J-lynn

Thanks so much amoLucia! I interviewed but haven't had any word back yet. It will happen if it is meant to be I am sure!

Thanks so much for the input Scribblz! I had the interview on Friday. Not feeling overly great about my interview performance, but I am planning to shadow for a day if they want me and will likely accept the job if it is offered. Thank you for the encouragement!

Thanks for the response IVRUS. I think a lot of my issues in Nursing are that I am largely a relationship-oriented person in a task oriented profession. I have been out of nursing for many, many years raising kids, and my manager hired me though I had been out of the hospital for over 20 years. I was hired for registry on nights for 12 hour shifts. But even as a new nurse, I hated Med-Surg. I start my shift feeling overwhelmed with the number of things that need to be done. It has gotten better since I come in early to look at orders and meds for each patient. If I get started being called into rooms before I have had an opportunity to do that then my anxiety is terrible. The fact that I do this job for 12 hours on nights contributes to the stress. I just don't have the energy. My hope had been that I could get experience that would help me move into an area that was a better fit for me. But I am not sure I can continue. I went in to my supervisor's office last week to discuss it with her and to discuss applying for the infusion position. The visit went extremely well. She feels I would be a good fit for the infusion position but also is encouraging me strongly to continue on the floor. I told her I felt worried that I might be a drain on the other nurses with all my questions. But she told me that whenever she tells the other nurses I am coming in, they are very happy. She says that would not be their reaction if I wasn't pulling my weight on the floor. All the nurses are also telling me I am doing a good job as well-especially considering how hard it is to come back to the hospital after so many years out. But what they don't see is the stress I am feeling trying to do a good job. One of the charge nurses told me my problem was wanting to know too much about each patient. That is apparently slowing me down. But still I just don't like med-surg and that seems to be a common experience for many nurses. I would have quit this job almost immediately if my husband hadn't pushed me to continue. What I do like about med-surg is the critical thinking. I like monitoring patients on their progress and trying to help them improve. I love that simple nursing measures can make a big difference in their symptoms improving. I like trying to make the best decisions for my patients and feeling like I am learning things that will make me a better nurse and improve my patients' outcomes. I haven't had many chances to start IV's. But I did clinic nursing before this job and loved drawing labwork on patients. I loved it so much that I considered going to phlebotomy school. I thought I would love the interactions with clients though I would have missed the decision making part of nursing. Once again, my husband discouraged me from doing that. He is an ER physician and has strong opinions about what he thinks I can do or what he thinks I will like. I think he is finally letting go of all that thank God!! Though he has very important insights for me to think about, I need to find my own way and make my own final decisions. When the infusion position came open, I began reading a few of the threads here on this forum. I felt excited about the position the more I read, and that is new for me. So I have applied and will see what happens. I haven't heard anything so far so they may not have any interest in me. Whatever happens I will be at peace with it. I just wanted to try to find out if I should apply or not. I guess there is no way anyone can tell me that with 100% accuracy. I just have to make the best decision I can. If I do get an interview, I plan to ask about shadowing for a day. I think that will give me a pretty good idea if it's for me. I knew without a doubt the very first day on the floor that I had made a big mistake. And I would have left almost immediately without my husband's pushing. Despite the stress it has caused me, I am so grateful for all I have learned. One last thing I forgot to mention that I did love about the floor--the other nurses. I really, really love being a part of a team helping others. I love learning from all the other nurses. And that is the difficult part of leaving med-surg for me. But the toll it is taking on me is not worth it. If you took all this time to read this and are willing to share your wisdom then I thank you!!

Hi all, Just curious to know how all you infusion nurses feel about med-surg nursing. I am currently working med-surg and hating it. I am considering applying for a part time infusion position that has recently opened but am wondering if I hate med-surg will I most likely hate infusion nursing as well. Did all of you start out in med-surg? How did you like it and how did it compare to infusion nursing? Thanks!

Thanks kbm2002. I am going to try and hang in there just to get the experience. Thanks so much for the response. Sure wish our hospitals offered 8 hour shifts on the floor. Twelve hours is just so difficult.

