KimberRN1

I have the book Anesthesia Secrets by James Duke and I LOVE it!!!!! It's great and I use it constantly....It gets to the point and is easy to read and understand....great for careplans! As far as textbooks I love Clinical Anesthesiology by Morgan, Mikhail, & Murray....there's another good one called Clinical Anesthesia (don't confuse the textbook names) by Barash, Cullen, & Stoelting....Stoelting has written many anesthesia textbooks....These are probably books used in any most program but I use my Clinical Anesthesiology a ton...

I attend Mountain State University's CRNA program in Beckley, West Virginia....I wouldn't say it's exactly a web based program because we really don't do anything on the web...BUT....I would call it a distance learning program...meaning you don't have to be on campus every day. You leave campus with your lectures downloaded onto your computer to watch at home and also with assignments etc...Testing is done on campus....You have to be on campus in Beckley every 3-4 wks for a 3-4 day block....We have students as far away as Texas who attend...This is a front loaded program with the didactics being the first 15 mos and the clinical portion the last 15 mos......Clinical sites are the area where you live, the only time for clinicals you may have to travel will be for neuro, cardiac, and peds....and with these hospitals they make arrangements for you to stay in the call rooms so you don't have to have hotel expenses....

I think it's the same way in Ohio...you can take the NCLEX as often as you want without taking the remedial courses...The NCLEX is the same test everywhere but the remedial courses (if required) is a requirement of each individual state's nursing board not NCLEX.....After you pass the NCLEX you can file for an RN license in any state....after all you'll be an RN at that point...

I think the best way to learn how a code works is to first start out documenting and watching everything that's going on....

I attended The University of Charleston for my BSN then worked in the MICU at CAMC-Memorial...I'm now attending Mountain State University for CRNA school.....1 semester down 7 to go...lol....

I wanted to add that someone had previously posted that you can only get the $18,500 from the Stafford (FAFSA) loan for the year....There is an additional funds form you can fill out to recieve another disburstment of $9250 for a summer semester, as most or all CRNA students go year round...So you would get the $18,500 for Fall and Spring...then an additional $9250 for summer....total of $27,750 in Stafford loans for the year....Check with your financial aid dept. for the additional funds form...

No the check is sent to the school then to you because it's a loan that has to be certified by the school.......This loan stuff gets pretty tricky and you have to be careful with the loans sent directly to you...Here's what I mean.... A loan that's sent directly to you does not have to be certified by the school...all you have to do is show proof of enrollment by your acceptance letter or something of the like...Why I'm saying tricky is because your school a long with the feds determine exactly how much you're allowed to borrow each semester for tuition, living expenses etc...This is hard to explain but I'll give it a whirl... For example....EVERY graduate student can get a FAFSA loan (the federal loan) for $9250.00 each semester, that's a given you know you're going to get the FAFSA loan.....Ok say that your school allows you to borrow $21,000 each semester for tuition AND living expenses,and other costs....Then say you're tuition is $6000 each semester....Even though your tuition is $6000, you can still borrow the $9250 if you want all of it (most do)...What the school does is then deduct the $9250 from the $21,000 they allow you to borrow for the semester....that leaves you with $11,750 you can borrow in a private loan (certified by the school)....In addition to the $11,750 you still have what's left over from your FAFSA loan...that would be an additional $3250.....total for that semester in "living loans" $15,000....that's just for one semester then you do it all over again....I just threw in there the tuition cost etc to use as an example, every school is going to be different and your financial aid dept. has their own breakdown. The reason I said tricky is because you're not allowed to borrow over what the feds determine with your school the amount for each semester...If you get the FAFSA loan, and the loans certified by the school....THEN get the teri loans for the $30,000....they consider that loan part of money borrowed for tuition,living expenses etc...then they won't give you the FAFSA loan....Keep in mind the teri type loans are not certified by the school and the school can't find out about it unless you tell them....We had a student who told the financial aid director that she had a teri loan and it totally screwed up her FAFSA loans for the semester....she had to pay her tuition out of the loan she got to live on....All I'm saying is that if you get a private loan NOT certified by the school....DON'T TELL THEM!!!!!!....Also, the only loans you can get that are sent directly to you are the private loans that ARE NOT certified, otherwise they go through the school.... I have no idea why they give a crap how much money you borrow to live on...it's not like a grant or something you don't have to pay back.... Also another note...the teri loans are an annual loan for up to $30,000.....they then charge you an origination fee that's tacked onto the loan amount and you pay interest on that as well.....that's kind of a rip off if you ask me....But then again if you're not working and going to school you don't really care at the time....PNC charges no origination fees and you actually end up getting more per year than the $30,000 from the teri....The difference is PNC disburst money each semester and the teri you get at one time, but you can't get it again until the next year......I would use PNC then get a teri if you absolutely need it.... Sorry this is so long (and confusing) but I tried to explain it the best way I could....it took me forever to understand the financial aid aspect of it all.... Good Luck!

