EKTheRN

Thank you! I guess I've known nothing else aside from 3 12-hour shifts, so I'm scared I won't have time for anything else aside from work. It's really a fear of the unknown I think.

Hi all! As per usual, I am coming to Allnurses with my newest "dilemma." I am currently working 12hr nights, but I recently completed my first phone interview with a hospital offering me a new position. This job is a 36hr work week, split up into two 8hr days and two 10hr days. The recruiter says the day starts between 0530-0630; I have no problem waking up early so that's good. I will have to take call every 5th weekend, and apparently four week days a month. So basically I want to know what you guys have to think about these hours. Night shift has made me tired, a little isolated from family and friends, and I think I'm experiencing some health issues because of it. I have been searching for a day shift position, so that definitely fits the bill, but I'm not used to the whole 4 or 5 day work week thing. I'm 23 with no family/spouse so the improved work hours are beneficial to me solely because it'll (hopefully) fix my sleep schedule. That said, is it worth working 4 days a week for the sake of my sanity? At my current position, we do self-scheduling so I can be off work for 6 or 7 day stretches if I want. Obviously that won't be happening in this new position. TL;DR: Is a 4 or 5 day work week worth it to you? Why or why not?

Thanks for your input! I figured 1 year wouldn't be enough to do case mgmt anyways... Do you think the paycut from working 12hr nights with shift differential to a M-F clinic job is worth it? I have truly loved my ability to work Friday thru Sunday one week then not have to come back until the following Friday...it's been awesome to have that many days off at a time without having to take paid time off.

Hello all- I kind of have a feeling that a few of you will be upset to hear that I'm sick of the bedside. I've only been an RN for a little over a year, and while I thoroughly enjoy my coworkers, I am sick of the bedside. I am on the last day of my week-long break, and there is something about being able to switch to a "normal person" schedule (I work nights) for awhile that gets me thinking: why am I doing this if it makes me tired and miserable? I love shift work solely because it increases my opportunities for fun activities outside of work, but I hate the stress and other negative factors of acute care/bedside nursing. I'm not sure if having multiple days off in a row is worth how I feel when I am working. Every time I go into work I start counting down the days until I'm off again. I need a sense of direction for sure; I have thought of everything from clinic nursing to working from home somehow to case management. Anyone have any personal accounts of transitioning away from the bedside? What do you do now? Do you like it? It may be helpful to add that I'm single with no children, so I really don't have any sort of obligation to any other humans (for this period of time at least!).

I'm glad this is being discussed because I've had menstrual issues since starting my night shift job in March '17. My GYN suggested running diagnostic tests to determine if I had issues with my pituitary gland as there was no way I'm pregnant. I had a slightly elevated prolactin level which was drawn 30 min post-night shift (stress apparently raises prolactin levels), so she suggested a brain MRI to rule out prolactinoma. I still haven't heard back from them, so no news is good news I guess? Either way I plan on getting to the bottom of this issue. I took a 10 day progesterone regimen and gained my period back, but only for one month. Not quite sure what's going on but I'm glad there are others that are in the same crappy boat as me!

Hello, nurse friends! I am a pediatric ICU stepdown RN with a little over 1 year of experience. Though I don't plan on making moves to leave the bedside for at least another year, I am trying to gather information related to the options I have at the Master's level of education. For the past few months I have been trying to decide if I would rather become an NP or a PA; the reason I have reflected so heavily on this is because I truly value an in-person educational experience (lots of online NP programs) and I really want to delve deeper into the science/medicine of either profession. For all of you advanced practice providers, do you feel as if you were exposed to an adequate amount of science (patho/pharm/anatomy) during your training? I know PAs focus on the medical model whereas NPs focus more on the nursing side (stereotypically), but I just truly want to know more about experiences. I know there are exceptions to every "rule," so I'm honestly just looking for any and all advice/personal experiences. Thanks- I hope this makes sense!

Newish pediatric RN here (almost 10 months on the job)! 1. This one is pretty universal in nursing, but use coca-cola to unclog NGs/TPTs/OGs. At my facility you have to have an order to flush with coke, but it just recently saved my butt; the parents were on edge and the last thing I wanted to do was drop another NG! 2. Do NOT slack off on your IV assessments! Protocol at my facility is q1hr IV assessments. As much as I hate to say this, I have to admit that I've gotten caught up in other tasks and put my kids' IVs on the back burner. It's so super easy to lose peripheral access on a chunky little one- it's even easier for them to infiltrate. I had an IV infiltrate on me right at shift change, and trying to fix that mess was not a fun task. 3. Utilize parents and caregivers! If a patient is scared or giving you a hard time in general, have a caregiver console or even help restrain a patient. Pretty recently I had a mom volunteer to wrap her arms and legs around her child before I deep suctioned her. Disclaimer for this one though: don't just assume the caregiver will be OK with restraining their kiddo. It's usually best to bring peers in as reinforcements. 4. As the above poster mentioned, we rarely complete tasks alone in the peds world. Do NOT be afraid to ask for help!

