Mkakids

We are a stroke and tele floor in a Chicago suburb. Days is 4-6:1, but usually 4-5:1 (regardless of whether they are new strokes or not). Nights are 5-8:1, usually 5-6:1 Day cnas are 8-12:1 and night cnas are 12-24:1. 2 nights ago I had 6 pts - 2 were brand new strokes (q2 vitals, neuros q4, etc...), one was a tele pt who kept flipping into Afib with RVR, and 1 was in 4 pt violent restraints, yet still managed to almost fall out of bed multiple times).

We were not even taught IV starts in nursing school - its definitely not an RN only job.

Blister pack openers exist?! Seriously?! I've been mumbling to myself for MONTH that I have to invent one so I can open those god damned packs easier! I dont think anyone would mind - whatever works!

I'm a new grad, and I love night shift. I like to do 2 in a row, then off a few days, then 2 more, etc..

We were required to pass patho prior to even applying into my ADN program.

Why was taking prescription med in front of you so bad? Would have felt the same way if she popped a beta blocker, dilantin, or tylenol? Or were you just upset because it was Adderall? Many nurses take meds for ADD, believe me - if you need them, and take them as prescribed, you dont get high or anything from them.

The pay is marginally better in my area - about $3 to $5 more an hour. Other than that, I have no idea.

I do 25 counter push ups everytime I go in the med room, and 30 body weight squats every time I have to get something from our supply room. I work 12's overnight, and generally only get about 6k steps (with 6 neuro/stroke/tele pts), so it's definitely not enough activity. When I was working days, I averaged 10k steps over 12 hour shifts Interestingly, when I was CNA on the same floor, I averaged 15k steps on a 8 hour shift - I was NOT prepared for how much more computer/charting work there would be!

ADNs actually take 3 to 3.5 years in total. The nusing classes span 2 years, but hou also have several prereqs to take, which can take 2 to 3 semesters to complete.

There are a few nurses at work who do this... they take off their shoes in the breakroom, and keep them in a box in their locker. They then put on their street shoes and walk through the breakroom, the hallway, the elevator and to the front door in their street shoes (effectively walking over areas that nasty shoes from hundreds of employees walk on daily) picking up the same germs that they think they are leaving behind in their locker.

Ok, so a real answer for the OP. Generally speaking, at my facility, we have 4 cleaning options. Toilet paper, disposable wash clothes which are good for mostly formed or kinda mushy/thin, but not sticky poops (these are like thin, soft and strong paper towels - they can be used dry or with soap and water, but they cannot be flushed), wash clothes and soap/water - best for sticky/peanut butter consistency or particularly foul/messy poops , and pre moistened disposable antimicrobial bath wipes (which we are not technically supposed to use for toileting, but they do get used occasionally - mainly when there is already an opened pack in the room because its better to use them than to let them go to waste). All disposable items get put in the trash, and washable linnens get put in a soiled linnen bag, which is then tied off and tossed down the laundry shoot on the floor. My personal preference is to always use a wash cloth with soap/water for all poop that isnt perfectly formed. I feel that it cleans better and is faster. So I generally go to a room for a code brown and immediately fill a basin partially with warm water and soap (we have foaming body wash that can be used on all body parts), grab a few wash cloths and a linnen bag and then get started. Here are your options for patients who are immobile. Patient A - bed bound, but can turn themselves onto their side. Patient B - bed bound and unable yo turn themselves. Very similar to this, but the second RN/CNA would roll the patient just to position the pan and then again to remove the pan. Usually, changing the sheets isnt necessary. The same goes if the patient was incontinent, you roll them like in this videa and change the soiled disposable pad under them, clean them, and roll them back. Patient C - bariatric patient that is too large for people to roll/hold on their own for a long period of time. We position a sling under the patient (like in this video), which is then used to help roll the patient on their side. Once the patient is on their side, multiple people (deoending on the size of the patient it can be 2 to 6 people total involved) hold the patient on their side while 1 or more people clean them. Patient D - immobile and wearing a diaper. Generally, I cut the sides of the diaper off because most adult brands do not have tabs like infant diapers (they are designed more like pull ups). Then while the patient is still on their back, i pull the front of the diaper down and fold it overhead so the soiled part is not exposed. Then tuck as mucho of that under the patients leg nearest you as you can (this makes it easier to pull out from under them). Then turn them and remove/clean/change. Patient E - can stand for a few minutes, but isnt very stable or needs assistance. If they are wearing a diaper, I cut the sides off once they are standing, and pull it from between their legs. Once they are done on the commode, i put a new diaper on them by putting their feet in it and pulling it to their knees before they stand up. Once they are standing, i finish pulling it up. Sometimes you need 2 people to help a patient to a commode. Once to hold the patients arm and make sure they dont fall, and the other to help them wipe/replace the diaper. It just depends on how stable they are.

