how different are the hosps here compared to hosps there in the US?

[devshop]

im training right now in de los santos hosp (until march2007) in their med/surg ward. what i like about here in dls hosp is that we have our LPNs/CNAs. so RNs dont have to take the VS, I&O monitoring , bedmaking etc.. as trainees, we administer medications including IV push etc and the documentation. and because im a new graduate, people keep saying there's no need to train here that much if ur planning to work abroad. they say it's because of the hospital setting is very different. how different is the hosp setting there? and what else is different?

thanks.

[RNHawaii34]

im training right now in de los santos hosp (until march2007) in their med/surg ward. what i like about here in dls hosp is that we have our lpns/cnas. so rns dont have to take the vs, i&o monitoring , bedmaking etc.. as trainees, we administer medications including iv push etc and the documentation. and because im a new graduate, people keep saying there's no need to train here that much if ur planning to work abroad. they say it's because of the hospital setting is very different. how different is the hosp setting there? and what else is different?

thanks.

what is the difference? hmmm...here are few that i experienced while working in medical-surgical nursing dept.

1. we don't pay for our orientation ( you call it "training", we call it work orientation because we actually get paid for that long orientation period.

2. we have no lpns, but we have competent, state certified nurses assistants. they do basic stuff like feeding, bathing, ambulating, changing sheets, provide patient safety, and most of all taking vital signs and reporting any changes to the rns.( and they are good with answering call lights too).

* we wash our hands, and we use disposable gloves when touching the patients.

3. we do standard, basic nursing care/procedures:

* we initiate patient admissions: we gather all datas.

* we do initiate patients' transfer to other depts.

* we do give patient teachings, demonstrations, etc., i.e, how to check blood sugar, administer insulin, use respiratory inhaler for example.

* we handle all communications regarding the patients to m.d's, primary, attending, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, dietician, pt, ot, social worker, financial services, family members, etc.

*we do a thorough patient assessments, yes, rns here do their own pt. assessments here in the u.s., not the doctors.

* we receive doctor's order, either via computerized mar, verbal, or telephone.

* carry out m.d. orders.

* we do report prompt change in patient's status to the m.d.s, (sbar, any one?).

*we still do our own vital signs if we need to, specially for post op, and new admits. depending on doctors order.

*we do administer iv fluids ( insertion done by iv therapist) yes, we use cool iv pumps.we wash our hands and use disposable gloves when touching the patients.

* we administer blood products.

* we check blood sugars, administer sliding-scale insulin.

* we give meds, iv push, administer tube-feedings, tpn, ppn.

* monitor insulin drips, pca's, remove pca caths.

* insert foley caths, do straight caths, 24 hour urine.

* we assess, change, empty colostomy bags. we wash our hands and use disposable gloves whenever we touch the patients........

* do nurse to draw, collect lab specimen, status lab specimen.

* we assess all kinds of wounds, do dressing changes, simple, wet to dry, tegaderms, douderms, etc.

* we still assess/monitor, empty all kinds of drainage from bile bags, jp's, hemovacs, chest tubes, ngt's, etc.

* we prepare patients for surgery: is the patients' consent form was signed? was he/she npo? allergies? meds? is this patient full code, or no code?

* we follow patient care plans, update it if needed.

* we do paperless documentation, yes, we do everything via computer, from charting, to ordering meds, and supplies.

* we address all patients needs and concerns as much as we can.

* we still do clean patients bowel movement once in a while, for me its better because i get to assess patient's skin at the same time.

* oh, we do use disposable gloves all the time. we always do strict handwashing, and take serious precaution. we wash our hands, we use disposable gloves when touching the patient......

* we have paid inservice(s).

* we get paid for referrals :-)

* we have paid vacations, pto's, sick leave, maternity leaves, time and a halfs.

* we use body mechanics, not only to protect ourselves, but the patients as well.

* we are all nclex-rn passers, bls-acls certified ( u.s.).

okay, these are just few stuffs that we do/have in our workplace, i am sure there are other stuff in other hospitals:-)

happy holidays!!

did you wash your hands today?