bluewhale3

Thank you SO MUCH Scottb88 for your time and being so thorough! I'm several weeks in and your suggestions apply SO MUCH! what you're saying about medications is so important I think I'll start lookig more thoroughly about medications now. So far I've mainly been looking up the procedures because there are so many that I don't know but I totally forgot about the importance of the medications too, especially like you said about furosemide. I'll start reading more about the red flags of the procedures too because I'm still not entirely familiar with those. I try to look at the labs and results but right now my time magement sucks so bad that it's just hard for me to take the time to look through the charts because I'm so task oriented ?. I'm really going to take your advice to work though. THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU'RE GREAT!

Gonna be a little bit long so please bear with me! Hi all I am a new grad to a post op med surg floor. I've only been only been on the floor for 4 days but feeling overwhelmed. So far I've been taking 2 out of the 4 patients and I am struggling with time management and charting, understanding what to expect, to the point where my preceptor does a lot for my two patients. I have several questions so please answer whichever ones you can. A few things I've noticed: -I don't think we work with post op orthopedic surgeries because the hospital has an ortho floor. -So far it appears the pt ratio is 4:1, but I will be working night shifts after I'm off orientation so I'm expecting that to change -We do get post op transplant and bariatric patients. So far I've seen post op lung lobectomies for cancer, Wipples, grastrectomy. We also get post op tele patients. I heard they do blood transfusions often. -Drains that I've seen are chestubes, bili and JP drains, NG tubes, foleys. PCA pumps, Epidural PCAs My questions are: 1.) Complications, what to expect, meds , tips, tricks, or anything that you can offer me about those mentioned above would be much appreciated! I've never worked with this patient population before so I don't know what to expect. 2.) Those who have worked on a similar unit, what other surgeries should I learn about? I want to study as much as I can about this so that I don't have to waste time looking them up during work becuase my time management already sucks and I always feel behind. 3.) Some meds that I should be aware of? pain meds, treatment meds, etc. 4.) Labs? What are some big lab values that I should monitor for? Right now I'm trying to focus on sepsis but what other complications and lab values/components are there that would raise red flags. 5.) I know early ambulation is important and we follow the ERAS protocol (Enhansed recovery after surgery), but the patient is in SO MUCH PAIN, how do I know when it's not appropriate to push/encourage them? I hesitate with pushing them too much Basically just anything and everything that you can throw at me, I would really appreciate. Just being a nurse in general. I still feel like a nursing student with my preceptor monitoring my every move becuase I am still making mistakes and I really appreciate them for that. Thank you so much allnurses community!

TY! for the suggestion! I haven't been writing down my questions because and I really have been forgetting so I'll start doing that. As for the nursing student part, you're right in the sense that I don't have any experience. But I do feel like since I'm now in the role of an RN, I have all the responsibilities and consequences that come with being an RN, regardless of my of my lack of exierience. My license is on the line so I HAVE to know more, even if it'll overload my brain. I feel like I can't think and behave like a student anymore Like you said it will happen and it will come with time, but I want to be as knowledgeable as I can so I'm hoping ill get more tips. trying to be proactive here LOL

Gonna be a little bit long so please bear with me! Hi all I am a new grad to a post op med surg floor. I've only been only been on the floor for 4 days but feeling overwhelmed. So far I've been taking 2 out of the 4 patients and I am struggling with time management and charting, understanding what to expect, to the point where my preceptor does a lot for my two patients. I have several questions so please answer whichever ones you can. A few things I've noticed: -I don't think we work with post op orthopedic surgeries because the hospital has an ortho floor. -So far it appears the pt ratio is 4:1, but I will be working night shifts after I'm off orientation so I'm expecting that to change -We do get post op transplant and bariatric patients. So far I've seen post op lung lobectomies for cancer, Wipples, grastrectomy. We also get post op tele patients. I heard they do blood transfusions often. -Drains that I've seen are chestubes, bili and JP drains, NG tubes, foleys. PCA pumps, Epidural PCAs My questions are: 1.) Complications, what to expect, meds , tips, tricks, or anything that you can offer me about those mentioned above would be much appreciated! I've never worked with this patient population before so I don't know what to expect. 2.) Those who have worked on a similar unit, what other surgeries should I learn about? I want to study as much as I can about this so that I don't have to waste time looking them up during work becuase my time management already sucks and I always feel behind. 3.) Some meds that I should be aware of? pain meds, treatment meds, etc. 4.) Labs? What are some big lab values that I should monitor for? Right now I'm trying to focus on sepsis but what other complications and lab values/components are there that would raise red flags. 5.) I know early ambulation is important and we follow the ERAS protocol (Enhansed recovery after surgery), but the patient is in SO MUCH PAIN, how do I know when it's not appropriate to push/encourage them? I hesitate with pushing them too much Basically just anything and everything that you can throw at me, I would really appreciate. Just being a nurse in general. I still feel like a nursing student with my preceptor monitoring my every move becuase I am still making mistakes and I really appreciate them for that. Thank you so much allnurses community!!!

I heard that hospitals in Hawaii look at the schools that you go to when hiring. They prefer the KCC and UH student over chaminade and HPU so I was hesitant about apply for HPU... I want to be adequately prepared for the workforce

I think they actually do take letters of recommendation into consideration. I also think it's good that hooyagetitin has these years of outreach and hospital internship experience. According to item 7 on the ADN application: "Health-Related Work Experience or Training: Additional consideration will be given for those applicants completing health-related work experience or training prior to application. The letter of reference should document the applicant’s direct patient care experience in a health-related field as evidenced by completion of a training program, work experience or physician verification of care giving experience. Official academic transcripts or a copy of certification should be submitted to document the applicant’s completion of a training program." I agree in that the C's might hold the person down but the experiences this person has may help make up for it. Best thing to do is ask though because I could be wrong.

Hey guys! Did anyone get their letters yet? I'm still waiting for mine...