RNlmk

Latest Activity

1. Nurses not prepared for report

   RNlmk replied to KatePasa's topic in Med-Surg

   I think report protocol varies depending on facility. I have never seen a Kardex! On my floor you are expected to take report immediately at 7a/p. some nurses come in early and look up pt info, some don't. Either way it is expected that you give the ...

2. Combative/Violent Confused Patients

   RNlmk replied to missmiamoore's topic in Med-Surg

   These things happen frequently. If a pt seems off- step away from the bed until you can determine their state of mind.

3. Starting IVs

   RNlmk replied to Scarlettz's topic in Med-Surg

   5 iv starts in year is just not enough practice. You need more live sticks to gain confidence. Are you changing outdated iv's? That is one way to get some more practice on your floor & ask other nurses for their iv starts. But I might ask to g...

4. Would like your input as a RN if your hospital has room service

   RNlmk replied to RNsheal's topic in Med-Surg

   We have room service but meals don't arrive at shift change. They can't get breakfast til after 815. Dietary calls the floor ahead with delivery times for all the diabetics meals and the nurses are given the list. If a pt forgets to order a meal by t...

5. Nurses who have passed the NCLEX-Please help me!

   RNlmk replied to Hello.Kitty.Girl.'s topic in NCLEX

   I took my nclex in 2011 & passed with 75 questions. I did the entire Saunders review book and studied 2-5 hrs a day for a month before. My advice is to give yourself a few weeks to study bug don't wait too long. I took the test very fast 28 mins ...

6. Thoughts on Pt Nurse ratio

   RNlmk replied to pugmom79's topic in Med-Surg

   I work on a med surg/onc floor and our ratios are the same - occasionally we go up to 8 pts, once I had 10. I also had 12 wks orientation & that was enough time for me. Most of my patients are not walkie/talkies but we have amazing cna's I learne...

7. Urinary Cath Insertion

   RNlmk replied to lovecardiacnursing's topic in General Nursing

   The 3-way catheters are usually a pretty large gauge I would think that is possibly why the pt didn't complain of pain- the urethra was already kind of stretched from the 3- way cath. I have had this happen before with difficulty inserting a cath. W...

8. What is the maximum number of patients per nurse?

   RNlmk replied to Info(RN)matics's topic in Med-Surg

   I work m/s onc: 5 is minimum, 6-7 is typical, 8 on bad night. Once i ended my shift with 10 when another hospital had to divert their ER to us & we short with a call in and no float. We have a charge with a full team and usually 2 cna's.

9. To be the best nurse I can be

   RNlmk replied to NurseLizzy13's topic in Med-Surg

   Yeah reading dr handwriting is hard! We went CPOE a few months ago and it's a lot better except you have to keep checking the computer b/c the drs don't have to be on the floor to enter orders.

10. Am I doing the right thing? New nurse getting butt kicked

    RNlmk replied to j_tay1981's topic in New Nurse

    I still felt very anxious at 4mos into my job, somewhere around 6mos things started clicking and I felt better. I still have nights that are bad, but I feel like I have the flow of things down better. I no longer want to throw up when I walk off t...

11. New grad, new job, 1 week of orientation. :/

    RNlmk replied to pullingallnighter's topic in Job Hunt

    1 week is really not enough IMO, I think it's a threat to your license. I wouldn't even accept that position unless you are very confident in your skills. Just learning the flow of the floor takes time not to mention all the little things like learni...

12. Buffalo NY nurse agency recommendation?

    RNlmk replied to dbzzz's topic in New York

    I work for CHS, med surg hired as a new grad. I think it's a decent place to work, on my unit there is not an issue with lateral violence, some difficult personalities but nothing much beyond that. Pay and benfits are decent. We don't flip shifts unl...

13. What would you have done?

    RNlmk replied to eileeny21's topic in Med-Surg

    I wouldn't have ignored the order, I would have called the md back stated that had assessed the pt and reviewed w/ my charge & wasn't comfortable giving that dose, could I give 5 or 7 instead and see how they did? If they said no give it I would ...

14. Would you trade a great team for an easier floor?

    RNlmk posted a topic in Med-Surg

    I have been on my floor for a year, I promised myself I would give it that long no matter what. It's a hard floor med surg w/ oncology, head & neck / ENT and palliative beds- a good mix of med and surg pts. The variety has been great for learning...

15. To be the best nurse I can be

    RNlmk replied to NurseLizzy13's topic in Med-Surg

    I think it's important to develop a routine that works for you and then stick to it as much as possible. I work 11p-7a mostly here is my routine 2245 look up pts, fill out my brain, check orders 2300-2330- get handoff report, make sure pts are breat...