daisybaby

Agree with everything posted. At the end of every lecture, I make sure to go over the reading due for next class. Last week, I began my lecture by asking very basic questions straight from the reading that was due, and not a single student could answer without looking through the text. Won't they be surprised with tomorrow's closed-book, pop quiz on the reading due. (I don't plan on grading this one; but hopefully my point will be made).

A few years ago, I took care of a mom and baby who had a rough start. They didn't speak much English, and the mother would ring out literally every few minutes, usually to have her bedside table pushed a little closer, or to hand her something that was already within reach. They were not the most popular couplet on the unit, to say the least. The day I was assigned to them was no different. This time the father/husband was there, sitting quietly as I continually returned to the room to hand the patient a cup, or the phone, or something else either one of them could have done by themselves and I did my best to smile all the while. A few hours later the father walked out into the hall after me, with five one-dollar bills in his hand. "For taking such good care of them," he said. Face red, I thanked him but said it wasn't allowed, that I was just doing part of my job. He insisted, saying it would bring good luck and good health to the baby, who was the most severely jaundiced infant we'd had in a long time. I finally accepted it and told him I would see that it was put to good use. A nurse on the eve shift was leaving shortly on a mission to build a school and infirmary in Africa. I taped a note to her locker explaining the circumstances of the little windfall, hoping that it would bring good luck and good health to a child who needed a little of both. I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to 'pay it forward'.

Ewwww! We never did that in OB either!

Believe me, once the dust settled I had a word with the unit director, and then the doc, in private. He apologized profusely, and we had a pretty congenial working relationship from there on in. You are right, nurses don't have to tolerate bad behavior of docs. If you are able to deal with it calmly and professionally the first time it happens, (thus one-upping the doc), you can nip it in the bud. Just about every facility has at least one of "those docs", unfortunately- but if you handle it the right way, the nurse always comes out on top.

Well, I guess you could look at it this way- it will be good practice for when the docs yell at you (and it will happen). You really haven't been yelled at until a doc screams at you (for something that wasn't your fault in the first place) at the nurses desk at shift change while your patient is walking in the hall with their family. AND the student nurses and their instructor are there getting report along with the eve shift. Seriously, though, I feel for you. You have a good head on your shoulders. Grit your teeth through it and you'll be brilliant.

Thank you so much for your reply! I really think this is something I will love doing, so I may take you up on your offer on clinical ideas (I'm talking like I already have the job!). Sounds like you really have a way with your students! Thanks again :)

Thanks for your replies.....I promised myself early on I wouldn't be the power-tripping instructor who is "out to get" students. I don't like getting yelled at by docs, and I won't yell at students. No one learns anything that way, and it reflects poorly all around. I loved tutoring nursing classes in college, and I love love love precepting students and new grad/RN orientees. I had a fabulous preceptor as a new grad, and I hope I can be like her. That being said, I run a tight ship- be on time, work hard, and ask thoughtful questions. No sitting around the nurses' desk!

I can only speak for acute care, but several capital district hospitals are paying around $36/hour. No benes, no shift diff. I don't know that your ICU experience would net you an increase, and most places don't give increases for BSN, either. Will you be expected to take call, or work eves/weekends? On-call rates when I last worked in acute care (in the past year) were pitiful- under $2 an hour, and if you got called in, straight pay upon clock-in (no call-in diff). Good luck!

Hi! I'm considering applying for an adjunct faculty position in an upstate NY LPN program, and it would be really helpful to know about what goes on during labs and clinicals from a student's perspective. I've always wanted to teach in some capacity, so I think this part-time gig might be the perfect fit, but I don't know anyone who's in an LPN program so I'm not sure what to expect. In nursing school, I had some ok instructors and some not-so-ok ones- If I go for this, I want to be the kind of instructor that students really learn from and respect. So, I need your help. What kinds of things do you do in clinicals? What do you like/dislike about your assignments/instructors? Is there anything in particular you lioke or dislike about your instructors, or wish they would do differently? Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Hi everyone- I'm considering applying for a lab/clinical adjunct position for a local (upstate NY) LPN program. In college, I tutored several nursing students that my professors referred to me, and I really miss being a part of the learning environment. Plus I always thought I might like teaching part time (I know that a faculty position is a big step up from just tutoring, though!). I think I have a decent grasp re: the scope of practice as an LPN. I know all programs vary, but are there any LPN program faculty members who can give me an idea of a 'typical' day in the life of an instructor? I'm sure clinicals and labs consist of more than meds and treatments but am not specifically sure what else goes on. Do LPNs write care plans based on dx made by the RN? Or do they do entirely different things? I'm awaiting a return call from the school to learn a little more about the program specifics, but in the mean time, I thought I'd ask around and hear what the pros have to say! Thanks in advance :)

Adenocard is one that is never, ever diluted. It's given as a rapid (like as fast as you possibly can) IVP followed by a fast NS 10cc flush. Adenocard's half-life is a few seconds, so you need to get it to the heart super fast and undiluted if it's going to do any good.

This thread is over a year and a half old........

I'm an L&D RN, not ER, but I have always wondered why insurance companies and Medicaid continue to pay for these non-emergent visits that gum up the ER..... people won't stop using the ER for all-hours primary care until they are held responsible for it (although, plenty of people are just fine with ignoring those bills).... My mom, who is an ER nurse, once told me that if her ER started charging everyone a pack of smokes and a beer to get in the door, they'd be out of business. I'm inclined to think she's right.

NY lists city & state only. I think that's fair.

We call the staffing office during the business workweek, or the nsg sup. on eves or weekends. Same thing- we are only required to say if we are sick or absent. I have gotten some less-than-genuine "feel better"s from notoriously cranky sup's, but that doesn't bother me at all.