Forensic Psychiatric Nursing: A Unique APRN Opportunity

After thirty years psychiatric nursing experience in various roles, locum tenens is perfect for me. When I want to work, I sign up with a few agencies, tell them my availability and hope something will come through. This time I can only work in 2 month blocks- a normal assignment is three months so I was not sure anyone would take me for only two months. Luckily my recruiter found me a spot. 

"The position is in corrections." She said. My husband was immediately worried about my safety. I had my interview and I found out the facility was a forensic hospital, not a correctional setting and that I would have inpatient responsibilities. I have many years of inpatient experience working as a staff nurse and a manager. This will be my first inpatient experience as a provider.  Read More

Ethical advice needed for a new grad...

What would YOU do? Say, hypothetically, that you are a new graduate RN at your first job. During morning med pass at a SNF, you witness another RN entering incorrect times for med administration on multiple patients in order to seem like everyone received their medication within the designated time frame. When you asked this nurse about the times, she states that she "guesses every nurse has to make a judgement call on how to chart." Would you take it further? Would you ignore it? Read More

How to Choose a Good Stethoscope

How did you choose your stethoscope? Was it the color? The metal choice? Or the brand? Read More

AANA urges Medicare to consider hospital anesthesiology efficiency measures

The AANA has recommended that Medicare consider the costs of various anesthesia delivery models and of hospital anesthesia subsidies per anesthetizing location as part of quality measures intended to capture the efficiency of hospital anesthesia services.

The June 21 letter, signed by President Janice Izlar, CRNA, DNAP, stated, "The Agency may want to consider the costs of meeting the seven medical direction steps as part of the anesthesiology spending and cost-efficiency measure. Under the medical direction practice model, the medical directing anesthesiologist must complete seven steps in order to bill for this modality. The Agency has clearly stated that medical direction is a condition for payment for anesthesiologist services and not a quality standard." Read More

NP vs PA vs CNS

I am considering going for further education. I am an RN w/ a bachelor's degree (non-nursing) and a AA in nursing. I have 6 years experience, 3 years in cardiac acute care. I would like information on differences between these degrees and which might be a better fit. I'm married and have a 3 year old daughter. I can't really afford to work only part-time. I have interest in the CNS degree, but was wondering what the job prospects are. I am also wondering what being a PA would be like. I'm not sure I can handle 4 years of NP school (financially more than anything). Any advice would be appreciated. Read More

Higher Paid Nursing Jobs

I was looking for some advice based on your experiences with higher paid nursing jobs. I am currently working as a staff RN in an intensive care unit at a major trauma center in the southeast. I have been a nurse for 4 years. At the current time, I am making $23.00/hr (12 hours shifts/3 days a week). I am interested to hear about other options in nursing that will allow me to have higher pay (excluding travel nursing and/or going back to school for MSN). What jobs pay better than others? Read More

Negative Self Talk

Nurses get stressed. There's many reasons why, and is an independent feeling. In other words, what stresses one nurse out, may not stress another and vice versa. Chronic stress is not good for the soul. It can impede on your personal life to the point where nothing is fun anymore, and sleeping is a viable option to spend the day. When stress occurs with some frequency, a number of nurses begin the cycle of negative self talk, which then becomes engrained. Our job is not all glitter and rainbows. If you don't know that going in, then it is realized pretty quickly upon arrival. But how we see ourselves, and how we react to others can go a long way to effectively managing stress both in and out of our work lives. Read More...

Adult vs. Family Practitioner

As I research and browse the programs NP and the internet for job availability. I am really needing some advice on becoming an Adult vs. a Family NP. I realize Adult NP can care for children to the age of 13, however my dilemma is...I do not want to limit myself on finding a position because I went the Adult NP route. Advice please? Read More

New laws requiring LPNs and RNs to become BSN by 2016

I'm an LPN (since 1993), and have recently learned that LPNs and 3-year/or diploma RNs are required to become BSNs before 2016 in order to keep their jobs. The change is apparently due to the new medicare laws and 'Obamacare'. Does anyone know if this is true?  Read More!

Back In The Saddle Again

With apologies for the Old West metaphors.....I am, indeed, back in the saddle again as a floor nurse. And as sore as my old bones are from the unaccustomed exertions of this past week, it's a good kind of tired that reminds me of what it was like to be a nurse.

As expected, it hasn't taken me long to recall how I used to manage my shift, or to take the first steps in re-establishing myself with the aides and other nurses. Many of the staff are friends from the last time I worked here, so I'm a known quantity, which makes it much easier to transition back into this role despite the upheavals I've been through since I last called this facility my home-away-from-home. Read More

What are tasks that nurses can do with or with out a doctors order?

Out of all the tasks that nurses do inserting catheters, giving enemas, inserting IV, drawing blood, intramuscular injections, passing medication, and so on and many more. What are nurses allowed to do with a doctors order and what are nurses allowed to do without a doctors order? Can someone give me a list? Read More

Concealed Firearms on the job

I work in a hospital. Another coworker told me that he CC's a revolver and while on the floor keeps it in his locker, safety on. Now most hospitals have a no gun policy and ours is no different. He was threatened at his car and robbed at knifepoint so I can partly understand him owning a gun. I have several as well as a permit. But I can't bring myself to taking it inside the job. Mine is in my vehicle, unloaded while on duty (safety on). 

I've known a couple of others that have considered this. Getting off after dark and having to travel through a seedy area of town, I'm ok with my method. I see no reason to go into the locker. Your thoughts? Read More