hope4673

Kid comes in complaining his throat & tongue is itchy. "I know I'm allergic to apples, but I really wanted to eat one!" Proceeds to give him his Benadryl. Cmon!

I have had a kid go to the outdoor education program I worked at with a new NG tube and enteralyte pump. It's not super common but it's also not unheard of. The child I took care of had a very severe flare up of Crohns. So her treatment plan involved resting her bowels and oral chemo. I just followed the doctors order specifically. It was a continuous feed so I just mixed up her formula, started the feed, and off she went. Usually they will give you the order to hold it for more strenuous activities. This girl played soccer with her NG tube in place! We had a little scare where the tube got tugged on while she was packing her stuff. But I just checked placement with the pH strips & stethoscope and she was good to go. Has it been a while since you dealt with an NG tube?

Any school nurses out there dealt with a student who has a severe case of eczema all over their face & body? My poor little kiddo has these awful looking sores that he cannot stop scratching (and their painful for him), to the point he bleeds. He's been hospitalized for staph infections related to the sores. He has a pair of gloves we keep on him so he doesn't scratch his skin with his fingernails. He has a topical lotion that we apply daily. He was on steroids last year and it cleared up but I understand why his doctor doesn't want him on them long-term. Does anyone know of any research on this sort of thing? I wish there was more that could be done to help this boy out, but I am not finding much on treatment's beside the topical lotions?

I am currently a school nurse. I am only 27 and am the youngest on my team by almost 10 years. I didn't get 10+ years of experience elsewhere. So I can give you that perspective. After nursing school, I worked 2 years on a med/surg-telemetry unit and hated every moment of it. I quit my job to work at a summer camp and realized I want to do something full time very similar to this. I applied to be a sub and didn't realize it was a school private duty nurse. Loved it. I worked at an outdoor education program as a nurse. Loved it even more. I subbed in another school system and worked in a all levels and also with special needs. After subbing, I finally got my 1st full time school nurse job as a special needs nurse. My suggestion to you is to sub because you will not get a full time school nurse job right away. School nursing is a lot of paperwork (but what nursing job isn't?). There is a tendency for people to put them down. Don't believe it for a second. There are so many children with chronic health issues nowadays, diabetes, asthma, seizures etc. You will learn a wide variety of care. If you are interested, I highly recommend working with the special needs population. You will get your G-tubes, Trachs, & other special procedures. And the kids are super cute. Another thing, think about your coworkers and health issues. Since Sept in my school district, we've sent 3 workers out by 911 for strokes. And that's only the beginning. Things happen all the time in the school and you never know what will happen. The best part? You can work at summer camp as a nurse in the summer! School nursing isn't for everyone but definitely check it out if you think you'd be interested.

Did you end up working there? I applied for a position and have chatted with someone there. I'd love to have an RN tell me about their experience since it would be new for me to be by myself in a camp environment

Find a camp that states they will hire nursing students. That means you will have an RN who is your supervisor and you will not be alone to make decisions. I work at a summer camp that lasts for 2 months (kids are there for 1 week at a time) average 120 for the younger kids and average 150 for the teens. We hired 4 nursing students, me as an RN, and I had an RN supervisor (but I was the RN in control of the younger kids camp). It was a great set up and great learning environment with little experience. The pay is very small overall compared to a full time nursing job, I was offered $1900 for the summer. However I would argue that because you live there for free and you get free food, it's worth it. Now if your not ready to be on call 24/7 or want to work all day I do not suggest camp. Some days I was about to shower or eat at the dining hall and I got called for something. But I will take that over a 12 hour hospital shift any day. It's fun because you can spend time with the kids if the health center has some free time. Everyday I left the health center with my radio and first aid kit and joined in on activities. It's great for your first aid knowledge. Everything from simple scrapes to poison ivy to concussions and snake bites. You'll have a wide variety of different incidents that can occur. I even sent a counselor home with pneumonia. My only con would be that you may have to deal with a traumatic event. There have been nasty storms and one in particular at my camp took the life of a camper and seriously injured a few. However it is rare so don't be too worried. Every week was always an adventure. If you're up for it look around and apply and enjoy the experience. I'm 24 and decided to do something fun and different for a change from acute care. I ended up finding a full time RN position during the school year at an outdoor education program :)

