Valhalla_RN

Latest Activity

1. Being a nurse who likes working alone?

   Valhalla_RN replied to sakiohma's topic in General Nursing

   I'm going to go ahead and advocate for the night shift here. Yes, some nights are bonkers (worked one myself last night), but I vastly prefer nights because I can't stand the hustle and bustle of a million and one people on day shift. Doctors, PT, OT...

2. Being the mom and the nurse you want to be.....

   Valhalla_RN replied to leighgwin's topic in General Nursing

   Do you have the option to work casual (or per diem, as many of you call it on here)? This usually allows you to dictate your schedule and you could work your schedule around your daughter's. I know many parents who do this. I also know many parents w...

3. Can an RN administer general anesthesia?

   Valhalla_RN replied to Tinkk's topic in General Nursing

   I am sure you were given "conscious sedation". I had this done during my wisdom tooth removal at my oral surgeon's office. It was done with propofol. You are given it IV push (in my case, by an anesthesiologist, not an RN) and you remember NOTHING. N...

4. I asked for Christmas off and they...

   Valhalla_RN replied to Brian's topic in Rock

   We can list a preference to work either Christmas or New Year's at our work place, and the staffing clerk assigns you a shift. I think she tries to make everyone's preference work - people are usually pretty happy. You have to work one or the other, ...

5. Med-Surg book Recommendations?

   Valhalla_RN replied to dayandnight's topic in Canada

   I used this text during nursing school, which I attended in BC. Elsevier: Medical-Surgical Nursing - Two Volume Set, 8th Edition: Black & Hawks I found it to be quite useful. Also try: Elsevier: Clinical Nursing Skills and Techniques, 8th Edition...

6. How do you feel about new grads going for their np with little experience?

   Valhalla_RN replied to garn12's topic in General Nursing

   I think it depends. Nurse practitioner programs in the US appear to be different from Canada. And NPs seem to be a lot more utilized, whereas in Canada they are still trying to make their way into the healthcare system. I rememeber at one time the Un...

7. Long term effects of working night shifts

   Valhalla_RN replied to yadirosa's topic in Stress 101

   I can never resist an opportunity to state my love of the night shift, as so many people hate it! I'm like janfrn though - I work in Canada and my schedule is a forward rotating mix of 12 hour days and nights. I work two 12 hour days, then two 12 hou...

8. Stupid, I know, but more bad representations of NURSES on tv!

   Valhalla_RN replied to uRNmyway's topic in Professionalism

   BAHAHAHA I watched it last night and I thought the exact same thing!!! I was like "you just cleaned it, don't BLOW ON IT!". Last weeks ETT insertion without the stylet or laryngoscope was far more infuriating though, lol!

9. Oncology Nursing

   Valhalla_RN replied to traumaRUs's topic in Oncology

   I'd also like to add the following resource for my Canadian Oncology Nursing colleagues: CANO-ACIO: Home (Website for Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology - Association Canadienne des Infirmieres en Oncologie)

10. Has anyone else noticed change in body after shift?

    Valhalla_RN replied to jistravel's topic in Stress 101

    I definitely notice a difference, specifically post 12-hour day shift (0700-1900). Even with stockings, my legs feel heavier (stockings only got rid of the achy feeling), my middle more distended, and I am absolutely dehydrated. I never drink enough ...

11. Lipids at night

    Valhalla_RN replied to newnurse1987's topic in Medications

    Our lipids are typically hung at 1600/1700 and infuse for 12 hours overnight. TPN itself is usually started at the same time as lipids. Our hospital has a special TPN pharmacy, and new orders must be received by 11 am or they are really unhappy. I th...

12. What Baffles You?

    Valhalla_RN replied to GundeRN's topic in General Nursing

    Able bodied men who use urinals and expect me to empty them. You just walked 3 laps around the unit, I think you can manage to make it to the toilet. This is especially a pet peeve of mine because I work on a cancer unit and their urine is cytotoxic.

13. Reporting Critical Value..

    Valhalla_RN replied to BlizzAngel's topic in Safety

    I'm really glad you brought this up. Our lab phones in critical values or reports of positive blood cultures, and takes the initials of the nurse receiving the results. I always passed this information on immediately to the nurse caring for the patie...

14. AHS Media Campaign

    Valhalla_RN replied to Fiona59's topic in Canada

    I just wanted to post some support for Alberta nurses - things are sounding really rough there right now. You are all in my thoughts!