First timer - Burn Unit

Awesome job! I rotated between hem/onc and burn. NO one ever wanted to go there. I loved it..............No advice other than be prepared to cause pain and be prepared to help control/eliminate it so the patient can tolerate life with burns.

Hugs,

renerian

Its a very hard but rewarding job. You will become accustomed to handing out large doses of narcotics and even larger doses of pain. But this is a job unlike any other because you truely get to bond with these patients and know that you are helping them recover. They will never forget you or the work that you do. My advice is to watch closely and ask lots of questions. You will see so many different things on this unit that you may not find anywhere else in the hospital. We do so many new procedures and so many different dressings each and everyday. I hope that you will love the unit as much as I do. I am currently a CNA on mine and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Thanks you two. I will start in a couple of weeks and really look forward to the experience. It's true, one of the things that attracted me to the position was the fact I'd be able to see the fruits of my labor. And the closeness issue, it's all good.

NCLEX Saturday, then vacation, then work!

Take care!

Good luck!!! I just left a BU, the city I moved to doesn't have one. Go into it with an open mind and a rock hard stomach. Be sure to give plenty of pain meds. Undermedication was a big issue where I just left. I found that people either love it or hate it. I hope you are the first one. It is definately a calling and I hope you have it we need more of you out there. Enjoy and get to know your patients and families. I think it is the most rewarding area to go into.

Starting this week, but just the orientation parts. I'll probably be on the floor in a couple of weeks. The rock hard stomach comment covers something I've been thinking about for a while. Probably too much. What are some of the worst things people have had to deal with? Guess the first thing that comes to your mind will be the one. I'm not worried, just curious. And yes, everyone says it's a hard place. I welcome the challenge. It feels like a good fit.

Good luck and keep us posted.

renerian

By the way, renerian, I just got back from vacation in Kauai. I long for the ocean again too!

Probably the worst thing that I have ever seen is a full body case of Stevens Johnsons. It was a man who was literally a head to toe wound that we had to peel. Bloody mess! Oh and the escarodomies are nasty as well!

gwenith, you bring up a good question about using some of the newer products on Steven- Johnson cases? I'm not quite sure many of them would be appropriate but now I'm intrigued. I'll try to find some research to see if that has been done yet. If I find anything I'll post it.

Just an update: I'm into my second week and have seen some things I'll not see again, I hope.... I'm enjoying the diversity, the learning, the learning and more learning. And yes, I'm keeping EVERYONE'S pain in check. Pain control is something I do believe in...

Having worked 2 Travel Burn ICU assignments found out a bit along the way. Burn units accept many other types of pts. most needing wound care- depends on the Unit, if sterile or clean. We had several Forstbite pts. and Ped/Adult Burn Smoke Inhalation pts. Lots of those pts seem horrible at first and later look quite normal. Burn pts come in as normal healthy people and do quite well, not having a background of illnessess. The unit is much easier than ICU- those folks have a very ill background. Diprovan, vents and all the drips work well during the immediate recovery period. Plus, Burn Units have the best Nurses, ever, Sheila