I started when I was 19, started practicing with my ADN at 21. Just graduated with my BSN last week (I'm now 22). However, there were multiple people in their 30s and some in their 40s in my class. My best nursing school friend is 31 actually! Good luck in school :)

Thank you again everyone. Quite a few schools to add to my list! I'm single with no children so the only big pitfall to relocating (currently living in the south) would be leaving my parents and friends. If anyone could help me with this next I'd be extremely grateful: we've all heard the whole "PAs are trained with the medical model while NPs are trained using the nursing model" spiel. However, those of you who are practicing NPs or NP students, do you feel that your RN experience paired with your education has helped you firm your grasp on the concepts of advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology? Do you think there's something missing from MSN programs in that regard? Again, I'm working with little to no information about all of these graduate programs- no underlying rudeness intended!

As I stated, I used the term "midlevel" for the lack of a better word. I wasn't sure what it is technically called, my apologies if I offended anyone. If I didn't respect the NP/PA professions, I definitely wouldn't be avidly pursuing the continuation of my education. I suppose I like the classic style of sitting in a lecture hall with classmates; to me, that forms a sense of community and camaraderie. Anyway. I believe it's personal preference and that's okay! To each his own. I'll continue my search for a classroom-based curriculum. Thanks for the input everyone

Hi all- I'm looking for the names of some in-person, brick and mortar MSN programs. I'm interested in either FNP or PNP (I'm currently a pediatric RN). For the longest time I've highly considered going back to school but to be a PA instead of an NP because it seems as if all of the NP programs are now online! I'm not meaning to offend anyone that is an online NP student, but I just finished my BSN online and that type of learning is not my style. I know I want to be a "midlevel" practitioner (for lack of a better term), but I would seriously prefer an in-person learning environment. Thanks!

Hello all. I'm struggling with something that I'm sure at least someone else has had to deal with. I'm an RN wanting to start taking prerequisites for a Masters program. To qualify for tuition assistance at my place of work, my manager has to approve. Is it off-putting to managers when you tell them that you're wanting to go back to school part-time? Does that just scream "I'm not as committed to the unit anymore"? I searched the tuition assistance policy specific to my facility and basically it says you qualify if the classes you take will contribute to your career development at the hospital. I guess I'm just struggling to find the words when talking to her about my decision. I hope this question makes sense; any and all input is appreciated!

Really?! I wish I had this problem!

Hello, nurses- quick question. I am a brand new baby nurse (6 months experience) working FT night shift in a pediatric hospital. I love pediatrics and can't really fathom the idea of working with adults...no offense to those who do! Anyway, that's irrelevant. I have always been a morning person. Before starting my career, I'd barely make it to 10pm and then I'd be awake by 6:30 or 7am. Night shift has drastically changed my lifestyle for the worse; I've experienced hormonal imbalances, depression, social withdrawal due to constant sleeping, etc. The shift differential isn't even worth it to me anymore. Basically I feel as if I'm more cut out for days. My question is: is it appropriate for me, a new nurse, to ask my manager about switching to days? Should I be waiting it out until I hit the 1 year mark? If things don't work out on the unit I'm currently on, I'm thinking about making the switch to another unit on day shift; either that or move facilities. Night shift has really taken its toll on me and I'm not sure if it's something I'm expected to "tough out" as a newbie or not. Help!

Hello all- So, I'm a senior ADN student anticipating graduation this December. This fall I will be able to start taking my classes for my BSN (at my school, BSN classes are online), which means I should be done with my BSN by December 2017 at the latest. But anyway, on to my question. When should I start completing all of the necessary requirements for CRNA school admission? Obviously I will need at least 2 yrs experience in critical care, but besides that, when should I complete everything else? I'm hoping my place of work will provide me with an ACLS certification and PALS if I work in a pediatric facility. When should I start getting ready for the GRE and such? As far as shadowing goes, when is the best time to complete that? Any and all input is appreciated, especially from CRNAs and SRNAs!