So I'll explain my current work situation and I'd like feedback :) I graduated with my BSN started working on an acute med/surg & stroke telemetry floor. I quit after 1 year & 9 months for various personal reasons to try out the camp nurse life since I loved working with kids. I loved it so much I wanted to go into working full time in a similar environment (outdoor education, school health). I'm currently working part time at an outdoor school and also subbing as a private duty nurse at the special needs school (keeps my skills up to date and the chance to work with ventilators hey pretty cool.) I will be leaving that job because I accepted a full time RN position at an outdoor education program (like camp!). However it leaves me with the beginning of December through end of February/1st week of March with no job. So I thought to keep my skills and my hospital experience active it would be plenty of time to work a travel nurse assignment. My lack of hours right now until I start in March would also be great to do a travel assignment. Is this possible with me not working in acute care the past 7 months? I feel confident in my ability to pick it right back up especially with my experience with the private duty nursing, but will the recruiter and hospital management see that as acceptable? Thanks for any feedback :)

I disagree with some of you about all new grads only wanting the "glamour specialties" and not taking others. I'm a new grad. Those from the school I graduated and other new grads I have met at my new job have aspirations to work in some sort of specialty nursing, I hope to work my way to the ED one day. Some even actually want to work geriatrics. But most who I've talked to are willing to get a job in whatever is open. I don't enjoy the med/surg as much but I am still loving my experience. Like some people have said on here, I didn't want to work at a SNF for the exact reason that the patient-nurse ratios are horrendous. I would not feel safe at all as a new grad. I just started orienting on the floor and the idea of taking 6 patients at once seems so difficult. Of course I'll be used to itI think those with experience would give so much better care to those in SNFs. Good luck to those of you still looking. There is a job out there for you somewhere! It took me a couple months of applying to many hospitals. A tip I suggest which I did is look for the "hot job" at the hospitals in your area and ask the manager if they hire new grads. Usually they will ask you to send your resume. The only interview I got was through that. Another factor to consider is the City or State you are currently trying to find a job in. Maybe getting out of a highly desired area will help.

I just graduated in May and because I haven't heard anything I've accepted a job, but hoping when my contract ends to join. I am actually from Baltimore, but both the website and the mailing I got said that my closest medical recruiter is in Philadelphia. That is the number I have been trying to reach, leaving messages and never hearing back. Are you talking to that person or is there one closer?

Hey I have been wanting to talk to a recruiter to get my questions answered and possibly starting the whole process. I noticed someone is from Baltimore and Virginia. Can you tell me who you're recruiter is? I have been trying to contact the medical recruiter in Pennsylvania, leaving messages since last October and still have not received a call back. It's been very aggravating. One of my clinical instructors from my program is a former Navy Nurse and she tried to help me out but no luck. Any recommendations or ideas?

I am a new grad living in MD. Be aware that last time I was applying for positions UMMC was not hiring new grads at this time. I would check out Johns Hopkins Bayview. I got in for an interview for a position that was experience preferred just a few days ago. I know that most of the hospitals in the area have already hired their new grads. Good luck!

I am getting very frustrated. I went to school in MI so I had to mail my application with everything to the board. I registered with Pearson in March and sent my application in on April 1. I still have not received my ATT more than 2 months later. I think I will have to drive up there in person because I've tried calling already. If they do not have that ready by now I will be so angry. Did you get you're ATT yet?

Hey I have been in contact with many of the nurse recruiters from the hospitals in the Baltimore area (UMMC, Hopkins, etc.) and so far only one has told me they will post in March (which they still haven't yet) and the others haven't said anything. I keep looking at the online job banks and nothing. Did I completely miss the positions already or do they start hiring closer to May/June?

Hey I had a similar problem when I was looking for more information. My friend working there said they are in a hiring freeze right now, so doubtful they will be hiring new grads right now. Just keep checking all of the area hospitals. Good luck!

Hey, I know it's been a while since you all posted about BWMC. But I had a question I was hoping you all could answer. I feel like the website has absolutely no where for you to get your questins answered or contact a nurse recruiter. Do any of you know the nurse recruiter's # for BWMC? How did you find information about the Nurse Residency Program?