Learning

So, this past week I had a student. I love students, they make me slow down and think. As a nurse practicing for way too many years I find myself just going about my day, doing what I need to do for my patients. It's nice to be questioned (by someone other than they families of my patients) about what I am doing and why. I had a male student, it's his second career, he was in business. Quite a change! It's nice to see more men in the field, they bring another perspective. Plus, sometimes, when you work night shift and you have a confused patient, they will think the male nurse is a doctor and they will do whatever they say, like staying in bed...but, of course, I would never use this technique, I have only heard that it works.(lol)
I also signed up to renew my ACLS and BLS. Here's my advice on that subject...get American Heart and stay with it. Don't go for the online things unless you test online and do the skills check in person. Lots of places and people will tell you that they are all created equal...which maybe true, but, you cannot argue that fact with a hospital that won't give you a job because your ACLS came from some different company. I have had travel companies refuse to submit me for a tele job because my ACLS was not American Heart. A lot of hospitals trying to get their Magnet status will only accept American Heart as well. It's just not worth the aggravation.
And, since I mentioned it, what about Magnet Status? What are your thoughts? I have worked in both, I don't see a lot of difference in the actual day to day nursing. It's a great theory and all, but I don't see it.
Lastly, I have to talk about travel and registry nursing. Not as a new grad, maybe if you are and LPN turning RN and have had a lot of experience, otherwise I wouldn't suggest traveling for 2-3 years. You really don't get into your groove until then, and you haven't experienced enough general nursing stuff. But, after that, why would you pick up and move across the country , to somewhere you have never been, on the word of a potential employer? What a gamble!!! Their job is to get you hired, and if they pay for your relocation, then you owe them a year or so of service. Why not do a travel assignment to the city you are thinking of moving to? Feel it out, maybe do one day a week of some registry to see the other hospitals, maybe they are better, before you commit. I just don't understand it. I have a few friends that have done it, moved across the country to somewhere close to family or just somewhere they had vacationed and loved. I have one friend who has done it twice, even after I encouraged her to try travel and gave her names of companies and recruiters. Both times she has regretted her move, sad really, to waste all that time and energy just to be disappointed and unhappy. So, travel is the way to go...finding the right company is a whole other day.....Thanks for listening. Remember first do no harm.