Right? This is when the pool of liquid feces (g tube feedings, anyone?) not only squishes up to near their shoulders, it also reaches their ankles, soils a brand new surgical dressing from their very recent left hallux amputation, and is covering a large portion of the bed frame in addition to all linnens. Ahh... that was fun times as a CNA to see the look on the brand new RN's face as she walked into her first situation like that, lol!

Chicago, $30.05 new grad starting pay. 12% night differential, $10/hr bump to pick up shifts.

I think a deck of cards from the hospital would be HYSTERICAL. Much better than the nasty, stale cookies they gave us!

I just took it June 19, and passed. I used UWorld and the mark klimek audio lectures. I studied for 2 weeks, about 2 hours a day. I did all of the UWorld questions available, read through the rationales for the ones I missed. I took notes on the Mark klimek audio lectures and made quizlet decks for each lecture. I flipped through each quizlet deck 1x a day for 2 weeks prior. I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECCOMEND the Mark Klimek audio lectures.

In my area CNA is equal to a PCT (and CP).

In my ADN program, the clinical instructor had a group of 5 to 8 students that they supervised on the same unit every day. We were expected to pass (and discuss) meds with them, demonstrate/discuss assessments, give them report/updates, report any unusual findings, etc... I was amazed when I realized that some school just have each student go to a unit ALONE to be with a staff nurse. How can these schools know what the students are learning (or need to learn)?! How can they adequately evaluate their clinical skills?!

Speaking for my hospital (just outside of Chicago), we hire ADN RN's and DO NOT require them to return for a bsn. It is encouraged, but I know at least 2 dozen ADNs who have been working there for 5-15 years and have no plans of returning for a BSN. My hospital does however offer significant tuition assistance if you choose to go back to school.

I think it majorly depends on what you are willing to do to get hired. I'm in a suburb of chicago. I was just pinned on Wednesday from an ADN program. I already have 4 job offers (2 tele, 1 ICU, and 1 stroke). I started sending out personalized resumes, with 3 letters of reccomendation and personalized cover letters, at the end of March. I plan on taking the nclex mid June, but not starting an RN position until med August (I want to spend time with my kids this summer). I got a very part time job my 2nd year of school (even though I went full time and have 4 young kids) to give me a better chance at getting a new grad position, but only 1 of my offers is from the hospital I work at. I know people who graduated in December from the same school as I did and also local bsn programs, who sent out 40+ resumes and only got 1 call for an interview. I think that whether you are hired quickly (or at all) really depends on networking and making sure that you have a STELLAR resume (eyecatching but professional, very tailored/personalized to the job, hit all the key words in the job listing, addressed to the right person (by name), and absolutely free from error).

Is your GPA out of a 4.0 then?

Can I ask what the effects WGU has had on your GPA? I've heard it can bring GPA down, and was wondering just how much? I currently have a 3.8 and will graduate from an ADN program in May. I'm looking at WGU to bridge to a BSN, but want to go on to a MSN in the future and don't want to kill me GPA. Any insight?

There is a private bathroom with shower in every room in our hospital. All rooms are private. 240 rooms, so 240 bathrooms with showers.

Brand new CNA in chicago at a large hospital - $12.40 days, $13.50 evenings and $14 over night.

Im not sure about CA, but Im in IL on a stroke /tele floor (we also get dialysis, post ops, wounds, ETOH, etc...) and our day ratio is supposed to be 4:1, but is usually 5:1.

"Question 13: How does HIPAA and social media play an important role in nursing? 13. Social media is a wide open platform where anyone who has access to your page can see all of your posts and if your page isn't set to private people who you may not expect to be looking can see all of your posts as well, including possible employers, current employment, legal representatives and more. HIPAA has regulations in order to protect patient privacy and confidentiality by establishing legal boundaries in which a patient's information may be spoken about including description of patient , mental status, date of birth, current information, address and any other personal information. This information is protected and when a patient is admitted there is a form signed saying who the healthcare staff can give information to over the phone and in person. Social media is wide open and when a nurse goes to social media to vent about their day, stating detailed identifiable information about a patient in order to explain how they affected their day whether positive or negative it is break in HIPAA. If a nurse has a favorite resident and wants to take a picture of them to show their family on facebook, that is a violation of HIPAA. When it comes to nursing it is best to not talk about your work online at all in order to protect yourself and your patients. " This needs to be reworded to eliminate run-on sentences . It also needs to be edited for proper grammar.