William2

Helps greatly! Some of them hours just suck as previous poster has said. I want all my shifts together and then I want my days off consistently and spaced. 6 on 6 off would be ideal.

Great help. I know they vary just like nursing hours. How about give some examples?

I'd like to know what type of hours are available for CRNA's that work in hospital and out such as a clinic or wherever they work that isn't a hospital. I'm looking to see what other people work around the states. I'm hoping to avoid a Mon-Friday grind. I understand the call is need however would love to mimic my nursing schedule of 6 on 6 off and 3 a week (on my non-weekend).

Divorce is my first thought because throw kids into the mix and who is going to be picking up that extra slack if the current state is pretty abysmal. Couldn't imagine that lack of support "until death do us part" if it were me. I doubt this person is willing to change either because it sounds like they are doing nothing and are okay with it by justifying their work week over yours as if you are a lesser equal. This quote always comes to mind [h=1]"Men marry women with the hope they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. "[/h] Set some firm standards now or else.. I understand the need to vent, but cry? That's a bit much if its happening a lot don't you think?

That's harsh because we all know as soon as we go to the nurses station the phone rings, theirs another patient request/emergency, or someone is asking for help therefore you get delayed.

Might add that I've seen Versed for seizure control in addition to your seizure meds. I've seen quadruple strength versed, 250mg/hr infusion for this post EEG. PRN paralytic for dyssynchrony or high peaking IF sedation increases haven't helped. Precedex is a word you never use around one of our docs for sedation/agitation. Better have exhausted all efforts before suggesting it.

Asking questions is never bad and should be encouraged. If they didn't like it that's their problem and they should be prepared as a preceptor to answer them. No fault to you. This however... I know Zosyn runs for 4 hours. I also know give the dilaudid I needed to document a pain assessment, go to the Pyxis, get a vitals machine, document vitals, flush, push over 2-3mins,and flush. All that could take me 15mins. I know some meds can't be given close together, So I asked my preceptor if I should stop hanging the zosyn and get the dilaudid. She didn't answer me, so I just finished hanging the zosyn then took care of the dilaudid. I did not want to make a medication error by stopping the zosyn in 15 mins to give the dilaudid, but since she didn't answer me I just finished what I was already doing.' If it was me. I'd put the zosyn premix bag in my scrub pocket and go get that dilaudid. Push it slowly (mix in 10ml NS is my go to) while waiting on that log in to the computer, scan both meds, finish the IVP, and hang the zosyn. Combine tasks. You're over thinking. Its just an antibiotic unless they are on deaths door it can wait a little.

That's if they have that many assigned to them or they are all that unstable. If they are all that unstable, truly unstable, then assignments need to shift for that transport to take place In the ICU its just us we have to make do with the bodies we have even though the acuity is through the roof. That ICU nurse is taking that patient to CT, doing procedures in the room, making phone calls for consent, setting up supplies, and titrating drips in another room taking care of all aspects of that patient such as q2h turns, oral care, hourly urine output, cleaning up BM and managing that family and their phone calls/questions not to mention the new patient ED delivers while assisting their colleagues with whatever they need. It goes both ways. So for ICU staff or any staff on a medical floor going to ER to pickup a patient is a stupid idea. It will not work. Its a team effort or should be. If your ER lacks this or the lone wolf is encouraged because of personalities in this department in my opinion that job isn't worth holding.

I worked 730-730. I didn't know how much I didn't like it until I switched facilities and now work 630-630. It feels more "natural" to me especially in winter when I go to bed and most of the time its still dark out. Feels just like a day shift in some sense. Report can go long or **** it the fan as anyone knows though it feels still better than starting this process at 730 and leaving at ~8am or after. Being able to get off earlier is less of a determent on sleep I found and getting up for that shift I eat dinner at a regular time and then off to work instead of waiting for 7-715 to come to leave. I like it and wouldn't trade it. Going in earlier reduces anytime I want to spent outside if its summer or if I have errands to do. Its the best compromise for me.

You change the IV fluid bags q24hrs on your pressure bags? Something we never do..

