KayceeLeeRN

I'm hoping someone can help me decide where to go from here. I'm currently working part time (3 days/week) in an ambulatory setting and I have a one year old I'd like to be home with more. I enjoy my job, it's low stress. However, we've had lot of trouble with arranging child care bc my work days vary so much. I have no choice in making my schedule. I'm interviewing for a per diem med/surg float pool. With this I can work one 12 hr shift on the weekend when my husbands home and be home with the baby all week. We would never worry about childcare again, and I would essentially be a stay at home mom. The trade off is working med surg again 👎 There is no perfect answer, I know. Just hoping to hear some ideas on how other moms do it. Thanks!

I'm very interested in becoming an IBCLC. However, my nursing background is not in maternity and I currently do not work in this area. So which pathway do I take? I was thinking I have to go with pathway 3 and get a mentor. Is this correct? What are my options? Also, does anyone know the job outlook for the NYC area? I would hate to spend my time and money only to find there are no jobs out there. Would I have a hard time obtaining employment without maternity nursing experience? Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

Hello all, I'm trying to decide if I should accept a position... This is a unit within my hospital that is being called a "transitional care unit" ...essentially a subacute rehab floor. My nursing background is med/surg and telemetry, very high acuity patients. I have never worked in this type of area so I'm not sure what to expect. What kind of patients will I have? Will they be as sick/heavy in care as the med/surg pts? I was told the nurse/pt ratio will be 1:10. That scares me a little.. I never had more then 6 on tele and 8 on med/surg. Is this reasonable? Thank you in advance

I'm trying to make the best decision for my family. I am pregnant with my first baby and I currently have a low stress job part time (8 hr shifts) 3 days/week in ambulatory surgery. I have weekends and holidays off. It's pretty nice. I only have 6-8 weeks of leave to stay home with baby. I'm worried about going back to work 3 days/week with a baby that young. So I applied for and was offered a per diem position on a sub acute unit my hospital. This will be only one 12hr shift/week. I could work a weekend shift and the baby could be home with my husband. However, I would be leaving behind a job I like that is low stress for a much more demanding floor. But it's only ONE SHIFT! I could essentially be a stay at home mom the rest of the week. What is best for a new mom/baby?? Thank you in advance for advice.

Thank you for all the info! So, it sounds a lot like a regular tele unit to me (just especially for the open hearts). They also have separate tele units though...I guess I'll have to wait to hear more about it from them! The ICU enviornment sounds so much more interesting to me...I want to learn about all those gtts, lines, caths, and vents! It seems very difficult to get into an ICU with only med/surg experience though. I'm hoping (if I get this position) that it will be great experience and a closer step towards an ICU. Thanks again!

thank you so much :)

Hello- I'm an RN with 4 1/2 years heavy med/surg experience in a large teaching hospital. I'm looking into a position at a smaller community hospital's open heart unit. They advertised the position as an IMC unit, but he nurse recruiter told me this is the open heart unit., but they also have a separate CTICU. First question- can anybody tell me what the differences might be between the "open heart" IMC and the CTICU? Second- Do you think 4 1/2 yrs on med/surg is sufficent to go into an open heart unit? I have no tele or ICU experience. But they have a good (3 months or more) orientation. I'm really interested in expanding my skills and I've always been drawn to critical care. Thank You!

Hello all- I'm a med/surg nurse with 4 years experience and I'm very interested in transferring into critical care. I have applied to a few positions that have advertised the requirements as being "at least 1-2 years med/surg experience" only to find that they will not consider me because I have no ICU experience. One nurse recruiter told me that I'm better off going into telemetry first and then I would have a better shot getting into ICU. I'm becoming frustrated beacuse I am a good nurse and I have a hunger to learn more, I know I could do well if they would just give me a chance! I hear of new grads getting into programs in the ICU all the time. Why won't they take a good, solid experienced med/surg nurse?? I have some tele experience, but I'm definitely not a pro. I guess my question is, should I try to get on a tele unit first?

