Medic2BSN13

There was a recent headline in the news, in the southern tip of Maine, about a person who overdosed on heroin laced with carfentanil and required 5 doses of Narcan to make him conscious. The dosage and route were not highlighted in the article, but still that is a lot! Apparently, the patient survived, but I can't imagine needing that much Narcan for an overdose.

My response... "I'm sorry, but this is an emergency department. If you want my attention then you must be bleeding."

Once you feel comfortable talking through the study guide content located on the BCEN website. That would be an ideal time to test. I took the exam with just over 12 months ED experience. I felt very comfortable taking it and likely could have done it sooner, but I also had 10 years prehospital experience prior to nursing. Personally, I don't find the value in having a certification if you lack the experience to go with it. It's similar to new grads taking ACLS/PALS prior to obtaining a job. The dedication is there which is great, but there is clearly a lack of significant experience.

Anybody who works in the ED and has for more than a day knows about Paramedics, EMT's and the differences in scope. Is prehospital experience helpful? I am probably bias, but I think it most definitely is! Some managers are more partial to the nursing education/experience versus a candidate having prehospital experience. In the ED I work in almost all of our nurses were involved with prehospital care at one point in their careers. Some still work with our local fire department as well to maintain the paramedic license and scope of practice. I agree with the above poster in stating that you should highlight that there are gaps in your knowledge and experience coming from the prehospital setting. Look at the bright side...you should already have ACLS, PALS, PHTLS (similar basics to TNCC), and maybe NRP certificatons? Those are good to have as well especially with significant experience.

Knowing your credit is less than stellar should be incentive to find alternate ways of affording your education. Private loans generally have higher interest rates than federal loans. Assuming you are able to get a private loan with bad credit, the interest rate will likely be very high. Why dig yourself so deep into a financial hole now? There are people who do not immediately find jobs and search for up to 12 months or longer after graduation. Don't shoot yourself in the foot, financially, this early in your career. It's not worth it!!

You need to contact an AMEDD recruiter specifically, if that is not who you are in contact with already. Like the previous poster, I have not ever heard of a direct commission MSN without a BSN, but the question must be asked to the right person. It doesn't mean they don't exist, just that they are likely rare in the uniformed services as many RN's utilize the education benefits to complete an MSN after commissioning with a BSN. It might be a little confusing where you have an MSN without a BSN already completed. I would think as long as you have at least a BSN and a nursing license you should be good to go, but we all know that the military never does anything straight forward. That would be too easy!! Good luck.

Agree with previous poster. It will take some time to learn cardiac rhythms and drugs, but you can do it. In short, yes, I think it would be beneficial comparing you to another new grad. If you have the time and resources PALS may also be helpful depending on what type of nursing you would like to do. Good luck!

Interventional radiology is a specialty in nursing and you wouldn't need any additional formal education to obtain a position. I think you do need critical care experience, but I am not certain about that. If you look around I am sure you could find more information about the specialty.

Larry I think you misinterpreted what elkpark was trying to say. Yes, a nursing license and BSN are required to begin an NP program. However, that doesn't mean each candidate applying has professional experience working as an RN. For example, someone who holds a business degree decides to enter the nursing field can apply for a dirent entry MSN program with an NP focus. 12 months into the program and the BSN and RN license can be obtained and then the NP education begins. Another 18-24 months and the student graduates with an MSN and eligible for certification exams. So, yes, a nursing background is required, but by no means does it have to be extensive. This is similar to the PA education model as others enter with unrelated degrees. There is still a requirement for direct patient care which continues to be forgotten or overseen when posting on this subject.

I also work in the ED and don't know of any particular instances when someone has judged me for being a male nurse. I have had men of all ages make comments about wanting a good looking female nurse (usually joking). If I sense the patiet may be serious, I respond by saying they are welcome to wait back in the waiting room for another nurse. I have yet to have a patient return to the waiting room. Frankly, I could care less what people think of me. I have no control what others think/believe. I have a military background as well as EMS prior to nursing. I have seen and done things that most would not be able to do. I am comfortable with what I do and don't care what others think of my career choice. I am not gay, or overtly feminine in the least bit.

Work as much as you can to accrue overtime hours, live a very frugal lifestyle, and dump all of your extra money into your loan debt. Unfortunately, you have a long road ahead of you. It might not be conducive to a social or luxurious lifestyle, but that is a good plan of attack. Hopefully you dont get burned out before paying off that debt.

This topic has been covered previously. Try using the search function and you will likely find all the information you need. I personally have commented on similar posts, so I know they can be located. Good luck!

It's a tough market for nursing right now. While it's not out of the question that your previous employer may be talking with future employers and giving a bad reference, I would not discount the poor market yet either. It sounds like your last position was eliminated due to budgeting while the need for the position was still very real. Unfortunately, the company wanted you to do some of the same tasks without the previous title and benefits. If you are interested in knowing what happened with the interviews contact the people who interviewed you and ask them. They may be able to give you some feedback as to why you were not chosen, or they may not tell you anything. It's a rough market out there for all nurses not just new graduates. Bottom line is you should not have left your previous job without having secured another opportunity. Good luck.

