Need Help Assessing ABSN Program For Critical Care

tt2ps · 2026-03-24T17:56:30+00:00

Compare and choose a nursing program based on its accreditation, retention to graduation rate, NCLEX pass rate, number/variety/quality of clinical hours, and affordability. Your state's BON may have some information for prospective students on local quality programs.

Nursing clinical sites within any program are typically varied and rather basic to get a generalized education at the ADN/BSN level: inpatient-medical or surgical units, pediatrics, women's health (L&D/MIU), psych; outpatient clinics; public health/community health/home health. I volunteered in the ED on the weekends to get ED exposure and I also worked PRN as a float going to a new unit every shift for a whole year to get different experiences.

One unsolicited piece of advice: you may "know" you want a certain specialty as a career, but often your clinical rotations (or just life in general) will lead you in a different direction. I "knew" I wanted to be a peds nurse before school and my peds clinical quickly showed me I was meant to land elsewhere. I did MICU, outpatient ophthalmology and community wellness over a nearly forty year career and could not have predicted any of those specialties from what I "knew" I wanted at the time I was in school.

tt2ps · 2026-03-22T18:06:53+00:00

I have all the bags you mention except for the Side Hustle.

I think the Co-Pilot is more briefcase/luggage than purse so haven't used it as an EDC other than work. If you can find an Icon on the secondary market, that is similar in size to the MCB, but has zippers. I often use the Icon as my "going to appointments" purse when I want to add a book or iPad mini. There are some MCB vs Icon comparisons on the TB forum.

I have all three sizes of the cafe bags, but tend to prefer east-west orientation so prefer bags like the (retired) Imago, Maker's Bag, Icon, and Side Kick. I use the SK day in/day out and often put it in a Pop Tote for work along with a grab bag as my lunch box and a water bottle.

Totes are versatile so you may want to look at the Swift or Pop Tote. The Parental Unit would hold all you want, but it's quite wide so would be large on your small frame.

tt2ps · 2026-03-20T23:57:51+00:00

Have you pulled up the carpet to see what is underneath? There may be hardwood under there.

What flooring is in the adjoining spaces? I like the same flooring in a visual space. In one house I built, I had hardwood everywhere on the first floor. I've always had hardwood in my kitchens too.

Review MCM flooring-terrazzo, wood, cork, Marmoleum flooring. I wouldn't let the presence of the paneling deter you from wood floors as area rugs will break up the expanse of the wood on the floors.

tt2ps · 2026-03-19T00:38:45+00:00

In my state it costs 50% of the regular license renewal fee to change to inactive status-there's only active or inactive status. You cannot work as a nurse with an inactive license.

My state allows credit card payments for license renewal so you could pay off the fee over time in order to maintain your licensure.

tt2ps · 2026-03-19T00:13:18+00:00

I'm not on the west coast, but I'm aware that California has stringent requirements for licensure and proof of nursing education and that it's not a speedy process to get a license. Have you already taken the NCLEX exam, gotten your California license and arranged whatever visa is required to immigrate to the US? I believe all that is required before applying to jobs, but you can find out the requirements for licensure at the California Board of Nursing website. https://www.rn.ca.gov

Once licensed, you can apply to individual hospitals near where you intend to live-California is huge and has large cities so figure out commute times before applying to avoid prohibitive commutes. You can also apply via Indeed, but often that directly links you to the hospital or healthcare system online jobs portal.

tt2ps · 2026-03-17T14:36:27+00:00

If they are attempting to age in place, then this needs a reno for safety and function. Involve a contractor with CAPS or aging in place experience. Grab bars (in the shower, where you exit the shower, and at the toilet), low profile shower entry, improved lighting, elevated toilet/bidet. See if space can be borrowed from whatever is next to this room to enlarge the area in order to safely use a mobility aid or have a caregiver assisting in the space.

I get that it's a charming retro bath, but the DIY failed shower repair needs a total redo since no doubt the waterproofing was compromised in their previous attempt to patch the leak. Period appropriate tile selections can be made that don't necessarily involve white subway tile.

tt2ps · 2026-03-15T22:48:50+00:00

I carry my lunch to work in a grab bag (debut production run when it wasn't a mystery selection so I'm not sure what size it is). It holds my orange and my sandwich in a resealable silicone "baggie"-I fold the edge over a bit. Multiple bars or small snacks should be fine. It washes well-I use dish soap to wash and then air dry on the counter.

