jkm07

That definitely sounds like the safer option/better practice. Thanks! I guess what I'm trying to get at in a more general way is if I have two compatible medications attached to their own separate IV pumps and Y-site them, the medication will get to the patient at a rate that's the fastest. My other train of though is since both meds are being controlled by their own IV pump, wouldn't the med that's running at a slower rate not be affected by the med going at a faster rate? I'm really lost with this concept. Thanks!

Hello, I've been in my final quarter internship in the ICU and it's been a blast, but there's one thing that's been bugging me. Let me give you a scenario... The patient has a triple lumen CVC -- 1 port has Diprivan running, 1 port has Levophed running, 1 port is open for anything. We use Alaris pumps at the facility. I have to give two antibiotics and for this scenario let's say they are compatible. Antibiotic A needs to run at 100 mL/hr while antibiotic B runs at 150 mL/hr. I set up two separate Alaris pumps with the corresponding rates. Would it be possible for me to run both antibiotics in that last port using the Y-site? If so, wouldn't that mean that antibiotic A is getting to the patient at a faster rate than it should be? Also there's the question of which line is actually hooked up to the CVC and which line is Y-site'd to the "primary" line. It may not be much of an issue if we're dealing with antibiotics only, but what if it was an antibiotic and an electrolyte. What if I needed to give magnesium sulfate (instead of antibiotic A) which usually runs at a much slower rate? Sorry if that is confusing. It might be better practice to just start a PIV and run the second antibiotic there. Thanks!

1st year MECN here.. For epidemiology, you can take it through BYU independent study (~$700) or you can take Nursing 50 through UCLA during the summer (~$1500). I'm open for questions. I love the program so far, and my classmates are the best!

Just got in! I was number 20 on the list. Good luck to those still waiting!

Thanks for the update! I appreciate it!

In the past two years ~40% of the WL was offered admission into the class. I believe 25 students from 2011 were contacted (for 60 spots) and ~40 students for 2012 (for 90 spots). Hopefully the trend continues this year, but with things competitive nowadays it's never a sure thing.

Thanks for the info cstark! I'm dying to get off the alternate list and reading your post makes me want to go to UCLA even more!

1 CNA for 20 residents?! Yikes! But I hear you! Do you have any plans to look for another job?

I think the people on the alternate list won't hear back for a while because the admissions office is still fielding responses from those who were accepted. I'd give it another week or so before we start hearing anything.

I'm a big fan of anything South of Wilshire Blvd. There are multiple buses that run through that area. The Bruin or Big Blue Buses will take you to/pretty close to the School of Nursing. The apartments on the hill where the undergrads and frats are can get pretty rowdy at times, making it tough to study. I stayed at an apartment complex right by Denny's, Palomino and the Hammer Museum during my last years of undergrad and I loved it there--very quiet, but within walking distance to Westwood Village.

@Ltho I sent an e-mail to both addresses listed in the letter.

Hey everyone, I tried doing a search for this, but didn't get anywhere... Is there a clear-cut advantage for those who submitted their application by the priority deadline vs regular deadline (e.g. a reserved number of spots for priority applicants)? Thanks a bunch! I'm looking to submit an application within the next couple of weeks.

Congrats to the acceptees! I hope to join you all in the Fall! @nextway55: I think the delay with the mail lies with USPS rather than UCLA choosing what to send out. I mail stuff through USPS quite often and the post office in my area seems to be on top of things. Just in case anyone was wondering, my letter was dated February 26th. I have two weeks from the date of the letter to let them know if I want to stay on the alternate list (which I did). Good luck all!

UCLA alum. 3.6 undergrad GPA. Can't remember my prerequisite GPA. 2 years of research experience with a publication. A lot of hospital volunteering. Got my nursing asst. certification and worked as one.

I got my letter today and I live in LA. Number 20 on the waiting list! More waiting for me...

https://www.gradadmissions.ucla.edu/newapp/Login.asp?topage=AdmissionStatus.asp

Sorry to hear that beaee. Try to contact the admissions folks and see what you can work on. Good luck the rest of the way. I still have the following message: To date, no decision has been made on your application. You may want to check the Application Status page to see if the department or program has listed any items that are missing from your file. I'll see if any mail comes by today. The mailman usually comes by at 1-2 pm... the wait continues...

That's exactly how I felt during clinicals. One of the CNAs told me that some of what I learned in class/clinicals is inapplicable to the real-world. Time management is extremely important, deadlines must be met, and the responsibility is overwhelming. What is the CNA:resident ratio like at your facility? For the facility I work at... AM shift- 1:5 or 6 PM shift- 1:8 or 9 noc shift- 1:15 or 16 I like working noc shift because all I do is change briefs and reposition---very low-key and I work at my own pace. After three weeks on the job, I was called in for a PM shift and quickly became overwhelmed. I don't even want to think about what the AM shift goes through.

I remember getting clocked in the chin--twice--by a resident with dementia. It happens, but don't take it personally. They are confused, scared and wondering why I'm in their room at 2:00 am changing them. As you've discovered, this line of work is physically and emotionally taxing. I can say for sure that taking care of 16+ residents has robbed me of some things, but I still give my best every night. Perhaps your CNA is just burned out. Being out on the floor alone is a completely different beast than clinicals. Keep on going!

Thanks for answering the questions. I really appreciate it! RE: clinical hours.. I remember reading in a previous MECN thread that UCLA had the most clinical hours of any school in the area. Did they change that recently? Also, how easy/difficult is it to find research opportunities? I used to work in a basic science laboratory, but now I'm looking to branch out into clinical research. Thanks!

@lisapett42 How many days of class do you have per week? Weekends included? What are some things the program does well? In your opinion, what can be improved? Do you recommend part-time/per-diem work during school? Thanks!

Also from the area, graduated from UCLA in 2010. I think UCLA holds a white coat ceremony if I'm not mistaken.

Still kind of surprised that the thread is only 7 pages long. Where are all the applicants at?!

I've just started at a SNF recently, but on a different shift. You're not alone! It does get better with experience. My first night was one I'd like to forget -- I made everything hard for myself (e.g. forgetting supplies --> make multiple trips in and out of the room). I was so stressed out with the changes, being the last one to finish, and monitoring fall-risk residents that got out of bed every 10 minutes that I wanted to quit. However, I powered through and I'm glad I did. With multiple shifts under my belt, I feel a lot more confident in my skills. Perhaps this is common knowledge, but I find it easier to log-roll a resident towards me rather than away from me. I find that some of the bed brakes at the facility leave a lot to be desired. On the first night, I tried the latter method and found myself pushing the resident and bed away from me consistently. This method is uncomfortable for the resident and it's not good for your back, especially with the larger residents on the floor. The next night I rolled them towards me -- it was like night and day for my back and for my efficiency. Keep at it and you'll get the hang of things!

Another thing you may want to consider is where the nursing school has you do your clinical rotations. There's a world of a difference between a university medical center vs. a community hospital (exaggerating a bit but still).