tigerlogic
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Many of my classmates graduated with 100k debt, so don't feel like you are alone. While many prefer the Dave Ramsey approach, I liked the unbury.me site to create my strategy. It's less emotionally rewarding but more logical. With this approach you focus on paying down your highest interest debt first. You have to pay significantly more than the interest to make a solid dent. I had a friend who turned down all social invites for two years (or if she went out didn't eat and had exactly one drink) and crushed her debt in a few years. But it will take you at least a few years--five if you are really hard core? To crush this. Be aware that driving any car costs the average person $10k a year. I bike commuted through rain and snow for a few years and it was brutal some days but gave me extra money to crush the debt. I was also fit and slept really well! You can do this. It's about priorities and strategy. Also consider if a HRSA or Indian Health job might be a good road to forgiveness. If a lot of your debt is private, I don't know the rules. But if this is your first degree and it's mostly federal loans, those might be a good two year investment of your time to get ahead. Be sure to read the fine print on any forgiveness though, some have harsh tax penalties as they consider the $100k forgiveness as taxable income. You can do this. unbury.me - A Loan Calculator
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Your attitude toward problem solving is fantastic. I wish there were more nurses like you. I apologize, I'm not familiar with the term TCU. I'm assuming some sort of transitional care unit where you are either taking care of people waiting for placement or are helping them with some type of rehab? My background is ICU and ED-- restraints and heavy medications tend to be in our tool boxes for combative patients but those aren't necessarily good for lower acuity situations. Arguably, they aren't good for most situations based on the papers coming out on PTSD post ICU. Below are some other things to consider. Thoughts: Is the person incontinent? Could changing him prior to this time of day help? Is he watching TV? Is something triggering? Is he used to getting a different channel/show? Are there smells that happen at that time of day from the kitchen? The cleaners? How is the light in the room? Could he be in a different position or location so that the light wouldn't bother him. Noises certainly can be triggering, can you limit them or teach him what they are so they aren't so disturbing? Can he hear someone else in distress and be responding to that? Are his clothes, shoes, socks too tight because his legs have been in a dependent position? Is he overhearing staff that are speaking about topics or in a language that he finds triggering? Is a therapy pet visit an option? Would changing his bathing routine be possible? Is he having an allergic reaction to something that could be prevented or treated with benadryl? (Benadryl and Atarax are great drugs) Is he hungry? Are his blood sugars Ok? Any suspicion for a UTI?
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Death is sometimes like a tidal wave that you can see coming but you can't stop. Death is also sometimes surprising and random. Be an organ donor. Enjoy every bite of dessert. Love your people deeply and fiercely. Also, the pleasantly confused old lady who thinks you look like an angel during the day will be the confused one trying to scratch your eyes out after dark. Be loving and compassionate to both.
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I suppose it depends on your interests, of course, but I have yet to see a volunteer program where having an LPN would be more valuable than extra time on the ground or time learning the local language. Hogar Abierto – Quetzaltrekkers Is a very worthwhile group if you like older kids --tutoring or helping in their dorms-- and the city of Xela has plenty of good cheap language schools.
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I prefer to deescalate situations rather than press assault charges. (Not all of my coworkers agree) I believe that deescalation is a skill worth developing. Personally, I've benefits from classes based on CPI. Check out what's in your area. Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI Training) | CPI I also carry license insurance through NSO (though I've never needed to make a claim, so can't vouch for them one way or the other). Things can go wrong even if you have done everything right. http://www.nso.com
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Also, some people who have been a nurse 20 years will have 20 years of nursing experience. Some will have one year of experience repeated 20 times. Be the first one. Keep reading, studying, learning, improving your practice. It doesn't end with orientation. Be a learner and a self improver for good. -ICU/ED/former teacher/future flight nurse.
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Put a brief over the bedpan before putting it under your patient. Softer, no splashing, easier clean up. Less risk for skin breakdown on the little ones that take forever to go. (If you don't need to get a sample or accurate I/Os) The bead around gloves can be torn off and used as a hair tie or to bundle supplies together. Colace works well to get ear wax out. Skip trying to squeeze it out of the pills and just get the liquid (i.e. ask the doc if you can put in the order for him/her to get it right the first time) If you are using dark iodine to swab before inserting a foley, sometimes leaving the last swab in place before going for the urethra helps avoid missing and accidentally cathing the vag. Drunks tend to tolerate a pulse ox on their toe much easier than on their hands. Same for teenagers who can't stop texting for 15 sec. Depending on how loose your department is with their supplies, if you have cuts on your hands from the rest of your life or paper cuts, wrap a tegaderm around it. It'll stay clean for dozens of alcohol hand washes. Naturally, if this would be considered stealing in your department, don't do it! (It's fine where I work, but locations vary) Nasal cannulas hooked up to NS makes for a good continuous eye wash. However, be sure to account for the mess you are about to make. Mesh panties with the middle cut out sometimes make for a good way to hold an ABD on a large leg or a normal sized abdomen. Maxi pads are great for wounds in and out of the hospital. They are often cheap enough patients can afford them on their own. It is often better to acknowledge people's pain even if you aren't going to give them meds. "There's nothing wrong with you" is rarely a satisfying answer. "Your scans and blood tests are normal. We tested x/y/z. I'm sorry that you are still in pain but we don't see any reason to keep you in the hospital or send you to surgery. Nearly 100 people a day die because of opioid overdoses so we think it's safest for you to take care of yourself at home with heat/ice tylenol/ibuprofen and follow up with a specialist/primary care. I'm glad we didn't find something so serious that you needed surgery today and I hope you feel better." Understanding the Epidemic | Drug Overdose | CDC Injury Center
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Two of our best ER nurses came from the OR, that said the newest one really took to training with the attitude that he was a like new grad and was starting from scratch. I think that humility really helped him become great in ER as a new specialty. Expect to be overwhelmed at first and study hard and have a great time. Have fun!
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Thank you for your thread, I'm also interested in the question you pose. I'm nearly 4 years into nursing, first CICU now splitting time between ED and Neuro Trauma ICU. First degree in Biochemistry, later and AcBac BSN. I have a bigger and bigger interest in CRNA but Flight nursing is probably my next move. The biggest complaints I've heard from other boards is that CRNA wages are pretty stagnant (like all of nursing?) and/or not as much money as people thought. I worry about being able to sit still and, frankly, too many days being boring-- especially as I'd guess that jobs straight out of school are more likely to be with lower acuity surgeries. The intellectual depth and problem solving very much appeals, as does not dodging punches. The autonomy and constantly evolving practice and science sounds awesome to my geeky side. The ability to do actually meaningful shorter term (i.e. less than a year) volunteer work with MSF and other international groups, is also a big draw for me.
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I love working for UCH. We got our 4th Magnet and bonuses and raises this year. I don't know much about the culture in your specialty but from what I've seen the teamwork is excellent.
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A friend had a pt with pelvic pain and itching who turned out to have 3, ahem THREE, used condom left up there. The pts' response? Oh, I guess no more drunk sex ...
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I started off as a hospital CNA (after some experience working in LTC and a previous career) at 14.80 plus 1.90 night differential. I got a 0.60/hr raise a year later. It's good experience and makes a lot of nursing school make more sense.
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Three out of five terms done with my BSN AcBac. Still 4.0