J Friday

SO... through talking with staff that has been working this ICU for over a decade, it turns out the hospital does have a negotiation with the state to open up tele room for ICU overflow patients. It's a very underserved community and many hospitals will not accept transfers being that most patients have no insurance. That being said, the state has allowed this because they do not want ICU patients sitting in the ER for countless days and they know we have problems transferring out. It's a really loose negotiation--meaning there was no hard limit on number of overflow beds. I can hardly imagine they would allow limitless ICU paitents, however there is no hard limit. I suppose I have to either acceot these terms or find another job.

These are real ICU patients....If it was just an insulin or heparin drip on a stable patient, I wouldnt' be concerned. These are septic, ventilted, hypo/hyperthermic, unstable patients on multiple vasopressors, propofol and other titrated meds...

I am worried that denying the assignment is going to get me fired. I wouldn't be worried if I knew I had a legal leg to stand on. Has anyone else experienced this? Putting a piece of paper that says "ICU" on the door and now a certified 4-bed ICU hospital is now a 10-bed ICU? I think they have certain guidelines that certify areas as an ICU. I just can't find any information on the issue.

My hospitals has a 4-bed ICU. We are constanly admitting up to 9-10 ICU patinets at a time, and using completely underequipped mulitbed tele rooms as an ICU "Overflow". Nurses are put in those rooms alone with no remote monitoring or in-room support. This forces the RN to stay in the room the entire shift and leave the patients unattended if we need to get supplies or call doctors, use the bathroom, get water, etc. My question: Is this illegal? and can I refuse to take patients without fear of employment reprimand? I don't think that putting a piece of paper on the door that says "ICU" makes it an ICU. Often we take ER monitors just to get cardiac monitoring for these patients, because the tele rooms dont even have wall monitors. These rooms don't even have wall-suction set-ups... I started in ER and often float to ER on extra shifts. The hospital management refuses to transfer patients and will even tell us up front that there is to be NO transferring from the ER.... ADMIT EVERYONE!! I don't feel right about this and patients are receiving substandard care while putting our RN licences at risk... what can I do?

My coworker said, last night, that she is still waiting to hear from Santa Monica ER. I don't know about RR. That's SM ER. Don't know about RR ER. I'm still waiting for RR NTICU. ABCDEFG...lol. (Sorry couldn't help myself.. long night in the ER...lol. I get a little ALOC...)

Mine was December 2nd...lol. I think the answer is.....yes But it seems that each department is on a slightly different timeline...

Still haven't heard from Neuro ICU.... For those that got selected, or anyone that can answer, Did the status change on your UCLA application page? Mine still says, "Routed to Interviewing Supervisor" I interviewed December 2nd. SO.. there has really been only like 4 business days since then... Guess I'm a little impatient....lol

It would make sense about no second interview being that the first was listed as a single person interview, but turned out to be three people--including two floor nurses... well. I do hate the waiting game, but at least I have a current job to keep my mind busy. Thank you, and best of luck to you and everyone else as well !!! I'll post something as soon as I get any update.... :)

@ anybody that can answer..... I was a trying to remember everything in the interview but the exact structure of the residency program kind of flew over my head. How is it again? 2 days at the bedside for 12-hour shifts + 1 or 2 days in class? is that right? How may class days/hours in class per week?

@ M2912 and Ashcho Did they ask you to do a live-scan or tour the unit when your interview was over? and have you heard anything back yet? I did mine today and was asked to tour the NTICU. They said the same day live-scan was for out of town applicants and I am a local so they held off.

Hello all!! Just wanted to chime in here. I haven't read the whole thread so I do not know if anyone else interviewed for Neuro-Trauma ICU, but I had my first interview today. It went really well. I do have experience in acute care and with various drips and procedures that they really liked. Luckily for me, my preceptorship was done in a Level 1 trauma/neuro/burn center and I have been employed as an ER nurse for 2 months--I think that helped a lot. The interview lasted about 20 minutes with the director and 2 other RNs. They all took notes, went over my rec letters/resume/cover letter and transcripts. They asked a lot of questions, and I asked quite a few as well. I was immediately told to go take a tour of the ICU, which was AMAZING !!! robot doctors running around and all....lol So apparently, in Neuro-trauma they are "interviewing 35 and accepting 10 new grads"--from the directors lips to this forum...verbatim. But every unit is different. The RN that showed me around the ICU said it was a good sign that I had been offered the tour, but she didn't know that it was a sure thing.. I concurred. I am now hoping to hear back for the second interview, but the director left the timeline open-ended.. saying that I will not here back from them directly, but I will be contacted after a week...or 5....lol They also said the program should start in March, but may be pushed to April. Anyhoo.... good luck everyone... just getting the interview was monumental and shows that you have something they like....

