lemur87

Does anyone know how to go about arranging clinical time with the VA? Or if it is possible to do clinicals on post as a civilian? I live in Fayetteville NC so Fort Bragg and Womac Army base are right here. I am a TN online student and can't do clinicals in NC because of politics so I am hoping that if I get a preceptor in a federal clinic I can override NC laws/rules and do it anyways?

This is going to sound crazy and shallow and aweful, but working in the nicu as an RN has made me afraid to have children of my own. I need to know if this is normal or if I am really insane. I love the babies at work and I am excellent at my job going above and beyond to meet their needs and help the families but I wouldn't be able to handle that life full time 24/7 for the rest of my life. I know we see the worst case scenario and most pregnancies/deliveries go well and everything is fine but even just the chance it could be not fine is too much. It is to the point where both my boyfriend and are talking about either not having kids at all or just adopting.

I decided to take summer off and use the time for an intensive review. It was going to be a nightmare to get 240 hours done in 8 weeks anyway. My plan is to review by body systems...starting with physiology, then patho, and then diseases specific to that body system with s/s, diagnostics, and treatments. By the end of the summer I should have an excellent resource binder built up and hopefully feel a little more prepared for clinicals come fall.

I am supposed to start clinicals in 2 weeks and am completely stressed out about what I DON't know. It is to the point where I am on the verge of dropping my classes and taking the summer off just to study. I am worried that I don't know enough to go into clinicals. I will be in a family practice/community health setting and this is my adult health rotation. How much am expected to know in my first clinical rotation? Should I be so concerned? My background is NICU nursing so I am complete fish out of water. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I am supposed to start clinicals in 2 weeks and am completely stressed out about what I DON't know. It is to the point where I am on the verge of dropping my classes and taking the summer off just to study. I am worried that I don't know enough to go into clinicals. I will be in a family practice/community health setting and this is my adult health rotation. How much am expected to know in my first clinical rotation? Should I be so concerned? My background is NICU nursing so I am complete fish out of water. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I am leaning towards android for those same reasons. Any advice on a particular phone? I just need it work well...definately don't want to spend the money to upgrade to the latest and greatest every year :/

I am an FNP student and will be starting my clinicals in June (yikes). I currently have an Iphone 4 and it is terribly glitchy...I have epocrates, medscape, etc and pulling up information takes way too long. As a result I am looking to upgrade phones so I am prepared for clinicals and then the first little while of practitcing as an NP. That means I really need a phone that will last (technology wise) for the 1.5 years I have remaining in the program and then maybe an additional 6 months or so. I am not partial to apple products, but I do have an ipad. I also have a PC. I am open to anything (android, apple, windows, etc) What do you all use in practice? I am looking to purchase a subscription to 5minuteclinicalconsult, and possibly uptodate as well. thank you!

The NCBON requires out of state schools to be registered with the University of North Carolina system before students can do clinicals within the state from what I understand. And it looks like the TN RODP is not registered with the program. It has nothing to do with a compact license, or RN license at all. The information is on the NC BON website

Hi I saw your post stating you live in North Carolina and justbwanted to give you a heads up. I am in the RODP program as well and am starting clinicals this summer. I live in TN now but am supposed to be moving to NC this fall. My advisor just informed me that RODP students cannot do clinicals in NC because the school isn't registered with the UNC program. I just got the email today and need it get in touch with someone to see if she is right, but I thought I'd let you know ASAP since you are starting the program. Kelsey

Hi I saw your post stating you live in North Carolina and justbwanted to give you a heads up. I am in the RODP program as well and am starting clinicals this summer. I live in TN now but am supposed to be moving to NC this fall. My advisor just informed me that RODP students cannot do clinicals in NC because the school isn't registered with the UNC program. I just got the email today and need it get in touch with someone to see if she is right, but I thought I'd let you know ASAP since you are starting the program. Kelsey

Skip agencies and go straight to the health systems. All across the Phoenix metropolitan area the majority if hospitals are associate with Banner. This company spans across the west (AZ to AK) and hires travelers directly...they do not use agencies. Do a quick google search for Banner hospital Phoenix and it will bring you to their site...they have job postings for travelers, info about taking a contract with them, and contact info for nursing recruiters within the health system. The contracts are similar to any you'd find with an agency...13 ish weeks, housing, etc...you just skip the middle man. I've never traveled with banner, but I am from Phoenix and the hospitals are very reputable. Not sure about working there, but it is a fantastic place to be a patient and that is saying something.

If blood draws were a nurses only concern you would be set to go, unfortunately the technical skills are the easiest thing about nursing. The first time you have an unexpected patient death you will tear yourself up wondering if there was anything you could have done...as an experienced nurse you will have your answer, as a new grad you will need the suppose of staff around you...you absolutely will not have that as a traveler! The fact that you are so close to graduating and are so confident in your abilities is concerning...nursing school does very little to prepare you for the responsibility of another persons life...hopefully you will learn that before you become a full fledged nurse.

Thanks....second shift tonight so we will see how it goes.

Am a first time NICU traveler and am in a unit with a much higher acuity level than I have experience with. I've been upfront about my skill level and acuity experience but even with that my first shifts assignment was way out of my comfort level...I had a baby with multiple issues/assist devices that I have absolutely no experience with. I was on orientation, so I had someone there with me but I am on my own from here on out and am not comfortable caring for that acuity level independently. What should I do? There are many other assignments I would be perfectly comfortable with but they gave me one of the few that I am not prepared for...I literally had a minor panic spell at the beginning of the shift and thought about canceling my contract for a brief second.

Just curious about this...when an older kid develops pulmonary hypertension the PDA is typically closed, right? In that case we've kinda lost the safety net of pressure release. Do you find that these later developers of pulmonary hypertension have a more difficult course/worse prognosis as a result?

Travel nursing right out of school will be extremely difficult to do...you are expected to know why to do with little to no orientation and as a new nurse tht would be very hard. Most contracts look for at least 2 years experience, some 3-5 years, and rarely 1 year experience.

I am definitely an introvert and will be starting my first assignment in 2 weeks (yikes!). I'm a little worried about being the new girl with my naturally shy personality but hopefully the whole experience helps me break out a bit. I found another traveler who is taking the same assignment and we are rooming together... Hopefully that makes things a little easier!

Definately get 2 years experience in your chosen specialty. Even with 2 years finding a good position was a bit tough, so any less would be very difficult.

I am starting my first contract with PPR shortly and so far I have nothing but good things to say about the company. More than willing to answer any questions about the company through PM :) good luck to all the travelers out there, I'm thrilled to be joining the ranks :)

How often do things fall thru between offer and contract signing? I'm fairly comfortable with the terms I know I so far (pay, etc) and it is with PPR so I think they have a pretty good name for decent contract terms.

Thank you NedRN for being such a wealth of knowledge. I was offered the position! I told them I was very interested and would work thru the contract with my agency. Start date proposed in just 2 weeks! I'm concerned about finding housing that quickly, but worse case scenario I could stay for free with family about an hour away from the facility. Not ideal, but an option if I don't find anything else right away

Thank you NedRN! The interview is in an hour! If it goes well and I am offered the position I know to say I am very interested and need to discuss it with my recruiter...if it goes well will that give me more negotiating power with my recruiter?

I have my first travel interview (phone) coming up for a 13 wk travel contract (NICU) in VA. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Typically a travel contract will give you a low hourly (taxed) and raise your housing/per diem (untaxed). This is typically to your benefit as you get more untaxed income.

Where are they located? I am in rogersville TN (northeast).