TheLorax

Hello! I have a friend whose daughter has CP. As we all know it can be very difficult for families to cover all their approved CSN hours. I am an RN currently working with a homecare agency, however my agency no longer allows overtime and I already work 40hrs a week. My friend stated that she has no problem paying me privately. Since I would not be working with an agency does my professional liability insurance need to change to the "self-employed" option? How would I file taxes and such. I feel clueless and want to be able to help her out. It wouldn't be every week, only when nurses call out or for an occasional weekend shift. Any info is appreciated!

I take care of an 8yo with CP and I agree it's tough. We use a teensy bit of kids toothpaste with water. His teeth are totally caked in plaque as well and the parents are aware of how difficult brushing his teeth can be. Honestly, I find it easiest lay him across my lap and brush his teeth while he giggles at me. He has a gtube and fundo and I just make sure to hold his head up a little with my arm. He does great clearing any secretions. Sometimes, if it's real tough that day, I'll wait until the end of my shift, which is his bedtime, and he's really sleepy so typically I can sneak the toothbrush in then. Overall, just try your best and encourage the parents to bring him to regular dentists appointments.

Ruby, thank you so much for that advice. No one in my family is in the medical profession at all so it's hard to talk to my family and get sound advice about my career.

Yup! Everything is the same as with any seizure. With that the child's O2 is low so administering oxygen would be added to the list of things to do. Since they are in bed you should roll them to the recovery position. Because they have no hx of seizures, after 5 minutes it would be an emergency. And for sure let the doctor know of this new activity.

What do you mean by "same interventions". When my kiddos with CP have seizures you keep them safe, maintain all aspiration precautions, you can verbally reassure them, let them know you are there and they are okay. Agitating them helps to bring them out of the seizure, you can rub their face and kindly "poke" at them, or a cool cloth or ice pack to the back of the neck helps. Make sure to time the seizure. The kiddo should have a script for diastat or another rescue med and the doc should have guidelines as to when to use it. I have seen orders for rectal diastat for a seizure lasting longer than 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes. It depends on the typical seizures the kiddo has. If there are no orders then it is an emergent situation after a seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes and you should call 911. Does that help?

Hello everyone!! I passed my boards in August of 2014. I have been working part time/per diem jobs in order to keep time open for leisure travel, which I highly value. I traveled for almost a year just after passing my boards and then started my first job as an RN at a sleep over summer camp for 2 months. After camp I started working as a substitute/interim RN at a special needs school. I worked at the school "full time" while a nurse was on maternity leave then continued to fill in on days off and when nurses called in sick. I then started working per diem at a pediatric homecare agency working primarily with kiddos that have various seizure disorders, GJ tubes, trachs, ect... Currently I work mostly homecare, averaging 38hrs/week, but still hold per diem status so I can leave for trips when they are planned. I work at the summer camp each summer, and still fill in at the school when asked. That was all background, now to the real question. I have always thought that I would be an RN in the hospital setting. I never considered working homecare/school nursing until I caught the travel bug and now LOVE to travel and learn about other cultures and people. Every nurse I come by tells me I NEED to work in a hospital or rehab to get that acute care experience. Right now, I don't really have an interest in the hospital setting. Is that bad? I am worried that in a few years I will want to work in a hospital and it will be extremely difficult to secure a job since I didn't get that acute care experience in my first few years of nursing. What are your thoughts? Thanks for reading!!

I used the Saunders book, 6th edition I believe. I read almost the whole thing, I focused on subjects I knew were my weak points, as well as things like test taking strategies and prioritization questions. I took my test August 28th, and passed in 110. I got mostly prioritization question and select all that apply. I left the test thinking I did okay, but was very worried because of the amount of SATA questions I had. The Saunders book comes with an online code, where I did questions. It was a bit hard to get used to the format of the website at first, but once I did a few quizzes it was fine. It was nice because after you answer a question, there is a rationale part as well as a strategy part, where it talks about different ways to see the questions and the answers. I would definitely recommend Saunders. Good luck and keep your spirits high! Go into the test stress free. I cleaned my entire room and car the day before the exam as well as treated myself to a massage and did not study the day before. I just reviewed some lab values (which I only saw twice on the exam) the day before. You're in my thoughts!! Best of luck!

For me it was a crazy 2 days waiting for my results. Keep us posting and I am keeping you in my thoughts! Try to keep your mind off the exam - easier said than done, I know. It is an indescribable feeling when you find out you passed, I hope you get that feeling like I did!! Best of luck!!

@j_lynn34 for me it always said results not available and it never switched to delivery successful, it just told me I was able to purchase the quick results, I am in MA where they offer the quick results for $8. I was reading other posts where it would change to delivery successful right after they finished the exam, I was posting in case other people never saw the change in status. Mine became available to purchase exactly 48 hours after I completed the exam. Good luck!!

I just found out I passed the NCLEX RN. I took it Thursday August 28th. My status on the website never changed to "delivery successful", it was always "results not available" until exactly 48 hours after I finished the test. Therefore, when I tried the PVT it never worked because my status was never delivery successful. Today, I logged on the quick results were availably so I paid the $8 for the them, and it was seriously the best $8 I have ever spent. The past 2 days I was going insane because I couldn't figure out why my status never changed and why I couldn't do the PVT. I still don't know haha. But I figured I would post in case this happens to anyone else. I did end up passing in 110 questions, so hang tight for 48 hours after your test!!