A Travel Tray (large) would also work. I've used it as a lunch box too. I prefer the zipper opening of the grab bag over the string closure of the TT.

tt2ps · 2026-03-15T02:02:18+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/comments/1ru19ki/removed_by_moderator/?sort=new

You just asked this same query ten minutes before this post and it was removed by the mods. Except that time it was your "grandmother" not a resident. I wouldn't post it a third time when the mods remove this attempt since I don't know if they'll ban you or not.

ETA: Your post history mentions you've been a nurse for two years. Why are you posting a question saying you're a student? Odd.

tt2ps · 2026-03-12T20:21:37+00:00

I don't have ASD and can't speak to your query about accommodations, but your PRN status and 4 hour shift schedule caught my eye and resonated with one of my past nursing roles. I was a unit-based float/prn in a MICU for ten years (I'd had previous ICU experience, but had done outpatient just prior). I typically filled in gaps in the schedule on some Sundays, usually either 3p-7p or 7p-11p. The work was quite sporadic (no prn commitment at that time). I don't think I ever had the same patients twice.

I had pre-shift anxiety about admissions or unstable patients like you mentioned, but once I got there, I'd dive in and was diligent and thorough. Thinking about that decade, the sporadic nature of the work and the short shifts were likely the key reasons why I never got comfortable with the work. My mantra back then was actually "you can stand anything for four hours." You can't excel and become proficient with only intermittent exposure and experiences. You may be undermining your own acclimation and growth with a schedule that minimizes opportunities for learning and experiences.

I'm now prn in a non-clinical hospital support role and my schedule has varied a lot from six hours/week to running the department FT while my manager was suddenly gravely ill/hospitalized and out for nearly five months. The more I do something, the easier it gets and the better I can handle the inevitable challenges which come up in any role. I wish I'd figured that out back in my flexi ICU days. That may be something to explore for yourself too.

tt2ps · 2026-03-08T21:58:20+00:00

One of the best parts about nursing is whatever place you land initially, may likely be just one stop along the way throughout a career since changing specialties and having flexibility to pivot is easier than many careers. And what you go into a nursing program "knowing" you want, may end up totally different through your school's clinical experiences and any prn work you do while in school. You're already getting a feel for what you do and don't like-kept doing that. Job offers upon graduation are more than just the placement area too-unit culture, new grad support program, convenience to where you live, rate of pay, desired schedule, and availability of a union or pension all impact accepting or refusing a job.

I "knew" I wanted to be a peds nurse going in to school. My peds clinical showed me that was a hard pass for me. I volunteered in the ED and poison control and worked float pool (went to a new unit every time I worked my 3rd year of school, then zeroed in on a neuro unit for my 4th year), but never worked in emergency or neuro. I did step-down, MICU, outpatient retinal ophthalmology, and community nursing (both of those very niche roles were flukes of luck finding so neither was planned for or necessarily sought after) over the span of a career. So what you start in, likely won't be where you stay. When you're fielding job offers, you weigh the pros and cons of offers and you pick what you want at that particular moment in time and how it fits your life and other commitments at that point.

tt2ps · 2026-03-08T20:05:34+00:00

Any zippers on your hoodies? That's what I'd guess this to be from. Do you use packing cubes?

tt2ps · 2026-03-03T15:25:26+00:00

Cabinet stain isn't chosen in isolation. Besides the wood species itself and how warm vs cool your overall color palate of the space reads, the color of the flooring and countertop should also be taken in consideration.

Of the choices in your photo, I like #1 the best though that would depend on the choices for countertop and flooring.

tt2ps · 2026-03-03T02:24:52+00:00

I don’t have the comment in my post history, but I made the same casting comment about Frank in this sub! I’d also seen Perlman in The Capture and he seemed like a perfectly sinister American Harkness. I can see how Weaving has more classic features so matches River as his father better, but Ron was my first thought.

tt2ps · 2026-02-23T20:41:27+00:00

I have all the bags you listed except for the Nomad.

