July 30, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

Hello and thank you for spending time with my questions. I am a diploma grad with 20 years of ER nursing .Presently, I live in a rural community where nursing jobs are not plentiful. I'm eight months out recovering from shoulder replacement surgery .I'm worried because of my physical limitations that I won’t be able to get back to clinical work. Money is soon becoming an issue. I am grateful for any advice. Thank you.

HG

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Dear HG,

Well, you have some challenges ahead of you. If your physician clears you to go back to work, then you will likely need to do something less physically intensive than the ER. I would suggest that you go speak to your nurse recruiter and ask him/her what positions might be available that would be less physical (not many these days). Perhaps there is something in pediatrics, or supervision might be easier.

Good luck.

Nurse Nancy

July 29, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

I am an LPN considering returning to school for my RN. I have been in long-term care for almost 20 years, and I have to say I have seen a lot of changes for the good and the bad. I have a question for you; maybe you can help. I work at a long-care term facility now and I have been there three years. I have seen a change in nursing management that is bothering me and other nurses, in that they do not help us. Is this our nursing future? Thanks.

DP

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Dear DP,

I hope you will become an RN, as we need you, and we need good RNs in long-term care also. As for nursing managers – they are under so many pressures also that I wonder if they have time to help. I know we are all busy, and I wonder if you have had a chance to address these issues with your supervisor.

If it is your perception, then it is a valid one. Give your supervisor a chance to speak to the issue. If you say nothing, nothing will change.

Good luck.

Nurse Nancy

July 27, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

Can you send me literature on how to do epidurals. I recently got certified and need some advice on how to do the epidural on a patient. The in-service was less than adequate. Please can I obtain a video on how to do this procedure. I learn most by seeing.

CP

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Dear CP,

I am assuming you are an advanced practice nurse of some kind, with the professional authority to insert epidurals. I did find one resource for you, but of course I can not address the quality of the video. Here is the link to a video from the United Kingdom:http://anatome.ncl.ac.uk/tutorials/clinical/epidural/text/

Other resources for you might be the American Association of Pain Management Nurses (www.aspmn.org) or the American Academy of Nurse Anesthetists (www.aana.com) Perhaps a personal email to either of these groups might help. Good luck.

Nurse Nancy

July 26, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

I am a 57-year-old nurse. I am a diploma RN with 35 years of experience (20 full-time years) in medicine oncology and mostly recently rehab (neuro nursing). I also have a BS in psychology. Quite frankly, I am tired of working double shifts, off shifts, and every other holiday and weekend as a hospital nurse. Working as a preceptor, I find I love to teach. Also, I am concerned about the nursing shortage, with not enough instructors to handle all the students desiring to go into nursing. Can you tell me what further education would be necessary in order to teach? What would you recommend?

JW

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Dear JW,

Yes, you certainly have a wealth of experience to share with new nurses, and there is a severe shortage of nursing faculty along with the nursing shortage.

I can think of two paths (there are likely more). The first is if you want to teach in a nursing school. Since you have a BS already, I would look for a program that bridges that degree to a BSN program (even to teach in a laboratory situation, a BSN would be minimal). Hopefully those credits are still viable, and you can use them. Look into RN-to-BSN programs also.

Facing a chemistry lab may not be what you want to do at this point in your career. If you want to teach in an LPN program or a nursing assistant program, I think you might be able to do that without a BSN, given your experience.

Either way, you have a lot to share and we need you. Good luck!

Nurse Nancy

July 15, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

Are there any career opportunities in nursing that can be done online from home? I would love to work from home. Thanks for your help.

AGM

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Dear AGM,

This is probably the No. 1 question I am asked from nurses. They do exist, but I think you need to look for them. Some case management positions look for nurses to work with insurance companies from home. Many nurses review medical records for attorneys at home.

It takes an entrepreneurial spirit to find these positions. And be careful – if it looks too good, it likely is not. And be prepared to work episodically, as not too many of these jobs are full time. I suspect this will change over time, though. More and more companies are moving toward this method of working, so perhaps select parts of health care will also. Good luck!

Nurse Nancy

July 14, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

I am an ICU clinical nurse II and have been an RN for 4.5 years. I am applying for an Administrative Nurse III position in a family health clinic. I don’t have previous management experience. I am going to finish my BSN in August ‘04. Please advise me on how to get through the interview and get this job. Thank you
very much.

