bella201

Hey pos-healthRN, I am also trying to find other holistic rn's who practice holistic/alternative modalities on their own in private practice here in TX. As I am trying to find out the range of practice for holistic rn's providing these services. I'm trying to get a hold of the BON to help with these questions but it's been difficult and finding this information on their website is just confusing. Have u had any luck finding more information from other holistic rn's in texas who are in private practice about this?

Rose_Queen, I know orientation extensions are not a given so how should I go about requesting/getting an orientation extension if I find that the orientation is not sufficient or I find I need more hands on practice when on orientation?

Rose_Queen, Did you receive my post? I know that orientations can be extended. I'm thinking maybe doing this can help in getting sufficient orientation time so that I can have more hands on experience to become proficient when I finally come to the point of working independently. I know orientation extensions are not a given so how should I go about requesting/getting an orientation extension if I find that the orientation is not sufficient or I find I need more hands on practice? Since orientations vary from facility to facility, do you think contacting OR departments to find out about their orientations and how long they are would be a good idea?

I said course because I thought the orientation had to follow a course along with the orientation. And I wanted to take the course to open doors for myself as it seems that getting into the OR field is somewhat difficult as a new grad or otherwise. That way, recruiters can see that I'm serious and interested about wanting to work in the OR. But what I really want and care for is that I get a sufficient amount of hands on experience that way I'm prepared when I work independently regardless if I take the course or not. You are lucky you had a pretty sufficient amount of hands on orientation that lasted that long; that is not common.

Rose_Queen, So I do have to find OR's that work with the program right? How were you able to secure specifically 9 Months of orientation? Was it because that's how long the course was structured to last when taking it at a facility with a preceptor?

You said you applied for a position that included a 9 month orientation using AORN's Periop101 program. I just found about this organization and their course today while doing some more research into OR nursing. Do I have to find positions/employers that use that program to have that length of orientation? Or do I just mention the course to my potential employer? Did you start in the OR right after graduation? Did you secure a residency program with the hospital u were going to work with before graduating? If so, how did you go about doing so?

Hi Rose_Queen, I will keep an open mind. I do plan on finding residency program in the OR, but as far as the perioperative course, do you know of any that actually provide hands on experience? I would like to take this course early on if possible so that I have a better idea of what I'm getting myself into. Btw thanks for answering my other question rose_queen.

Hi Tiger52, I will be starting nursing school this august and I've been analyzing a couple of specialties for a while now, that would possibly be potential good fits for me and my circumstances. And the more I've looked into OR nursing and constantly reflected on what I want, like, and how it fits in with my circumstances, the more OR nursing appeals to me. Which is why I've come to the conclusion that OR nursing is the specialty for me. With that said, I've come across ur post where you talked about wanting to break into the OR nursing field and how you took a 16 credit hour Perioperative nursing course offered by your community college which opened doors for you as halfway through the semester, you were approached by an instructor with a contact, which led to an interview, which led to a job. I was wondering how did you find out about the perioperative course ur community college offered? Did you take this course during nursing school? If so, when? I'm assuming you went through a ADN program at the community college where the course was offered? I would like to take this course as well to help open doors for myself in the OR nursing field. I really would Do you have any recommendations as to when is the best time to take the perioperative course? Anybody else have any recommendations? Or any other info that could be of use to me? Please feel free to share your experiences. Thanks!

Hey Rose, Are weekend position (specifically sat-sun) available when working in the OR? Or is it mostly 9-5 Mon-Fri or mostly 3 12hr shifts/wk? Btw, have u done OR travel nursing?

Thanks Skylark; Do u happen to know what specialties there is a need for in the UK? Any critical care specialties like ICU; NICU; the OR etc? Also, do you know of any travel agencies that are based in the UK that sponsor American nurses to work in the UK as travel nurses?

Hi skylark; I see that u work between the US and UK. How are u able to do that? I would love to do this myself. What specialties are needed over there in the UK?

The type of schedule I'm referring to is where one would work 2 weeks on and then be off for 2 weeks and then the cycle starts again; or work 3, 4, 5, 6 weeks etc. and be off that same amount of weeks that was worked? Catch my drift? Is there variations to this type of scheduling? Any nurses with this type of scheduling? Thank You!

Thanks CrazyCoconut for your input! I have sought out help from disabilities services; my counselor has suggested that I look into a different career because of the physicality of the job which I understand because it makes me a liability and I know that many employers would put off hiring/training/accommodating/working with me when job searching, so I know it's going to be difficult and it will take some time but I also know that there are ways to work with my condition and know that I'm not the first and won't be the last in this situation pertaining to the medical field. I'm just going to keep going. And I'm looking into specialties that aren't relatively too physical so that I wouldn't be putting myself my patients in danger. And also am using AllNurses to get suggestions and opinions from people so that can get a better idea of what I'll be faced with and they have been a great help!! Nursing School will also have its challenges as there will not be any modifications which is understandable since they want to make sure that a person can do the job; but I know I'll be able to work with it as I've done so with my condition my whole life in order to get things done and this is what I want to do. Thanks again CrazyCoconut I appreciate it!!