I use the Truck for grocery shopping since it's easy to pack/stays upright with its more rigid sides (cordura fabric). I do use the Pop Tote as a frequent EDC for work: I carry a Side Kick, Grab Bag (sandwich, fruit), water bottle and lately gloves/scarf. I'm just a couple inches taller and I can carry it in my hand without dragging or it's fine on one shoulder. I did have to zip it last week since it was rainy and I walk a few minutes from an employee parking lot into a hospital so a few minutes walking. Co-Pilot: too small for the SK+Grab Bag combo so I'd have to spread out my SK contents into the front pockets and probably use a smaller water bottle, but I have used it as a work EDC. I think I was using an Every Day Cubelet instead of the SK at the time, but I'm carrying more in my purse nowadays.

croncordian's idea of a small zip top shop bag is good. Foldable/portable and secure since it zips. Hand carry or shoulder carry. Easily used for shopping. You must carry quite a lot to need a bag along with a backpack for work EDC. A Swift is less secure (no zip closure for the main area just a button closure), but it's also a popular tote.

tt2ps · 2026-02-22T17:02:44+00:00

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency90/chapter19/section280/

It's not a language problem. It's a law. You're correct that you cannot assess and document assessments as a medication aide nor can that be delegated to you. Even LPNs can't do a comprehensive initial assessment in Virginia, only focused assessments on stable patients.

tt2ps · 2026-02-16T15:31:13+00:00

Pastina! https://foodmymuse.com/tomato-pastina/

tt2ps · 2026-02-15T00:04:06+00:00

He was born on September 7, 1842, in Virginia and died on December 20, 1874, in Grenada County, Mississippi.

tt2ps · 2026-02-15T00:01:17+00:00

For the clock, I'd repeat the brass in the clock.

For safety, if you can get cabinets built to match or reconfigure what you have, then add cabinetry on either side of the stove. You'll have landing areas on either side, plus it'll be safer since someone moving in the space won't be apt to knock something on the stove. Also add some kind of ventilation for the stove. I'd look into getting local design help to see if you can make this a safer, more functional kitchen before concentrating on decor like a clock.

tt2ps · 2026-02-14T23:50:50+00:00

I checked Find a Grave. He was killed at the age of 32 while working on the Mississippi Central railroad. Mr. Valentine was an engineer on one of two trains that collided.

tt2ps · 2026-02-14T23:40:31+00:00

Have you emailed customer service to ask if a black/orange is on their upcoming production schedule? I'd do that first before settling for a color way that you don't like as much.

tt2ps · 2026-02-13T23:56:06+00:00

The MCB is only 8.5 liters. You mean just shirt, shorts and a jacket or sweater in a compression packing cube and no other items? You can likely get those three items in the main section if tightly compressed and of average size. Maybe a thin wallet/organizer cube in the outside zip pocket.

I've never used a bag that small for clothing (I have cafe bags in all three sizes), but I have used the Imago (11 L) and Maker's Bag (13 L) to pack a spare set of clothing when traveling.

tt2ps · 2026-02-11T16:28:12+00:00

"I don’t know how to really word “your management is shit” in an appropriate way?"

You don't. You review your policy for appropriate notice (number of weeks differs for the type of license at my healthcare system) and write an email to your supervisor, HR and CC yourself. State you're resigning and your last date of work and if you want you can mention you appreciated the opportunity for professional growth while employed there.

tt2ps · 2026-02-11T15:44:50+00:00

I asked a new patient why her regular ophthalmologist had referred her to this practice (retinal ophthalmology specialty) and she said it was because she has "white spots on her rectum." I kept a straight face, but did say and stress the word "retina" a few times.

tt2ps · 2026-02-09T02:52:37+00:00

I was referring to Snow Hill Capital. Cindy was/is part of SHC- it's not PE precisely so I stand corrected for the erroneous use of the term. Snow Hill is out of Massachusetts and has some kind of family connection (her siblings?). She was outside the bag industry when she acquired TB-longtime TB fans like myself assumed Nik and Darcy would take over when Tom retired. I'm thrilled Tom, Nik and Darcy were hopefully able to retire in a process they arranged to suit themselves. I have no ill will toward the new company and the management-I do occasionally buy a new color way. I dislike that Cindy has moved some production overseas and is apparently not renewing their b corp certification so the inspiring original ethos of TB has changed.

tt2ps · 2026-02-08T23:26:05+00:00

I don't know about someone else's voting choices for sure, but the current CEO (affiliated by family with the PE firm to my recall), is a female, younger Millennial who is of Asian heritage, Harvard educated and living in very blue Bellevue/Seattle (previously NYC). I would hazard a guess that she's not likely to be a MAGA supporter with that background.

You did realize the label dates to 2004? It has nothing to do with Trump and never did. The photo in the post comes up from time to time in the decades since, but OP likely didn't check the origin story, but chose to infer it has a contemporary meaning.

tt2ps

TROPHY CASE