ThePsychWhisperer BSN, MSN, APRN, NP

Psychiatric and emergency nursing

Member

  • Content

    282

  • Visitors

    7,163

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    66

All Content by ThePsychWhisperer

  1. ThePsychWhisperer

    Popping off top from lab tube when drawing labs

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to pattykolo888's topic in General Nursing

    While this is not best practice (drawing from IVs), I draw from IV catheters a lot in the ED, especially if they're peds or little elderlies. I always draw my initial labs from a freshly inserted IV...
  2. ThePsychWhisperer

    Popping off top from lab tube when drawing labs

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to pattykolo888's topic in General Nursing

    I've had to do this with IV drug users with an extensive past, often with an IV catheter that won't feed properly and is hanging from the vein by a prayer. I have had to use this technique more times...
  3. ThePsychWhisperer

    Best littmann stethoscope model for Nursing School?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to abarreto's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    I have a Littman classic 3 and love it. I bought a lightweight as an interim scope and wasn't too fond of
  4. ThePsychWhisperer

    New Nurse; To start a New IV or not?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to carebear1980's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I don't think you did anything wrong pee se. If I had checked the IV site and didn't see any hints of infiltration (coldness, swelling, etc), I probably would have left it alone too. IVs are...
  5. ThePsychWhisperer

    Accepted employment offer...am I bound to this job?

    ThePsychWhisperer posted a topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I recently accepted a position at a new ED and have filled out and sent in the paperwork, but will not start orientation until next month. I wanted to resign in my current place of employment due to a...
  6. ThePsychWhisperer

    Moral character

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to beckiand's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I agree with everyone above. Unless the nurse is positive for a communicable disease and is bloodletting all over his or her patients, or has active TB and gets his or her jollies by coughing in...
  7. ThePsychWhisperer

    Needing help with Concept Analysis PLEASE

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to AliciaOwensRNBSN's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    I did this type of assignment very recently for my program. You need to choose a concept (i.e.- faith, hope, love, trust, anger, disappointment, plus many, many more) and analyze it. If you choose a...
  8. ThePsychWhisperer

    Accepted employment offer...am I bound to this job?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to ThePsychWhisperer's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    At my facility, PRN is at least 5 shifts per month with one weekend with more available as bonus shifts if they are available. While PRN does not receive PTO or insurance, they receive about a $10/hr...
  9. ThePsychWhisperer

    questions about becoming a psych np

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to JSignore's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    Yeah, NursingCAS is a bit ridiculous, but it seems to be the trend nowadays. Thank goodness once you get past that, it's all downhill
  10. ThePsychWhisperer

    questions about becoming a psych np

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to JSignore's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    If you have 2 years of solid psych experience by the time you start clinical, you shouldn't have to do the 120 hours of intensive practicum. The program is not extremely intense. I take 2-3 classes a...
  11. ThePsychWhisperer

    questions about becoming a psych np

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to JSignore's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    Hi there! I'm currently an ED nurse with 3 years experience. I fell in love with psych nursing after noticing the disparity between how med-surg and psych patients are treated in the emergency...
  12. ThePsychWhisperer

    Nursing pay

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to Zooey72's topic in General Students

    That's how it works in the hospital I'm at, and I would imagine most other places. I get $8/hr bonus on top of base rate when I pick up bonus shifts, plus time and a half when I exceed 40 hr/week or...
  13. ThePsychWhisperer

    Nursing pay

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to Zooey72's topic in General Students

    I'm currently in Knoxville, an RN 3 years in, and a lot of it (the pay) depends on experience, LPN vs RN, and where you work. I made $21/hr straight out of the gate, and the other major players in the...
  14. ThePsychWhisperer

    Has University of South Alabama improved?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to ggutier49's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    I've only had one thus far. It was a small group project, and actually went really
  15. ThePsychWhisperer

    Which is the best path to NP for my situation?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to MomAndSonInMD's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    Clinical isn't done online, just the didactic portion. I do all of my "classwork" online, then arrange my clinical experiences in hospitals and clinics in my
  16. ThePsychWhisperer

    Which is the best path to NP for my situation?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to MomAndSonInMD's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    If you're absolutely certain NP is the way you want to go, have you tried looking at online programs that allow you to attend from states other than the school home state? Duke, Vanderbilt (mostly...
  17. ThePsychWhisperer

    Day 3: 2016 Nurses Week Meme Contest

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to allnurses's topic in General Nursing

    Will explain if asked... :) Also, if a mod knows a way to remove the two thumbnails that got linked here somehow... *wink, wink, nudge,
  18. ThePsychWhisperer

    Walden University Textbooks.

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to vamurse's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    If you're not someone that writes or highlights their books heavily, you could try going to Chegg.com, half.com, or B&N and just rent your
  19. ThePsychWhisperer

    Has University of South Alabama improved?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to ggutier49's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    I'm currently attending USA in the PMHNP track and I really like it so far. After you get past admissions, the process is fairly straightforward. I won't say it's not completely without hiccups, as no...
  20. ThePsychWhisperer

    Psych Mental Health NP- Competitive?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to mariehp's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    Although the FNP path remains the most popular, PMHNP has seen quite the explosion in applicants lately, not only due to the over saturation of FNP programs, but because people mistakenly believe that...
  21. ThePsychWhisperer

    What path would be easier to get a job in with no experience?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to Eeramsey's topic in Nursing Career

    Nurses switch fields all the time, and yes, they are trained on the job. The difference is that as a nurse practitioner, the OP would need to be able to notice the minute nuances about a patient that...
  22. ThePsychWhisperer

    The Elusive Vein

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to Joe V's topic in Nurses Rock

    ED nurse here. Don't be afraid of your ultrasound machine. Feel around and look for the perfect site before sticking (I rely on both for finding the right site). Don't be afraid to venture to unknown...
  23. ThePsychWhisperer

    What path would be easier to get a job in with no experience?

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to Eeramsey's topic in Nursing Career

    I agree with everyone else. I have been working in the same ED for about 3 years now and still would not feel prepared to be a charge nurse in the unit (nor do I want the responsibility), much less a...
  24. ThePsychWhisperer

    Preceptor gifts

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to littlepeopleRNICU's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    Hmm..have you heard him mention anything specific from the three major groups you mentioned? Would he like a one year gift subscription to Gun Digest? Is he a gourmet coffee aficionado, and would he...
  25. ThePsychWhisperer

    University of South Alabama FNP program

    ThePsychWhisperer replied to Cauliflower's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    It depends on the class. I'm in my second semester. Just wrapped up NU 608 and am currently taking NU 607. I think in 608 I had 4 major papers and 2-3 discussion boards. In 607, I have 3 major papers...