BlueShoes12 BSN, RN

BlueShoes12 is a BSN, RN and specializes in PACU, Stepdown, Trauma.

Latest Activity

1. Patients Filming You

   BlueShoes12 replied to Anonymous666's topic in General Nursing

   I have only been filmed once (at least that I am aware of). I was discharging a patient home with a Foley catheter. As I was beginning to review the discharge instructions and catheter care/management, the patient and their spouse asked if they could...

2. PACU Bypass to ICU

   BlueShoes12 replied to stjohn's topic in General Nursing

   In the PACU where I work, we recover ICU patients unless they are going to stay vented. If the patient is not vented or they want to try to extubate the patient post op, then they come to us in PACU. We will also board ICU patients after a procedure...

3. Type and Screen

   BlueShoes12 replied to ShipleyRN's topic in General Nursing

   My healthcare facility requires two draws when there is no previous T&S on file and one draw if there is a previous T&S on file and has for a couple of years.

4. New York to Drop Masks in Hospital Facilities

   BlueShoes12 replied to Nurse Alexa's topic in COVID

   I'm in Michigan and my facility still mandates masking in all patient care areas. I hope they drop the mandate soon, though! Frankly, both staff and patients are getting increasingly lax about wearing them, and I'm beyond ready to ditch the masks. I ...

5. YOU: A Nurse Writer

   BlueShoes12 replied to M. Lee RN's topic in Entrepreneurs

   Those are all great suggestions! I've just gotten back into freelance writing after a few years away (I have a previous bachelor's degree in English) and have written study materials, practice test questions, recruiting copy for staffing agencies, la...

6. Have you ever left in the middle of a shift?

   BlueShoes12 replied to SilverBells's topic in General Nursing

   I've left once to go to the ER with chest pain and tachycardia (after my charge nurse assumed care of my patients).

7. Depressed with Nursing

   BlueShoes12 replied to kyfitch's topic in General Nursing

   With six years of experience in so many different areas, you'll be in high demand no matter where you apply. I moved from bedside nursing into PACU nursing (pre-op and post-op). It's located at a hospital with a Level 2 trauma center, so we get some ...

8. PACU visitation & policies

   BlueShoes12 replied to FJW&ADP's topic in PACU

   When I discharge an outpatient from PACU post op, we always give discharge instructions to the patient's caretaker. I'll go over it with the patient as well if they are alert but don't expect them to retain any of it. We always help the patient to d...

9. When to Contact Anesthesia

   BlueShoes12 replied to Sirrahsim's topic in PACU

   You present a couple of very interesting scenarios! In the first case, I wouldn't get too excited if that patient remained that way for 30 or 40 minutes post-op. If it persisted after that, I would follow up with the anesthesiologist like you did. I'...

10. Giving Report and IV Access

    BlueShoes12 replied to thehipbonesconnected's topic in General Nursing

    Here's another perspective. I work in PACU and pre-op and always ask about IV access when getting report from the floor. But that's because the requirements for the gauge, number of IVs and placement of IVs vary wildly depending on the surgical proce...

11. Leaving the Bedside as a New Nurse: Is It a Good Idea?

    BlueShoes12 replied to thehappynurse98's topic in General Nursing

    Since you already have an offer for a new job, give your two weeks notice (some hospital systems require 30 days, so keep this in mind if you want to possibly be rehired later on) and walk away without any guilt. It sounds like a wonderful opportunit...

12. What nursing specialty would fit me best?

    BlueShoes12 replied to MissRN2394's topic in General Nursing

    I work in PACU/pre-op and it offers the best work/life balance that I've found — much better than bedside nursing. There are a huge variety of shifts and start times available: 8, 10 and 12 hours, and start times from 5 am to 1:00 pm (plus night shif...

13. Do you ever feel guilty on your days off (not sick days)?

    BlueShoes12 replied to Ele_phant's topic in General Nursing

    Nope. Staffing is not my problem as a bedside nurse. I do pick up a partial extra shift on occasion if they're willing to pay time and a half, but that's maybe 3 or 4 times a year. I do my part by showing up to work on time, doing my best, help...

14. Tele vs Step down vs CCU

    BlueShoes12 replied to zombie nurse's topic in General Specialties

    Honestly, I think hospitals have so many different names for similar units that your best bet is to be up front with what your previous experiences have been and look at the requirements for each particular position. A quick Google search shows lots ...

15. Tele vs Step down vs CCU

    BlueShoes12 replied to zombie nurse's topic in General Specialties

    CCU is most commonly a coronary care unit - a unit that offers critical-care level cardiac-specific care. Progressive care unit generally refers to a step down unit—a high level of care but not ICU-level. The delineation between step down and ...