HTCC

Honestly you probably don't have to worry about fresh IV skills to get into an OR. All of our IVs are started by techs in pre-op. If one has to be done in OR, anesthesia handles it.

We try to use a wheelchair for all of ours. However the occasional local or MAC insists on walking out. We walk with them, making sure they get into the car safely.

Thanks! It's great to hear from someone that has experience in both.

I posted this in the periop section as well since I didn't know which place would be better. I work in peri op now, and I find the OR fascinating. However, I am in a specialty hospital where we do one specialty only. I'm very interested in cardiology, and I'm curious to know how similar the cath lab is to the OR. I've read that nurses circulate and scrub, plus it seems like they do some anesthesia stuff, push meds etc. Having never been in a cath lab it sounds very similar, yet a broader scope of activity at the same time.

I'm not sure which group to post this in, so I will start here. I work in peri op now, and I find the OR fascinating. However, I am in a specialty hospital where we do one specialty only. I'm very interested in cardiology, and I'm curious to know how similar the cath lab is to the OR. I've read that nurses circulate and scrub, plus it seems like they do some anesthesia stuff, push meds etc. Having never been in a cath lab it sounds very similar, yet a broader scope of activity at the same time.

I've been there! My top choice program did a transcript review and ended up telling me I had to take 4 or 5 courses I hadn't already taken but that I'd also have to retake 9 other courses because they wouldn't transfer! How a graduate level statistics class for my sports medicine Master's degree doesn't count is beyond me. I ended up choosing a different school. It's more expensive per credit hour but since it accepts most of my previous coursework I will end up saving money.

It sounds like we have very similar backgrounds. I also have a Bachelors and a Masters in health care but not nursing, and I'm going back for a second career as well. My plan is to do the ASN because it's part time and will allow me to work. Initially the accelerated BSN sounded like a great option, but it was more expensive and since it was full-time I couldn't work. I think it comes down to the financial support you have. If I could afford it I would do the accelerated BSN, simply because I would be done faster than with the ASN and then the BSN. However, this route gets me to the same end for much less out of pocket.

Clovis CC in New Mexico. I think it's $89/credit. I took chemistry through them last semester and am taking micro this fall

I have 2 pairs of sockwells. I do love that they're thicker and warmer than the others. They are just a tad too short for me. I need about 2 more inches on them.

This is a career change for me, so I won't qualify for federal loans. I'm paying for pre-reqs as I go. I will work during nursing school and hope to get some scholarships to offset the cost.

I'm from the DFW area too. Unfortunately I could never get anyone from the program to respond to my emails and phone calls. I sent multiple emails and finally several months later I got one back asking if anyone had gotten in touch with me. However when I responded that no one had, I never got another response. So, long story short, I've removed them from my list of programs. Good luck to you! Hopefully it goes better than mine did.

Are the Sanitas as hard as the new Danskos? Do they have as much arch? I've tried on Danskos but 3 steps is all it takes to leave my arch feeling bruised for a week! Even the xp ones which are cushier have too much arch.

You could do it by seniority. Those who have been there longest pick their first week vacation, then it travels down the line, and back to the start for their second week (or however many you get). It's a tough call on how this works for just holidays though. I'd say start a rotation so everyone takes turns working those days.

This is why I'm making the jump from sports medicine to nursing! I love the huge variety of opportunities, and I'm betting I'll never get bored knowing I love change!

I was under the impression that you were required to work in a qualifying facility but that it was up to you to find one and get hired. Do they actually assign you to one? How much say do you get in your specialty, such as med-surg vs ER?