The BSN spent years more time, effort and money in their education. They also boost the reputation/status of the hospital and have been statistically proven to have better patient outcomes.... bottom line, they deserve some form of premium. Just as an MSN or NP deserves more than a BSN..... and a DNP more than that....

"In other words, Allina took a segment of its business and paid to outsource it to a for-profit company. The conflicts of interest abound. For starters, Allina CEO Penny Wheeler is on the Health Catalyst Board of Directors..." WOW !!!!! non-profits are SUCH SCAM ARTISTS !!!! STRIKE ON BROTHERS and SISTERS !!!!

WITHDRAW NOW !!!!!! BATTLESHIP SUNK !!!! BATTLESHIP SUNK !!!! Most schools will not count W's against you because they do NOT factor into GPA (main scoring criteria for apps). My university did not count W's against you or even inquire why I dropped a previous class... The masters program I'm applying for does NOT count W's either. In some rare instances, you may have to explain what happened--at which point you can use a myriad of heartfelt excuses or explain difficulties in your life at that point. However, a D will likely be IMPOSSIBLE to recover from in terms of overall and science core GPA.... repeated classes are typically counted against you or schools only factor your first attempted grade anyway--and they will lower your GPA regardless...

walk now... run later... trust you will be running soon enough and before you feel confident in doing so.... That being said... There are many boring and uninteresting (and sometimes seemingly useless) parts of nursing school. Get over it, cause you'll soon have an amazing, dependable, stable, growing, and not boring career...

Hands hurt more, bottom line... And... Just try for a smooth entry into the muscle, if the needle is new it shouldn't be a problem. Do not use the same needle you used to draw the medication.... and use the "dart" like motion as described above. SIDE NOTE: I hope he used a new needle with every attempt.... I hate watching people risk other's infections like that... or worse, rub with alcohol, and and then proceed to rub their ungloved (or gloved) finger tip over the vein to find it again....

Are you sure a 'W' counts as a repeated course??? There is nothing there about withdraws... And many schools take your first grade if you retake, and every school is different, sure... I know that... but this doesn't stipulate withdraws. I asked the directors of several larger and more known schools, and they all said the same thing.... W doesn't factor into GPA. A repeated course definitely factors into GPA raising, so I can see how they look at repeated courses...but Repeated course, typically means you already completed one and received a grade... Side note: I wouldn't be caught dead in Bakersfield anyway...lol. So there are several better options in my mind that do not care about W's....just my opinion. And I guess this girl needs to stay away from Bakersfield anyway if she wants to repeat....

Would have been GREAT for them to divulge that information to the HUNDREDS of people BEFORE they showed up. And the hundreds more that showed on other nights... There are plenty of hospitals that only hire experienced nurses, but I have NEVER heard of those hospitals holding RN EMPLOYMENT orientations for people they WILL NOT EVER HIRE as an RN. Classic 'Bait & Switch' con tactics... They know EXACTLY how they are tricking people into showing up. And i was not the only angry person that wasted their time... trust... That is blatant disrespect and preying on the HOPES that these new graduates are SO DESPERATE for employment that they will take a long-term position as highly educated, super low wage, bed making butt-wiper, waiting to one day get the honor of moving up to a real live nursing position... Like I said, I will never work for that hospital... just on principle of not working for companies that lack respect for their employees and pull shady moves like this. They also took away the raises of current nurses among other perks, but got scared when a union started forming in response--and gave back the perks... shady....

A withdraw "W" does NOT look worse than a "C". They really only look at the overall GPA, and GPA of groups of classes. A "W" does not change GPA at all, ergo, it is harmless!!! That being said, I was a 4.0 student through all of my prereq's for RN school, and I scored a 93.somehting on the TEAS. I applied to RN school before I finished micro; so the rule at CSULB stipulated that it would be counted as a default "C" in my GPA to punish me because I hadn't finished yet...lol. With straight A's and one pseudo 'C', my GPA was too low to get into the program I wanted. I had to reapply the next semester when I had my 'A' and finished the class. RN school is extremely competitive. But WAIT, there is a silver lining!!! Community Colleges (at least in California) tend to have applicant pool lotteries as opposed to the UCs and CSU's that only take the top ranking candidates. As long as you meet the minimum requirements, your chances are the same as anyone else applying. I finished the university BSN program with a 3.9 (and it took a long time to swallow losing my perfect record). Anyway, the honest truth is that your GPA is likely too low to get into a university program, however you may still be very eligible to get into a lottery draw of a junior college program. Check out if any schools around you have these. Ones in CA include Pierce, Valley College, and I believe Glendale and College of the Canyons. These are all near Los Angeles County as that is my area. But I'm sure there are plenty more. Good Luck!!! .... and keep studying. :)

