2Cats

I am wondering if RN's that work with a surgeon are able to make postoperative rounds and co-sign orders (surgeon's name/Rn's name) and write in progress notes or is this a breach of the Illinois Nurse Practice act? The RN's come in the morning and make rounds on the patient, do an assessment, write a SOAP note in the progess notes and then write orders such as "out of bed" "discharge today", etc. And write these orders cosigned. The MD will come around later in the day and co-sign the orders and the progress notes. I would think this would be practicing as an APN but an APN I would not think would cosign orders working under his/her own license. Any help is appreciated. Does anyone have any similar issues such as this at their current place of work?

I was just wondering if there were any programs that don't require these two as prereqs. I was looking into Bradley, Peoria, IL, they don't have it listed specifically as a prereq. But I hear the majority of schools want this. I have everything but these two undergrad courses. GPA, GRE, ICU Exp for several years. any advice? Thanks

Thanks for the replies! I will stick around and work on some certifications first. I'm just so bored in the ICU here I need a change (moved from working in the Shock Trauma Center in MD to Central Illinois....) Maybe ER will do it for me. Took a pay cut of about 1/2 when I moved too so that hurts. But in time I will go traveling I hope. Thanks again!

I was looking into traveling as an option to make more money, possibly see new things. I have experience in the ICU for the past year and a half and have talked to a few travel companies. Readylink and Cross Country Travel. Readylink does the tax advantage (does that get you at tax time?). Cross country offered 32/hr with $1100 housing? Even though I'd live in my current house (job is 50 miles away). Does this seem right - similar to travel jobs? My brother in law makes $45/hr as an echo tech traveling. I'm totally new to the traveling idea and wanted to try a local job to get my feet wet first. I'm just tired of making $19/hr in a hospital I don't really even like! Also, should I travel as an ICU step-down nurse or stay full ICU? I'm just nervous that they would throw me in to 'over my head' situations in some institutions. Are hospitals generally really strict about ACLS certification. I don't have it yet (scheduled to take it in January) and the local travel job says ACLS and PALS required for ICU stepdown. I've worked in two ICU's without ACLS as of yet (although both said it was required before employment). Thanks!

You do not have to retake the test.. if you took it already that is. yes the number is ALWAYS busy. Illinois recently combined 4 departments into one so there is now one phone number. Just keep calling and then you'll get music and the "please continue to hold". I did this and after about 25 minutes they will answer and you can ask them your other questions. For fingerprinting, you can either go to a place in Illinois to do it or you can have them send you a card and you just go to the local police department to get fingerprinted then you send it in to the FBI (I sent mine via Identix in Springfield, IL (on wabash ave.).) I just sent it there from MD and they processed it for a fee of $54. As for keeping the WI license, you probably can. I don't know if they have a requirement as to if you have to work a certain number of hours in that state to keep the license active or not. anyways, hope I provided some help! Good Luck

I'm trying to figure out endorsement for Illinois too. I printed out the packet (30 pages). Do you really have to send a form to where you tested for NCLEX? It was a year ago I hardly remember! And then to the college for transcripts? or am I doing something totally wrong?

I would recommend Owings Mills - Take the metro to Hopkins! Just don't live near Hopkins unless it is Fells point/canton/federal hill.

How do you apply for a license in MD? I am from Illinois and plan on taking NCLEX in MD in June (Graduate in May 06 in IL). I was on the MD BON homepage but it really doesn't seem like it has too much. if anyone knows all help is appreciated.. Thanks