DreamingTree

Latest Activity

1. Going into homes scare me off??

   DreamingTree replied to erika.RN's topic in Home Health

   It's true that some homes are beyond cluttered & dirty. The odd thing is that it rarely bothers me. Don't get me wrong -- I'd love it if all of my patients' homes are clean, safe, & smell good. That's just not reality, so to make it in hom...

2. Have you ever done this

   DreamingTree replied to emilysmom,RN's topic in Home Health

   I agree wholeheartedly with this comment! Your manager has set unrealistic expectations for you. It's great to be a strong advocate for your patient, but you did that by trying to communicate by phone, and by following up with written documentation...

3. Masters in Psychology to RN

   DreamingTree replied to VPS0312's topic in Psychiatric

   I have a MS in psychology, and then went back to school to become an RN (ADN). In order to hone my nsg skills, I worked in med-surg for awhile (very valuable). My plan was to become a psych NP, but being married w/kids, I'm limited to where I can f...

4. Any words of advice?

   DreamingTree replied to prudence09's topic in New Nurse

   Yep - it really does get easier with time. When you are first starting out, every little step of the process is new to you. You have to think your way through each task, which takes time. With practice, many of those steps become automatic until y...

5. I am getting written up on Xmas eve.

   DreamingTree replied to mommyX2's topic in New Nurse

   Maybe you need a new system for keeping track of pt info. I use a very detailed "brain" sheet. It has boxes for the following: info I receive in report, kardex info (name, age, code, dr, dx, allergies, IV, diet, ACT), assessment findings, labs/tes...

6. Dosage Calculation Problems! Stressed!!

   DreamingTree replied to adrienne2305's topic in New Nurse

   Everyone is right about you needing to learn how to do these problems & do your own work. However, I'll try to give you a few suggestions because you need help getting started. Pitocin was ordered 2milliunits/min IV. The solution is 9 units in 1...

7. reconstitution

   DreamingTree replied to sunnysideup's topic in New Nurse

   I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I remember those darn dosage calc tests -- very anxiety provoking. The key to doing those problems is to: 1-- keep your units straight 2-- always use your formulas 3-- ALWAYS check your work Good luck!!

8. Help me w/ IM injection, maybe a good visualization or picture?

   DreamingTree replied to DaisyChains's topic in New Nurse

   This is the type of diagram I always followed, but it's probably the same as in your book: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/pdfs/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDocs/medicatn/geninfo/intrainj.pdf What gauge & length needle are you using? Maybe that's the pro...

9. reconstitution

   DreamingTree replied to sunnysideup's topic in New Nurse

   It looks like it is missing information. Your answer is in mg/mL -- but the information given before that only lists the mL. Does the original problem provide the mg ordered & the mg supplied? If so, then you just plug this information into the f...

10. Fluids and electrolytes

    DreamingTree replied to studentnurse31's topic in New Nurse

    same explanation, but i'll phrase it a bit differently. make a chart: acidosis alkalosis 7.35 ph 7.45 45 co2 35 22 hco3 26 sorry -- the chart won't work on here. i hope you get the idea of how it should look. put all acidotic values on one side, al...

11. should I stay or should I go??

    DreamingTree replied to labrador4122's topic in New Nurse

    Before making your decision, I'd do an old-fashioned "pros/cons" list. The following would be important factors for me to consider: 1. Commute time. I have a 5 min commute now, and little desire to drive 30 - 45 min to the other area hospitals. 2....

12. Life is short and I want it all

    DreamingTree replied to chocolateheals's topic in New Nurse

    You'll get plenty of responses in favor of one choice over the other. I can tell you that I reluctantly followed the side that whispered medsurg in my ear. My days have plenty of challenge, and I can't say that I have much time to make tea. Whatev...

13. focus charting

    DreamingTree replied to curlybear's topic in New Nurse

    Is "focus charting" when you only comment on the abnormals? If so, then I usually include mental status & pain in my comments. I'll write something like: "Alert, oriented, resting in bed. Reports no pain." Plus, I throw in a line that relate...

14. Surgeons, ugh.

    DreamingTree replied to Eirene's topic in New Nurse

    This may be a stupid question, but if he didn't want the pt to have dilaudid, then why didn't write the necessary orders? Are you supposed to be a mindreader?

15. Flushing vs Irrigating.... HELP!!!

    DreamingTree replied to newnurse111's topic in New Nurse

    I would have irrigated the same way you did: quickly flush with NSS, then quickly withdraw same amount. The one time I had an irrigation order for a drainage tube, the dr actually wrote out the w/draw instructions -- w/emphasis on the "quick" part....