Ayra

Hey can I join? I am HOPING to take my test in May..but that is if my instructors get my transcripts over in a decent amount of time and if I can find a testing site open! I might travel out of state to get a spot. Where is everyone? I'm in SLC, UT and there are so many schools here, it is ridiculous! I'm using ATI and Saunders to study so far...

Thank you! That is a good idea to look into CCRN..I'd like to get that eventually, but right now I'm just trying to get a good foundation! I just don't really like my advanced medsurg book I have right now. For one, it's huge..as it was for both basic medsurg and now advanced, and two, it's outdated so a lot of the equipment and procedural stuff doesn't really apply. I also saw a little flip book that I though might be nice to carry around with me a bit.

I'm a senior nursing student about to graduate with my BSN. I've been doing my capstone in an ICU, and it looks like I have a good chance of getting a job in a progressive step down unit when I graduate, with the plan to move back into the ICU after I have some work experience (the director says in about a year she could probably hire me in the ICU). In the meantime, I'd like to dive more in depth into my critical care knowledge, so that my baseline patho is more secure. In my critical care class, it seems like we only scrape the surface of what actually goes on in the ICU, so I am wondering if any of you guys have any suggestions on good critical care books that would help me get an in depth of patho we see in the ICU and typical procedures (like how you decide how to titrate your drips type of things, or how to effectively run CRRT) I feel like I have a good baseline knowledge, but even for the step down unit, I'd like to have some educational supports above and beyond preceptorship!

Thanks NurseLoveJoy, that does help. I just want some anecdotal advice from nurses themselves. We want to give information that will actually be useful to our peers!

Ok, in our last semester of school, we are doing a presentation on time management and prioritization. Several people are exploring the research side of this, but I want to know what YOUR best tips are! -What are some of the things you do to make your shift run smoothly? -How do you decide what to do first? -How long did it take you to feel comfortable with these skills? -What are some things you do to balance your home/social life with work? Thanks!