gracer

Hi, I've worked 2 years nightshift on ortho ward since i graduated, I do 8 hr shifts 2300-0700 not 12 and find it really good. We usually have two RN,s for 20-30 pts with an extra if were busy and a transfer nurse to call if we need help, ie when 3 or 4 nurses required for logrolls. We generally cover each other to have a break without answering call bells but sometimes go without a proper break. I find the quiet nights the most tiring as when you are active you keep going, it's when you sit down that you start to feel sleepy, I've only fallen asleep once at work and woke up to a callbell not knowing where I was! Horrible feeling so now I won't put my head down, some nurses I work with do catch a few zzzz's now and then though. I am starting to think I need a change but hard to go onto days knowing how hectic it is and less pay!

I've had two pt's require CPR in two years of nights on a surg ward, neither was straight forward. The first had collapsed between furniture and was asolutely covered in vomit so very slippery and difficult to hold ambu bag, but the two of us RNs on the ward did our best until the ICU team arrived and he was revived after a long time when I thought he was gone, he did die later that day in ICU, but had a few extra hours with family. The other was awaiting a heart valve transplant, a very big man and sitting upright in a chair when he arrested, we were unsuccessful then as he had no cardiac output at all but continued for 30 mins until the Dr called it, partly due to the pts famiy being present, until they finally said enough. Both were upsetting particularly when it's a pt youv'e got to know well but in the situation adrenaline starts pumping and you do what needs to be done. In New Zealand it has been recently publicized for the public to commence compressions and not worry about mouth to mouth, I think due to the reluctance for contact, any attempts at all in an arrest situation are better than none. I certainly would have a problem giving mouth to mouth to someone covered in vomit.

Hi, I'm also looking to possibly relocate to Sth Texas and work as an RN, been a bit put off by some of the info on here. My partner wants to live on Sth Padre and as far as I know this means my options for work would be in Brownsville or Mc Allen, is this the "harshest" area?

Jats2 Thanks, I also appreciate your advice. I am an RN in New Zealand and have been considering moving to Sth Padre with my Texan partner. We are currently investigating the immigration procedure and I understand I will need to obtain a Texas license and sit the NCLEX exam before I can work. Anyway decided to see what I could find out about Nursing in Brownsville or Mc Allen on these forums and frankley some of the posts about South Texas working conditions were freaking me out! Glad to see some positive feedback. I have checked out your website, just wonder what are the staff/pt ratio's like and also if fulltime means three 12 hr shifts? Any other advice you can offer me would be gratefully recieved.