S.G.

I'm planning to apply to graduate school. I know that not all programs require the GRE but I want to take it to boost my applications. I'm looking for study guide advice and personal experiences with the exam. I appreciate any input!

I just recently got a job offer and it's true that the lady job fair had 3000 applicants for 200 jobs throughout the hospital (not just nursing jobs). I'm on Oahu so unsure about Kona. Every time I've gotten a call about a job for which I've spied, t...

The only time we've ever been able to go to urgent care was with a referral from our PCM because of no available appointments or if we called Tricare first. The system is broken. It's crazy that they'd rather I take my kid to the ER for pink eye than...

This is going to be dependent on facility. Many facilities say they are "tobacco free" but enforce as nicotine free on campus. E-cigs were specifically mentioned in my last employee orientation as a violation of policy even if they are nicotine free....

It can't hurt to go in. I've gone in and been given an application, left my résumé on file, and I've gotten calls for jobs they think my credentials fill. I've also been told that I cannot apply in person and have been directed to their online applic...

It was policy at my last facility to run all minibags as a secondary with a NS flush bag that was changed every 24h. I would set the pump to run 30mL at the rate of the abx. That was the policy. Several nurses set the bag to run in at 10ml/h for pati...

Posted in error.

I recently spoke with an ANG recruiter. There are few slots for RNs in the Guard and they are very competitive. The Army will want at least 2 years experience. If you lie by omission about your celiac, you risk dishonorable discharge and loss of bene...

I've found nursing to be very cliquish but I wouldn't say I've encountered "lateral violence". I stick with taking care of my patients the best way that I can and that has including speaking with management and changing policies. I've been active i...

I haven't done the research myself, so please forgive me if this is an ignorant thought. I have read studies citing that BSN prepared nurses have better patient outcomes than ADN prepared nurses. I find myself wondering if any studies compare ADNs ...

We use the Morse Fall Scale and anyone scoring high risk automatically gets a bed alarm activated. All Ortho surgeries as well by hospital policy, since they had our facilities highest fall rates, are required to have a bed alarm. High fall risk pa...

I wear gloves to protect myself, if not the patient. Our radiology dept left some of the central lines pretty bloody after insertion. I don't want my patients' blood on my hands even if I am going to wash my hands afterward. I always clean the line i...

I'll be completely honest here. I got into nursing as a fast track into the medical field. I wanted to be an MD. I originally majored in biomedical engineering (a great degree to fall back on if I decided against med school). Due to family issues I e...

Are there any CNAs on the med surg floor? I've been the sole nurse before but the hospital had a policy that the nurse would not be alone. If there was no CNA, there would be 2 RNs. When I worked in the unit, it was 36 beds so I can't really relate t...

We used the steri strips in a star pattern with tincture of benzoin underneath. I never had a patient or heard of a patient complain of any sort of blisters near the steri-strips in the two years I worked in Radiology.

Love your post, lindarn!

I had a doctor literally scream at me when I worked in the unit. It was 1am or so and a pt's labs had come back with a significant drop in her platelet count in addition to an increasing blood pressure. Anti hypertensives weren't working and the plt ...

This is the thought process I was following. You were able to voice it much more eloquently. As you've already said, the studies are flawed and can show no evidence that a BSN would improve the patient outcomes from an experienced nurse. I have neve...

Thank you for your response. Very interesting indeed :) I had actually not been able to think if a practical application for my theories course. It's actually very refreshing to think I may use that information down the road just as you have done. It...

This is exactly what I was thinking! I'm not sure that we can get an accurate study to prove that a BSN itself actually has a causative effect on patient outcomes. I don't see way to actually do the study. And that could explain why I hadn't come acr...

I think some of the push has to do with the ongoing battle of nursing to prove that it is a profession rather than "just a job". It has a very low entry level if education compared with other professions. It seems like the flawed research is used to ...

I did not research this particular topic. I have done past research on BSN patient outcomes and did not find this aspect addressed. I find it a bit harsh to say I'm lazy for not repeating an in depth search. No, I didn't read every thread on ADN vs B...

We don't need a doctors order to push meds in a code if ACLS certified. Maybe that's different from state to state though. The last facility I worked for did a big push for nurses to start giving meds immediately during a code and not waiting for the...