CaitDuncan

Hi Fellow Nurses! I'm working on some research on improving my unit's policy on having water bottles at the nurse's station. Currently, my unit (a VERY busy cardiac/telemetry unit) does not permit nurse's to have their water bottle at the nurse's station out at any time. Even if there is a lid on it. The SICU that I came from allowed water bottles and drinks that had lids on them to be out as long as they were on designated "drink mats." I think this worked very well as an option for nurses to hydrate themselves while not risking safety or infection. During my shifts, I am lucky if I can stop long enough to eat my lunch, let alone stop to drink every so often! I even have a pregnant coworker who has had to go to the ED 2 times for dehydration in the last 3 months. We need to be taking care of ourselves and advocating for ourselves in a way that matches up with the best evidence. I have found several articles detailing the correlation between hydration and cognitive functioning, but I was curious to know about other nurse's unit and how you all deal with this issue. Is there no policy that prohibits water bottles to be out on your unit? Do you use something similar to the drink mat idea I mentioned earlier? Do you have any stories about feeling/being dehydrated at work due to a policy like this? I would really appreciate your feedback and discussion! I'm interested to hear what all of my other nurse peeps out there think about this. Thank you!

Gosh guys.... I am SO ready for VCU to make a decision!! I'm freaking out and obsessively checking my email all the time! Quick question though... how do you check the applicant status? Like a couple of you have said, your application said it was up for review and now it's blank so I just want to check mine. I know I've done it before, but I forgot how! Thanks :) Cait

Hi all! So everything is in for me!! I just wish we could know before January... it's going to be a nerve racking couple of months! Good luck everyone, we're in the last stretch of deadlines for applications! Cait

Yea... I was going to retake it (I completely sucked at standardized tests in high school), but I just would not be prepared at all, so I'm just hoping they look at the "big picture" and not base too much off of the SAT scores. I know that when I went to the information session I asked privately about my scores and she advised me that there have been students around that score that are currently in the program. The anticipation is just killing me though! I don't think I can stand waiting until January...

Hi Everyone!! I've just submitted my supplemental material as well and I am SO nervous about getting in! VCU is the only school I'm applying to, so crossing my fingers over here! I have a quick question for you guys though. What were your SAT/ACT/GRE scores? My SATS scores are the only thing I'm worried about... they weren't awful but they weren't amazing ha. I think I got a 490 on Math and a 600 on Writing.