NICUFaithRN

font=tahoma]i wouldn't expect the doc to prescribe beta or any other steroid at that point. unless delivery is imminent within several days i don't think the steroids would make a huge difference. if there are no contractions happening or no cervical changes apparent, i would expect (from my experience with 3 preterm labors!) for my doc to continue (or start) tocolytics - terb, ritodrine, something.... and to remain on bedrest.... increasing fluids as well... most of the time my contractions were a result of dehydration and iv fluid helped to stop them.... sorry, straying off topic.... anyway, if it were my baby... i'd stay in bed, monitor contractions (if any) and keep my doc appts to check for cervical changes... if changes] are apparent and it seems the baby is coming soon.. then and only then would i ask for the beta (which the doc would probably suggest at that point anyhow!!) jmo....

the hosptials dont even want to put out the money to pay us adequately why would they provide scrubs for everyone?? we have very strict infection control policies in place in our unit, still the issue of wearing scrubs and street shoes in and out of the unit has not been addressed. i agree that the visitors bring in just as many (if not more) germs than the typical hospital employee does just as a result of general education about transmitting illnesses. if you wanted to get technical... anyone, in any job should change their clothes once they get to work to keep from spreading whatever nastiness they have been "exposed" to on the train, plane, etc. while commuting... remember that guy who coughed on you, or sneezed??? wonder what he had?????

don't worry, the program is definately legit... just not terribly challenging. You will learn basically what you need to know to pass the boards (which only test to the MINIMUM standards for safe practice). i graduated from Marymount in 1998 and got a job immediately. I don't know what part of the country you live in now, but this is an EXTREMELY expensive area. The nicest areas to live in are Centreville (Sully Station, esp), Chantilly and out in Loudon county... but expect to pay over $1000/month for a 1 bedroom apt in any of those places... and the traffic is HORRENDOUS... but i'm a native and i wouldn't live anywhere else!! lol

that's great for you.. i know the girl i just finished precepting is only making $21/hr.

glad to hear it revahs... i hope she gets exactly what she's after... with all those offers one should fit just right!! good luck to her! :

i currently work for inova and i have to say that i would be highly surprised if there was that significant of a pay raise coming... current new grad salaries at inova are $20-$21/hr... and our shift diff is the same as loudon's... as an intensive care nurse with 7 yrs experience i only make $26/hr.. so a $5+ raise would be quite amazing if you ask me... and... i haven't heard any rumors about another "market rate adjustment" anytime soon... as a matter of fact, i know that inova is rather happy being "middle of the road" when it comes to pay rates.... not trying to burst your bubble just being honest

yes, it is very expensive.... and for the money i didn't feel it was a "great" program... does it serve its purpose??? yes... can you get a job after graduation??? yes... but i wasn't impressed with the level of education... it didn't seem as challenging as i expected nursing school to be... i wish i would have waited for gmu they seem better prepared... and i wouldn't be so far in debt!!!

I wish I could say that this was the exception to the rule.. however, HR departments aren't very courteous... My advice would be for your daughter to call them EVERY DAY until she gets some type of response... i know that there are several LARGE hospitals in NOVA... I work for the largest... but i know there are a lot of people who have complained about the lack of response from the HR dept.... it's good to be king i suppose :wink2:

monalise... i work in northern va... for a large hospital system... our new grads started at $21/hr but the housing here is outrageous!!! (over $1000 a month for a 1 bdrm apt) so even though the hourly rate sounds good, it doesn't go very far...

i am looking to move to the charlotte area. i am a nicu nurse with 7 yrs of level iii experience and have interviews scheduled with both cmc and presbyterian... i was just wondering if anyone had any comments or information about these hospitals. i think i prefer cmc right now, unless someone knows of any reason they aren't very good to work for. second question... if anyone is willing to help me out here... what is the average pay rate for a nicu nurse with experience in the charlotte area? i currently live just outside washington dc and am making $26/hour... plus $4/hour night diff and $8/hr weekend diff.... i found a house in the highland creek neighborhood and am really psyched about moving ... i just need some basic income info to qualify... oh yeah, one last thing... the charlotte mecklenberg school system... i have a rising 7th grader and a kindergartner... any comments about the schools??

our unit has 24 hour visitation for the parents with the exception of an hour and a half in the am and an hour in the pm around change of shift so we can give our report without the parents hearing every little thing going on with every baby in the unit. we have a very large level iii and we generally carry a census of 70 or more babies... that makes it very difficult for the number of visitors we actually allow. parents and/or sos are allowed to visit whenever they choose (barring change of shift) and they can bring up to 2 visitors (whoever they want) at a time -- for a total of 3 at the bedside at any given time. we do not allow any child under the age of 12 - however, it doesn't take long for the parents to teach their 9, 10, 11 yr olds to lie about their age and really there's nothing we can do about it... except ask to see their birth certificates - like that would happen!! in addition to a 3 minute unsupervised scrub, parents are asked to remove all jewelry below the elbows (to include wedding bands and watches) and mom's are discouraged from having acrylic nails. these rules are also strictly enforced for the nurses and ancillary staff working in the nicu. our unit is "locked down" and visitors cannot gain access without being buzzed in, they must provide the baby's medical record number and we can see them on closed circuit tv monitors in each of the 4 bays... these policies make for some very angry parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins and various other potential visitors but once the appropriate "infection control" teaching has been done and reinforced (sometimes several times) they understand the reasoning behind the rules. most of the nurses would prefer a little more time in which we weren't working in a "fish bowl" there is no time for us to "de-stress" following an "incident" or a loss, as their are always parents in the room. occasionally, we will ask parents to leave if there is an emergency or if there is a sterile procedure taking place but they don't have to go... often times we end up just placing screens around the bedside... anyway, that's how it works for me.