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I wasn't sure which specialty to even put this in, so apologies if this is in the wrong spot. I have a job opportunity to work as a Regulatory Coordinator RN. This role works in a team with 3 other nurses and an ADA coordinator to maintain survey readiness at 150 clinical sites in a health system. The job entails a wide variety of things including doing tracers, going to locations to watch processes & see gaps or improvement opportunities. Participate in committees, work on policies, act as regulatory resource for staff. We would also work on facility licensing, respond to investigations, or be there if state shows up, help set up any correction plans, that kind of thing. I haven't been able to find much information, and I'm unaware of any nursing organization for this type of nursing. Do any of you work in this field, or have any insight? Thanks!

Interviewing for this job on Wednesday: Does this sound more quality or more CDI to you? Anyone here work a similar position?

Hi all. I'm wondering how you guys handle MRI with anxiolysis at your facilities. We currently have Rad RN's provide oral or IV anxiolytics, the problems we are running into are: 1) even with weight-based dosing protocols, the sedation is unpredictable. Pt's either a) can't get sedated enough to tolerate the MRI or b) worse, get over sedated and are way past anxiolysis into moderate sedation. There is no MD present, only the RN, so this is not in compliance with medical/regulatory standards. 2) There is a fundamental misunderstanding about what RNs provide, and even with lengthy pre-calls pt's still come in expecting "sedation", that they will be asleep, and are outraged when they finally understand what "anxiolysis" is. This is compounded by the fact that our schedulers are uneducated about the process with a manager uninterested in educating them. What I'd like to do is eliminate RN anxiolysis and give patients the option of either obtaining oral meds from their provider and taking them prior to arrival, or having anesthesia provide care--not necessarily general but whatever sedation level is necessary, so that the patient is under monitoring by an MD if they end up needing mod sed or deeper. I'd love some insight as to how you handle MRIs for claustrophobic patients. Thanks!

So I have a new job at an IR department in a brand new hospital. There are 3 of us being hired, and we are the first IR nurses. We will set our own call schedules, workflow processes, and that kind of thing. I wanted to ask other IR nurses what kinds of things you think are important when setting up an IR department. So far, I want to make sure we have: 1) A good charge RN rotation for those of us who want to be charge 2) A policy in place for whether/when ICU nurses come and stay with their patients 3) Fair and equal call rotations But I'm sure there are a ton of things I'm missing (I'm coming from the ED so I'm far from an IR expert). Let me know what you think is important, and give me your ideas! Thank you!

I've been an RN for 5 years in a variety of roles, and am now working with the ultimate goal of transitioning into leadership. I would like to step into a managerial position in the next couple of years, and eventually work at director level or even become CNO. Due to having worked as a float pool member for a few years, I have no charge experience and have only been at my current job for less than a year (I just moved to a new state last year). I am attempting to transform myself into a leader. I'm obtaining my MSN in Leadership and Management, reading books by Stephen Covey and Simon Sinek, and I received my Six Sigma Green Belt. I've also taken on the role of stroke liaison in my department, reviewing charts, educating fellow nurses on proper documentation, and counseling team members when documentation errors occur. I will begin training to be relief charge in 1 or 2 months, and will finish my MSN next summer. In my experience, managers of a unit are typically long-term charge nurses that are promoted. In my unit, the current charge nurses are not going anywhere, and I have no interest in waiting years to be promoted. What are some other things that I can start working on now to make myself a viable managerial candidate? I'd strongly prefer to stay in a hospital setting as acute care is where my heart is, and I am passionate about hospital quality and operations, but have been advised that getting managerial experience in an outpatient or skilled nursing setting may be easier. I'd love to hear any suggestions or advice. I'd also love to hear how you obtained your first leadership role. Thank you!​​

Exactly, so when we do know that someone is having a psych crisis, we prepare for the worst possible scenario. Every patient gets stripped down. No sharp cutlery, no aluminum cans. No clothes. Often, no they do not have that right. Involuntary psych holds are a thing.

I just got a new job that I start in 2 months, and I was told that at this job they do pattern scheduling, 12 hours, 3 weekends a month. It was a long interview and I didn't think to ask more about that. Does anyone do pattern scheduling at their facility? I'm looking for an example of what a typical schedule pattern is like. Thanks!

I'm considering a position at a hospital where the observation unit is considered part of the ER and the ER staff is required to staff it. The manager told me that I might be required to work in obs as often as once a week. I'm not super thrilled about the idea, but I thought I'd ask if any of you have dealt with that. Isn't working obs basically like working the floor? Is it boring? How did you like it?

