BornRN

Accreditation is a sign of meeting certain educational standards. Sometimes a school may not be accredited when they are NEW -- a class must graduate before the school can apply for the accreditation process. Unaccredited schools -- in existance longer than that time -- are not a good choice. You will not get the same level of education at an unaccredited school. When you decide to get additional education, you may not be able to gain entrance to those schools being a graduate of an unaccredited school. What is the reason that you are being denied entrance to the accredited school? Is it because they are full? Is it because you lack a pre-requisite. Be careful -- there are a lot of people who will take your money and leave you with a substandard education. Contact the California state board of nursing and inquire about their acreditation standing.

I'd like to get some reactions to the new law coming down the pike. It has passed both PA Senate and House. Continuing Education requirement for re-licensure as a registered nurse. Have you been following this? Have you contacted any legislators? :sofahider

Sounds to me that you have an excellent opportunity to do a couple of things 1. Some research on tasers 2. Some educational outreach to the police community. Try to turn these events to the positive. Perhaps it will prevent further similar problmes

Remember, you are what you title implies. An assistant to the nurse. This means that the work you do assists nursing. If it is deemed that CNAs do not check blood sugars, then that is absolutely fine. I permitted a CNA to check one for me in the ER and I ended up in court charged with malpractice. The CNA reported incorrectly the blood glucose level --three times, using two different machines -- and I preformed actions based on those incorrect readings. Even though the symptoms the patient was presenting with did not "fit" the readings I was given. Guess what -- the patient could have had a serious problem if I had not questioned those three subsequent readings 5 minutes later and took corrective actions. To do something is not enough -- you must have the knowledge and ability to critically think through situations in which you or someone else has done something. This knowledge and critical thinking is possessed by the RN. Not the CNA. So, if you want to be involved in that critical thinking and increased knowledge process -- go to school and become educated and licensed as an RN. In the meantime, you are essential to the nursing team that provides care for the patients. Do your role with excellence and caring. BornRN

At least you recognize yourself as a hoop jumper. However, just remember 1/2 of that CRNA title includes what you are using as a stepping stone: RN It is my opinion that you are never anything less than an RN when you move forward into advanced practice. It is those who loose site of this that sully the profession. You will still deal with patients -- at a bedside that now is an OR table -- and you will still deal with paperwork. As to the time spent at it, I don't have a quantifier. But you will never get away from documentation and patient involvement, even as a CRNA. And now, you will deal with surgeons as well -- good luck -- I don't envy you. BornRN

I hear your fear. To me this shows that before you are even thinking about becoming a nurse, you have a healthy fear of what impact we can have on the lives of people. Congraduations!! You are half-way to being a safe nurse. I believe that there is a healthy fear that keeps us "on our toes" and self-vigilant about what we are doing. Constant safety checks help to prevent misktakes. And each nurse must have the ability to look for and prevent those mistakes that she/he may make: Or in the event that a mistake is made, to own up to the error and rectify if possible. The other half of the formula is EDUCATION. This is a continual process in nursing. However, you will not get a license to practice unless you meet minimal criteria to practice as a nurse. Then, you have to keep yourself on top of the latest and best practices. Your employer will often help with this by providing educational offerings. There are multiple conferences, seminars, that can impart continuing knowledge. Just remember, you cannot possibly learn it ALL in nursing school. Learn enough to be safe. Keep that (saftey) at the forefront of your brain and activities and you will do well. Will you never make a mistake? Probably not, we all make mistakes. But hopefully, these will not be of the sentinal variety (poor outcome for the patient). If you have not taken the plunge to nurisng yet, take it. We need people like yourself with a healthy fear of doing wrong. BornRN

Wow -- I wish I could give you a definite answer. The true answer is -- "It depends". Can you work full time days and got to school at night and evenings? You will have to look hard for a school that holds it's clinical rotations in the evening or on a weekend. Most faculty are in academics so they do not have to work nights and weekends. Most schools offer clinical during the day -- and those that say they offer evening clinicals may start them at 1:00 p.m. that puts a bite into the full-time work day. Usually, you can get most courses you need in the evening -- but it really depends. For example; at my school the science department ONLY offeres classes during the day. So if you need Anatomy, which all nurses do, you have to come to an hour class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday plus there will be a 3 hour lab scheuduled one day a week. Best advise -- ask the college to see some of their old schedule books. It will give you an idea when they schedule what types of classes. Back to the - can you work full time -- Many people do, but not the day shift. QUOTE: How did you go from getting to be an RN and leaving your full-time job? When did you practice while studying? Answer: I am not sure what you mean by this. I need a clearer question. BornRN

I have a 30 year career in nursing. I can count on one hand -- and remember distinctly, each medication error I ever made. What's the trick to avoiding them? REMEMBER THE BASIC STEPS Practice the 5 rights every time Look at the med three times before it goes into the patient -- you know that check the med three times routing. NEVER give a medication that you do not know about or have looked up before you give it. Usual dose range, purpose, action, side effects, monitoring to do. (I usually prefer to use a med handbook to look things up -- but the computer in our hospital provides a MedX which can be used.) Good luck with your research project. BornRN

Yes, These seeds, along with apple seeds and cherry pits can be used to make cyanide. Interestingly enough. Many health food stores cell them. They are touted as a cancer preventative. In fact, one site claims that if you eat/ingest 7 apricot seeds per day, you will never get cancer. I believe that the pits/seeds are ground or pulverized to injest them. So you patient was grinding them -- same thing. I did not ever hear of using them for weight loss. There are so many other herbs that care DANGEROUS, yet used by our patients. So does your ER have a cyanide antidote kit? BornRN.

In reading your post, I think you voiced your own decision. You are going to school in the Fall to study nursing. You did not say which level of education, but it is an RN. You are bored at your current situation. Nursing is NEVER boring. Sounds like you have the skills to overcome some squimishness over the blood thing. As a nurse, you will learn a certain level of detachment that will help carry you through the less glamorous parts of the "job". Human excrement of all types. Personally, I hate sputum. But -- I am a critical care nurse and must deal with that on an hourly basis. Best of luck. Keep us posted about your progress as a student. BornRN