Unfortunately, as the other poster mentioned, all schools have different metrics for admitting students. Your GPA will make it very difficult for entry into any ABSN program. You might think about the community college route (ADN) and saving yourself some money as well. After completing an ADN go right onto an RN-BSN program. As a side note, GPA is not the only factor in an application and it appears that you are aware of that. Generally, applicants with a lower GPA who get admitted have other strengths (significant experience, references, goal statement, etc.) which make the applicant stand out. Lacking in these other areas will make your experience much more difficult. Have you thought about retaking classes to help raise your GPA? You should identify some schools that you are interested in and ask to speak with someone from their nursing department or admissions and ask what your chances may be and how to make your application stand out a little more. Also, there are a ton of threads just like this which you can search by using the search function. You should be able to find more than enough information and maybe even find someone who has been in the same position. Good luck.

Are you looking for any type of certification or board certifications? You will want to clarify because there is a difference between certifications such as ACLS, PALS, TNCC, etc compared to board certifications such as CEN, CCRN, CMSRN, etc. There are a lot of different certifications that nurses can obtain though. Good luck!

I'm with klone. Unfortunately, you should have known that counting each box as 0.2 seconds would have made an irregular rate/rhythm. Just think logically through that error. The cardiac cycle would be occurring much slower than it needs to be. I do not think you have a case to argue. Sorry.

A lot of people hate it, but pick up running or high intensity interval training (HIIT). It's the best way to burn a lot of energy with a tight schedule. That's what I did through school and also signed up for a half marathon. The half marathon was only to keep me on schedule and consistently active. It was challenging and tough at times, but there is always time during the day to exercise. Some people just don't want to find the time in their schedule to use for physical activity.

I am a second degree nurse and I agree with llg completely in each point made. Do yourself a favor and change your major to nursing now if this is the path you choose. There is absolutely no benefit in completing one degree to immediately begin a second degree program. You are wasting your own time and money. You can get into any specialty in nursing with time and experience. Also, many new nursing grads are waiting significant time to find their first job. This may or may not happen with you, but if you have two degrees and a lot of debt, it's a really difficult position to be in without a job. As for a first degree, if you must go this route, there is no best degree. My class was made up of people from all different educational backgrounds (business, psychology, biology, philosophy, exercise physiology, etc.). In my experience those who did the best had healthcare experience (CNA, paramedic, EMT, MA, etc.) If you are that interested in a secondary field of study I would recommend minoring in psychology or business. I assure you that you will be thankful that you did not not waste time and money on a degree that you have no plan on using in a professional setting. Completing one degree will not make you more marketable either if that is your thought process. All ABSN students hold a prior degree so you will no advantage by simply completing a degree. These programs are designed for people who have worked in another field for a number of years and want to enter nursing. You should seriously reconsider your goals if you have three years left of school. Good luck!

Thanks FlyingScot and PMFB-RN for your input. Do you both still actively fly or have you since moved back into the hospital setting full time? I have heard that pay isn't as high as many hospitals as the law of supply and demand is in effect with transport nurses. Honestly, I would be okay with it and likely supplement my income with maintaining a per diem status within an ICU.

Only you will be able to accurately answer that question. Many people can provide insight, but ultimately only you can decide if the juice is worth the squeeze. Don't break the bank with student debt and realize that the first 1-2 years may not be ideal as you will need to find a job and gain experience. Good luck!

This is the funniest thread I have seen all week!

You can enter at anytime you like to which ever component you choose which was why I recommended a generic recruiter. A health professions recruiter will pass you off unless you have a BSN and are licensed. And yes, experience is essential as the Army is currently over strength with nurses. Enlisting prior to becoming a nurse will give you the option to use tuition assistance to help pay for school as well as gain experience as an enlisted soldier. They also have loan repayment options for people who have accrued student debt. Monthly drills can be a pain to manage while in school though. As I stated before, these are benefits of choosing a career in the military. Your primary motivation should be to serve your country. You also mentioned you would like to travel and help others. There is a vast difference between travel nursing and serving in a combat zone for a year. That's all I will say about that. The Army isn't for everybody. I find that people love it or they hate it. There isn't much middle ground. Good luck!

PMFB-RN, I plan on transferring to an ICU in a level 1 trauma center after some experience in the ED. I know some nurses there and have been there before completing my senior practicum there. The nurses are very autonomous. The way it was explained to me was, "this is as close as you will get to practicing medicine without having a license." There are standing orders for a lot of things including titrating pressors, sedation, ordering labs, and other stuff. I really liked doing clinical time there while in school, but they don't hire without experience and I also had other obligations that I had to attend to after graduation. As a result, I am now working in an ED and plan on switching and gaining enough experience in an ICU and eventually transition to transport nursing. Thanks for your insight!

Yeah the negotiation generally and should come before you agree to an offer. It's not unheard of to negotiate after the fact, but you may risk losing the opportunity. As others have mentioned, try it to see what they say. You may be stuck at the offered amount or you may have to refuse the offer all together and stay where you are until another opportunity arises. Good luck!

There are a few different paths to take in joining the military. Yes, the military will help pay for your education, or loan repayment after you graduate, whether you participate in ROTC or not. I would suggest contacting your local recruiter to discuss what options you have available. Also, if you plan on going to school out of your home state, I personally recommend waiting to join until you are done with school and are licensed. This will make your life exponentially easier while in school. Remember that money for education is a benefit and carries a cost. On another note, the military is currently downsizing over the next couple of years due to budget cuts and other political issues. And always remember, the military exists for one reason...to fight wars. If you have no desire whatsoever to end up thousands of miles from nowhere for extended periods of time, you should reconsider joining. I have served with many people who joined because they "wanted money for school" and then did stupid crap to avoid deployments at all costs. Don't be that guy!! You will look like a fool and it can ruin your life.