I was very interested in Chamberlain and it seems like a lot of you are in the program and enjoy it. However, I've found that the advisor I've been dealing with has been very "sales-pitchy" with me, and now I'm kind of turned off. The school is very expensive and I really want to take my time making an informed decision. He called me numerous times and sent me several emails staing I was "expected" to complete the financial forms within a certain time period. Um, sorry, but I'll fill them out when I'm ready, thanks. I'm guessing that they get a commission if they get you enroll by the next start date, because he's pushing me to enroll for the next start date this April. Maybe I don't care if I start in April, or may..or June. Maybe I'll start when I feel ready. He also kept making it sound like I was getting such a great deal because I got 80 transfer credits off the bat, but the website says right there that ALL RN's from ADN programs get 80 cr. transfered! Geeeshh...I haven't had this kind of experience with any other school, makes me not want to go there!!

Would love to hear from anyone who has gone through or is currently enrolled in Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) online RN-BSN program. It's on the top of my list, but I haven't heard enough about it from other students. Thanks!

Hi, I'm going absolutly crazy over here reseaching online RN-BSN programs...I'm getting a little dizzy now I'm pretty interested in Indiana Wesleyan University and Chamberlain. Chamberlain seems quick and painless, but quite expensive. I would love to hear from current/past students from either school Thank you!!!

Hello all...I'm new to searching for a distance learning program and I feel so lost! There are sooooo many out there, it seems all so confusing!! Does anyone have some good recommendations? I would like something reasonably priced and doesn't require STATISTICS!!!

I'm sorry that I opened this can of worms. As the thread's title states I did not want to bash M.A.'s , and I don't think anyone here has. However I don't think the discussion can go anywhere productive from here. Feel free to close it. No, actually...please close it?

Very nicely put.

Very sad that she feels that way. I'm not sure that she feels that way because of nurses though. She has never worked with any, and I certainly do not intend to make her feel that way (you can read the title to my post). In fact, I try to avoid ever conversing about work or being a nurse when I'm not at work! I actually think she feels that way because of the attitudes of doctor's she worked with. She has worked at many offices and she has been treated like a servant at all of them by the MD's (as she explains). I can see that this could make her feel not so proud of her title. I continue to push her towards P.A. school. Funny, we must come from the same place. Thank you for finally posting a reply that focused on my question. However, I must ask you to think about how you would feel if someone you knew constantly regarded themselves as an M.A. but had never been one in any way, shape or form. How would you handle that? Because that is what I am asking.

I just wanted to say thank you to the posters that tried to help answer my question. It would be nice for all to stay on track with my original question, please. To clear up, we do not work together, so this is not a workplace issue. She introduces herself as a "nurse" to people out in public (the nail salon, out at a bar, once at the airport to the customs agent!) After she did that at the airport, I actually did throw my arms around her and say, "SO you're a nurrrrrse NOW!?!??" and laughed. She replied by saying, "I'd rather just call my self a nurse then a medical assistant...it sounds so ghetto" ((**HER WORDS NOT MINE**))) So she is obviously embarassed by her correct title because she feels it is low on the pole or something to that effect. I have been friends with her for many many years and she witnessed me struggle through nursing school. She knows what it takes to get the license. She is however hoping to go to P.A. school one day. I guess she feels she's been nursing long enough! I guess I will just continue with a hug and congrats everytime she announces her new license

***I don't... I REPETE I DO NOT want this to turn into an MA bashing thread!!!*** I just want some advice on how I can handle this situation I have with a close friend of mine. She is a very hard working medical assistant at a doctor's office. However, she consistently introduces herself to people as a "nurse" RIGHT INFRONT OF ME! She actaully tells people, "we're both nurses" (referring to both her and I). I am an RN. I worked incredibly hard to get that title. I just don't know how to tell her that it is insulting to me without coming off offensive towards her. Maybe I should just leave it alone? She just seems to be doing it more and more lately. The thing that bothers me most is that she must feel on some level that she IS a nurse and we ARE both nurses...or else why would she be okay with saying it right infront of me all the time? Should I just not say anything? I thought of throwing the whole "illegal to call yourself a nurse" thing out there, but I don't think she would mind...apparently any female in scrubs is a "nurse" to the general public anyway :chuckle:

Hi, I just want to say thanks to everyone. Although, for some reason, something in me keeps saying, "that's not you, you're not an alcoholic, thats ridiculous...you don't need to go to AA" I honestly do not drink often. maybe once a week or once every 2 weeks. I always thought alcoholics drink everyday...all day...in the morning. and have withdrawl symptoms when they don't. That's not me. After a night of drinking, the last thing I want to do the next day is drink again! Is this denial? Is this what denial feels like? Or am I just over reacting about the whole thing? I'm so confused.

