February 28, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I am an RN who has been out of clinical practice for nine and a half years. Do you recommend that I take a refresher nursing class and if so are there any in the New York City area? Thanks.
AC
Dear AC,
Welcome back! You will find nursing is quite different after all these years. The only place in New York that I know of that has a refresher is Adelphi University. This is a six week course, and Adelphi is in Garden City, New York (you can take the Long Island Railroad there). For more information, go to http://academics.adelphi.edu/nurs/conted.php
Good luck as you re-enter the workforce.
Nurse Nancy
February 25, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I am an Associate Degree RN. I completed my degree at age 30. Before this I worked in various offices. I worked for one year in ICU. From the ICU, I went to a pharmaceutical company as a consultant to do research work. Now, my position has been eliminated and my contract is being cut short. I really would like to stay in an office environment using my degree but I am not sure if I have enough clinical experience. Any advice?
EB
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Dear EB,
Anything is possible. Some jobs require experience, some a BSN…..you just have to see what you can find. Be sure to emphasize the skills you have acquired in your most recent job; be clear about what you have done and what it is you want to do.
In the meanwhile, I would consider going back to school and working on your BSN. Most companies require that as a minimum, so it will only open doors for you. Good luck!
Nurse Nancy February 24, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
When no insulin syringes are available, is it acceptable to substitute TB syringes? Obviously the units are different, but I have been told the diameter is the same. Thanks for your help.
LT
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Dear LT,
Given the opportunity to make a medication error, I would say that you need the right equipment for the right job. I think it is not good practice to substitute. If you look at the potential error you could make, it is not a good idea. Look at the Institute for Safe Medical Practice site to see all the errors that are made, and how we can avoid them.
You need the right tools for the right job. How much more important is this with medication errors?
Nurse Nancy February 23, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I will be graduating from nursing school in May and am interested in relocating. I have been reading that certain areas of the United States have a “critical nursing shortage”. Where would I find out where these areas are?
TH
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Dear TH,
You can look at the Department of Labor Statistics, but the shortage is just about everywhere. As a new graduate, you should look at orientation programs, what hospitals have to offer new grads, and what the support systems are. In general, the shortage is the worst in critical care, emergency departments, and the OR. Many of these specialties don’t hire new grads, so it may not affect you right now.
No matter where you go, hospitals will be hiring. And the shortage is predicted to only get worse, not better.
Nurse Nancy February 22, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I am about to become an RN graduate and going for my first interview in the nursing profession. Could you please give me a few pointers for my interview and what the hiring manager will be looking for? Thank you!
VM
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Dear VM,
Congratulations on finishing school and starting your career. The relationship you have with your manager will be an important one, and you are wise to think about it ahead of time. I would advise you to go with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Be prepared to discuss some of your clinical experiences, your favorite patient and your future plans as a nurse. You will want to ask the usual questions about staffing and ratios…but I would suggest you go prepared with questions to ask the manager related to the unit.
You know the other obvious interview etiquette – arrive on time, have an extra copy of your resume with you, look professional and send a thank you note after. While you are there, smile and try to relax! February 21, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I have been out of nursing for 12 years and want to get back into it. I worked in Singapore for over 8 years as an RN and as an orthopaedic RN. I got my RN training in Singapore.
I have been in the states since 1992 but have not pursued nursing. I live in North Carolina. Thank you.
TK
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Dear TK,
I would start with the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools; their web site is www.cgfns.org. This is the organization that can help you with your transcripts, applications, and so forth.
Good luck to you.
Nurse Nancy February 18, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I took the NCLEX last year but did not pass. I heard that they will expand the testing center for foreign nurses and one of the places is in London. Is this true, because I am planning to take the exam again?
NE
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Dear NE,
Yes, you are correct about the NCLEX exam being offered in London. It is also offered in Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea. This is from the National Council of States Boards of Nursing. To read more about this, and to find out the details of the exams, click on this link: http://www.ncsbn.org.
Good luck on you exam!
Nurse Nancy February 17, 2005
I am a new graduate. I have no experience in working in a hospital besides my clinical experience. I have been a full-time mom for the past 16 years. I am now a graduate of a BSN program and was wondering if you think I will have a hard time finding a job. My resume is not very long; will this have any reflection on me being hired as a new RN?
EP
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Dear EP,
Welcome to Nursing! New graduates need help and support; no one expects you to know everything right away. Being a full-time mom for 16 years brings all sorts of skills you probably take for granted – time management and multi-tasking to name two.
Find a hospital, or organization that has a strong orientation program. When you interview, ask if there are preceptors, how long the orientation program is, and how you will be evaluated. Ask to speak to the instructors with whom you will be working. Please believe me when I tell you your age or newness will not surprise them; new graduates have a variety of looks!
Good luck to you. Find that right job for you, and enjoy your career.
February 16, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I recently had an ACL reconstruction on my left knee. While a patient, a nurse who graduated one semester after I did came in my room in the middle of the night to see if it was me. We are not friends directly, but she is friends with someone that I know. About four weeks later I called my friend to tell her that I had surgery and she already knew, because of that nurse. I feel like my privacy was invaded. If I had been in there for a discrete operation I still think this nurse would have told. What about the HIPPA law? I was not her patient at all, she had no business telling anyone that I was there or what kind of operation that I had. I'm seriously thinking about reporting her. Don't hospitals get sued that way?