I'm just not knowledgeable on how enlisting works when I already have my ADN, BSN with 4 years experience which includes Med surg/tele and ICU experience along side my part time acute pediatric experience. I am interested, but don't know how to choose a branch. My sibling just left the Navy after 11 years of service. That was my first go-to. But my route is different. I go to be an officer? And then what? Do I work in a hospital? Am I on a ship? Stationed overseas? My sibling picked a field then did both of theses, but recently married and didn't care to be aboard, but was limited to such. So, I'm just curious how this all works if someone could break it down on what happens. Is it easier to advance to CRNA while enlisted? Undecided at this point but its been a subject I've thought of for advancing my career.

While I do not expect a 100k Salary I know the ceiling of where I live is pretty low considering nurses with 30+ years make only $10/hr more than me. I don't expect it to change. I have 4 years of experience on various units from floating and ICU experience not to mention previous LTC experience as LPN. I have my BSN and some other certifications and working on my CCRN. After which I am deeply interested in moving to somewhere I do not have to work crazy hard to make the 75k I made this past year. Interested in suggestions. Someone mentioned earlier NM? AWay from East Coast and Southern States.

ADN and BSN has nothing to do with skill or knowledge and ICU. You learn from the same material. What you retain is your own. BSN may spend more time on it than ADN school, but the end result is both are nurses capable of working ICU if they so choose. The secondary learning starts day one of that job and continues and accumulates through experience. The nurses with 35 years experience of critical care are experts in their field more so than a doc that has been there 5. This is evident in my place of work. How ignorant. Any nurse follows orders and checks boxes its part of the job done anywhere. Until you work ICU will you EVER understand. Now you are just being a troll. Why are you even here?

Agreed.

Leave.

"6th year of college" My god when you finish if you finish you are going to have some debt... Private college? Seems like a good way to go deeper in to said above. I finished in 3. Took a semester off before applying to an ADN program. I regret it now. I did so for personal and family issues. I wish I wouldn't have. Completed my BSN in 2. That took longer than it should but I like vacations and working a lot in between. Everyone gets knocked down, but the strong get back up and continue. However, even then comes a point when you must do some thinking to see if this is truly for you. Do you know why you failed this class? What parts did you struggle with? Dedication of time and sitting down with that book is critical. No way around it. There were those of us in my class that spent hours reading and doing practice questions and those that followed power points and did last minute activities. The latter either failed or barely passed. Only to fail their NCLEX.

"An ICU nurse can float to MS with no additional training but a MS nurse couldn't float to ICU without months of training." ^This

Shadow in both if you can for a few days to see if you like either. The next problem your going to run into is location. Your mileage is going to vary based on city and hospital size. Level 1 trauma your going to have an opportunity to see a lot more in either field vs a smaller level 2 with a pop of I am a junkie for heart pounding adrenaline and stress. The turn off about ER for me is how "routine" it can be too but in an annoying way more than ICU routine is annoying to me. Shortness of breath, mysterious abdominal pain, and jail clearance are the top 10 if not top 5 complaints seen on a daily basis here. Suppose I move it could be a different world. But I'm not moving. So for me its hard to have that same level of compassion when your 10th jail clearance admission comes in and its yours. Or grandma is "short of breath" while reading the newspaper on room air in the waiting room sent by the LTC nurse who panicked and had family up their ass. I lose my patience for that. ICU I have a lot more control. It starts with locked doors haha.

My annual income is a third larger this year because of how much I worked extra. Many people I work with often remarked how I would be paying extra in taxes because come April 15 I would have made too much as a single individual. I checked to make sure and I wont be. I'm not privy to tax laws and all that. But I was concerned for a moment I would be paying in this tax year. I bet that was a lucrative pay off! For me I'm more inclined to put money away for 1-5 or even 10 years just to watch it grow. But I do not know where to start. A part of me would like to contribute say monthly to add to it. But I don't know.

