SeaH20RN

An ALS =Alternate light source is a light that can detect bruising under the skin, saliva and semen. Is similar to the woods lamp used in the hospital but the ALS has different wave lengths to detect different proteins that are on the skin our bruising under the skin. Semen and saliva is made of protein that illuminates on the skin or clothing when using an ALS light. A forensic nurse will document "positive illuminance on left thigh " . A photo will be taken and then the area would be swabbed and collected as evidence.

Oh great. Are you currently doing sane exams? The googles are used with frequent use of the ALS light to protect your eyes from the light. ALS illuminates any saliva or seamen on the skin.

Oh and we use Tolidyne Blue to asses for micro tears that might not be visible.

I have a rolling bag from office depot filles with paperwork, ALS light and googles, SAk (sexual assault kits) toxicology kits, I prepare a Ziploc bag with a speculum, sterile wAter, lub, mask for me, chux for clean work area and preg test . That way I can grab a go everything in in the bag and keep clean. I attached pictures. For more info, networking.or training reach out to your local IAFN chapter .

Keep your focus on nursing school. When your finished you will be one step closer to an L&D nurse. Remember why you started.......! Good luck!

Follow your passion. Lot of people find a preceptorship right out of school. When you do your L&D rotation you might get to know the Nurse managers there. If you have to do 6 months or a year on Med/Surg it will go by fast. Hang in there!

To become a SANE nurse you must find a 40hour adolescent /Adult Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner course. This is the basic step. You do not need an BSN, MSN or Certificate. You will need training on speculum exams, collecting evidence, documentation and photography. Reach out to your local Rape Crisis Center for more information or PM me for questions.

It takes a special nurse to care for the pediatric patient. Im glad you are following your passion. The SANE peds course will be a great starting point. Before you can actually do SANE exams, its recommended that you are a nurse for 2 years. Every county and hospital is different. Find your local SART team or CPT (Child Protective Team) in your area and find out if they are hiring. In the mean time, there is so much you can assess for your patients. Injuries, Pattern marks etc. Good luck with your SANE Peds course in January.

Im part of a SANE team for over 3 years. When you are hired different programs have different protocols. The main thing you want to be comfortable with is your camera. You maybe part of a mobile team and lighting is different in every area your respond too. Know your settings on your camera and manual mode vs. auto. Flash or no flash. don't buy a camera ahead of time. You will be provided with one. Good Luck!

Of course you have to be a Little Crazy to Work in the ER.

Your right! It IS the best job in the world but you do so much paperwork, your only making $5.00 hr. at the end of the day. I tried everything, taking paper work home to work on after dinner and get up earlier in the morning 5am to finish. It comes down to the workload / visits your company gives you per day and the miles you drive. You cant drive 100 miles a day and expect to see 4 return / routine visits, Admission and ROC and get home by dark. We had paper and laptops with McKesson and I worked for multiple companies, but still worked on my day off. It was a 24/7 job. and went I was off, no one would see my pt. uhh! I loved the pts but it was too much. After 4yrs I went back to the hospital and love my days off. Try working in a wound care clinic if you dont want to go back to the hospital. Good Luck.

I've started working in Oncology 6 months ago (been a RN for 19 yrs) and yesterday this pt just really touch my heart. She was my age a beautiful young lady, with beautiful long brown hair. She was Dx with severe Colon CA with metz. She even had a colostomy. She was admitted for Chemo. Her pain was so severe and she had nausea and vomiting all day. Her weight has dropped and not eating. Her mom was at her bedside not knowing how to comfort her daughter, all she could do was rub her back, hold her long wavy hair as she vomited and then wipe her face with a wet wash cloth. I gave her all the meds I could through her port, to keep her comfortable as the Chemo ran through her veins. All 3 of us were crying. I think i was so emotional because she was my age and I could never imagine what I would do if I was in her shoes. She is so brave and her poor mom...uhh! I know I cant do much to cure her but I do know I'm in the right place as an oncology nurse. Of course when I get home my family ask "how was your day?" I just say "Busy!" and move on. Know one really GETS! what we deal with every day. Just venting, I love my job even though is is very emotional.

I love my Nursing job and benefits, but with working 3, 12hr days. I use my 4 days off selling Real Estate. I have been a license realtor since 2006 and have flipped 1-2 houses a year. Its the best of both worlds.

If your goal is nursing finish and focus on your RN /BSN 1st. Paramedic is another 2yrs, get ER exp 1st then decide. Keep your EMT up update it will help and good luck!

congrats! thanks for the update. what experience did you have previously? Good luck in the ER keep us posted.