New things I've done/seen

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 1, 2005

That is great to read you are enjoying it. Leaves a good feeling to those of us who are still in school. Best of luck to you and continued success. :)

Brotherbob, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2005

I had a patient with sub Q emphysema. That was strange. I'd read about it in the books of course, but really didn't think it was something you came across too often. It was in this patients shoulder/upper chest/entire arm. It just felt so....strange. Someone described it like it was like pushing on a bubble sheet and that summed it up well. YOu could feel the air in there.

I agree, SQ emphysema sure feels weird. I too try to see and touch as much as possible. It makes the job interesting. Keep that attitude.

chattypattyCRNA2B · Aug 1, 2005

That IS really interesting. Can't wait until it is my turn.:)

rbnNurse · Aug 4, 2005

Great post HappyNurse.

This is the end of my first 'official' week as an LPN. I say official because I work in the same place I've been a CNA for the last year. I got my license much sooner than expected and had to show up for a shift and tell my nurse that he had an LPN on the floor. He got out the label maker, printed LPN and stuck it over the CNA on my name tag and said "let's get to work!" I did all my CNA duties and helped out with other simple tasks. Thankfully nothing untoward happened that shift while I was the only one on the floor.

But for the real first week it's been a blast. I've done more charting and learned great tips from my collegues on how to document that I could never have learned in school. I've done more assessments, G-tubes, straight caths, injections, and doctor calls than I could ever get in school. I've been able to be a part of a family's life as their loved one passed from us. I had to make some pretty tough decisions about meds and tubes, running them by my orientation nurse. She helped me sort out the paperwork and later, both she and the family complimented me on the care delivered. Wow! That's why I got into the field. :)

Was I nervous, you betcha! But along the way were other nurses who kept reminding me that school prepared me to learn everything I need to know to do the job. That gave me a great boost. And there wasn't one question that wasn't answered kindly and with some tips from experience thrown in for good measure.

And mistakes? Yeah, there've been a few moments. I drew up some Lantus and noticed that the solution was cloudy just before I gave it to the patient. Turns out that the bottle was expired and for another client, it had been placed in the wrong location and wasn't dated properly. Phew, did I get lucky or was it the million times the instructors asked, "have you checked the dose again"!

Then there was the assessment I did on a client returned to us after a BKA. I was doing the orientation and ambulation questions and the aide left the room quickly as I started to ask about how well she could get around. Well, as I got to the point of doing the physical I drew back the covers and discovered that the patient was not oriented x4 :chuckle . I kept my cool and finished the exam. As I got into the hall the aides were lined up. I gave them a "well I guess she's not well oriented to her circumstances is she?" and we all shared good laugh. They didn't think I was so stupid after that.

I'm still in a ladder program for my RN, and I couldn't feel any better about the program today. The chance to be on the floor while finishing up is giving me the education you can't get in NS.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Aug 4, 2005

Hi everyone! Well I am at the end of my second week as a newly practicing RN. So far I have done a bunch of new things I've never done in nursing school: I've done two admissions already, did tube feeding via a G-tube for the first time (& I had this patient for 3 shifts now so I'm pretty good with tube feedings now!:) I know how to check for residual too-yippee! :)), I put in my very first Foley catheter yesterday, I've given IV push morphine & Lasix & pepcid a ton of times now, I've given a ton of SC insulin & heparin, I've done a lot of assessments & charting. I've having a lot of fun learning! :)

-Christine

grinnurse, RN · Aug 5, 2005

I am ending my 2nd month of being a real nurse and today, I packed iodaform into a boil that had been I&D last night and didn't throw up!! Great for me b/c before nursing school I couldn't change the dressing on my dh back from a cyst removal w/o gagging and literally fainting!! LOL Did a PEG tube feeding, used guided imagery to calm a patient while doing a procedure, talked to lots of Doctors about the patients (never got the chance in NS) and made the decision to ship a patient that had a DVT and was not looking good to a larger hospital. He had previously had a cardiac cath done Monday and had a huge hematoma on his r groin area. Something told me he needed more care than what we could offer. His wife had called to have his linen changed b/c he had awakened from a nap and his bed was soaked with sweat. Was spouting off orders to the student who was in the room about getting v/s, s blood sugar level, etc. I started thinking to myself on the way home that I had made the right decision about nursing b/c the wife gave me a hug once the ambulance arrived to pick him up and told me she would let me know how things go for them. I really felt like a real nurse today and realized these people are depending on me for their lives.

Sorry it got a little long but I was quite the busy beaver today. Glad we are all getting to do the things that we missed out on in NS.