MelBel

MelBel specializes in Geriatric, Medical/Surgical.

Latest Activity

1. A year in...and trust me, it gets better

   MelBel posted a topic in New Nurse

   So I'm just a few days shy of my one-year anniversary. I can't possibly write everything here that I have learned in the past year, or explain just how much my life has changed because of nursing. In my first year, I wanted to quit my job, and looke...

2. Graduate nurse asks: What is a "weekend" off?

   MelBel replied to Sterlink's topic in New Nurse

   I work 12s (7p-7a) and our weekend is sat/sun night (sat/sun for days). I have learned to make an effort and when I put in my schedule request, I will work Fri/Sat/Sun on "my" weekend, so then I can request off Fridays on my weekend off. Otherwise ...

3. Being fired...long and weepy

   MelBel replied to catlvr's topic in New Nurse

   I would NOT do it if it was against the policy, unless it was a truly life or death matter for the patient. If something had been wrong with the meds, you would have gotten in a lot more trouble for not following policy. And as nurses, we have to b...

4. First arterial bleed

   MelBel replied to jessi1106's topic in New Nurse

   I'm glad you posted this, because I've had several patients with pretty bad stage IVs, and NEVER considered that this might happen to me! I expect some bleeding at times, but not like that! At least now if it DOES happen, I can think back to this and...

5. School Questions for recent grads

   MelBel replied to Marie-SC's topic in New Nurse

   Short answer...everyone is different. I completed my entire RN in 2 years, doing nursing and gen eds at the same time. I worked full-time during the second year (part-time the first), and actually managed to have a LITTLE bit of a social life. (I als...

6. Adequate Staffing = I Love my Job

   MelBel replied to MelBel's topic in New Nurse

   The other interesting part of this is that last night I had 4 patients. We only had 1 PCA, but it didn't make too much of a difference because every nurse had few enough patients to do their own total care. 3 of my 4 patients thanked me profusely fo...

7. Adequate Staffing = I Love my Job

   MelBel posted a topic in New Nurse

   So for some unknown reason, this past week my unit was more OVERstaffed than understaffed. I averaged 5 pts/night this week, and no more than 6. (8-9 is our norm) Things that happen when we have enough staff: - My meds are passed on time. - I don't ...

8. Vacation! :)

   MelBel posted a topic in New Nurse

   I just wanted to share that I am now officially on my first vacation after starting nursing! Started in June, have worked a 36+ hr week since then, and now I have no work for 2 full weeks. Just wanted to give something for others to look forward to.....

9. NEW RNs!!!!

   MelBel replied to jeromemdayao's topic in New Nurse

   I'm 22, was 21 when I started working....another new nurse is 23, but besides us, everyone on my floor is over 30. I was used to working jobs where everyone was about the same age as me, but it didn't take long for us to just become another nurse, as...

10. Potential fallout of refusing additional pts

    MelBel replied to PurrRN's topic in General Nursing

    On nights we can get up to 8-9 patients per nurse. If the ER tries to send more, I always call the supervisor before accepting to see if they are aware. If we are having a good night, I tell them that we are going above our ratios, but I will accep...

11. 7 months in...not what I expected

    MelBel replied to sleepyjane's topic in New Nurse

    We just hired a nurse on my unit who has been a nurse for about a year, but mostly in long term care. She is entitled to the same length orientation as the new grad we just hired. But that has to do with our union contract....so I'm sure it depends...

12. ....becomming the charge nurse???

    MelBel replied to jessi1106's topic in New Nurse

    I've been charge since coming off orientation...on our floor SOMEONE has to take charge, and we only have 4 staff nurses on nights...3 of us started at the same time last June. If the more experienced nurse is working, she does it, otherwise it is u...

13. Top Five Tips for Night Shift? For a new nurse?

    MelBel replied to TuckerBug's topic in New Nurse

    I've realized that everyone needs a different kind of schedule...so experiment and find what works for you! On my first day on, I go to sleep about 2am the night before, wake up at 8, run some errands, and then nap about 12-4. I make my "half days" m...

14. students! they have no sympathy!

    MelBel replied to labrador4122's topic in New Nurse

    My second preceptor had the style of "do it for yourself, come find me when you need to". But she was ALWAYS available, and she also always knew what was going on with my patients. She made me think through things, and never just gave me the answer...

15. fluid overload ,sepsis, Pneumonia what?!?

    MelBel replied to lilacscrubs's topic in New Nurse

    I think if you notified the MD and documented, you did all you can. I probably would have asked the MD if they would want some Lasix given...but other than that, exactly what you did.