Ruby Said:

What Lab Values to Study for working in a Nursing Home?

We Answered:

There are many lab handbooks out there at the bookstores. Generally all abnormal labs are flagged on the report itself. Your facility should have a policy & procedure manual about what to do with abnormals. Most responses involve calling the MD as most will require a order to hold, change medications before you can do an intervention (ie coumadin-hold; give vit K). Write down the common labs you do at the facility & then check them out in a lab handbook. I wouldn't try to get all of them to start-and some are rare or don't require acute intervention anyway. Most important ones are the electrolytes, PT/PTT, cardiac enzymes, blood gases if you do them.

Cheryl Said:

Lab Values to Study for working in a Nursing Home?

We Answered:

Sam, the blanket answer to your question about any abnormal lab value, is call the doctor. Always, cover yourself, and report any abnormal value to the doctor, and to the shift you report off to. As for abnormal or normal lab values, you can google a multitude of sites that will tell you that. In geriatrics you will be looking for the most part at cbc, chem panels and clotting factors such as pt ptt etc. You will also want to be aware of urine testing and possible problems that reveal themselves there.
As to staffing ratios, 23 is not a large load for one nurse, as long as she has a good staff of trained CNAs. For the most part, you will be giving meds and doing minor treatments, and charting. Once you get into a routine, it will be easy. CNAs get vital signs, chart intake and output and track bowel movements, they also take care of hygiene and dietary needs. No, 23 is not too large a load in a nursing home setting.
Your confidence will grow as you become accustomed to the work.

Enrique Said:

i would like to take a home study course in rn nursing will you help me?

We Answered:

i think you should not take nursing as a home study or even online....... nursing programs offer more interaction with other nursing students (good for study groups) and hospitial clinicals so that you can learn under someone how to do things acurately... you could get a CNA, a LPN, a RN or a BSN... a BSN will make you the most money but a CNA (certified nursing assistant) is the quickest to get.... RN's make close to what those with BSN's do because they do the SAME thing and work in the same places..

Kyle Said:

. i just finish my CNA and working in a nursing home pl advice if there is any short time good courses for me?

We Answered:

The next step is Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for nursing or you can go for medical assistant training. Neither one of them are "short" courses though.

Mathew Said:

need to find vetinary nursing home study course?

We Answered:

English, Biology and Physics is a must for becoming anything to do with Veterinary nursing. Ring the various Universities and ask for a prospectus and ask if they do a home study course. You could of course try the OU as they can teach you anything if you have a mind and qualifications to start.

Kristina Said:

I want to study nursing but dont know which one i should do. I dont want to work in a nursing home.?

We Answered:

In the US the educational preparation required to be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is 4 years of college for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, 1-2 years of critical care nursing experience and the 28 months of graduate school for a Master of Science in Nursing. The competition for admission for both the BSN and MSN Anesthesia programs is intense, so this is probably not a great place to start if you want to start a job quickly.

One of the issues in the field of nursing, is it is difficult for people to understand the variety of occupations which fall under the umbrella description often used for nurse.

Some include nursing assistants which can take as little as three weeks training.

Some include the LVN/LPN which usually requires less than an associate degree.

The there are RNs which there are three levels of entry

Associate degree- used to take 2 years, but most schools require all prerequisites be complete prior to application so they can compare college level grades among applicants. This is usually a 3 year process.

Diploma - a hospital-based program which usually takes 3 years after the prerequisites have been met.

BSN - a 4 year program taught at colleges and universities (may take 5 years for some)

After becoming an RN there are several nurses who are in advanced practice. They all have a master degree from a graduate school usually requiring 20-28 months.

Some nurses go on to get doctoral degrees, which can take 3-5 years after the master degree.

There are many fields in nursing which are made up of the nurses listed above. Only a small percentage are employed by long term nursing facilities.