spacenurse: critcial care preceptor & nursing activist
spent an interesting evening in chat with spacenurse…til 5am
a few weeks ago. a staunch nursing supporter, her many threads focus on nursing and social activism. she still finds time to unwind in the breakroom.
learn more about this amazing member. karen
current practice setting : staff nurse critical care. we're a cardiac unit caring for patients from r/o mi through all interventions including open heart surgery. no transplants though. we also get icu overflow, gi bleed, head trauma, a little of everything. the most specialized acute patients get transferred. i am in charge sometimes. turned down permanent charge position. love precepting students and orienting new nurses. we float tptelemetry. i will also work in medical-surgical or care for critical care patients in the er.
bio/nursing background: i was a teen candy striper "the book girl" taking paperbacks and magazines to patients. dropped out of university and went to community college for an aa. one class was a certified nursing assistant course. worked for a few months as a cna before attending an lvn program.
worked at the va as an lvn on an orthopedic unit. got married and less than two years later had a daughter. worked registry while my mom cared for my baby and husband worked. then had a son. i got licensed as a day care provider and started with one little boy who is now 6'4" and my sons best friend. later had a total of 6 little kids all day.
when my youngest was in first grade i took a job where i work now as an lvn on medical surgical unit. i'm fortunate that many of us still work together or on other units. i took lots of classes and went to nights to be with my kids more. about 20 years ago i went back to school for my adn and transferred to ccu, went to an rn to bsn program, graduated. i was in grad school taking course work to be a clinical nurse specialize when our hospital was purchased by a for profit. they cut staff, laid off rn's and pharmacists, and tried to scare us with the threat that we could be let go.
a friend invited me to a meeting with the cna. i ended up finishing the quarter with good grades but withdrew from the program to work to save the high standards of nursing care we had. couldn't do that, other volunteer work, and spend time with my husband and family.
i've been at this hospital almost thirty years . i'm very active on a committee at my hospital that worked on improving patient care. additionally, i'm a member of the american association of critical care nurses (aacn).
most memorable nursing event: on a personal level i cared for my dad with the assistance of amazing hospice nurses. he was a good daddy but had never understood what nurses do. my step-mom said to me, "it must be hard to do such personal thing for your dad." my professional musician and high school music teacher dad (if you go to movies or watch tv you've heard his horn) told her, "she's a professional. to her this is like playing scales."
in the big picture getting the california safe staffing law with ratios as the minimum and staffing up according to the needs of the patients. i am very proud that with thousands of others we passed the first safe staffing law ever. it took 12 years to get passed and implemented. some hospitals and some units still don't comply. none are perfect. we are quite good. of course the struggle continues. as gilda radner said, "it's always something."
answer the question. nursing is…. both an art and science. scientific knowledge, technical skill, and caring. the nursing process, not a series of tasks.
biggest change in nursing?computerized charting and monitors that automatically chart vital signs, urine output, and other data is the biggest change
favorite allnurses forum: nursing news, general nursing discussion, the break room, and current events tie. love the humor in the good morning thread…. i'm not so clever but they tolerate and tease me. sometimes they think i was being clever and funny but didn't mean to. this is my favorite site in the entire internet!
allnurses members who’s advice you follow: partial list...i've got a lot to learn. prmenrs, smilingblueyes, roy fokker, mercyteapot, papawjohn, mjlrn97, lindarn, soontobe_rn, earle58, franemtnurse (poopsybublnose), beary-nice, rn/writer, uro-rn, tweety, siri, fun2care, bethin, cheerfuldoer, stevielynn, raindreamer, grace oz, gwenith, jnette, suzy253, marie_lpn, cyberkat, sunnyjohn, fire wolf, and dianah are members i've learned from…. and so many wonderful nurses. often i learn from responses to others posts.
members signature or avatar that tickles your funny bone: i enjoy so many. gwenths fantasy art is unique.
if i was a tree, i’d be a _kelp forest i guess. because: kelp sways with the tide.
advice for bb members: learn and enjoy this amazing bb! follow the tos, post if moved to it, don't take it personal if someone misconstrues your meaning. try not to assume their meaning if it upsets you. i've been guilty of that and often wrong.
memorable posts that standout in your mind "my patient died" by efiebke (ted) and the many posts that help keep me informed about nursing issues and news. i first learned about unlicensed personnel giving meds in a post by vickyrn.
i love the opinions in current events because i don't talk politics or religion at work.
activism:
judge backs law to increase nursing staffs
rn mentors help new nurses thrive
landmark pact for 4,700 chw hospital rns
safe staffing ratios for massachusetts? (1 2)
teach me about the national right to work committee
"nurse avenger" video game & music video
general:
do our steths spread infection
want to hear a beautiful and inspiring song?
this guy doesn’t know about bed scales!
it just gets worse
critical care nursing
profession info:
about critical care nursing
nurses for a healthier tomorrow
discovernursing.com
association:
american association of critical care nurses
ccrn - certification for adult, neonatal and pediatric critical ...
publications:
critical care nurse
dimensions in critical care nursing - home
ccrn - certification for adult, neonatal and pediatric critical ...
