Nurse_Ratched

Nurse_Ratched has 10 years experience and specializes in ER, SCTU, PACU.

Latest Activity

1. Observational Unit NP

   Nurse_Ratched replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in NP

   Thanks Youtube, I am on the east coast, in Delaware. Where did you go from CDU? What drew you back?

2. Frustrated New Grad

   Nurse_Ratched replied to AshleelRenee's topic in NP

   Try major private insurance companies - many have positions for NPs doing pre-insurance physicals, as well as chronic disease follow-up. Definitely look into the healthcare provider shortage areas (HSPAs) as often that results in loan repayment.

3. Observational Unit NP

   Nurse_Ratched posted a topic in NP

   Anyone working in an ED OBS / ED Clinical Decision Unit? I recently accepted a position in CDU & would like to hear from you! Tips & tricks, common pitfalls & frustrations, your favorite reference (hardcopy or phone app), and what you w...

4. Observation Unit NP

   Nurse_Ratched replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in NP

   Thanks Youtube, I was hoping to use that time as my practice with a collaborating physician, since I need X amount of hours working with a collaborating physician before practicing independently. I don't mind "following" protocols in the beginning, ...

5. Observation Unit NP

   Nurse_Ratched posted a topic in NP

   I have been investigating the possibility of a job as an NP for an ER Clinical Decision Unit after graduation. I currently work PACU (close to 2.5 years by the time I am done with school), and prior to that I worked for 5.5 years in various ERs (ped...

6. Choosing a Specialty

   Nurse_Ratched posted a topic in NP

   Hello all, I am an RN with almost 8 years of critical care experience, and I am 10 months away from my AC-AGNP. I am trying to decide on where to go from there. My interests include, in no particular order: - ICU NP - the hospital closest to my hou...

7. Post-operative Hypertension

   Nurse_Ratched replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in Med-Surg

   RainMom, we've tried, all of those suggestions, but we are still butting heads with the floor. No there is no actual numbers in the policy. Strangely enough we only have this problem with the ortho floor, which is managed by an RN who oversees the ...

8. Post-operative Hypertension

   Nurse_Ratched replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in Med-Surg

   The PACU nurses seem to be the only ones sharing this concern "my facility is more concerned with dropping them too quickly,". The floor nurses want them picture perfect or off their floor (to the point where they tried to tell me to take my patient...

9. Post-operative Hypertension

   Nurse_Ratched posted a topic in Med-Surg

   Does anyone have any policies to share for how they manage post-op HTN? What are your cut-offs for "abnormal" vital signs before the patient has to be transferred to step-down? I am a PACU nurse and we are running into roadblocks trying to get orth...

10. New EMR Launch

    Nurse_Ratched replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in Informatics

    I LOOOOVE paper (no sarcasm, I really do). It's short, concise, and there is a strange sense of nostalgia and peace in the unit when we're on paper. But so far it's been a decent launch, the EPIC trainers are very helpful.

11. New EMR Launch

    Nurse_Ratched posted a topic in Informatics

    Hello everyone. I work for a medium sized Magnet health system. We are 4 days away from a new EMR launch (switching from McKesson to EPIC). Does anyone have any suggestions, tips, tricks, etc. for making the transition smoother? I am a super-user ...

12. Walden U

    Nurse_Ratched replied to purevintage's topic in NP Students

    I've been in the AG-ACNP track for the last 6 quarters. I have no complaints. Do not expect any help from advising, especially for finding preceptors. Know your deadlines and give yourself 4 extra weeks to meet them: my paperwork for clinicals is ...

13. Verbal Hand-off Reports - Are they no longer necessary?

    Nurse_Ratched replied to yr.pedsnurse's topic in General Nursing

    I thought nurse-to-nurse report was part of EMTALA law for inter-facility transfers. I also agree, that nurse-to-nurse report, with adequate time to ask and answer questions, is the professional thing to do. That being said, unless the reporting nu...

14. ACDF Anesthesia Techniques and PACU Pain Management-

    Nurse_Ratched replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in PACU

    Exactly! All the more reason that long-acting narcotics should be given intra-op, instead of having the PACU nurse playing catch-up.

15. ACDF Anesthesia Techniques and PACU Pain Management-

    Nurse_Ratched replied to Nurse_Ratched's topic in PACU

    I hope I'm not coming off as calloused when I say "rolling around in pain", while many ACDF patients were previously chronic pain patients, I am not trying to say they are faking their post-op symptoms. Coming out of anesthesia after a procedure tha...