Okay... I have a drinking problem. I've had one for a long time...but it is just getting worse and worse. I don't think I'm an alcoholic, but I think I could become one. I use to drink for "fun"...It made me less inhibited and it took away my anxiety. I felt "liked" by everyone when I was drunk...because I was "fun to be around" The truth is...I don't have many friends anymore, and I'm not drinking for fun anymore. I drink alone in my room. I buy a bottle of wine and lock the door. I hide the bottle in my draw. I drink because it makes me forget, it makes me not care. It takes away my anxiety. The times I do go out to drink with others, I ALWAYS drink in excess...to the point of not being able to walk on my own and I end up saying and doing things that I later feel terribly embarassed about. The part that is upsetting to me is the fact that I frequently do NOT intend on drinking so excessively, but I have one and lose control...I can't stop once I start....I often do not stop until I am beyond drunk. I honestly feel powerless over alcohol. I know that if I have one, I will not stop, until I physically can't drink anymore. The thing is, I don't do this all the time. I always pictured alcoholism as drinking everyday, or in the morning. I don't do that. But the other behaviors I have have alarming to me. Can anyone give me some insight? Thank You

Time management, prioritizing and organization...I am constantly watching the clock and planning my tasks accordingly based on priority. I can't say enough about being organized...without it, I would DROWN! I make lists of what needs to be done for each patient and by when...then I cross it off once complete. It gives me a visual of my tasks and it feels good to watch the list disappear (ha, like it ever does!)...you also have to always keep in mind to expect the unexpected! ...and wouldn't it be nice if the unexpected could just WAIT until you were free???

So I am returning to med/surg after a 6 month hiatus in homecare. I want to learn all that I can and expand my skills and knowledge base. I left med surg after only 9 months...okay I ran. I know that I am (or have the potential to be) a great nurse. I just have such a hard time DEALING. I've decided to try to counciling this time around and work on my anxiety and coping issues. I hoping that this time I'll make it. Make it where? I don't know. Who knows.... But I'm jumping back in. I'm gonna be brave. Wish me luck.

Hey all....do you think a post surgical floor is a good route to critical care? Will that give me good experience under my belt? I have about one year experience on a heavy medical unit. What are the differences of a heavy medical unit as oppose to a post op unit? Thanks :)

Hey all, I just interviewed for a position at a small community hospital. It's a surgical floor, mostly ortho...but the manager says they fill up with all kinds of other post op's, and sometimes medical patients. I'm just wondering if this sounds like a good experience. I have 1 year experience on a med/surg floor, specializing in renal failure/transplant and a major teaching facility. Never really got surgical patients. He was telling me how if my ultimate goal was critical care, post op was the better route, as oppose to a medical floor. I'm just lost though, I have no idea where to go or what to do. Basically what I want to know is... What is a post op floor like? and how is it different from medicine? Can anyone with post op experience give me a clue? Thanks :)

Hi, well first off you will have to go to nursing school and become a nurse. In nursing school you will have rotations in many different areas of nursing such as medical/surgical (which is the bulk of nursing school), geriatrics, pediatrics, psych, ob/gyn, and so on. There is no school that specifically specializes in one area of nursing, such as labor and delivery. You have to go to nursing school and become an RN (or LPN) before you can specialize. Browse around the nursing student/pre nursing student areas of this site, you'll find a lot of info. Hope this helps.

Why is it so hard to get into L&D? I want to be in L&D very much, but it looks like there are no opportunities out there...they all require previous L&D experience. So how do I gain L&D experience to begin with? I am just very sad. I don't want to go back to med surg, but it looks like that is the only opportunity available for me if I want to work with patients. I guess I'm just venting. Does anyone know what I can do?