I agree I would very much like to see both sides of this. I've talked to CRNA's here at work and gained some interesting knowledge and perspectives. Job wise here there is a demand, but schooling is competitive and would require relocation for a time being. I have interest in a state university master program with tuition of ~4100k plus 2000k each semester for professional program degree not to mention other encounter expenses. Its a 28 month program. As far as cost I'm not sure where it ranks. Most importantly is the job. How is it? A fellow tells me he is glad he misses out on the "political" side of being an RN. He was annoyed with the growing number of policies and procedures and politics that came along with patient care. Things to do with JC or in hospital policies that "better nursing and patient care" but were more of an annoyance. He won't discuss specific subjects however..He does his job, supports his colleagues and leaves. And likes not being "pushed around." I have to agree with some of the vague statements he makes. Someone it feels is always coming up with a new "better" way to do something all the time and we are suppose to follow suit. Just one more thing to chart, ask, or do etc. Recently, we are being enforced to put these damn stickers on our foleys each shift to state we did foley care that day. But we chart it electronically... the redundancy is %^&* annoying. My biggest concern of all about being a CRNA is standing in one spot, relatively. I walk fast and like to move. For now. In ICU I'd rather have two busy patients with multiple drips and changing hemodynamics and impromptu procedures than being on my @ss waiting for the night to go by. Of course a break to chart is nice. But overall busy is better. Is CRNA right for me?

We make a sizable salary and the benefits while not physician benefit packages are still nice at least in my location. Where do you put your extra income besides bills and the obvious past tuition loans that made you a nurse? Do you invest? Where? How did you choose? I put 5% in an employer based Roth IRA and 1% in traditional 401k for 6% employer match. I was told to put more in Roth for now until I start seeing a need for the tax benefits of 401k which would be at a time when I am filing jointly with someone. But I'd thought I see what 1% does in that category for now. But more importantly and towards the purpose of my question, where else do you invest? Money market? CD's? Mutual funds? ETF's? I made over a 3rd of my annual salary in overtime and extra shift incentives. I checked my tax liability and risk and I won't be paying taxes. In fact I will still see a return. I'm young and would like to continue this trend for now. I'm interested to see what other members do.

The only issue with the CHG wipes is if your patient is being cooled via therapeutic hypothermia for say cardiac arrest. If you bathe during or say after therapy is complete exposed and leftover glue material from the body cooling pads will clump up with interaction of CHG. If anyone has done this or just simply tried to wash off that glue normally it is a $%^& to get off the skin. So we use regular wash clothes with non CHG soap. That next night we'll do CHG wipes. The wipes are very drying to the skin as well especially in sensitive areas. Say I work 6 on with the same patient I will do a regular bath with soap and water at least once it gives their skin a break in my opinion. You can lotion them up really well but them wipes still dry out the skin. Many don't do it because wipes are "quicker". Laziness SMH...

If thats an issue give dilantin IV with a filter. To the OP, interesting observation. Travel nursing has been in my sights and I've been thinking the "what if.." What if the place I go to in my mind is "ass backwards" would be I be able to get through it long enough until my contract ends. Remains to be seen. For you I wouldn't care if that's what all other nurses do. Who cares about them. If I was you I would do what you feel comfortable with. In my opinion, I'm opening up whatever med or crushing whatever I have to and pushing it down that NG because that's what I know and that's what I'm doing. My room my rules mentality isn't always what other people like to hear but as long as your license remains intact and patient safety is upheld I see no issue. In fact to me their at less of an aspiration risk using that NG.

Not allowed. But who cares tell them they aren't to repeat any info you say as you risk termination if you feel the need to vent/talk about your day to unwind.I'm sure this happening anyway *some spouses are smart enough to keep it within the household/bedroom etc. So leave it at that.

Felt similar way after working medsurg for 1.5 years. Moved to the ICU and it made a huge difference in how I felt as a nurse. I felt more empowered and in control. I still deal with what you mentioned but it gets to me less then before. Perhaps because were a locked unit with Maybe you could use a change of scenery? In my experience smaller hospitals in areas where you can know everyone on the schedule and the docs through the hospital are the best. I moved to a smaller hospital with similar capabilities but love it more for the closeness of people and the family atmosphere versus not knowing half people you work with. In summary I believe it helps with the whole being a nurse and liking your job.