I really like it. I have used both First Net and Surginet (specific components of Cerner) and found it easy to chart and understand. Of course, the only other EMR I used was that DOS-based horror Meditech, so after that almost anything looks amazing.

I'm moving to Colorado this summer and a couple of job applications have asked me what my salary is, and I'm wondering if some of the rejections are due to me asking too much. Or maybe my current rate of $45 an hour makes them think I'll ask an unreasonable amount and scares them off? For real though, if I can't get at least $31 an hour I'm not moving to Colorado, I'll travel nurse instead. I'm an ER RN with 4 years experience, a BSN, and my CEN, so hopefully that will work out.

I thought I wanted to work in another specialty, specifically IR and PACU. But now I have experience in both those areas and I am desperately waiting for my PACU contract to be over so I can go back to the ER. I'm so bored. ER for me, from here out.

I'm moving to Ft. Collins in June. I'm an ED nurse with 3.5 years experience and my BSN, will have my CEN by then too if it matters. 1) How is it working at UC Health Poudre Valley and other area hospitals? Anyplace to avoid, how are staffing ratios, etc.? 2) I hear it's hard to get into Ft. Collins hospitals. I've read that some nurses commute to Cheyenne, Wy. Are there other cities within commutable distance I should be looking at for jobs? I don't mind driving as long as it's under an hour. 3) How's the pay for experienced nurses? Thanks!

I'm leaving Baycare (mobile pool has no ER jobs!) and looking to pick up work at some other ED's, but don't want to to go HCA because I like keeping my license. So, nurses who work at the FH, Bayfront, and TGH: what's the deal? How are staffing ratios, how's the unit culture, do you like it? Any input helps. Thanks!

I'm doing it. I work for a non-profit hospital so I qualify. I do the Income Based Repayment plan and submit a form every year proving that I am a full-time employee. I will be doing it for the 3rd year this fall. It's really too soon to tell if it is worth it, because I have so much time left. However, the IBR plan does make my payments low enough to afford--I couldn't manage them otherwise.

I did my RN to BSN at St. Petersburg College. It's all online, only 4 semesters, and it got the job done. It's pretty cheap, too, and SPC offers a good amount of scholarships. It's accredited and all that jazz, too.

I'd avoid HCA, but Baycare is a good hospital system. The only trauma hospital in the system is in Tampa, St. Joe's, and it's only level 2. You'd be closer to Morton Plant, which is high acuity but no trauma. I make almost 30 an hour with only 3 years experience, so you could probably expect a bit more. If you go mobile pool, where you travel to multiple hospitals within Baycare, you can make $45 an hour (but no benefits). Can't help you on the school thing, I don't have kids. Good luck!

I'd try to work for Baycare. I worked HCA as a new grad, and work for Baycare now, and there is a large difference in support and administration's priorities. Frankly put, HCA does not staff appropriately. Baycare is by far the better company, imo. The nurse resident position would be nice, but it is hard to get into, at least it was for me--I applied to a dozen different nurse residency positions after I got my license and never even got an interview. If you've got a spot in a rehab facility, and you and the management are both clear that this is a path into acute care for you, I'd take it.

I wanted to add that working night shift is your best bet. It's hard on your body but the nurses on nights (in my experience at this hospital) were friendlier, less drama, less cliques. Also, day shift on the floors when you're understaffed and have too many patients is TERRIBLE--trying to do multiple accuchecks, 3 meals, family, rounding, bathing on top of all the other stuff is so stressful. Day shift nurses were always stressed out and bickering. I think it's easier at this hospital for new grads on nights.

It's a pretty ****** hospital. I used to work on 4d (ortho) and floated to 3 and while I worked with a ton of great nurses, they were consistently understaffed, especially with cnas. What floor were you offered? The ED is dangerous; I would not work there because they put the patients and nurses in unsafe conditions. The floors are doable, for sure, but it will be stressful. But I don't want to totally discourage you, because I worked there a year as a new grad, got my experience and got out, and it served me well in that regard. And like I said, there were loads of kind, knowledgeable, supportive nurses willing to help me learn. If you're a new grad, getting a hospital job is vital to building a career in acute care, if that's where you want to be. And they had an internship for critical care, that once you had tele experience you could get trained in the icu, if you're into that kind of thing. So, if it's your only choice, take it. Baycare is another local company that has tons of hospitals in the same general area that is much mubh better, so I'd apply with them too, though.

