Happy New Year!

We started the New Year with some bruises but we are slowly getting back to normal. If you haven't been to the site lately please visit as things have changed.

What's New?

A Fresh New Look; A Faster Loading Site; New Forums; Bookmarks (a replacement for subscriptions); Account Dashboard; Profile/Blog; Break Room, and so much more.

Brian Short RN (founder of allnurses.com)

• Nurse Practitioner - Indian Health Service - Kayenta Service Unit, AZ
• Nurse Practitioner - Indian Health Service - Tuba City Indian Medical Center, AZ
• Registered Nurse - Operating Room (OR-Surgery) - Dallas, TX
• RN Clinical Facilitor - Menomonee Falls, WI
• RN - PACU - Menomonee Falls, WI

Note: Job Search services membership requires it's own log-in information. Membership is not required to view job listings.

Dec 28 - Jan 3 Hottest Topics

2011 4th Quarter Contest Winners

The allnurses.com members cast their votes, commented, Liked, the allnurses.com staff provided feedback and the winners are....

allnurses.com

1. Thanks for Nothing by Ashley, PICU RN
2. Constant Change in Nursing: A Self Reflection by JoAnnaSkewlRN
3. Thank you for being my nurse. by KYAPRN

allnurses-BreakRoom.com

1. A Proper Place for Everything by Liddle Noodnik
2. Kung Fu Christmas Tree by Flare
3. A pain in the foot - The Christmas Tradition by jaelpn

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest and shared their articles!

To break the contract or not....that is the question

Funny how six months can change your whole life. When I graduated in May this past year (2011), I thought all my dreams had came true. A 21 year old (now 22) single mother getting my BSN was just unbelieveable to me and also the fact that I had job offers lined up left and right.

I chose a large magnet hospital despite the fact that it was the only one to require a contract (18 months). Now six months later I'm tired of the hour long commute and understand now that 12 hours shifts can turn into 13 and 14 hour shifs in a heartbeat.

To List a Master's or Not To List? That Is The Question

I have a BA & MA in Liberal Arts (not remotely science related), just earned an AAS Nursing Dec 2011, hoping to take NCLEX in Feb/March 2012. Obviously, this is a second (third?) career.

Question: Do I list the MA on my resume or job applications?

Nursing bag for hospice RN?

I have been a hospice RN for about 3 months now, and am working on improving a few things. One of the main things I want to improve is the way I carry all of my paperwork and equipment. Working out in the field is completely new to me. As of now, I have an oversized tote with two separate sides, one for paperwork and one for my stethoscope, BP cuff, pulse oximeter, thermometer, etc. As my caseload grows, it's becoming a hassle to carry this bag around all the time. I know I also need something with three compartments to be compliant with state requirements. Ideally, I also want it to be something that looks nice, as we wear business casual as our work attire.

Multiple Blockages, U.S. Heart Attack Care Ups Readmissions

Patients treated for heart attacks in the United States have shorter initial hospital stays but significantly higher rates of 30-day readmission compared with patients in other countries, according to a study published in the Jan. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Advance Practice Nurses and Pain Management

This question is concerning APRN's who work in/with Pain Management. In Georgia (as I suspect other states) APRN's can write schedule three - five, but not schedule two. Only MD's & DO's can write schedule two in Georgia. I realize that some viable pain drugs are available in these schedules, but the big guns are in schedule two. This being the case, how do APRN's function in a pain management capacity?

Importance of floor nursing experience for PMHNP

I am in a direct entry MSN progam for PMHNP, about to sit for the NCLEX. My previous experience was as a psychiatric social worker for the previous 10 years. My question is, once I pass the NCLEX, should I try to work as a floor nurse during my last 2 years of the graduate work? If so, what area of nursing should I try to get a job in? To me, (I may be completely wrong), as a PMHNP, I'm not sure I would ever use the skills again if I say worked on med/surg floor for the couple of years prior to graduation. I do however want to be the best PMHNP I can be, and marketable when I graduate. If it's better to have a couple of years under my belt by the time I graduate, I want it to be in the right area.

Need help helping an unconfident nurse

I have a colleague, however, who can't really seem to stop asking for help for simple things. She's been working for about the same amount of time as me (roughly 1.5 years) yet she still asks for help on things like simple dressings, PCAs, or PICCs (all of which are common on our floor). I've helped her numerous times and each time, it's like she feels content to allow me to show her what to do. I say, no, you have to do it yourself and I'll watch and help if you get stuck. I show her, get her to demonstrate skills back to me, etc., but I feel like a week or two later, she's asking me about the same things! I'll tell her, "You can do it yourself. I've seen you do it" and she answers "If I make a mistake, it's my license" or "Every time I do it, bad things happen."