LD

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Dear LD,

I would suggest that you practice and role play the interview with someone who is knowledgeable about the process. Emphasize your accomplishments and what you can bring to the position. Don’t spend too much time telling them what you don’t know.

Go prepared with questions to ask in the interview; it is important to have a few to show that you are really thoughtful about this position. Dress appropriately, be on time, and follow up the interview with a thank you note.

I bet you will do fine. Good luck!

Nurse Nancy

July 13, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

I am currently a teacher. I have a bachelor's degree in education. I have checked into my local college's ADN program. My question is, what is the difference in salary for a BSN and an ADN? Can an ADN do all that a BSN can? Can I do
agency work?

LP

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Dear LP,

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, I would encourage you to find a school that will take those credits and allow you to bridge the work you have done already. You will likely have to take more science courses, but if you can find a school where you can use your other credits toward the BSN, I would do it.

There is not a big difference — if at all — in the salary structure of an associate’s and BSN nurse. The BSN just opens doors down the road for you.

Welcome to nursing.

Nurse Nancy

July 12, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

Please help me find the e-mail address of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. I have searched computers and the library, but to no avail. I am working with a plastic surgeon who wants to know if there is an organization/association for nurses. Thanks.

CN

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Dear CN,

You are in luck! There is indeed an organization for nurses who work with plastics and reconstructive surgery. It is the American Society of Plastic Surgical Nurses, a group of 1,700 nurses. The website is www.aspsn.org.

Good for your physician colleague for encouraging your professional involvement. Sounds like a great working environment.

Nurse Nancy

July 8, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

How does an ADN who has no opportunity to go back to school (financially) advance? After more than 20 years of “floor nursing,” I’m ready for a desk job but “don't qualify” because there is no “BSN” behind my name.

JM

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Dear JM,

There are so many ways to get a BSN these days. You can do it online or look into programs that fast track ADNs into BSN programs. As for the finances, many hospitals have tuition reimbursement and if you take one or two courses at a time you will slowly get there.

We have a list of every school of nursing on our site. Click here to find a program that might fit your needs.

Nurse Nancy

July 7, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

Hello! I wanted to know what kinds of careers are available for nurses (BSN) with master’s in public health degrees. I am interested in addressing issues for the public to help ensure better health for the whole.

I would also like to get into teaching sometime — what would be the qualifications for a nursing instructor? Would it behoove me to go for an MSN instead of an MPH? How many years of experience are required? I would love to have the opportunity to teach (student nurses are an exciting, diligent batch of people!).

TT

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Dear TT,

Your enthusiasm comes out loud and clear in your questions! I think if you plan on making education a career, you should go for an MSN in a program that will allow you to have some experience in teaching. Many schools of nursing require a doctorate to teach, but if you want to do clinical teaching, you can generally do that with a master’s degree.

There is a tremendous shortage of nursing faculty, so this would be a great thing for you to have. Good luck!

Nurse Nancy

July 6, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

I've been in Nursing since 1985, started as an LVN, and because I needed to provide for my children on a short notice (divorce) I took the 30 unit option for my RN. I've been an RN since 1992 and would like to relocate to Arizona. Do you know if they will endorse my RN from here in California?

CG

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Dear CG,

Good news – you can get endorsed by the Arizona Board of Nursing, and you can do some of it online. They will likely need documents from you, but you can start here. Click here:

http://www.azboardofnursing.org/application_info.asp

Good luck with your career in Arizona.

Nurse Nancy

July 2, 2004

Dear Nurse Nancy,

I am a registered nurse; I have worked in the school system for 10 years. My children are older now, and I am looking to take a refresher course in order to work in the hospital. I have found a hospital an hour away from my home that is willing to pay for the refresher course if I sign up to work at that hospital. I was wondering if there is a hospital that’s closer. I live in Bergen County, N.J. and I am 20 minutes away from New York City.

KM

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Dear KM,

Welcome back to nursing – we need you! According to the New Jersey Health Association (www.njha.com), there are eight schools that offer refresher courses in nursing, including Bergen Community College. They might be able to tell you of hospitals which have linkages to their programs. Take a look at that website and see if any of those work for you. Good luck.

Nurse Nancy