heartlover

Does your facility allow you to start work as an ADN as long as you get enrolled in a BSN program within a certain time period? I am aware of a few facilities that have that policy in place. That allows ADNs to work but be committed to obtaining a higher degree as soon as possible. If that is not available in your facility, I would consider going for a BSN first thing. I'm sure you are excited to get your nursing career underway, but having a degree that allows you to start work immediately would be the most beneficial. If you are unable to do a full-time BSN program, perhaps think about keeping working as an ST and save some money and get things settled with family to eventually enter a BSN program. Good luck in whatever you decide to do. Nursing is a great profession and I hope you make it to your goal without too many issues!

Every place I have worked always interviews patients outside of the OR suite unless it is a true emergency. During my interview I try to keep it unrushed and as informative as possible. Meaning, I try to explain what the patient should expect upon entering the OR (move over to the OR bed, get hooked up to monitors, safety strap, oxygen mask/NC, medicine through the IV, drift off to sleep, etc.). I also ensure that we will keep them warm, comfortable, and safe before, during, and after the procedure. I let the patients and families ask questions. As many as they need even if this means I enter the OR 5 minutes late. Of course, I keep my answers within my nursing scope and direct question to the surgeon or anesthesiologist as necessary. If a patient has a special rosary, scapular, or other important token they wish to keep with them during surgery, I allow them to bring it with them but explain that after they fall asleep I will be removing it from them and safely labeling it and keeping it in the room. I confirm that this is ok with the patient and family as well. As far as music, normally we turn off music as the patient enters the OR. Many patients may see music as being too unprofessional for surgery, often thanks to the media's portrayal of music during operating. On occasion, I have had the patient ask for music and it usually is not a problem to play some music for them while they are awake in the OR as long as anesthesia, the surgeon, and the OR team are ok with music during that time. I also smile a lot and act very sure of myself and the surgical team. If all the above doesn't work, let's hope anesthesia has a pocket full of Versed!

athomas2244 I PM'd you also. Good luck. Concept analysis is an abstract and often difficult topic.

I'm glad I can help. I will try to send the article a different way. Also, I will PM you a couple of the other papers for other ideas.

Hopefulapn, I PM'd you. Let me know if you aren't able to get Pm's or if you can't read it.

Ok. I know where my paper is but I'll need to look for the other article. Is there an email where I can send it or??

Like a concept analysis for a theory class? If that's what you are talking about I can give you the paper title of the example my professor gave to my class. I wrote one on autonomy. I'm also willing to let you look at that if you'd like. Just no plagiarizing of course :) Let me know! Edited for autocorrect mistake :)

I would take your receipts to your tax preparer and ask. I was shocked at everything that I could deduct when I was traveling.

I am currently in an FNP program. Haven't graduated yet, so I can't speak to difficulty of getting a job. I can, however say that my OR experience has brought a different kind of experience to my cohort. Sometimes it is a unique view that comes from more focused patient care or being closer to the docs and learning from them, and other times it's me being completely lost. I'm hoping that everything will come together soon and a job won't be too difficult after I graduate and get licensed.

Definitely not a wire cutter! But I see the resemblance. Like Sop said, it is made by OnQ and is specifically for lifting off the metal vial tops. Super easy and quick to use. Too bad they aren't allowed here anymore. Although , I wonder if some people still use it around here since there was one hidden :)

My facility doesn't allow the use of these anymore, but I found one the other day in a drawer and thought I'd post it.

I learned to love the OR because of some really great nurses who allowed me to do observation as a student and as a new grad. Therefore, I welcome all students, new grads, and experienced nurses that might be interested in OR nursing. I also encourage shadowing/observation prior to entering the world of OR nursing because it truly isn't for everyone.

Many of the surgeons I have worked with hate them because of the added bulk the plastic smoke evacuator piece makes the hand piece. I don't think it's a horrible idea to use them. Gotta protect our health in every way we can. I just don't know if the reason they aren't more widely used is the surgeons disliking the bulkiness.

It does have to do with AS or AI. Especially AS when it is severe. AS makes it harder for the blood to leave the heart to the body. So the body usually increases BP to help get past that aortic stenosis. During induction the medications given (especially propofol) can drop the BP significantly and therefore drop preload and cardiac output making the heart basically collapse on itself from lack of blood and blood pressure. So the a-line is placed ahead of time to more closely monitor BP prior to and during induction. And like sweet wild rose said, sometimes the central line and swan will even be placed awake to make anesthesia feel more comfortable in having that access in critical aortic pts.