PNC has a new loan called the Medical Professions Loan Program that CRNA students qualify for....It's actually really good....there is no up front fees or orgination fees (Sallie Mae charges fees)...9 mos grace period after graduation...and you can defer loans up to 8yrs....and a 25 yr repayment plan....They also send the money fast....I believe within 2wks.... You can get your stafford loan with PNC as well and again unlike Sallie Mae there are no fees charged.....If you visit the website under the MPLP (medical professions loan program) You will see the stafford loan....then under that, the private loan...this is the one you get for money to live on!http://www.medproloan.com/students/about_mplp/index.html

I think standardized test like the GRE are a racket.....It's nothing more than a money making machine and I'm glad more colleges and universities are seeing the light......I guess like some say it's a way to weed out people based on who has the highest GRE score, but really they could be missing out on a great nurse who can be an even better NP or CRNA....Yea I sucked it up and took my GRE and I'm in a CRNA program...But you'll never convince me the GRE has a damn thing to do with anything other money...

We have a resident Dr. Dumm....and Dr.Tickle.....an OB-GYN Dr. Bush....Allergist Dr. Thrush....We also had a resident Dr. Yonker...which we got a kick out of because here we call our Yankauer's ...Yonker's....Surgeon Dr. Lim....and....drum roll please....Dr. Nutt psychiatrist.....haha.....swear it's true!!!

Tom goes from one starlet to the next...he was married to Mimi Rogers then has an affair with Nicole Kidman while on set....marries her...has an affair with Penelope Cruz while on set....she dumps him, then he falls for Katie Holmes while auditioning for one of his movies....Wonder what Scientology Theory that kind of behavior falls under?...Anyhoooo....Tom's the one that looked like a total nut with his Today show rant...it was unbelievable....

Where I work nurses work every other weekend....Sat. is the last day of the week and Sun. is the 1st day of the work week (in our work schedule)....If you work you're weekend then you've already worked one day that week with Sunday...Let's say you worked Sat and Sun....then wed and thurs...you're done until the following week....you could have 5 or 6 days off in a row every other week....

I work in MICU and we do tons of CRRT....we basically had a 4hr class then off to the races...lol...Luckily we do so much there seems to be someone on the unit who can help out if needed because everyone has a good deal of experience in it......When we have a CRRT we are "suppose" to have one pt but it's not always the case, but it should be.......I actually really like doing CRRT, it's great as long as it's running good...but when the damn thing keeps ringing off it's a major pain in the rear!!!

in Charleston, WV new grads $17.50

We check by auscultation when first placed..then we're required to have an xray to confirm it, and before tube feeds...

Hi Beth......I work in the MICU at CAMC in Charleston where you are referring to.....I've posted a couple of ghost stories on here from the unit...Glad to hear that you had a good experience with our nurses in the unit when you were having a horrible experience in you life with your mother dying.......Keep your goals set on becoming a nurse...you'll make a great one, and who knows...maybe you'll work in the MICU at Charleston!!!

Someone has ask me that before.....I think there may be some confusion because of how it's worded on the website.....I think for the post master's there are a couple of classes in assessment you can test out of but all the CRNA classes they have to take...I also believe they don't have to write another thesis if they've done one previous....We have 3 nurse practitioners, the rest are BSNs....

I am enrolled at Mountain State University...No one has graduated, as the 1st CRNA class started April, 2005....It's a 30 month program and graduates will obtain an MSN.... Here's how it works....We meet in Beckley every 3 wks for 3 days of classes...12 hour days...We have students in my class from WVa, Va, Ky, Pa and one from Texas...each student is responsible for being in Beckley for scheduled classes.... While on campus students have more lectures, sims lab, cadaver lab, presentations, discussions, and all testing is conducted on campus in a secured environment.... The online part: During orientation students receive their books and a laptop...While on campus for your 3 day blocks....lectures for the upcoming section is downloaded to each student's laptop...Once you go home....you watch your lectures....For example, this semester we have Chemistry and Physics....Advanced Physiology 1 and 2...Issues, Theories, and Ethics.....Intro to Anesthesia.......On the lectures there is a side box where you actually watch the instructor present the lecture as if you were in a live class....beside that is a larger box with the power point of the lecture...you can stop, pause, go back or forward etc on each lecture....there is a printer version of the lecture so you can print it and add your own notes as you watch it...It's pretty cool because you can stop the lecture...answer the phone or whatever...then continue on whenever you're ready again....The lectures have been videoed to a CD then downloaded to our comps so we can watch lectures over and over if needed or just watch a certain section again.....You can't do that after a live class! We use WebCT for interaction....there is a CRNA homepage on WebCT for the SRNAs.....each class has a link where you can post mail...discussions....receive homework and assignments, the syllabus, grades, chat, and send due assignments and papers...once an assignment is sent the student cannot retrieve it again to change anything.... Clinicals: This is a front loaded program with the majority of the classes being in the first 15 months....In Aug. we'll start a one day a week OR observation....The last 15 months clinicals are 5 days a week.... This is a distant learning program set up so that you don't have to live in Beckley to go to CRNA school....The director of the program works with hospitals in each students area of residence for places of clinical rotation... So far I really like it....If I want to watch a lecture a 3am or 10 pm I can....We actually have a few students who are still working this first 15 months....after you start clinicals 5 days a week it will be pretty much impossible to work...but if you feel like you can handle it the first 15, and your grades don't suffer then you can still work at least part time if you choose....