Hi Everyone, I just returned to the hospital after many, many years away as registry. I am orienting on the Med-Surge floor and finding that the 12 hour shifts are just really too much for me. Wondering if just covering partial shifts is of any value to a hospital. I have seen it done once since I started. I am thinking that after orientation, I will come in when called rather than signing up for a full shift. I would offer to come in for 4-6 hours. Do you see this where you are working?

Fascinating, hurricanekat!! So glad your daughter came through it without serious injury!!

Thanks everyone! I got more information at the safety meeting this morning. Apparently she has had a workup by a pediatric cardiologist who has completely cleared her cardiac-wise. Her BG was tested during one of my ambulance calls & it was 100. I feel the same about her not seeing an MD with something so serious--my husband said my attitude was not right about that, but an MD gets SO much more training. As for pregnancy, I haven't asked but this has been an ongoing issue for a couple of years that just recently increased dramatically in frequency. The NP did see the video which the mom said really did give her more insight. After seeing it, she really felt even more certain that it is neurological in nature. She thought the way this student jerked back as she fell was indicative of a neurological cause. Thank goodness for that video!!! Also---the NP said no concussion. She thinks her body is taking the brunt of the force of the fall. Another detail from the student today was that her headache never improves until she faints. But, as I mentioned before, her headache has now been ongoing for weeks... I haven't had much experience with POTS, but hopefully that is something else they are considering. She doesn't seem to have the weakness that I saw with a previous student with POTS. But it just seems that SOMETHING is dropping her B/P?? We are going to try getting her to the office in a wheelchair when she feels it coming on & see if lying down with her feet up will get her feeling better and prevent the fainting. But if she continues to feel like she could faint, we will keep her in the office to do her work for now. She will have an elevator pass & use a buddy system for now as well. Next Tuesday is her MRI & one week later is her appointment with the pediatric neurologist. I am so glad her mom got to see the video....It really lit a fire in her to keep trying to get help!! OldDude--yes, I am extremely fortunate to be able to have my husband to ask questions! But I have learned many things he has no idea about from you guys as well!

Nutmegge...I have not done that. Thanks for mentioning it. MHDNURSE, no one has mentioned the cardiac workup. My husband is an ER doc, formerly FP. He said the same. She needs a cardiac workup. He said he would have her being a literal couch potato--NO exercise--until it comes back clean. I will be requesting an elevator key for her & someone to accompany her on the elevator. Going to talk with mom today about the cardiac workup & driving....My husband said also that whoever said don't come back to the ER is making a big mistake. He said they broke a cardinal rule---if a person comes to the ER 3 times, he says you admit them & find out what the heck is going on...

(EDIT) ADMIN NOTE: Per the TOS, to which you agreed when you joined, this is a public board and fully searchable. So the young lady that I called an ambulance for last Friday fainted again today. They called me and she was sitting in a wheelchair pale & with a headache. I immediately got her on the floor with her feet up & her B/P was 120/48. Called mom who said the doc said follow the care plan. The plan states she is to rest until she feels better and then go back to class. So while she was resting, one of the AP's pulled up the video of her fainting in the hallway. It happened between classes. She and a friend were leaning over the school store counter. The video shows her first sitting down with her head between her knees--this is the plan for when she feels faint. Then she gets up, leans over the counter to look into the store again. Then she stands up straight, falls back, hands at her side, hits her but & head HARD. No hands reflexively reaching out to stop the fall. It was a horrifying thing to watch. A picture really is worth a thousand words. So I said that her mom really needs to see what is happening. When I checked on her again, she was still pale and with a headache. She has had a headache for weeks now & is not sleeping due to the pain. A PA saw her in the ER last Friday after I had her transported for the fainting, headache, and super low B/P & could find nothing. He said don't send her back unless something different happens. Just follow the care plan The family pushed for a CT but it showed nothing. She is scheduled soon for a full body MRI & has an appointment with a neurologist after that. I called mom back & said that she needed to come see the videos we had of her fainting--we also had one from last week when she fainted in the hallway...I told her we can't keep having her hit her head like this & I didn't feel comfortable keeping her at school after hitting her head like that again... I said she needed someone to monitor her for concussion symptoms--NO ONE has mentioned a concussion after all of this!! Or even the possibility of it!! She took her daughter to see the NP after she left. Our SRO sent the video to the NP. I don't know the results of that visit yet. ANYhow...I just got a message from her AP who has set up a safety meeting with me, mom, and the principal in the morning. But seriously, I am at a loss!!! What else can we do? This young lady is trying to take steps to sit down & rest, but she isn't always able to predict it and is feeling so badly that I question whether she should be in school right now. Thoughts anyone? I don't feel like I have much to offer for the safety meeting except please keep her home or get her a helmet until something is done for her medically to stop this!! BTW, she has had these fainting episodes for a couple of years. But iit was rather infrequent & has now ratcheted way up in the past month. Parents thought she was doing it for attention. But no way in MY mind a person could fall backward like that and not reflexively reach out your hands to stop your head from hitting full force.

