WrekDiver88

I have been working in critical care for six years, but am considering getting my PMHNP, and wondering what the best psych experience would be before applying to school? I got my first BS in psychology before going to nursing school, so it has alway...

It might... I was actually in the same situation as you in that I wanted to go backpacking for >6 after I graduated. I ended up deciding to get my first job, worked a little over a year, then took the 6 months off to go backpacking. As the pre...

I do not know how the process works for getting a license as a Non-U.S. citizen, but for an American, once you are licensed in one state, it is easy to endorse to another. You would however have to pay the state you are endorsing to (Hawaii) for the...

It will depend on the type of MSN degree you get. An advanced practice program such as an NP, CRNA, or CNS from outside the U.S. will very likely not be recognized; while a general, education, or administration MSN degree does not grant an additiona...

Right now I have almost a year in the MICU, and 9 months in a Neuro Stepdown, all at a level I, university hospital. I probably won't apply for CRNA school for a few years, but am considering taking some graduate classes (or a graduate certificate) ...

Yes, I got an A in Chem and A & P so it mainly just the Pharm grade I am worried about. I honestly can't see how a C in Pharm could not be an issue, so I will definitely be retaking a class to replace it in the Spring. Thanks for the advice!

I just talked to someone a few nights ago who used to work on our unit, and who just finished CRNA school; they said the same thing. He thought better use of the time would be to work the overtime, and to join a practice council or committee at work...

I voted for UNMC in Omaha. I actually went to Creighton, but thought it was a horrible program, and no way I would even consider CU if I had to do it over again! Talking to other nurses students/nurses I met around the Old Market or in clinicals, I...

Your SICU takes adults, peds, and neonates? That is the first I have heard of anything like this; does your hospital not have a PICU? This is extremely uncommon, especially for a combined CCU since it is very rare for a child to have an MI, CHF, et...

Like Meanmaryjean said, you could get both certifications, but there isn't much point to it. The CCRN is not required to work as a nurse, it is just a test you can take to get a certification showing you have advanced knowledge in critical care (you...

No, if taken out of a 401k, it would be a low interest loan to yourself, that would need to be paid back to the 401k (within 5 years I believe). If taken out of traditional IRA, it is a penalty free withdrawal that does not ever need to be paid back...

I funded part of my ABSN with my IRA, and am planning on doing the same with grad school. I think with a 401k you can loan yourself the money, but it has to be paid back within 5 years or something to avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty (at least...

Has anyone taken the Trauma Care After Resuscitations (TCAR) course? Did it provide a lot of good training/information and/or does it look good on a resume for an ICU nurse? It is offered in my area soon, and I really want to take it, but it would ...

The most I have had was nine drips, plus the intermittent bags like antibiotics, albumin, boluses, K+, etc. Neo, Levo, Vaso, Hpp, Insulin, Fentanyl, Versed, Fluids, and a cardiac med (don't remember which one). Plus he had a temp pacer, IABP, and ...

What Yammar said is all basically true. Some other things to consider is what you want to be doing at work. In the SICU you will get more invasive monitoring experience (art lines, CVP, possibly ICP, etc., though you will also get some of this in t...

Which population do you have more of an interest in working with? I am in the critical care float pool where I work, and our SICU is a combined surgical, neuro, and trauma ICU. It is a great unit, and initially where I wanted to work, but I actuall...

I am a graduate of the Creighton ANC (accelerated BSN) Program, and wanted to give a review to those who may be considering it. A little background on me is that I am a male non-traditional student from the West Coast, and going into nursing was a c...

I have to agree with these statements. Just because men make more statistically (annually), does not mean they make more just because they are male. Most hospitals pay a set hourly wage based on position, especially the union ones. From my experie...

If you don't mind moving a state or two over, you would have no problem finding a hospital job with a BSN. Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, etc. have the lowest unemployment rates in the country, and plenty of nursing jobs available. The more desirabl...

Thailand is an awesome country, I actually looked into nursing there a little after I was there last winter backpacking. I imagine it is possible, they have a lot of medical tourism and a need for English language skills because of it, but the econo...

I did a clinical rotation during school at Omaha Children's, and think it would be a great place to work if you are in the peds world. I think the hospital is Magnet, but if not you would not know it because it operates just like a hospital who is. ...

Thanks for the post Juan, and you made some very good points. The difficulty of getting a job in the trauma role has actually been one of my concerns (I am sure competition is tough and jobs few similar to flight), and I had figured I would have to ...

Hello, I was wondering if anyone knows the salary for trauma NP's and CRNA's in the SoCal area? I am currently in the Midwest but planning on moving back home to CA soon. I have been considering these two routes as the next step in my career, but be...