Hi CrazyCoconut, Congratulations on the new chapter in life that has begun for you!! Thank you for sharing your story it is great to see that you did not let your condition and people's opinions deter you from pursuing a career in nursing. As a fellow pre-nursing student that happens to have a disability, just wanted to say keep it up your doing a great job.

Thanks Mother RN I got your reply!!

Anyone? Any nurses or anybody out there who know nurses with cerebral palsy? Either as a relative, friend or colleague?

I am a pre-nursing student that is getting ready to apply to nursing school next year and I happen to have a mild form of CP that affects my lower extremities. I would like to know: **What are your experiences as a nurse or nursing student with cp; in clinicals, in the workplace; how do/did you deal with your physical limitations on the job and in clinicals; how did you go about disclosing information about the cp in the interview process in school and on the job and getting accomodations (if needed and what type); how was the process of getting a job and what type of specialties have you guys worked in or are working in? Do you work part-time or full -time? Do/Did any of you work while in nursing school, have any previous health care experience? How was that experience? Also if you guys have any suggestions that has helped you guys in your nursing journey that could help me in school and on the job or just in general, that would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks guys!!

MotherRN, when you say you were a frequent substitute for the school do you mean a frequent substitute as a school nurse or as a teacher? How did you go about getting your last clinical with the school nurse? Was it a clinical offered at your nursing school that worked with the school nurses? Or was it something you bought up for your last clinical to which they approved or did they let you choose your last clinical? I'm assuming you got the position for school nurse as soon as you graduated nursing school? So you started as a recent grad? How did you adjust? What did you struggle with? How did u resolve those issues? What about those to which you had no answer to or needed help with? What pointers or advice can you give to those who start or are thinking about starting in the school nursing field as a recent grad?

Totally forgot about charter schools is the pay different for a nurse that works in a charter school? Do they go off on vacation in the summer months holidays or is it a little different? Thanks for all the advice about non-necessities and going with a pal and saving at the same time I will definitely have that in the back of my mind!

KelRN215, I think I finally understand. So when you do your trips you take them on the days you are off during the week so that you don't have to use any PTO; and schedule your work week in such a way where you work a certain 3 days one week, say Mon, Tues, Wed, and the next week you work say Fri, Sat, Sun leaving you a good weeks worth of time off for travel; and you come back mid day on Thursday before you start your work week of Fri, Sat Sun. This allows you to travel without sacrificing your PTO and your work shifts you still get them in every week. But if you wanted more time off before you came back to work then you can use your PTO for that. Am I finally getting it right? BTW since you travel a lot multiple times in a year usually every year, have you considered travel nursing? Have you done travel nursing? If so, do you like travel nursing? Why or why not? And were your case management/ home health jobs 5 days a week? Or 3 days a week? 12 hr shifts or 9-5 type of thing?

ChristineN, how does working only 3 days a week add up to several weeks worth of PTO? So does that mean that working less shifts adds up to more PTO? I thought it was the other way around. If you work more shifts you get more PTO. Or does it have to do with the fact that your unused PTO gets rolled over year to year? I know that not all places allow PTO rollover so one either uses it or loses it. Is there a limit to the amount of PTO one gets? There must be. I know it's dependent upon sonority, experience, and amount of time worked there. Even then there is a limit to PTO. Does this apply to other medical providers? Like Doctors, CRNA's?

KelRN215, do you normally travel every year and do you normally do multiple international trips a year like the one time you did five international trips a year? How do you do it? U didn't use all your PTO for those five trips. Or the one where you went to Italy for 10 days using only 24 hrs of PTO. So I guess I still don't understand the PTO vacation time thing. Help please!

Can anyone tell me if in a hospital setting , can one work 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 4weeks on etc and then have 2, 3 or 4 weeks off? Is there such an arrangement? Also what is the difference between PRN, Per Diem, and Agency? I know each requires a certain time of work commitment and then one can take time off but after that i'm a little confused? Do each allow one to choose when they work or does that depend on whether they are prn, per diem, or agency?

Hi ChristineN, I'm not sure if I'm reading you right but is vacation time the same as PTO? Or are they different? So is PTO only used when one wants more time off aside from whats been already allotted to them in vacation time? Like the example above, RN gets 2 weeks off in vacation time but lets say they want more time off so then the RN uses their PTO for more time off? Am I understanding right?

Hi KelRN215, u said that you worked part-time as a school nurse last year; I'm just curious, how did working as a school nurse hinder your ability to travel? How is it that in your other jobs you are able to take off whenever you want? Do you work for an agency or PRN where u work for a certain required amount of time and after you are done u can take off for weeks at a time? Is it because of seniority? What are those other jobs that u are referring to? Other specialties? Or was working as a school nurse hindering your ability to travel because of the fact that traveling during school breaks and in the summer is more expensive? Sorry for all the questions if u can elaborate I would really appreciate it, Thanks!