HI! I'm fairly new to this we site and I'm loving it. I was hoping to get some feedback. At this time, I have been working with a GREAT doctor at an awesome clinic, but have been on medical leave for the past month. The only bad part, the money isnt that great, the COO of the company has promised me a raise (a year ago) and hasn't come through. I've been an RN for a year now and have just worked at the clinic as a nurse, but would like to try something a little more challenging, but just don't know where to start looking, or even what I would like. Any suggestions? Thanks Mary (chicago,Il) Heck, I've been thinking about even moving to Florida where my dad lives!!!

I graduated 5/2005 and we had Kaplan Review, it was very expensive and they didn't teach me anything I hadn't already learned in school,so I think Kaplan was a waste of time and money. I took 75 questions and passed my first time....Good luck!!

Hi there. I'm glad I found this site. I too work nights in a 31 bed cardiovascular hospital. Lots of lifting on post-op hearts among other things. I herniated two discs in my back last spring and was off for 4 months recooperating. When I came back all of my co-workers took on my lifting responsibilities which was a definate blessing. I am in the very beginning stages of trying to get approved. Thank goodness my insurance covers the WLS 100% if you meet the criteria of BMI, co-morbidities, blah blah blah... My main concern is when to do the exercising. I want to start now, so I will be in a routine, but I am so tired after getting off a 12 hour shift I just want to go to bed...then, when I get up, I'm still tired. I just don't have the energy. Then there is the off days when I actually want to sleep at night. Any advice? Thanks so much!

I took boards within a month after graduation. Our class took a review course 3 weeks after graduation. I studied alot, I wanted to be sure I passed. I was anal about it. Good Luck. Susan- Wife to J, Mom to A & Nurse to babies Lap RNY - 3/23/06 5' 3 3/4" Highest- 242/ Surgery- 231/ Current- 130/ Goal- 130

I'm recently starting to realize the effect, or lack thereof of certain prescription and non prescription medications. I know we were all taught this at the beginning, like the B vitamins not absorbing etc... but there has been recent news about other drugs, especially longer acting meds that are staying in our systems long enough for the full effect. I have CFIDS and fibromyagia and have been having a lot of issues with pain lately, probably the weather change. Then I saw Oprah this week with post op women and new addictions rather than food. The part that got me was one woman talking about how much alcohol she consumed, but more importantly how quickly it left her system. So that got me researching and asking more questions. Since I can't take ibuprofen I've been alternating lortab/percocet for pain and although it helps, it seems like only for an hour or so at best. 1. I know I've become tolerant to the drugs and that it takes more and more to get the same relief (hence... switching back and forth between the two, but 2. I wonder how this is metabolizing in my system. Maybe it is just getting metabolized too quickly. Okay, so that is the rational for the question. Let me know what you think. P.S. After talking to my doctor about this today I agreed to try a fentanyl patch. Well see how it goes. Thanks for listening, Patty Open gastric bypass in March 2005 267-140