alli.

Hi everyone, I was hoping to get some insight to Northern Kentucky University's online PMHNP program. Has anyone applied to this program before? How was your experience with the application process? My concern is that it may seem too simple and am afraid I am missing something. I have a couple school in mind but this one seems to be a little odd. What are your thoughts? Kindly, Alli

Please refer to the response of that quote you referred to. You are absolutely right about the differences. We experienced the exact same thing and the more ICU patients we had coming, the more I had to take the less acute patients in ICU and assign them to either myself or a fellow nurse here at the intermediate care unit. There came multiple times where I or another nurse were taking 2 admits at once (5 patients total) I struggled to fight against this as well as constantly showing administration the need for aids to help with showers, meals, bathroom assistance etc. You must understand that we were occasionally given 5 patients all of which were step-down status along with total cares. This was too much for the nurses as well as myself which on top of that, I was in charge of an entire unit. If this seems like something that still seems reasonable, safe, and do-able then I can't change your thought process but find a nurse that will stick around for longer than a year which wasn't the case for us and understably so.

Thank you RNperdiem for your post. I don't plan to leave my work for a while actually. When I precepted in the ICU, I did extremely well which is where I was given the role that I had. Research is really great but it's not anything compared to how successful and far more happier I was in ICU which is why I'm considering the job options after I've had about a year or so working at my current job. Thanks for the advice!

I completely agree and I am currently on the road to graduating with my Bachelor's. There's so many different views on whether or not an RN with their BSN is better than an RN with an associates. Regardless, more employers are requiring a BSN so that's what we should all be aiming for.

I'm almost certain that I would be absolutely honest with my potential employers about my work history and the reasons for quitting my first RN job in 6 months. It's in my best interest to have an employer who I can be completely transparent about and receive that vice versa. I'm assuming you've hidden things about your work history? "RED FLAG"

I understand wanting to get back to bedside nursing from research nursing, but ICU patients will NOT be easier than stepdown or intermediate care patients. If you felt overwhelmed by that type of patient, you need to tackle that, then ICU. You are absolutely wrong and I strongly disagree. I don't think you understand what it means to have close to a medsurg ratio with higher acuity patients, have total care, and take 2-4 hours of your shift devoted to charge nurse duties. I believe I was strong to let that go despite being given an opportunity in 1 year to move on to the ICU. I knew my limit and that was not having the ability to care for my patients in a safe matter. I apologize if I offended you but clearly you do not understand the circumstance nor will you ever have the chance to experience it. Thanks for offering such a pointless comment.

Hi fellow nurses, Do any of you have any tips on working in an ICU setting with not a lot of experience? Here's my story, I completed my preceptorship in the ICU and took a job offer as a charge nurse in an intermediate care unit. I had connections with the director of nursing and therefore started working there for 6 months. I quit for many reasons with one of them being too much to handle (4 patients total care with and additional patient every now and then along with being a charge nurse). It was in my best interest to leave before I would make a big mistake with one of my patients one day. I took a job as a research nurse and have been working there for 6 months but to my dissatisfaction, I think I miss the hospital setting and more so, taking care of critically ill patients. I consider myself an adrenaline junky where I strive in an intense and intellectually challenging environment. I understand that most people think it's better to gain at least 1 year of experience in the floors but I'm looking to pass that, and have a chance at an ICU setting. Overall, do you guys have any tips or know of any hospital where they would consider hiring an inexperienced nurse for their ICU? Fellowships would be ideal since I would get training. Learning on the job would be a challenge, but I'm positive I could still become a well rounded ICU nurse. I'm looking to find that career anywhere here in the U.S as I'm also looking to move out of state. Any tips fellow nurses?

Thank you LovelyRN757. That was very helpful! Again congrats to you!

I just applied to Simmons 2 weeks ago for the Sept '17 Cohort. Does anyone know how they notify you of acceptance? I'm definitely starting to hit that nervous stage where the longer it takes the more it makes me think I've been rejected. My application was strong and it's the very best I could have done. My references were pretty good too. Can anyone tell me how you knew you've been accepted and what the next steps were that you had to do? Congrats to all those who've been accepted. Cheers!!

Ruby, I was confused. I wasnt talking about you lol.

saveitICU Thanks for your comment. It was the most helpful out of everyone. I think I will end up doing that. I wanted to hear someone else's similar experience. :) For everyone else, no need to bicker or get in a frenzy about a simple question. If you have nothing helpful to say then just be quiet and look elsewhere. You should know better. I have done a lot of research over the past 3 years for this and I simply wanted to see someone else with similar experience. Be a professional about your communication or don't comment at all.

You must have misunderstood. I didnt say id be floating to icu I said id be trained there as in move to their icu permanently. I know tele isnt icu. I did most of my research. And I know you that those large teaching hospitals are usually the best option but I want to know if its possible and if I have some chance comong from an 8 bed icu. anyone coming from that particular background?

Hey guys! So I'm going to get offered a position in telemetry unit and be trained in January to their 8 bed ICU. Do you think I can get 2 years experience there to be at least ready to go to CRNA school and get accepted? What are the chances and what do you guys think about this overall. I know that there are alot of specialty ICU's and then some that aren't but are still bigger. Should I plan to transfer out to another big ICU in the future or can I have a chance at being accepted. I'm open to anywhere in the United States so that gives me more options. Let me know what you think!

awesome good work!!!!!! congrats newly Registered NURSE! ;DDD

did it too soon lol...