i honestly hate them! it really stinks since i work on a med-surg floor that is also tele so there's always the possibility of having at least one tele pt. i mean, i passed the ekg test after taking the class, but my boss just sent me an e-mail saying she wants to talk with me about a couple strips i did last week.
she didn't in any way sound threatening or anything and the rational part of my brain knows that she just wants to chat and make sure i'm at least "getting there" with strips and analyzing them, i'm just terrified! since i've only been a nurse for 4 months, i know there's a huge learning curve, but i tend to take everything so personally and think i'll get fired for any little thing.
i'm supposed to take acls next month and i just don't know if it'll even sink in!:trout:
I understand how u feel. I have been a nurse for 14 years. I have worked tele with a unit secin addition to other depts. i recently was in managment so for 5 years been off the floor. iI have decided I want back on the floor and am wondering if I made a wrong decision as I have had the hardest time with the strips. I just signed up for acls and took the pre test to see where i stand ahhhhhhhh i just killed all my patients!!!! I got every one wrong. Then my girlfriend came over and said no prob. well she too got every one wrong that she triedtoday i have worked on the basics and rates with vtach vfin and pea. I have 17 days before the test and still am stressed. Any suggetions?
dianah, ASN
8 Articles; 4,737 Posts
Katie, glad your ACLS went so well.
A good (sensitive and knowledgeable) teacher can make all the difference!
And Jon, you're SO right re: learning The Rules and then applying them to reading EKGs.