SoCal Nurse

SoCal Nurse has 7 years experience.

Latest Activity

1. ACLS for New Grad BSN RN

   SoCal Nurse replied to cosmicnurse's topic in General Nursing

   If you've got the dough, I'd say go for it. Otherwise I'd let a future employer pay for it. My hospital doesn't recognize outside certs and so they recert all new hires. This policy was started when they discovered fraudulent cards being passed off a...

2. PCCN exam

   SoCal Nurse replied to Floridanurse2018's topic in General Nursing

   Ahrens and Ed4Nurses.com did it for me. GREAT resources. When I took it about 45% was cardiac, and 3 of my questions were the same. Know what changes in what ECG leads suggest what area of infarct (there's a chart for it online). For example: Changes...

3. Depressed and Disappointed in Myself

   SoCal Nurse replied to Samx3's topic in New Nurse

   When I first started on the floor I almost died. I lost 20 pounds in 30 days, was stressed beyond belief, and ended up getting placed on probation (twice) because my time management sucked so much. I really, really struggled, and things got better by...

4. Electives/Capstone for RN-BSN Accelerated Online

   SoCal Nurse replied to suzieharris01's topic in Texas (UTA)

   Hi Suzie, Congrats on almost being done! I'm just finishing my capstone this week, and I found the course to be a breath of fresh air. There is no textbook, no tests. There are discussion board posts, a Powerpoint (15 slides) that you have to present...

5. CCTN Transplant Nurse Certification Study Advice

   SoCal Nurse replied to msdaniwagner's topic in General Specialties

   Congrats on finishing nursing school soon! Out of school I started on a medsurg unit, two years later went to our stepdown ICU (PCU) lvad/heart transplant/ctsurgery unit. We do more heart t/x than any place in the world, so it was a very busy place. ...

6. Choices - Which Job to Choose?

   SoCal Nurse replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Nurse Beth

   I would absolutely take the MedSurg job. You'll learn so much (time management, how to interact with the interdisciplinary team, how to read ECG's and what to do about wonky rhythms, wound care, how to work in an RRT/Code, IV starts, foleys, labs, me...

7. tips and tricks for difficult IV starts?

   SoCal Nurse replied to amzyRN's topic in Emergency

   3 minutes is just fine. Take it slow with the harder cases, better to take an extra minute and get it in than not. If you don't get flash, just stop, take your time and go real slow while you "fish around". I always ask my pts' where the best place i...

8. Why do we do codes?

   SoCal Nurse replied to scrubs0204's topic in General Nursing

   Oh boy, how to answer this. I'll keep it short. Don't let numbers mislead you and keep you from giving 100% during an RRT or code. My hospital has pretty good success rates with codes. We RUN to a code because every second matters. That is the minds...

9. Doing my Preceptorship on a CTU Med Surg floor- need advice!

   SoCal Nurse replied to QB106's topic in Cardiac

   Review chest tubes too😬 Im sure you'll get an orientation and training, so don't stress out too much now, just get a bit familiar and the blanks will get filled in real fast... Best, Gary

10. Med Calc Help!!

    SoCal Nurse replied to xnursingstu1995's topic in Student Assist

    Break it down...you need to know the rate, which they actually give you. You know how many TOTAL units per TOTAL min is infused, so you can just break it down per min. Need: units per 12 min Given: 1,500,000 units/20 min 1,500,000 units/20 min=75,000...

11. First job - step down or CICU

    SoCal Nurse replied to Jdrodr's topic in Cardiac

    If you haven't worked in an icu before I would go for the stepdown unit, for sure. Learn how to be a nurse, how to interact with the team, the flow, procedures, time management etc, then explore your options. The pressure on a new nurse is intense. I...

12. New nurse.. Just want to quit everything..

    SoCal Nurse replied to nohseungjin's topic in General Nursing

    This is what I would do: 1. Make a resume detailing all the work you do, and responsibilities you have etc. Make it look good, no spelling errors. 2. Reach out to local hospitals with your resume. I'd frankly send the resume to the CNO of every local...

13. Gun Owning Nurses

    SoCal Nurse replied to hppygr8ful's topic in General Nursing

    The wonderful thing about nurses owning guns is that in the very, very slim chance any of us would ever have to shoot someone is that we can then render appropriate aid. Remember folks, we have a duty to render aid, and our actions after any shooting...

14. Are There Jobs for Inexperienced RNs Besides Floor Nursing?

    SoCal Nurse replied to jack1971's topic in New Nurse

    I could have written your post 6 years ago. I had to extend my orientation, twice, and was on a type of probation during that time and I saw a counselor to help with my stress. First, you're not, I repeat not, a failure...the nursing system is. I be...