janine3&5

Latest Activity

1. Med surg experience v. ER/Trauma

   janine3&5 replied to essarge's topic in Emergency

   Essarge, My orientation was only 3-4 weeks (1/2 on the floor, 1/2 doing education) No, that's not very long, but I was lucky enough to have a wonderful preceptor. We really have a great team of nurses, everyone helps each other and I know that I ...

2. Med surg experience v. ER/Trauma

   janine3&5 replied to essarge's topic in Emergency

   Do what you love- you have to like what you do, if med-surg isn't your interest, then don't go there. I just got my RN in July, and went right to ER. I love my job and can't imagine doing anything else. Yeah, it's stressful-but you learn so much. ...

3. Social Workers in the ED

   janine3&5 replied to JJFROG's topic in Emergency

   We have one full time social worker in the ER and she is wonderful- she doesn't get involved in our detox/mental health pts. She does ALL of the dealing with families when a pt dies, is critical, or a trauma pt. She does all of the contacting funer...

4. blood draw from heparin lock?

   janine3&5 replied to mary y.'s topic in Infusion

   I use the HL to draw labs whenever I can in the ER. When we first put in the IV, I attach the HL to a vacutainer to draw blood. After the HL's been used for meds, fluids, whatever, then I use a syringe for any blood draws ( waste the first 5 ccs) H...

5. Renal calculi pain

   janine3&5 replied to CarolineRn's topic in General Nursing

   Caroline, Yes, the 4 ibuprofen (200 mg ea) is a safe dose. You can even take the ibuprofen along with some tylenol at the same time for really bad pain. DRINK lots and lots of water! Hope you'll feel better soon!

6. Question about Jackson Pratt Drains & retention sutures

   janine3&5 replied to hoolahan's topic in General Nursing

   I also had the chance to remove one as a nursing student. I was in clinicals on a surgical floor, the nurse I was working with talked me through it. I was under the impression that this is a nursing skill.

7. Team Nursing with Paramedics........

   janine3&5 replied to CEN35's topic in Emergency

   We have a few paramedics working in our ER; they function in the same position as nurses with their own pt assignments. However, they can't give any meds! I'm not sure of the rationale behind that. Our ER rooms are staffed by acuity levels, i.e. ...

8. state boards help

   janine3&5 replied to gabby20's topic in General Students

   hey gabby, I would practice with a book or two, use a CD with a lot of questions, and leave it at that! I just passed boards this past July. In addition to the above, I took a week long review course (because the hospital paid me to attend), which I...

9. Length of stay in ED before admission

   janine3&5 replied to suzannasue's topic in General Nursing

   I work in a very busy ER: 100,000 visits/year. Once a pt is seen by the doc, it takes another 1-3 hrs for labs and so forth to come back. They're usually admitted after 2-3 hrs. And that's when the real wait starts. Pts are usually with us AT LEA...

10. unit stud

    janine3&5 replied to frustratedRN's topic in Humor

    Made me think of this little old lady, 90's, I was taking care of. She was so sweet, completely with it. We were just chattiing, and then she asked me for something to eat, and I explained to her why she was NPO and couldn't have anything. She pau...

11. HOW TO PUT IN A IV: ANY TIPS

    janine3&5 replied to egmillard's topic in General Nursing

    BP cuffs are a great tip, esp with the older pts. They never told us this in school, but if you get a good flashback, but can't advance the catheter, try floating it in with your saline. Sometimes the catheter will get stuck up against a valve, and ...

12. White Nursing Dresses?

    janine3&5 replied to lisa 72's topic in General Nursing

    You've looked at uniform stores? We had to wear white nursing dresses for our pinning ceremony, and while there wasn't much of a selection, all that I saw were very traditional and conservative. Another idea if you can't find one you like is to we...

13. How much can a nurse do????

    janine3&5 replied to essarge's topic in General Nursing

    In the ER, we do have protocols stating that certain things can be done before the pt is seen, i.e. EKGs, monitor for CP, extremity Xrays for injuries, very basic stuff. However, most nurses, including myself, do go a little further. For example, pt...

14. What hours do you work?

    janine3&5 replied to LisaL's topic in General Nursing

    I have to jump back in here and disagree- I'm a new nurse and working weekdays. I don't believe I need to pay my dues to anyone; if there are problems staffing certain shifts, then the manager needs to solve that problem with more hires, better ince...

15. What hours do you work?

    janine3&5 replied to LisaL's topic in General Nursing

    It depends on your hospital; each unit has different staffing needs. I'm a new grad, and found many openings for weekdays on med-surg floors, less to none in the more specialized units. My hospital has job postings on bulletin boards throughout th...