Hello, I'm about to wrap up my first full semester of NS. In the summer, I took a nursing fundamentals course, and this semester I took Med/Surg I. As of yesterday, I accepted a job at a local hospital (very large hospital, btw) as a PRN PCT. I was not aware that I would be a floater until my interview, which makes me nervous. Before accepting this job I worked PRN as a phlebotomist at the same hospital. I kind of know my way around the hospital, but that's not what I'm worried about. Being a floater seems difficult because that means I'm going to have to orient myself to the floor, introduce myself to the staff, and ask for help every shift. I have this scenario played out in my head where I'm going to essentially be thrown to the wolves and the nurses will be too busy to help me out. Does anyone have any advice for a brand new floating PCT? I could take all the words of wisdom/tough love I can get. Thanks!

Hello all, I am a fairly new nursing student, but for some reason I have myself thinking about my future already...I can't seem to help it! Anyway, at this point I'm fairly confident in two things: I want to pursue a graduate-level degree and I want to work in the OR. The next point I struggle with is my role; I've thought about CRNA or some sort of NP role (although I'm not sure how NPs are utilized in the OR setting). I would like to be able to practice some form of autonomy, and I want an active role in the intraoperative phase of care. Are NPs with RNFAs utilized in the operating room, or is that left to the residents and scrub techs? So...CRNAs and NPs, I would love to hear your feedback! Obviously comparing the role of a CRNA to that of a NP is like comparing apples and oranges. What is the best way to go about learning more about these two careers? Thanks in advance to all.

Hello all! So, I'm a first semester nursing student (took my fundamentals class back in May) and I just got hired as a patient care tech in the laboratory at a local hospital. I'll be a PRN employee working nights as a phlebotomist, which at this hospital only requires on the job training. I know a lot of nursing students that work and go to school and it's not absolutely pertinent that I work while in school, but I'm really looking for a challenge and hospital experience. Does anyone have any night shift or phlebotomy experience/tips? I need all the advice I can get regarding adjusting my sleeping schedule, balancing school and work, blood drawing tips, etc. I'm extremely excited but also super nervous!! Thanks in advance!

Hello! So, I'm almost positive I've posted a thread similar to this, but I didn't get much feedback so I'm going to try again. I am currently enrolled in a BSN program, and although I'm still a newer nursing student, I'm pretty sure I'll want to further my education. I am in love with making a career out of being in the OR, and I was just wondering if you all could help me weigh my options for this- should I aim for CRNA school or NP school? Are NPs utilized in the OR very often? Would it be wise for an NP that wants to be in the OR to have their RNFA? I am hoping to work in a larger hospital in a metropolitan city; not sure if that plays any sort of role in my career choice. Any help is much appreciated!

Hello all, I am one test and one check-off away from being done with my Fundamentals of Nursing class! In August I start my Med Surg 1 class; my school actually calls it Nursing Care of Adults 1. I'm almost certain that this class is centered around the care of older adults in long term care facilities. My question is, how difficult is Med Surg in comparison to Fundamentals? My Fundamentals course was 5-weeks long, and in those 5 weeks we learned all the basics (med administration, bed making, Foleys, CVL dressing changes, vitals, health assessment). If I can get a fairly decent grade on my last test I think I'll be able to pull off an A. Obviously this class will be harder because we will be dealing with care plans and real people (instead of Sim Man), but what should I expect from this class? Older people aren't necessarily my forte- but we shall see!

Is it an invite only group? I can't seem to find it

I don't think we have a page yet, but we need to start one! Also, does anyone know what NURS 1300 consists of? I've heard several different things but if anyone knows of a UALR graduate/student that could fill me in, that'd be great :)

I had a 3.1 nursing prerequisite GPA

I got in to the traditional track today!! Can't wait to meet all of you :)

Hello all, I'm currently awaiting a response regarding my admission into my local nursing program (I've been waitlisted), and I'm obviously getting way ahead of myself, but I've been looking into different specialties. It has always been a dream of mine to work and live in a large metropolitan city. I hear that residents and interns are typically always the first assist in procedures in teaching hospitals, which kind of defeats the purpose of having an RNFA on staff. That is my only stipulation with the idea of getting my RNFA certification- that I'll essentially be unable to work alongside the surgeon by handling tissue, closing after the operation, etc. That part interests me to no end. When it comes to becoming a nurse anesthetist, I realize that it requires a master's degree. The only drawback in my situation of becoming a CRNA is not being able to handle tissue, closing, etc like the RNFA would be able to do. I could be very wrong, but being a CRNA doesn't seem as hands-on. Long story short, I'm in love with the idea of working in the OR, and any information y'all can relay to me about either profession is greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.