Birdwatcher1

Birdwatcher1 RN

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About Birdwatcher1

another older 'new' nurse

Latest Activity

  1. Shift work and pets.

    Have routine bloodwork including thyroid done. Just like in people, many behavioral problems or changes are related to health issues. A good 'rule-out' to be sure your work schedule changes are the reason for behavioral changes, at very least. (I ...
  2. Did you feel ready to practice upon graduation?

    Thanks TraumaRUs and bsnanat2 for your thoughts and support! Much appreciated! :-) I was in a sizeable practice, but I was their first NP and had no opportunity to work with, or shadow PAs in the other areas of the practice, which were different spec...
  3. Did you feel ready to practice upon graduation?

    I have only 6 yrs of RN experience (non-traditional student in 2nd career). Graduated with honors & passed Boards for FNP in Dec, was really excited & felt ready to start learning & being a provider in the specialty practice I was hire...
  4. Nurses Week

    Our employer (outpatient offices/clinic) didn't do anything for Nurses Week; we heard that nurses were included with Administrative Staff Day (Secretary's day) a few weeks ago even though no one told us directly. Admin considers employees at the fac...
  5. Online statistics course?

    Hi All, Have the BSN & am ready to apply to a particular online MSN program, and like everyone else they require a stats course. I've asked, they're not picky about it, just that it's an undergrad and accredited. Do you have any ideas for a su...
  6. Help! Silver Nitrate stain from cauterization!

    As a show dog breeder I use silver nitrate sticks to cauterize puppy dewclaws after removal (the use of silver nitrate is common practice in veterinary medicine--and the ENT on our med/surg unit uses it for human nosebleeds too)...the silver nitrate ...
  7. Pet peeves!

    Not close to the 'biggest' pet peeve category but still annoying: Nurses in the breakroom before start of shift, eating their breakfast, who totally ignore a 'good morning' greeting directed to them. A polite response, acknowledging the presence of ...
  8. Feeling Guilty (calling in sick)

    It doesn't matter to me why anyone calls in. IMHO that's one of the big problems with nursing, everyone is in everyone else's business (management excluded, I've been there and you have to deal with those who abuse the system). If someone needs time...
  9. Critical care unit for a new graduate?

    Is there a way to find out if any other new nurses work there? Support within the recent grad population can be very helpful on a stressful unit, especially after a difficult event. If you are the only new grad, some 'old' nurses may 'eat you alive...
  10. What is your favorite part of oncology nursing?

    The patient population makes oncology rewarding for me. They truly know how important and fragile life is. We get to know the families as well as the patients, and I think the familiarity helps our unit teamwork. I never thought about going into on...
  11. Portacath KVO rate

    Thanks for the replies! The port manufacturer literature says portacath KVO rate is part of the physician's order, thus our unit has no official policy. We have one physician who, when told this, said that KVO is 20, and all his patients are to be ...
  12. Portacath KVO rate

    What does your unit consider kvo for a portacath (adult)? Had trouble finding it in the literature, a fellow nurse had a pt on 20 mL/hr as per order but at that rate infuses ok but lost blood return--so we're interested in what everybody else does. ...
  13. wearing perfume to work

    Perfume or lingering cigarette smoke odor (which for some reason the smokers don't think can be detected ) makes my sinuses go crazy....also makes me wonder how how sensitive patients can stand it -and how their nurses apparently think they can! 4...
  14. Wow, my third 12 hour in a row...

    Dude, what a day...you were awesome!!!! :) (and making me very thankful to be in my quiet little oncology unit!) 4ZBirds
  15. Will there still be a shortage in the year 2010?

    Nurses in 2010 or 2020 might not have to worry about finding a job but unless things change they WILL have to worry about paying bills; our DON says (and I agree) the best way to end the nursing shortage is pay a decent wage! You know one that suppor...