Boston Globe series on ICU Nursing....

grannynurse FNP student · Oct 23, 2005

Hey Y'all
Was doing my usual political scavanging, found this fabulous story (first part of a 4part series) in today's Boston Globe. MUST READ!!!
http://www.boston.com/news/special/nursing/part1.html
Papaw John

Sorry all I got was 'this page does not exist'.

Grannynurse:balloons:

Boston-RN, RN · Oct 23, 2005

I read it....I thought it was great. It's a real eyeopener for those who don't know what nurses do.

I can't wait for the other parts.

PJMommy · Oct 24, 2005

Absolutely great story. I look forward to the next three parts.

I also received a "page not found" error. Just go to the Globe's website http://www.boston.com and register (free). Then do a search - the article is called something like "Crash course in nursing". I found it the first time by just searching on "nurse".

nutella, MSN, RN · Oct 26, 2005

Hi,

I read this article in the Globe and think that there is truth in it. Not everybody is made for that kind of job .

NeuroNP · Oct 27, 2005

The closest thing I could find was one called "A Crash Course in Saving Lives" but you had to pay to read it. Is that it?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Oct 27, 2005

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a four-part series by the globe's scott allen

julia had just eight months to go from being a trainee fresh out of school to a nurse ready to care for the most gravely ill patients at mass. general, one of the nation’s leading hospitals.

critical care: the making of an icu nurse

free registration required.

about the series

reporter scott allen and photographer michele mcdonald observed the training of first-year nurse julia zelixon for seven months, as she cared for two dozen desperately ill patients. hear about their experiences below. massachusetts general hospital allowed the globe team unrestricted access to the icu, on the condition that the patients’ names and photographs could only be used with their permission or that of a family member.

audio

scott allen and michele mcdonald discuss their experiences at mass. general. (7 mins. 20 secs.)

left click the link above to listen, right click to download it.

straba · Oct 27, 2005

I read all four parts (I work at the BI in Boston), and found it to be a great article. I am a new grad in a similar critical care program as the one at MGH, and could definitely relate to some of the things that Julia went through. Her preceptor sounded a little harsh though.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2005

I wish I could find that sort of critical care program. I turned down an offer from our level one trauma hospital for SICU the other day because they had no educator on staff. Just preceptorship for twelve weeks. I really feel that formal education should be a requirement.

I am starting slow. Going to a progressive care unit at a smaller hospital that has promised a critical care program and opportunity for ICU movement within a year.

PJMommy · Oct 28, 2005

FYI...here's a link where you don't pay and there are several photos as well. All four parts can be accessed here:

http://www.boston.com/news/special/nursing/part1/page1.html

AlexCCRN · Oct 31, 2005

As with any discipline, just cuz you're a veteran or highly proficient DOES NOT justify being assigned a teaching role. Expert educators are needed to train experts. There's no value in the harsh dynamic between the preceptor and orientee. Both need to reconsider their objectives: patient safety and therapeutic integrity obviously are the only real concerns; the rest is noise. :clown:

Kudra · Nov 2, 2005

man, i would love to have such a long preceptorship... ours is 3 weeks of full-time in class and 8 buddy shifts (12 hours)...