We use the pre-packaged green sponges with periximent with suction...there is a lip moisturizer and also toothbrushes with suction in the oral kit....this comes in a large bag with several of the pre packaged sponges and toothbrushes in it....the pt is charged for one bag, you get the sponges out as needed and it's theirs and left in the room....our protocol is q2hrs but more if needed....It works...if you follow the protocol the pts lips and mouth doesn't get dry, crusted and bleeding... i always use the lip moisturizer after oral care....

We had one with mommy obviously dead in the bed....big family conflict with ending care and extubation....anyhooo....visiting hours comes and the daughter is in the room with a video camera in mom's face saying..."Now mommy...didn't you promise me the living room suit"....she went on with various items she would receive upon mommy's death.....Now isn't that nice...not keeping her alive to help her...just to take inventory on what they'll get when she goes....We get some real winners....

MICU here.....Sometimes if we're lucky we have a pt care person....they help with the baths but can't usually do it alone as the pts are on a lot of gtts, have multiple lines, and are on the vent, so we're helping..........If we don't have pt care you grab another RN and you help each other with baths...cleaning up messes, or whatever else.....If we don't have pt care our monitor techs are suppose to restock our rooms...but if they're busy you do it yourself.....This time of year we usually get a nurse extern who helps out in the summer.... the ICU is why by back is junked....lol.....

We use green swabs as well with a q 2hr protocol for oral care (more if needed)...I work in the MICU with a lot of vented pts......sounds like ours is pretty much like picklypear's....Our green swab packets have the peroximent and are attached to suction we also have toothbrushes with suction and a lip moisturizer .....You can really tell a difference when you use the green q2 hrs then lip moisturizer after.. ..We use the pink swabs usually for awake pts who want to wet their mouths if they're NPO...We just dip it in some water....we don't use the pink for oral care.....

We do CO and wedges per order......I work in a cardiac hospital in the MICU..usually it's q shift but varies with each order........Open Heart Recovery has their own protocol.....We use Saline for pressure bags....

It's still intimidating when you graduate and start working in the ICU...lol....Hopefully you'll be put with a really good nurse who will teach you alot...by the end of the summer you won't be scared of the vent and the lines, it's just something you get comfortable with after being around it awhile.......I know.. you think if you touch them the vent will fall out...so did I....lol.....Just remember... in the ICU the pt is constantly monitored so if something goes wrong you know it in an instant.....plus you have all those lines to get quick blood work if needed....At first you think oh my God I hate all these lines because they are confusing....then you come to love them because that means a lot of access for new drips and blood draws.....Just ask a lot of question like what the drips are....the vent settings and what they mean etc....check out the diagnosis then look it up at home... you can find some real interesting stuff in the ICU....Best of Luck!!

Around here you can't get a PRN job unless you have one year of nursing experience period......in other words a new grad can't get a PRN job....Every hospital around here has that requirement.. Check PRN requirements in your area...As a new grad if you get weekends off...tell me what hospital you work at because I'm moving there!....Nurses who have worked on my unit 25 yrs work every other weekend....At first I was like ugg weekends, but actually it's not bad...it's laid back as management is gone...lol.....Our nurses also rotate holidays...if you were off Christmas last year...you work it this year, and it's the same for the rest of the holidays...but hey...if you want to make extra money volunteer to work the holiday for someone and get holiday pay!.... Also, if you can work PRN this year somewhere you probably can't do it at your hospital of full time employments as you can't be a full time employee and a PRN employee at the same place.... When we get hired we decide if we're going to work 3 12s at 36hrs or 2 12s and 2 8s for 40 hrs.....We also knew we were going to night shift after orientation, all new grads do......I chose 36 hrs because I only have to work 3 days vs 4 days for only 4 more hours..... I think as a new grad your best bet for more pay is going to be picking up extra shifts in your unit for overtime pay.....I really don't think you're going to be able to get a PRN job this first year but maybe it's different where you live....