At my ER, every nurse has 5 patients and a partner, that partner is either a patient care tech, emt ,or paramedic. They all basically do the same things (toileting/bed changes/EKG, labs), but paramedics can place IVs (no giving meds though). I do not know if they are all paid the same. But I love this system, I came from a floor where we were lucky if we had even one tech for our whole unit, so having someone who is assigned to my patients only feels like a luxury. And I'm stoked when I have a paramedic, because 1) who doesn't like having a second pair of hands to place a difficult IV? And 2) I like having a partner who is trained in ACLS and experienced with codes. I'm a fairly new nurse, and very new to the ED, so I feel like the paramedic's got my back if **** goes down, you know?

So, I have a bachelor's degree in a non-medical field from years ago, and an ADN in Nursing. My hospital is requiring all ADN nurses to achieve their BSN in the next few years, but it seems foolish to me to get a second bachelor's when I could just get a master's through a bridge program in the same amount of time. I was considering South University, which has a campus near me, an online program, and is fairly affordable--I just heard it is somewhat a degree mill though, so I'm reconsidering. My options are to specialize in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administrator, or Nurse Educator. I could also do Nursing Informatics, but I've pretty much crossed that off my list. What I'm trying to do at this point is decide which program would be best for me. In terms of salary and job security, I think that NP is the best field for that, however I just don't see myself working at that level of care. I despise public speaking, which makes me wary of the nurse education field, so I might be leaning towards nursing administration. However, I don't care for the politics and ins-and-outs of running a hospital, and I'm very interested in clinical knowledge, which leads me back to NP...I just don't know. I'm not ready at all for a career change; I just landed my dream job as an RN in the ED and I'm very happy at this level of care. I want to continue working at this level after achieving my masters. Basically, I'm not really ready to seek a master's degree but feel pushed towards it due to job requirements and circumstance. Perhaps it's wasteful to pursue a Master's i'm not sure of, instead of a second bachelor's that would further qualify me in the job I love. I'd really love any opinions, or insights you guys might have in the fields I'm considering.

I do it. I worked there as an MA for seven years before I became an RN, and support abortion rights as an important and natural part of women's health care. I either assist the doctor during the procedure, or work recovery after. Nursing wise, it's the easiest job ever. Abortion is so safe there's hardly ever any issues. Basically, if I'm assisting I push meds, comfort/distract the patient during her procedure, and help get her dressed and change over rooms. If I'm in recovery I insert IVs before hand and then monitor vitals and educate on aftercare instructions post procedure. It's easy money and a privilege to be a positive part of a difficult experience. As long as you are 100 PERCENT SUPPORTIVE of these patients no matter what, I'd say go for it. If any part of you thinks that there is such a thing as too many abortions, or abortions for the wrong reason, or judgmental about other peoples situations, don't bother.

Hi, I'm considering traveling as an ER nurse starting sometime in the end of 2015. Where I currently live and work it is absolutely necessary to have a car and my current one is a piece of crap. It probably won't make it til 2015, so I'm looking to buy a new one. My question to you is, do you take your car with you when you travel, and drive to each assignment? Or do you fly out and just try to use a bicycle/public transportation when you get there? I know car needs may vary depend on where you go, but I want to be able to travel anywhere in the continental US at a whim. What do you guys do?

I'm a new nurse who graduated last December and started working at the end of April at a hospital. This was the only place I got an interview despite sending out hundreds of applications, and I was very fortunate that the director of my floor was interested in hiring new grads because of our eager-to-work attitude and lack of burnout (her words). I know I'm very lucky to have a job at all. It's an ortho floor on the night shift (7p to 7a), and I'm already kind of eager to try something else. Ortho is fine, but just not very interesting, and the night shift is making me tired and lazy in other areas of my life. I never want to cook or do anything, and I'm tired of my days off consisting of me waking up at 4 pm and then staying tired all night because of the weird schedule I'm on. And I'd never work the floor on day shift--too much management, family, stress, and it's just a whole different ballgame in terms of your daily tasks and patient care. Plus I can't afford the pay cut! So I'm putting out feelers to move into our OR or ER departments. I could be on the day shift, off the floor, in a more fast paced environment, and learning something different. I loved both the ER and OR rotations in school and I've always known I want to spend time on those units anyway. The problem is that I feel a little guilty looking to leave so soon. I feel loyal to my director because she was the only one who gave me a chance, and after they put 12 weeks into training me I feel like maybe I owe them more time. On the other hand I feel like I should do what's best for my happiness, and since it's unlikely I'll get another position right now anyway since I have less than one year experience, it's no harm in looking. I'm also a little unsure how to handle it--I mentioned to my director that I was interested in the OR, and she did mention to me an internship they have next year, but I emailed the OR director and the ER director without talking to her further about it. I just don't want to seem like I'm going behind her back. What do you think, does it look bad for me to be looking for other positions so soon? Should I be talking to my director more about wanting to try a different unit? Or am I totally over thinking this?