RNthenDoc

So this is kind of a conundrum, but I'm not sure on the legalities of maintaining my RN license as a medical student. Being a nurse is a major part of who I am, I worked hard for my license and don't like the thought of letting it expire. However, and I know it's different for NP's as they have to keep up their nursing licensure, but once you become an NP, I believe that there are legalities in regards to practicing as an RN in reference to scope of practice and I'm not sure how those legalities will effect me. I believe medical students work under the license of their attending, as we were under the license of our instructor in nursing school. Should I renew my license or should I let it expire? I would like to keep it active out of principle, but do not want to have anything fall back onto me as a medical student in case something were to happen with a patient. Recommendations?

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments. I didn't go into nursing to go into medicine. After awhile I decided that I wanted to advance my education and I liked the structure and training of residency programs. Being a nurse is at the heart of who I am and I do wholeheartedly believe that the way I view my patients as a nurse, holistically, will make me a better provider to my patients and in the way that I interact with the multidisciplinary team. Nurses shaped me as a young nurse and I will give back in other ways.

Hi All, I'm a pediatric RN that has just recently been accepted to Medical School and will be matriculating in the Fall of 2020. It has taken me several years to do this as I've been working part time and taking classes. All of the nurses that I work with have been incredibly supportive during this time, and have even gone out of their way to switch shifts with me to make sure that I was able to make it to last minute interviews. At one of the interviews last week, the physician that interviewed me told me that my being a nurse is something I should never tell to the nurses on the wards during rotations and in residency because it would not go over well and would hinder me as a student. I was actually surprised by that sentiment because that is not what I have experienced thus far at all! I feel like it would be a good bonding moment between myself and the nurses because I've been there and in essence I feel it will make my residency go more smoothly because having been a nurse, I know exactly what orders the nurses (as well as the interdisciplinary team in general) will want. From nurse to nurse, what are your thoughts on this? Keep it to myself, or not?

I am in Texas and am taking the CPN soon.I am wondering, when you receive a certification in your specialty, does that also give you CNE's towards renewing your license? Have not been able to find anything out about this. Thank you.

Good luck everyone. Not a new grad but I worked 1.5 years on a med surg at Dallas Children's and it was a very great learning experience and peds was very fun. Enjoy it those of you that get it!

Hello all, I am a fairly new nurse with 1 1/2 years of experience of general pediatrics mixed w/ some trauma-surg overflow at a level 1 Children's hospital. I was just hired into the BICU at Parkland in Dallas and am very excited, but am feeling a little overwhelmed as I do not have either critical care experience or adult/burn experience. I am going to be out of my element for sure other than the fact that they take pediatric patients as well! To any and all, what is your advice for a nurse going into this highly specialized specialty and do you have any clinical text recommendations for me to brush up on before the internship begins? Thank you!

Hello everyone, I am currently a pediatric surgical-trauma RN who is in in the process of switching to adult ICU. I currently have a job offer for CVICU, general ICU and STICU. I know this is subjective and relative to the school, but I have heard that CVICU is preferred for CRNA school. I have more of an interest in medical patients, something I know I would find in the general ICU (as well as cardiac, surely). My question is, would you take the job that is preferred for admissions, or the job that you know you would personally enjoy more? I love helping my patients with all of my heart, but there are still populations that I prefer. My plan after CRNA school is to return to peds as that is where my heart is (Though I do not want to do PICU).

Hello, I am a new nurse into the PICU one month into my internship. I have gone between 3 preceptors in this time and have just met my "main" preceptor after about 10 shifts, while everyone else has been with their "main" since the get go. After taking report, she said that she did not like how I jotted the body systems and began making remarks that she did not know that I would be so "unadvanced" at this point in time and that she would have to start me from the beginning. That's fine, because I want to learn and do the way that works for her. By the end of the shift I felt I was getting the hang of things and ended the shift on a positive note. In the morning I jotted the way that she wanted and while charting on the same stable pair from the day prior, I was getting behind and had not finished charting on the first patient. She told me that this is the most stable patients that we have and if I was getting overwhelmed with this that I don't belong in the ICU. When I went to flush the IV, I did not see that it was clamped and she sarcastically asked me where I went to school and if I have ever worked with IVs. I feel that at this point in time I felt overwhelmed because she was breathing down my neck. When I administered the meds through NG tube, it backed up and some of it spilled on the sheets. I re-sent for another from pharmacy, but she made a big deal out that because the sheets had just been changed and I was scared of her seeing it before coming in the room because of the fit she had made over the IV a few minutes prior that I was literally shaking. I understand the ICU is a no-nonsense kind of place, but 1 shift into meeting her I am beginning to believe that I am incompetent. When I went home that night, I cried, because I feel that I made a mistake going into the ICU as a new grad, that I'm not going to ever get better, not last and that they will fire me and wind up homeless. I don't really know what to do. I had never felt like this with my other preceptors. I feel like I am giving 100% and that I will never be able to live up to her standards. I am not trying to put her down, she is an amazing nurse loved by everyone on the unit, which is why I feel so poorly about myself at this point in time. I feel as if I am dreading going back to work and even worse.. this hospital comes with a 2 year contract.