As for your deciding on hospitals, take the one that will be best for YOUR future goals. I will give you my situation. I am working toward CRNA which means I need ICU experience. I was also offered positions at two separate hospitals, both in the Emergency Department. The pay was about the same and both night shift. The job I did not take was in a nicer area, and the job I took is in the ghetto. But the deciding factor came in that one hospital was already offering to cross train me in ICU, while the other did not. With my goals in mind, I chose to dedicate my first couple years to the hospital that would dedicate their time to training me to meet my goals fastest. SO think about your future and what the hospital has to offer you in terms of meeting your goals. It has to be a symbiotic relationship. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now...lol. I wish you the best of luck in your career wherever you decide to go... :)

I was recently conned into the NEW GRAD ORIENTATION at Hoag. They conned hundreds of aspiring new grad RNs into thinking there were job opportunities. Some drove HOURS to get there--only to learn upon arrival that they DO NOT hire new graduate RNs for anything but PCA positions... the hospital with the highest educated PCAs in the country, I imagine. Why not have an Bachelor or Masters degreed RN be your PCA when you can pay them the same price as a PCA with a 3 month-certificate, right? I was LIVID. I will NEVER work for Hoag because I feel that they have no respect for anyone, and only seek to fit their own agenda. It is not surprising that they do NOT have a union and were so scared of one forming that they had to immediately give back the perks they took away once the RNs started meeting to form one.... (spoke to an employee). I have no respect for an entity that feels the need to scam people into coming to a job hiring event. And then they have the nerve to tell us that we may as well work as a PCA, because we won't get a job anywhere else but a SNF (basically what they said in the orientation). Then they told us if we were to apply for PCA, that they do not want us ask about salary or when we would be moved into an RN role??? As if they were going to pay my loans FOR ME? It is enraging and personally degrading to see desperate or discredited new RNs taken advantage of like that. I turned around and got a job in a hospital EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT as a new grad within 24 hours of receiving my RN number.... and friends are all hired or interviewing in Med Surg or similar units... Bottom line... As a new grad, stay away from Hoag if you respect yourself. It's probably fine if you are already experienced and can move straight into an RN role, but for new grads.... NO !!!!!

Really? So you do not set up your sterile field the same way, and different tech for dawning sterile gloves? Different tech for using one hand to clean/prep the area, lube/insert and fill saline securement bubble and securement device? Ultrasound or Arterial lines are different... But for normal For IV, You have a separate technique to prep the skin and use a different technique to insert the IV, different technique to apply/release the tourniquets, different technique to apply pressure on vein and different tech to secure the IV with one hand while removing the tourniquet and screwing on the IV pigtail, applying the tegaderm and flushing the line, and a different technique for screwing on the IV tubing? All that is completely different than on a person? Interesting... of course we are all entitled to our opinions, but I'd like to see how they are completely different techniques/hand mechanics.... just for my own knowledge.

SO I have heard so many conflicting stories about the PVT that I would like to post my own experience and result. I can officially say that the trick WORKS. This is not based on just my positive experience but on co-students that did not pass the test. Within 2 hours of taking the test, I attempted to reapply for the exam. I got the good message that states, "I have recently registered of the exam and may not register at this time." As nervous as anyone else waiting for results, I tried again, and several times a day for several days. Well I just looked on the BRN website and sure enough I have a license number issued. On the other hand, a friend tried the same trick and their money was accepted. And sure enough, they did not pass and have to retake the exam. Another trick is to call the BRN. And while they cannot tell you the official results, they can tell you if Pearson contacted them about your need to reregister for the exam. (California will not allow for quick results) SO if anyone is still wondering... IT WORKS... but you must go all the way through the registering process and hit the final submit button. DO NOT use a card with little money or you may face overdraft/insufficient funds fees. Simply use your real card number and an incorrect CVC (3 digit) number... works like a charm. Good Luck to everyone..... :)

I disagree. I feel that the practice of maintaining sterile field with urinary cath and steps involved, and hand mechanics involved in both are identical. Having to maintain pressure on the vein and attaching IV line and securing the line are paramount and best practiced on the dummy. Of COURSE the feel of the skin is not realistic, but the hand mechanics and practiced steps are identical. Learning how to work with one hand and maintain the field, steps to insertion, releasing the tourniquet, securing while attaching the IV line, etc is exactly the same. The skin is not realistic, but not the most important part of the learning process. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I felt much more confident after being able to practice my mechanics on a dummy.

Foleys are SUPER common in the hospital.... unless you are in urgent care or a dialysis clinic or something.. I do not understand that comment... everyone going into surgery has a foley, and everyone going home needs it DCd. And I believe every RN should be well trained in that area due to the severe risk of infection associated with placement--which is why we were taught it first semester. I placed countless Foleys in Med-surg, ICU, L&D (in&out), Peds, ED, etc. Unless you are in ED, Foley's insertion is way more common than starting IVs. Of course, I am speaking in terms of hospital work, not UC or clinics.