kalycat BSN, RN

kalycat has 5 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in CVICU CCRN.

Latest Activity

1. 

   To kill or not to kill... another person dream?

   kalycat replied to KatieMI's topic in Professionalism

   Oh @KatieMI!! I just had to post and wish you well. I’ve followed your posts for years and remember you mentioning your allergies in a thread where we were discussing restaurant food and epi pens. I am so, so sorry this happened to you! I am glad ...
2. 

   Left my job d/t health reasons yesterday.

   kalycat replied to RNikkiF's topic in Disabilities

   It's a loss. A true loss. There will be somewhat of a grief process around it for sure. Try to use this time to regroup and work towards your dreams/goals, particularly ones outside of work. Give yourself some quality time. Major life changes, especi...
3. 

   What's the strangest phone conversation you've ever had at work?

   kalycat replied to Brekka's topic in Humor

   It's actually part of orientation to our CVICU that you observe a CABG or other open heart procedure - you spend two days in the OR. I think it's awesome. I used to work as a circulator and then went to the unit, and the context and breadth of experi...
4. 

   How to Identify and Respond to Bullying and Incivility

   kalycat replied to Damion Jenkins's topic in General Students

   Add me to the list of people who were actually bullied at one time - the time I transferred to my "dream" unit. Believe me, the behavior went far beyond jamming a copier or eye rolling. Think screaming, malicious rumors, personal attacks, being set u...
5. 

   Best/Worst EHR

   kalycat replied to ICUMatthew's topic in General Nursing

   I've used both the DOS based meditech and the windows based "upgrade" one. Both were absolutely terrible and the second took 75 clicks to locate a simple lab result. I love epic as much as it's possoble to love the endless charting. At least it's fa...
6. 

   Very concerned

   kalycat replied to ButterflyRN90's topic in General Nursing

   I'm sorry to hear this. I've worked at facilities that had fatigue guidelines before - but they seem to be few and far between. Unless her work hours were in direct violation of policy, I personally would avoid that topic in your appeal. Management m...
7. 

   WA Appellate Court says nurses cannot have 'break buddies' must use designated break nurse

   kalycat replied to klone's topic in Headlines

   This is a very interesting discussion. I don't work for MultiCare, but this may be applicable in my region. When I used to work the floor, we had "break buddies" at night with no resource nurse, and it could be an utter nightmare. Even on stepdown wh...
8. 

   Very concerned

   kalycat replied to ButterflyRN90's topic in General Nursing

   I read through this whole thing and was hoping someone would mention this. I've only been a nurse for 4 years and was told numerous times in nursing school to never do this. OP: I'm a CICU nurse in a high acuity facility. Everyone here has given you...
9. 

   Sign on room when pt dies for no more svcs. in room/ courtesy sign - do you have one?

   kalycat replied to deweydecimal13501's topic in General Nursing

   We have a special sign with a dove on it that's kept with our other iso precaution signs. It's just our way of letting others know what is going on -- lab, other nurses, etc. With 72 beds, we can have a ton of staff around and things can get hectic.
10. 

    L&D Nurse After Stillbirth

    kalycat replied to Swimming-duck's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I am so sorry for your loss. I suffered the loss of my first daughter in the mid second trimester due to a variety of complications. My experiences are what, in part, inspired me to become a nurse (almost 20 years later!). My experience was a very, ...
11. 

    It is a broken system - rant

    kalycat replied to nutella's topic in General Nursing

    While I agree that we need to put our own perspectives aside since it's about the patient and their goals, I feel very strongly about being an advocate for mitigation of suffering. Very strongly. I have seen strong, healthy men of 90+ lose all sembl...
12. 

    Risk of getting your family members sick?

    kalycat replied to Pete_soon2bRN's topic in General Nursing

    I was on an immune suppressing med in nursing school - only time I ever got sick that I could directly tie to the hospital; it was norovirus. I changed my meds and lifestyle, don't take that med anymore, and I've been fine. I have pretty severe asthm...
13. 

    Need help..hate my job :(

    kalycat replied to butters9812's topic in General Nursing

    A couple of thoughts to add to the great info you've received... If you think that resources are a major component of your stress, perhaps dayshift on your unit would be a better fit? We staff very lean at night on my busy cardiac transplant and mec...
14. 

    Pt. regurgitated/vomited NG tube

    kalycat replied to Ele_123's topic in Med-Surg

    I've had adults do it - not as often as kids though. Just happens sometimes. Nothing to do but drop a new one.
15. 

    ACLS certification

    kalycat replied to astratton83's topic in General Nursing

    This is a great little website that I used when I initially took acls. It really helped with rhythm recognition - I wasn't a new grad but hadn't worked on the floor yet; I went straight to the OR and then transferred to cardiac and became a code team...