BB
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Dear BB,
I agree you have a right to be upset; you have a right to your privacy, and this nurse should not have done what she did. The HIPPA laws are there to protect your privacy, and yes, hospitals can and are being sued.
I would suggest you contact this nurse and tell her how you feel. I wonder if she was just being curios, and not trying to invade your privacy. She needs to know that while she probably did not intend to upset you that she indeed did. I would take the direct approach so that she won’t do this again.
Nurse Nancy February 9, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I was recently falsely accused of telling a patient that I was hanging peanut butter in her IV, and that I made a gagging gesture by putting my finger down my throat. This is not true, but the patient told her doctor, who told my supervisor, and I got a verbal warning in my file for this. I have been nursing for 30 years, and I would never do this. What can I do?
MJ
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Dear MJ,
This is so ridiculous that I don’t know what to say! Surely you did not put peanut butter in anyone’s IV, and I am sorry that it got so out of hand and twisted. Ask your Human Resources Department at what point it can be removed; most organizations have a policy that simple verbal or first time warnings are removed in a specific amount of time.
And allow me to say shame on your supervisor for making such a big deal out of a silly allegation!
Nurse Nancy February 8, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I work in Staff Development, and our orientation program is comprehensive. We have been doing it in 6 days, and now I am being told that we have to cut it back to 5. This is almost impossible! There is so much to cover – how can we be expected to give our new hires a quality orientation when we have to cut things back? Help!
KS
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Dear KS,
This is a very familiar story to so many of us – having to do more with less. In this case, the less is time, a valuable commodity. I would suggest that you look at what is in your orientation that new hires HAVE to know, versus what it is they could learn later or in a different format.
For example, topics that are given one hour can be shortened to half an hour. Give your new nurses handouts that contain the same information and ask them to read it outside of the classroom. In my own case, that is what I have done. I used to have 2 hours to cover Pain Management, and now I have 45 minutes in our orientation. I give the new hires handouts that cover what I used to discuss, and spend the 45 minutes on topics that are critical to pain management.
Nurse Nancy
February 7, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
Our hospital recently closed OB services at one facility. Administration has decided that if a woman comes in >20 weeks pregnant, she will be seen by an on call nurse from our second facility, or a nurse who lives within 10 minutes of our facility. Our ED physicians have adamantly refused to see these patients, due to high risk involving OB patients.
We have not been trained to intercede in deliveries, and are most uncomfortable about this. We have voiced our concerns on multiple occasions. We are left monitoring the patients until the qualified Nurse Practitioner comes to see them. Any advice for us?
JL
Dear JL,
I would encourage you to put your concerns in writing. Be factual and respectful, avoid being too emotional or threatening. You are correct in being concerned about patient safety. Ask for a meeting (in the letter) with your administration and risk manager. If you are able to show them how often this happens, I think you may have a case. If your physician colleagues refuse to see these patients, your organization needs to reevaluate who is seeing them.
Your emphasis must be on patient safety, and with all of the emphasis on patient safety goals from the Joint Commission, I think you should be able to convince your administrator. Good luck.
Nurse Nancy February 3, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I have concerns about all the time spent on paperwork in my job. We have to do chart audits (10 a shift and then email our peers with our corrections) and have been told if we choose not to do this it would go against us on our yearly evaluations. This has affected the morale of the unit, and many of my coworkers are looking for a new job. I don’t want to quit – do you have any ideas?
GV
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Dear GV,
I have concerns about all the time spent on paperwork in my job. We have to do chart audits (10 a shift and then email our peers with our corrections) and have been told if we choose not to do this it would go against us on our yearly evaluations. This has affected the morale of the unit, and many of my coworkers are looking for a new job. I don’t want to quit – do you have any ideas?
Nurse Nancy February 2, 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I am an associate degree RN and have been in nursing since 1979. I would like to know what I can do in nursing that is less physical. I thought of home health….what do you think? Thank you.
LD
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Dear LD,
You certainly bring lots of experience to a new position. I think if you want to do home health you should certainly look into it. Some agencies require a BSN, but since you have so much experience, you may be seen as very marketable. Be sure to update your resume and give yourself credit for your 20+ years of professional practice. Good luck!
Nurse Nancy February 1 , 2005
Dear Nurse Nancy,
I am an RN – ADN. I would like to get certified in Psychiatric Nursing. Could you give me some tips on where to go and how to accomplish this goal? I work 11-7 PM shift and would like to do it on line if possible. Thanks.
WV
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Dear WV,
Well, the good news is that there is an exam for Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing for those RNs who have an associate’s degree. Not all of the specialties have them; some require a BSN. You will have to meet all of the requirements in order to take the exam; some can be done online, some you have to take in a centralized facility. The requirements are as follows:
- Current active RN license in the United States
- Practiced the equivalent of 2 years full time as an RN
- 2000 hours in clinical practice of the specialty within the last 3 years.
- 30 contact hours within the last 3 years.
Certification is an important professional milestone; I encourage you to do this. You can get an application and more information from the American Nurses Credentialing Center – the website is www.nursingworld.org. Good luck!
Nurse Nancy |