My program prefers NPs. That is what we are aiming for and wanting to learn that specific role in conjunction with the nursing model right? BUT they will allow MDs or DOs for some hours. I'm not far enough to know how many Dr. Hours they will allow or in what areas. But I would check specifically with your program.

I tried a number of different shoe styles and brands. I hated Danskos for whatever reason but fell in LOVE with C&C Sweden. They are backless clogs that are similar to Danskos with less break-in time in my opinion. Bad thing is you can only order them online. Good thing is the sizing is the same as Danskos and they are around $100 similar to Danskos. I struggled trying to find the right shoes for me until I found C&C Sweden clogs. Good luck!

Every place I have worked Neuro they were counted.

I will definitely look into this. Thanks!!!

Refresh on APA formatting and citing basics for those dreadful theory and research classes. Remind yourself how to do literature searches. Research, reading and writing papers is all I've been doing this first semester of my NP program. I know there will be more to the program but for some reason that's where my program started and I've been away from school long enough that I'm struggling to get back in the swing of writing papers and researching.

I just started my FNP/ACNP dual program and am 5 months pregnant. Just done with my first week and the amount of assignments and readings are insane! I have spent about 12 hours on homework in the last couple days and have barely accomplished anything. I am "part-time" and taking 10 credits (not by choice but it is how the program I'm in works) and working part-time and I have NO idea how I'm going to do this with a newborn next semester. I keep hearing that it IS doable but I am definitely freaking out. I wish life had worked to where I could focus on one or the other but I was accepted and had paid my deposit long before I found out I was pregnant so I thought I'd at least give it a try. So check back with me in January and I'll let you know if I've flunked out and have any hair left Good luck to you if you decide to go for it!

Congrats on becoming certified!

I started traveling after almost two years in my first OR. I was definitely a little scared of the experience but also excited and ready for the challenge! I am a very fast learner and was confident in my skills at the time as well as my ability to learn new skills. I am a very outgoing person with a "strong" personality that is also a bit bubbly and talkative. Those things made the transition to traveling very easy for me. I went in confident but ready to learn and made friends quickly because of my personality. I would definitely ask about orientation, expectations, surgeon pick tickets (most places have some form of them), etc on any interview you might have. Also ask if travelers are able to extend contracts or go permanent after their contracts and how often people do that. That way you can try to tell how receptive they are to travelers and how well travelers like it there. Also as a traveler you have to partially adopt the theory " when in Rome" as long as it is safe for patient care. Meaning don't fight them if they make their beds differently or position a little differently just because its not what you are used to. As they say:, there are many ways to skin a cat... Just stand your ground if it is a patient safety issue. I left a couple hospitals because I felt their practice was not at a standard I was comfortable with. So anyway I think as long as you are comfortable with your current skills and are eager and willing to learn more and have a somewhat outgoing personality you will do great at traveling to other ORs. Good luck out there!

Your terminology is slightly different that what I am used to for the last 8 years I've been doing open heart surgery as a nurse but it is still accurate. I would change medial to "median sternotomy" but everything else seems ok, just different like I said. The heart will not return to a sinus rhythm until after the aortic cross clamp is removed because it will not be recirculating blood until the clamp is off so do not reverse that sequence. I too do not entirely see the reason behind describing the surgery you observed in such detail in your essay of why you want to be an OR nurse. It does show you paid attention and asked questions and had a genuine interest in what you were observing but you could say that in another way. But good luck to you! And know that if the heart team sees you seeming so interested in heart surgery they may try to recruit you after your preceptorship!

Hearts, vascular and thoracic are my favorites! I love cardiovascular! I dislike urology or gyn the most even robotic cases. I enjoy doing general cases: appys, gallbladder, bowel resections, etc for an easy day and a change of pace. Trauma is also a lot of "fun" in that weird way. I guess I like complicated cases that make you think and work hard.

Dina, I have been accepted to this program for the 2013 cohort and would love to hear a bit more about it. I am considering this track because I'm not totally sure what I want to do with an advanced degree but I know I want to continue patient care and not be in administration. I also would like to stay in a hospital setting. Is this a good program for someone like me? Also would love to know what are your practice goals and What was the reason you chose the CNL path? Any added insight or info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!