harrird

Hello everyone! Thanks in advance for taking a minute to read this post and hopefully point me in the right direction. I currently work full time in a combined CCU/CVICU, typically I'm on the open heart side of the unit recovering fresh CABG and V...

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it! Both my parents were firefighter/medics. My mother was one of the first women in the state. I was an explorer in high school and actually did CPR for the first time in the back of an ambu...

I know that you flight nurses must get tired of reading these posts, but it's just because everyone wants to be where you all are. Hopefully when I land a job I will be able to pay it forward and provide some advice to the folks looking for work. ...

Just studying for your CEN will help your confidence a lot. I took Mark Boswell's class and passed the first time. Look him up on youtube. Most of his lectures are there for free.

Interesting thread. Got a better understanding with the colander analogy. Thanks.

Honest answer? Master your skills. You have some leeway at your first position, the people there still see you as a new grad. When you take the next position, you're going to be expected to just come in and perform. Maybe some light orientation c...

I think your textbooks would be more than adequate. Just study up on common ED ailments. Chest Pain, Kidney Stones, Abdominal Pain, Headache, URI, CVA, CHF, COPD Exacerbation, etc. Know what the S/Sx of these problems look like. What Labs/Diagnos...

Could you come in on your own time a couple shifts and shadow without pay? That would allow you to get a feel for supplies and housekeeping stuff.

Just an observation: You haven't even started becoming a nurse yet. Why are you on a nursing site asking for tips on how to become a motivational speaker?? How about be a great nurse first and foremost if that is what your soul searching told you....

If a patient requests a certain location I try to accommodate them, but if that's not where I want to go I ask them to not hold it against me. Sometimes it works out where they want it. Most times, I get the start where I wanted it on the second att...

Got a call from patient access. It was like 0200 and we had the lobby clear... "We need a nurse out here!!" Grabbed some gloves. And some 4x4's. Pt had a 12 inch piece of steel sticking up from his eye like an antler. About the diameter of a car...

Congrats on the job offer. Sounds like good experience. And 4 months orientation is nothing to sneeze at. I had 8 shifts. All ED's have their share of difficult patients. Best of luck with boards.

Congrats on finishing and welcome to the ED.

So glad you are on the road to recovery. God bless.

So I'm a new nurse, I just passed my 6 month mark. I took a job at a smaller, but very busy ER right out of nursing school. We have a great time there, I love my coworkers. There's just something special that you can't relate to people that don't ...

Thanks for sharing calaab and sissiesmama. Those were both touching stories.

I guess it depends on the particular hospitals you're looking to apply to. I was hired directly out of nursing school.

I definitely agree with Altra, BUT I would add a few things. I'm a new ER nurse, and I've had a couple of my peers that just didn't have the chops so to speak. One commonality between those of us that are doing well vs the wash outs is attitude. P...

Thanks for your honest assessment. Maybe I wasn't clear, but I'm not looking to fly for at least 5-10 years. I in no way feel currently qualified. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

I'm obviously very interested in a career in flight nursing. I'm trying to work my way through the myriad of certs. Here's a brief resume. BA in Poli Sci. 2.5 years Patient Care Tech on Transplant ICU ADN Took boards in Feb 12. Current ED RN (...

God Bless. I know that was tough.

I think they are talking about CEN, CCRN, CDN etc. - those specialty certs, not ACLS, PALS, TNCC, etc. Could be wrong.

Excellent thread. OP some additional information would be useful in these situations. Pt Age, COPD, CHF, why was her crit down to begin with? Hemocult? It was stated that the patient already had antibiotics x2 I believe. Did she have cultures dr...

I enjoyed the book. Very engrossing. I think I read it in a couple of days.

Congrats on your accomplishments. I'm thinking about following a similar pathway. Have you found any RN > Paramedic bridge programs? I know some states have them. Also, is there a time frame required before taking CEN? 2 years of appropriate ...