Thanks, OldDude, I will take it under advisement! BTW, your advice had my husband in stitches! And thanks for the help, Estateboy! Good luck on your interview. They would be fortunate to get you!

I think sometimes we are going to be criticized no matter what. I totally agree that relying on our gut, training & experience is the best way to make decisions. This is not an exact science as some people think. There are a lot of judgement calls. One of the most valuable things I think I have learned from this job is not to worry about defending the decisions I make unless asked to. I have done my best each day to triage my workload & to take care of kids to the best of my ability. As much as I'd like people around me to appreciate the care & effort I am giving, in the end my own self respect & doing my best for the kids is the most important thing....

Thanks nurses! You are all amazing & I learn so much just following threads on these boards. Unfortunately, I am leaving the ranks of school nursing...I just don't have the organizational skills to keep up with all the tasks & the daunting amount of paperwork. I was given a high school & an elementary school & I've been sinking with the paperwork. I've had emergency after emergency (which I have LOVED) & not enough time to do all I need to do. I do not have the leadership & organizational skills that School Nursing requires. I will miss the autonomy & decision making, and I will miss the teenagers TERRIBLY. I just love taking care of them. And even though I hate making care plans, I have learned SO much from doing them. I have cried a bucket-load over it & now's time to move on. I'm just not sure where I can go in nursing that will utilize my strengths & not my weaknesses?? I feel like my assessment skills are good & that maybe urgent care is a good place for me...not sure & I fortunately don't have to be in a hurry. Wherever I land, I will continue following this area of all nurses for my own professional growth. Much respect to you amazing school nurses!! J-lynn

Got it, Old Dude!! And thanks so much for the encouragement!!

Hi Nurses! So I had an ambulance call today & would like to see how you would have handled it. I got called about a student who has a history of fainting (doctors are still trying to figure out why). She felt dizzy and fell down hitting her knee first and then her head. She had a headache & said she was "not feeling right." I asked if her neck or back were hurting & she said no. She eventually noticed her hip hurting as well. She was slightly pale still but good vitals. I called an ambulance because I didn't want to move her as she had hit her head hard & I didn't want to move her even though she didn't have neck or back pain. The ambulance crew allowed her to get up onto the stretcher & her dad ended up transporting. I am not beating myself up but would like your input on how you would have decided to let her get up & move or stay still for an ambulance. She is a 16 y/o high school student. On a different note--I gave my first epi on Monday! Had to give two epis because she was still very symptomatic 6 minutes after the first dose (dizzy, nausea, flushing on her chest with red streaks going toward her abd., SOB, numb throat). I got her on the floor with her feet up after the first epi & the dizziness improved. But then she started to feel worse So she got a second dose of epi. My principal was at the student's head and saw the red streaks receding after the second dose of epi. The ambulance was delayed due to road blocks... Thanks for any thoughts you might have on assessment of the student who fell!! J-lynn