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An FNP is a masters prepared nurse and I have been taught at my BSN program by a variety of degree prepared nurses. Although many of them were adjunct professors working towards their doctorate or masters. Many programs allow BSNs or ADNs to rotate with clinical groups after having two years experience as a registered nurse. You can also gauge degree requirements by checking out faculty credentials at a particular institution. I'm in my Masters with a focus on nursing education and all my instructors are doctorate prepared. The only legitimate education certificate that I know of is the CNE (certified nurse educator) that is available to Masters level prepared nurses.

It's more of a literature review on the topic. I could include sedation holiday and tie it into the delirium aspect if I can find research that suggests it. Going from sedated - to non-sedated - and back to sedation could most definitely cause confusion in patients' already prone to it, such as our liver cirrhosis or septic patients.

It's going to be a 20 page paper for my research class at least. So I'm trying to expand my ventilated patient idea with a secondary topic. I've found a lot of information regarding sedation practices of vented patients in the ICU and many of them refer to secondary delirium problems after extubation. I wanted to tie in patient perception of sedation vs. non-sedation and issues cause with not sedation patients while ventilating. Some of the research suggest PTSD and anxiety issues. BIS monitor idea was going to be geared more to over-sedation issues and if it works to adequately gauge sedation level.

I've worked as a tech or CT and experienced bad behavior from RNs. As an RN I don't believe I do treat my techs badly or reprimand them unless I find them in the breakroom all day or surfing Internet when everyone else is massively busy. At my work place it's certain individuals 'not working' or helping that pushes my buttons or they disappear once you ask for help with a clean up. And it varies by units I've worked on. Another pet peeve - when RNs I work with believe cleaning up patients is no longer part of their job and the CTs do it now. All that being said, it depends on nurse attitude and tech attitude toward the work. Are you going for the paycheck and to do as little as possible or are you there to take care of and heal the patient that needs you? On family and patient attitude in the US, I rarely have problems. I've also worked with VIP patients and not had many issues either. Maybe understanding of nurse responsibilities and workload is more understood by the public? Many people I have spoken with about my profession ave told me they know a nurse or are related to one some how.

Actually I narrowed it down to: - Sedation vented patients vs. non-sedated patients and something to do with BIS monitoring (still thinking through) - CAM-ICU limitations and use with delirium - Family perceptions, responses, and experiences

I need to come up with a research topic for my MSN program and I wanted to make it MICU specific so that I will be able to share with my fellow staff members and hopefully make positive changes to my unit. Thus far I have: - Effectife and efficient orientation programs - Advanced directives - Spirituality in critical care nursing - preparing and supporting staff to serve as preceptors for students - care plans, critical pathways and patient care protocols for critical care (maybe sepsis related?) - patient focused staffing approach - collaboration of advanced practice nurse with staff nurses, clinical nurses, specialists, nurse managers, medical staff, and allied health staff I did want to go more of medical diagnosis related problem, but I'm not opposed to something concerning communication or protocol related. I'm just having a tough time picking something. Any different ideas or things related to anyone else's ICU on this list? Thanks!

That's good to hear! Thanks!

Actually, that work sounds very similar to my responsibilities. It depends on the unit to determine how involved you can be with ADLs. When I had 5-6 patients on a regular nursing floor I relied on my techs to assist patients to commodes. Now that I work in an ICU with 2 patients, I just use them as a second set of hands while doing all care. Thanks for the background on other costs, it does seem more reasonable with health insurance costs taken into consideration. That's really a shame that nurses are not respected more. But with TV reality shows (Scrubbed In) and other media it's hard to change the public's perceptions.

I find this blog extremely interesting. I work in the US and want to experience travel nursing. The UK is recruiting US nurses as well and after researching it might be a pay cut to move. I've read the annual salary is around 24000 GBP? Is that fairly accurate or an overestimation? Also curious about the perception of nurses in the UK, I've heard mixed things.