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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
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