TooManyCats ASN, BSN

TooManyCats has 7 years experience as a ASN, BSN and specializes in Critical Care.

Latest Activity

1. MSN v MBA

   TooManyCats posted a topic in General Specialties

   I am an RN with a little over three years ICU experience. My dream job is to work APN in an ICU, but it just doesn’t exist where I’m at. I have zero desire to teach or go the FNP route. I would love to advance my career and education in the next coup...

2. Need Advice on Accused Medication Error

   TooManyCats replied to Shannon Dull Dunlevy's topic in General Students

   It truly sounds like she overreacted massively. This was a silly error that in the real world no one would even notice, and as a student nurse I think it’s smart judgment to not administer a medication unsupervised **even if you are turning it back o...

3. What does the floor really think of nursing students?

   TooManyCats replied to superduper's topic in General Nursing

   For the most part I like students, especially if they have basic skills and knowledge by the time they reach me. I will say that I hate that professors assign them to train wreck patients and I have to teach while fighting tooth and nail to keep some...

4. Thoughts on a new grad RN going straight to ICU?

   TooManyCats replied to Jace_b7's topic in Critical

   I went into ICU right out of school. I had a long and supportive orientation, a critical care residency, and did great. My current place of work will hire new grads but something about our orientation process just isn’t right, maybe it’s the lack of ...

5. Considering ICU.... among several other options

   TooManyCats replied to Name9335's topic in General Nursing

   Having book smarts and being a great test taker are useful skills, but critical care requires a certain level of intuition and on-your-feet thinking that can’t be taught. It’s really not for everyone. there are lots of nursing positions that *are*...

6. New Nurse, Med Error = Lost Job

   TooManyCats replied to NewRN9423's topic in General Nursing

   So we’re you looking to the MAR or your brain page for med due times? Or relying solely on your paper and the Pyxis? When you scanned it did it not give you a warning that medications were given too close together? You have them three hours apart, wh...

7. What should I have done differently? Did I endanger my patient?

   TooManyCats replied to misha's topic in General Nursing

   The oncoming nurse was inappropriate in handling that. You notified the provider, they declined to treat. Some people hang out higher, not everyone needs to be treated at 180. You could have asked for call parameters, maybe could have pushed for a PR...

8. New Grad ICU Exhaustion / Advice Needed

   TooManyCats replied to Kusters BSN-RN's topic in Critical

   I had some job hopping during my first year due to a move and a miserable work environment. Still in ICU, and I’ve found a great fit. Apply early, be prepared to explain the move... and make sure you’re getting a 2-1 ratio (for the most part). Being ...

9. OG tube securement, or NG?

   TooManyCats replied to JBMmom's topic in Critical

   We secure our OG tubes to the ETT using paper tape (our unit doesn’t have Transpore on hand). Occasionally we will get an intubated patient from OR or from a previous unit with an NG and we will leave it, but I prefer OGs because of decreased skin br...

10. Cvicu new grad RN starting in july

    TooManyCats replied to Dani_2018's topic in MICU

    I work in a combined surgical and medical ICU, with 32 beds. For the majority of patients, we bedside report, go over lines/drips/vent settings and introduce ourselves. Then I spend a few minutes going over orders and labs. After that I go and assess...

11. Converse sneakers at clinicals

    TooManyCats replied to BlueBoxSearcher's topic in Uniform/Gear

    You'd be surprised how picky schools can be when it comes to shoes. Ours were ALL black, no hits of white/color, no mesh, all leather or non breathable material, no clogs, the list went on. Contact your school. I will say, I wear chucks almost exclus...

12. STETHOSCOPE HELP

    TooManyCats replied to Danielledlt's topic in Uniform/Gear

    I work a cardiac heavy icu and recently switched from a Littman classic ii to the cardiology iv and am really happy with that decision.

13. Nurse tech working as RN

    TooManyCats replied to esrun77's topic in General Nursing

    You might also want to look into your states laws regarding medication administration. The facility might be fine with a tech doing it, but the state might want a qualified medication aid, and even then you'd need an LPN at minimum for injections. A...

14. Ivytech 2015 Fall Admission

    TooManyCats replied to sierracherise's topic in Indiana

    I applied at South Bend only. I assume we'll get letters next week.

15. Ivy Tech Forum

    TooManyCats replied to ktmt24's topic in Indiana

    It doesn't exist anymore. It did when I started in 2013 (yes it's taken me THAT long to finish my prerequisites), but at some point they ditched it.