Hello everyone, I understand this is a very loaded question and I do apologize. I just received my BSN at the age of 22 and I had originally gone into Nursing, in all honesty, to become a CRNA for the money.. I no longer wish to pursue this as I know I would be unhappy. I work in a PICU and am currently in the middle of my internship. Would you advise that I go back to school to take pre-reqs in 6 months-1 year, do you think it would be feasible working 3 12's and be able to do well in school? I am not interested in the role of the PA or NP and feel that medicine is where my heart is driven. I apologize if I have offended anyone, I love nursing, I just don't feel that it can provide me the fulfillment that I desire.

Well I'm a new graduate at Dallas Children's in the PICU and the ratio I have had so far is 1:2, but for the floor I believe it may be either 1:3 or 1:4, I am not entirely sure.

I know it has been several months, but since then I have graduated and passed NCLEX. 3 weeks until I start in the PICU. Thank you for your amazing advice, I wanted to follow up and let you know that I ended up buying the 3rd edition by Hazinski. What a wonderful resource! I am just reading front to back and have finish up until the psychosocial chapter around page 37 (out of 1000!) I was curious if you had any further advice on what would be essential that I read. Neuromuscular blocks, psychosocial, etc. Your response has been extremely helpful, I really pray some of my coworkers are just as helpful, thank you!

This is probably a dumb question, I'm going to be a GN in a non cardiac Trauma PICU in a few weeks and I have a classic adult littman stethoscope that I went through nursing school with and it seems to work fine. Should I invest now in a pediatric stethoscope, will I actually need one? Thank you.

I'm a new graduate in the ICU and only have to obtain ACLS, if I may ask, what is difficult about getting into the ICU for you as an experienced RN, I guess I'm not understanding.

Hello guys, I am 22 years old and just graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with my BSN less than a week ago. Throughout college I have worked waiting tables and then transitioned into being a Patient Care Tech all whilst juggling school, clinicals, family, relationships, etc. I have been really busy, never really had a break in between and I feel that in the middle of the storm, I became accustomed to living like that. Now that I have graduated I am just sitting around with nothing to do. I haven't heard of post graduation blues, but I think that's what I'm going through. I'm scared that once I start my internship (I will be in a PICU) in two months that I will still be unsatisfied with life, because I have so much free time. I still truthfully don't know what I plan to do with my life forever. What is the next step?

Hello guys, so I figured I would give you some back story on me so that you can grasp the situation. I am a male that fell into nursing from switching out of pharmacy and have never had experience with kids, even thought I did not like kids. I initially planned to work adult ICU and go to CRNA school for the money (I know, I know). Anyways, I became a tech in an adult ICU and have loved the intensity of care. After my pediatric rotation my attitude changed somewhat towards kids and to pursue it further I volunteered to be a camp counselor at a Children's camp for those with Spina Bifida. LOVED IT. Despite the girls in my program telling me that they didn't think I would be suited for peds, I applied for a PICU position at a level 1 trauma facility and a MICU position in an adult ICU. I was offered both.. but I have decided to follow my gut and go against everyone's advice and take the PICU position. Maybe I wasn't called to peds like some of the women in my program, but this is where the ship has sailed and I really do hope I have made the right decision! My question is, was it hard for those of you who began your nursing journey in a pediatric ICU? Does it differ from working in an adult ICU as far as intensity? What is an average day/patient population like for you? You don't have to answer every question, I would really just appreciate any input that you may add to this thread. Thank you. p.s. I am not sure if this makes a difference, but the PICU I will be in will be "medical/surgical" PICU and not trauma or peds CVICU (?)