those higher acuity beds for patients that could actually use them. I once had a patient on my unit with a BP of around 190. We were giving her everything we could IV and nothing dropped her BP. I think if I recall only IV Fentanyl got her down to maybe 170. And even then this was just a med/surg unit, non tele- no one was concerned since it was just the patient's baseline. So for her it was 'healthy'.
8. 

   Any thoughts on Goodwin Colleges ADN and BSN Programs?

   knittygrittyRN replied to Jmoran82's topic in Connecticut

   I didn't go to Goodwin, although when I was looking at schools I did look into their program. Honestly in my opinion they charge a lot for their program. I did a majority of my prereqs at other schools and would have already started behind in their point system because of that. With that said I ended up going to a traditional route and getting my BSN. I went to University of Saint Joseph. It looks like a ton of money when you first look up their tuition, however their financial aid really worked with me so I didn't pay nearly that much. No worries about entrance exams (at least when I went not sure if that's changed), and they accept everyone, no fighting or competition for a spot!
9. 

   Post-operative Hypertension

   knittygrittyRN replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in Med-Surg

   I'm not sure if my facility has a specific post op HTN protocol. However we do have a policy regarding patients with known hypertension, namely that they can come to the floor with BP's up to 180. There would need to be something else going on medically for them to go to Step-Down/ICU or tele. I do post-op women's health, non tele so I can't give any BP meds IV unless the patient has been on some BP med at home. I'm limited to Lopressor and Hydralazine. That said if we know a patient has HTN, I wouldn't be that concerned especially if I got in report that their pre-op BP was that high. Also in my experience the first night they're getting IV pain meds anyway, and that usually drops them at least a little. I'm surprised they're so worried, my facility is more concerned with dropping them too quickly, so we would rather leave them high then anything else.
10. 

    Goodwin or community college

    knittygrittyRN replied to petunia1984's topic in Connecticut

    Honestly what Goodwin is charging is equivalent to what some BSN programs are charging for tuition. I have nearly the same amount of debt from student loans as another commenter here and I got my BSN in 3 years. I'd look around and talk to various schools, financial aid departments are awesome at finding loans and aid for students to cut down on costs.
11. 

    Starting Salary of Hospitals in CT?

    knittygrittyRN replied to aspiringtobe's topic in Connecticut

    I work in the Hartford area at a major hospital, our starting salary is 29.00 although for nurse ratios it completely is dependent on the floor and staffing. Managers will tell you the ratios are 5-6 but since there isn't mandated staffing levels, it can be whatever. I've worked on floors caring for 10+ patients at a time as a new grad.
12. 

    Newer grad thinking of leaving nursing..

    knittygrittyRN replied to gaRdeNer77's topic in General Career

    I'm also a new grad and I've had the exact same feelings your having, if it makes you feel an better. My orientation is at a large hospital and they are only giving us 9 weeks of training (including new grads heading down to the ED). Granted I have more people available to me if something went wrong, it still doesn't make me feel prepared. I've began looking at various other nursing jobs that aren't at a hospital so my liability isn't so much. I only have like 3 months under my belt though so I doubt I'd be hired anywhere. I feel the burnout rate for floor nurses is just immense it's hard to give the best care when you have 5-8+ patients every shift. I'm sure though it does get better and there are a multitude of jobs for nurses so one of them has to work for you!
13. 

    First RN job & it's pay

    knittygrittyRN replied to Stephen.Stevens's topic in First Year

    Someone mentioned about California, from what I've heard (and correct me if I'm wrong) although everyone sits for the National exam, California has a much higher standard for passing (ie they require a higher score then other states). I've hard from faculty that getting a license in California makes it easier to get one in another state without the worry of having to sit for the exam.
14. 

    Your Starting Salary?

    knittygrittyRN replied to x_factor's topic in First Year

    2013 BSN Hospital 29.00 in CT
15. 

    What is a passing HESI score?

    knittygrittyRN replied to TAC11's topic in HESI

    Also keep in mind that there's 5-10 practice questions that aren't counted. You won't know which questions those are so they'll come up as right or wrong but they won't be included in your score. I got 10 wrong on one of my HESI and ended up with an equivalent score of 96%. In my experience you can only study so much for the HESI a lot of the questions are critical thinking so they aren't always straightforward. You need to know your stuff and how to apply the knowledge into clinical practice.