paphgrl

Does your agency provide paracentisis when a PleureX catheter is contraindicated? I know it is expensive but it is symptom management. Your thoughts?

She was an adult

A patient presented to triage in severe respiratory distress after aspirating cinnamon while doing the cinnamon challenge. Her O2 sat was in the 50's. She was immediately intubated but prognosis very grim. please pass the word that this fad is dangerous and can be fatal.

20 something female worth co low abdominal pain. Quite obese. 5 minutes baby born. Didn't know she was pregnant.

Get out while you can. I had a very similar experience and your post made me sick to my stomach thinking about what I went through. Ed nurses have a long memory and probably won't let this go..I went to A cardiac unit for about a year and returned to a new Er with skills and confidence. I have been a Ed rn for years now and when I think back to my first job I like to think they blew it when they let me go. Be easy on yourself because those people will not.I wish you the best of luck.

When I have encontered patients with difficult IV access I have placed IVs in shoulders and sometimes in veins of the breast. I have had good success with these sites. I have not seen other nurses do this. Has anyone ever utilized there peripheral veins? Are there any contraindications that prevent RNs from utilizing these sites? Your input is valued, PG

My hospital became Magnet. I had thought it was a good thing until I saw the process. Management put on a big show for the magnet folks that came to assess our hospital. Front line nurses were shielded from the interviewers. Certain nurses were selected to be interviewed by the magnet evaluaters, they were scripted, and given talking points. Within days we were granted magnet status. It was shockingly fast, virtually overnight. There was no change in policy and no shared governance. There has been no change in nursing practice and nursing morale is as low as I have seen it. I am very disapointed. Having seen the process, I have come to believe Magnet status is merely an expensive advertising program. Magnet is a scam.

I started my career in the ER. After nine months, I asked for a transfer to med/surg. I realised my lack of expreience was putting my patients in danger. I will return to the ER in a few months with a solid background in patient care. It was a difficult decision. I loved every minute in the Er. It was a horrible way to start my career. I am only just now getting my confidence back.

I wouldn't work in a non union hospital. Last year, our contract was negotiated to include twice a year salary increases. Within months, the other two non union hospitals in the area had to increase wages to retain nurses. So the nurses who work in our local non union hospitals can thank our union for their wage increase. Because of union oversight, the management in my hospital is less likely to be unfair to workers. Because of this, Individual grievences are rare. While I have not had to file a grievence, I take comfort in the fact that I have an advocate if I need to. do so.

As long as nurses are afraid to discuss their med errors openly, they will keep happening, and patients will suffer. How many med errors have you made in the last year? Did you report it? How were you treated? How does your facility handle med errors?

I started in the ER. 9 months later I decided to transfer to a med/surg floor. Once I get a year of med/surg, I plan to get experience in critical care...THEN return to the ER. Imagine how difficult it was for me to transfer after only 9 months. My confidence is as low as ever. My only consolation is that I made a good, but very difficult decision. When I return to the ER I will have critical care experience. I will be confident with arterial lines and multiple IV drips. I will be able to take charge in a trauma with the confidence that comes from an experienced nurse.

How many Medication errors do you make? Are you afraid to report med errors at your facility? How does your facility handle critical med errors?

Thank you all for the kind words and advice. I look forward to starting with a clean slate. This will make me a better nurse.

I have discussed this with my manager. Many nurses in the dept. are against hiring new grads, and so don't support them. I worked shifts with nurses who watched and waited for me to make mistakes. I had no support. I was hearing criticism through the rumor mill. No one ever gave constructive criticism. Do I sound angry? I am. Now I am in the don't hire new grads club.

I had a twelve week orientation. After orientation I was thrown to the wolves. I had no support. When I had too many patients, I wasn't given to option to say no to additional patients. I was working at the same level as the more experienced nurses. I was expected to take on the same patient load. Now I am going to another department where I can get my confidence back up. This is not how you want to start your career.