LatinRN1

Hello everyone- I have a situation where I would like some advice/input. I am currently a first semester MSN/FNP student and also am a full time ICU RN ( working 3 12 hour shifts). Here is where the dilemma starts: Starting next semester, I am going to start doing my clinical rotations which will occupy 2 days a week, plus my 3 days of work that leaves me with 2 days to do some studying. I feel that I might need to drop and become a PT employee (working 2 days a week) in order for me to fully give it my all to the program and study as I should, the problem deals with this next situation: I wanted to buy a house and in order for me to buy a house and be able to manage all payments and still be able to pay for school and such I would need to be working my full time (3 days a week), but with school and the studying this thought is becoming a bit stressful. Option 1} Keep renting my apartment and stay here with my wife and son and complete my MSN/FNP program with less stress by working PT. Option 2} Just bite it and work 3 days a week and buy the house. * If I am to buy the house, my monthly housing payment will go up by ~$700.00 I basically have 3 semesters left; what should I do guys? Thanks in advance

Hi everyone- I was hired recently working in a MISU at a trauma II center, I love the staff and what I have learned so far. Today was my actual 4th shift orienting. Everything was going amazing until today! Pt a morbidly obese with respiratory failure, has been on ICU for a few weeks, had a trach placed a couple of weeks ago. Pt had been receiving meds and tube feeding from NG tube. Today they placed a Peg Tube, the GI MD and RT/Endo Tech went up to ICU to do the procedure. This was my mentors/mine patient and since one of the things I have to do during orientation is "Conscious Sedation", this was the chance for me to do it. My mentor and I went over real quick the procedure in the med room, then went into the room with the pt. Pt asked for Benadryl, Fentanyl and Versed. I pushed the first two with no issues, then when the Versed came, the MD had asked for 2 versed and I pushed the whole thing, which were 5. My mentor noticed and then since the pt was still alert, the MD asked for more versed and this was when my mentor said all 5 had been pushed in by me, which I was orienting. He initially said, "Thats not good" but kept going and finally asked for a total of 7 Versed, plus the Benadryl and Fentanyl.. My whole confidence dropped to the floor after this screwed up. The patient was on a vent, ended up needing more than the 5 and had no s/s of any distress, but the simple fact that I messed up makes me feel horrible! My mentor explained and talked to me afterwards and I told her I simply misunderstood the instruction wrong, which was the true and in no way I am blaming her, it is my responsibility My mentor mentioned it to my manager and since the pt ended up needing more and nothing happened, the manager just told my mentor to talk to me about the incident.. I thank God nothing bad happened, no write ups or anything, but now I feel very insecure, ashamed, embarrassed and like the most stupid person in the world! =( How can I get over this?? All these past 4 days I had been receiving praised from the staff, but this incident just makes me feel so low of myself...

Thank you guys for the responses; you guys have honestly giving me the confidence and push I need it to apply and go talk to the ER manager and tell them I want to work in the ED. You know, you guys are really amazing and for that, I thank you with all my heart! Thanks

Just like the title asks, I want an honest answer. I have been contemplating this dilemma for some time and actually about asking you guys what your thoughts are. I want some direct, honest responses. I recently finished nursing school and have passed NCLEX. 3 years ago I worked as an EMT-1 in an ALS crew and I did it for a year before moving into a better paying job that I had to take in order to pay bills. The dilema deals with my weight and my passion of emergency nursing/medicine. If I had a choice, I would love to start my career as an ER nurse, but I am scared what the staff and other personnel might think about my functionality as an RN. I am 6'2" and weight 380lbs, Pretty big dude huh? My scrub tops are usually 3XL and some even 4XL. During nursing school I never never had an issue with my weight, I performed amazing, was able to do all routines/procedures and even nurses and personnel loved having me in their floor because I could do a lot with moving and helping patients. My clinicals were twice a week 8-9 hrs per day and even when I did my preceptorship, which I was working 12s, which in reality were 13s I had no problem functioning at all! I am not going to lie, there were times when I got home and was pretty tired, but not immbile! lol Due to this dilemma and insecurity of mine, I am applying to med/surg floors where I know it can also get crazy, but maybe not as intense as the ER. I joined a gym last week and started working on myself more to health reasons and to be able to do my job better, but do you think I should let this hold me from applying to the ER? What are your honest thoughts and advice? Thanks!

Hi everyone- I have been contemplating this dilemma for some time and actually about asking you guys what your thoughts are. I want some direct, honest responses. I recently finished nursing school and have passed NCLEX. 3 years ago I worked as an EMT-1 in an ALS crew and I did it for a year before moving into a better paying job that I had to take in order to pay bills. The dilema deals with my weight and my passion of emergency nursing/medicine. If I had a choice, I would love to start my career as an ER nurse, but I am scared what the staff and other personnel might think about my functionality as an RN. I am 6'2" and weight 380lbs, Pretty big dude huh? My scrub tops are usually 3XL and some even 4XL. During nursing school I never never had an issue with my weight, I performed amazing, was able to do all routines/procedures and even nurses and personnel loved having me in their floor because I could do a lot with moving and helping patients. My clinicals were twice a week 8-9 hrs per day and even when I did my preceptorship, which I was working 12s, which in reality were 13s I had no problem functioning at all! I am not going to lie, there were times when I got home and was pretty tired, but not immbile! lol Due to this dilemma and insecurity of mine, I am applying to med/surg floors where I know it can also get crazy, but maybe not as intense as the ER. I joined a gym last week and started working on myself more to health reasons and to be able to do my job better, but do you think I should let this hold me from applying to the ER? What are your honest thoughts and advice? Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone- I have been contemplating this dilemma for some time and actually about asking you guys what your thoughts are. I want some direct, honest responses. I recently finished nursing school and have passed NCLEX. 3 years ago I worked as an EMT-1 in an ALS crew and I did it for a year before moving into a better paying job that I had to take in order to pay bills. The dilema deals with my weight and my passion of emergency nursing/medicine. If I had a choice, I would love to start my career as an ER nurse, but I am scared what the staff and other personnel might think about my functionality as an RN. I am 6'2" and weight 385lbs, Pretty big dude huh? My scrub tops are usually 3XL and some even 4XL. During nursing school I never never had an issue with my weight, I performed amazing, was able to do all routines/procedures and even nurses and personnel loved having me in their floor because I could do a lot with moving and helping patients. My clinicals were twice a week 8-9 hrs per day and even when I did my preceptorship, which I was working 12s, which in reality were 13s I had no problem functioning at all! I am not going to lie, there were times when I got home and was pretty tired, but not immbile! lol Due to this dilemma and insecurity of mine, I am applying to med/surg floors where I know it can also get crazy, but maybe not as intense as the ER. I joined a gym last week and started working on myself more to health reasons and to be able to do my job better, but do you think I should let this hold me from applying to the ER? What are your honest thoughts and advice? Thanks in advance.

Hello Everyone. For those whom have done Kaplan. How does the Kaplan Q-trainers work? I have completed 1 and 2 so far. Once I look at my results, which categories do I review in the Qbank? The ones I get 70% below or which ones? Also, When do I take the readiness test? Some people say that Question Trainer 6-7 assimilate the NCLEX, so should I do these two before the readiness test or after the q-trainers 6-7? Thanks a lot for your help in advance! P.S. Are Kaplan questions easier than NCLEX?