Janet_RN

Nursing IS humbling and kudos for you for saying it first! :)

I'm chuckling at this post. I loved my clinical students (& I think they liked me too) but I felt they needed a "break" so I rarely ate lunch with them. ALso it gave me a chance to check in with the floor nurses and make sure all was good (my students took small 2 patient primary care assignments) However--my students would often approach me and ask me to eat with them. When I explained that they needed time away from their instructor--I got a fair amount of grief :) I was very lucky: I had group after group of some pretty amazing students! BTW: I sent them as a group, they had 30 minutes and couldn't leave the site.

I used your CNE quizlet page and there were so helpful! I passed!!!!!

I currently teach FT for the University of Mary Washington's BSN Completion program. We get a wide variety of applications because there is a lot of interest--which makes it a more difficult market to get into. Lots of highly qualified applicants! Do you have didactic experience in an undergraduate program? There is a great deal of autonomy involved in teaching online and if you are out of state like I am (I live in Chicago but the program in in VA)--I'm expected to be independant. It reassures the Dean/Director that you have classroom management skills (yes you need those even with online students If you have taught in a classroom--did you use a software platform (ex: Blackboard, Moodle, Canvas?) Was it a hybrid course where you develop assignments for the weeks you didn't meet face to face? In your cover letter and on your CV--you want to discuss those classes. Finally: Are you CNE certified? It seems like something small but considering that many educators are not certified--it may help your CV/resume stand out!

I just took the CNE exam this AM....it was TOUGH! Made my CCRN exam look like a cake walk :) And it really is focused on the nurse educator role in academic institutions. The is a certification nursing professional development but all the clinical educators I work with (including myself) are just certified in their specialty area. I pursued the CNE primarily because I accepted a FT job teaching.

So the question of the day: how did the overhaul of the skills lab go?

I was the co-founder for a BSN program in 2011. Just graduated with my MSN but had been a clinical instructor for 3 years. I was clueless! SO when we launched our lab- I went to a local university with an established BSN program (Marymount University) and spoke with the skills lab coordinator. Between her help (man--she was SOOOO helpful!), the Potter & Perry Resources & group faculty meeting- we pulled it together. Granted it was a work in progress at first but now it is a great course! Learning lessons: ask for help from outside the organization (new ideas & different perspective), find someone within your "crew" willing to try innovative ways to do skill checkoffs & incorporate EBP into the lab. We looked at the skills and determined that there were "priority" skills that were vital for the student RN to know: sterile technique, hand-washing, environmental survey, vitals, physical assessment, trach care/suction, foleys, NGT care (insertion & checking for placement), Med administration & central lines dressing changes. We "touched" on chest tubes, blood administration--chest tubes were covered in Med Surg & so was blood admin. Bed making & baths--they watched a video. I figured that wasn't the most challenging concept to grasp :) Another great resource--your clinical instructors. They will tell you what areas the students have been struggling in once they started their clinical rotation (for us physical assessment was a issue that we had to seriously "tightened" up in lab).

Evack5318: going to get your BSN right off the bat is a smart idea....especially if you are thinking ED. I've worked in VA, CA & now Illinois and I see the same trend---LPNs are in LTC & Dr's offices. The scope of practice for the LPN/LVN continues to grow smaller--the exceptions I see (which are very few & far between) are the senior LPN/LVNs that are grandfathered in but being "gently encouraged to go back to school or leave. As far as lifting- oh boy! I never worked as a CNA (or RN) in LTC but I taught a set of clinicals at one and I saw the CNAs bust their butts! HOLY COW! But as an ICU RN (with plenty of friends who are ER nurses)- I can personally attest to the amount of lifting, boosting, turning etc nurses do with our patients. It is physically demanding work and as you are experiencing first hand your back is a precious commodity! Never lift patients on your own, bend with your knees and use a lift (and other available equipment) when they have it! Hoping you heal quickly!

WOW! Very true! I just moved to the Chicagoland area, have my MSN and current experience in CVICU and it was not easy! Found a great job after 2 1/2 weeks of face to face interviews (note this was AFTER phone interviews!). I recommend trying to contact Human Resources for the hospital you are looking at & talk to the nurse recruiter. They were my ticket "in" (at least to an interview). And the advice about your resume--absolutely! I updated mine to focus on my clinical experience rather than my experience in nursing education then recruiters began to "bite" :)

Great resource! I'm always a little surprised at the lack of thought & research some students put in when applying to different nursing schools. Particularly proprietory schools. It is a huge investment both from a financial & personal standpoint.

I cross-trained to the ER after I finished my orientation in the ICU (so we could float "safely") WAY back in 2001. WOW! It was a totally different beast but it did give me a great deal of insight into how ER nurses roll (in particular--faster decision making and focused assessments). I agree that I think it made me a better, well rounded nurse. By the way Nalon1- your description of the differences between the clinical areas was great & very accurate

I agree with you UltrPosh--the ICU is where you should try to get to. For the CRNA programs I know of, critical care experience is a must (obviously there may be exceptions to the rule!) For what it is worth- I think being a LPN is actually in your favor. Some of my strongest, most mature and professional students were LPNs. And they would be a tremendous asset to any unit. Also saying that you are planning to go back for your BSN shows your "will to advance" and will be attractive to many hospitals because they are either Magnet facilities or are pursuing Magnet status. But as you've heard from other posters--mum on CRNA school. Get into the unit first, get your BSN then go from there! GOOD LUCK!

"I respect everyone who wears blue (or whatever color your job makes you wear), I'm just looking for a little in return." You deserve every bit of it too. I went to school as a "non traditional" student and it wasn't easy. It can be challenging doing the "work, school, kids" juggling act. And I had a few "naysayers" tell me I probably won;t make it. Luckily- they weren't people who mattered (just like these people aren't people who matter!) That being said- nursing school was easily the best decision I've ever made and KUDOS to you for doing it!

I second that "Hugs to ((((OP))))) for surviving a horrible shift."