newnursemoon

Asystole. Chest compressions intubation, somehow she came back in 25 min

Lap is legally authorized person, so someone who makes the decisions when the pt can’t. the son said the wife reminded him that the pt is a DNR.

No form present at all. Chart wasn’t flagged, nothing listed this pt as DNR

You’re exactly right. I reported the incident and the MD, the hospital supervisor is weighing options now. This wasn’t OK and I’m riddled with anxiety and guilt.

OK well this shift was a doozy. So at 1835, another nurse called a code on my pt. She had been medically cleared for discharge for about 5 days, pt was pending placement at skilled nursing home. She was brought back quickly, but when I called the LAP, he thanked me and said he would call his family. Not 5 min later he calls back and says, “my wife reminded me- she’s a DNR.” I confirmed on the chart, no DNR forms were present. Pt son asked what the options were, so the ICU MD explained from there. I feel so many emotions right now, this is the first time I’ve had a pt code on me. I’m honestly not even sure what happened to cause the code- she was a medically cleared! I wrote up my forms and informed the charge and nurse manager but man. This was a crazy one.

Yeah. Funnily enough now we’re up to 7 guys. 4 nurses scheduled on a packed floor, but the charge can’t take a team bc they have too much to do

I found them with our CNA- the bed alarm went off and we both went in, that’s when I noticed there wasn’t a trach. I had 5 heavy pt that day, the other 4 included a respiratory distress pt who didn’t like the feeling of an o2 cannula or mask, a cancer pt with a swollen arm who would rip out her IVs, a GI bleed, and my one self pt who was in a lot of pain (hi Q2 morphine). I did kinda want to try ICU, I’m still new (<1y experience) and was wondering how to shadow there? I’ve never stepped foot in an ICU, minus the times I’ve sent a pt there.

Alright. My pt decannulated themselves today. She just pulled the trach out and was found sitting up O2 100% without it in. I called my charge/RT/pulm/attending immediately. Ended up they agreed to leave it out and see how she did. She continued to sat 97-99% on 2L NC without issue. I have 5 pt on a heavy floor (PCU) and then this happens. No one made a big deal bc “oh I mean at least she didn’t need it” but I still feel so guilty? im trying to transfer but my applications always get reviewed for 1-2 days then rejected. I don’t know anymore- advice?

I guess I just need to rant. today I had 4 (they took my 5th which was my “stable” pt to give to a float nurse at 1100) patients that made up one hell of a heavy team. I work on a PCU floor My pt family was complaining that his gown and bed sheet was wet and so I said I’d call the tech bc I had a doctor waiting for me to round. I left and then she blew up: I was being an awful nurse, I have no idea what I’m doing (the pump went off and I “fixed it” (he had an AC and loved to cross his arms) but obviously I didn’t bc the alarm is sounding again) and I was providing all around pt care and she wanted an advocate and my manager bc I haven’t been in. I explained my side to my manager, I had a heavy team and was trying my best to triage (I’m still relatively new, <1y experience). My manager said “pt experience is key!” And that I shouldn’t have left. And so I was walking on eggshells and balancing the mess of a shift all day. I just keep having bad days on that god awful unit.

Hey! My manager... I haven’t had much experience with her (which I guess is good?), as she mostly comes into contact with us when there are issues. She does have the ability to block a transfer, which makes me nervous. Thanks for the reply!!

Hey guys! I graduated in 2020 and I’ve been off orientation and in my own for about 2 months now. I work on a busy PCU floor and I love the work, but there’s a couple of things starting to weigh down on me. First off, I live hours away from my job. It’s about an hour drive in the AM and 1-2h drive back. At first I didn’t think much of it (the hospitals closer to me weren’t hiring and tbh I needed a job d/t medical bills piling up), but it’s starting to get me now. Second, new grads or new nurses are severely (at least how I feel) taken advantage of on this unit. I got yelled at yesterday by my charge bc another nurse asked me to help and I said I couldn’t (I had 5 pt and a heparin drip..). When I tried to explain my side of the story I was told something along the lines of “nursing is a team sport” which I wholeheartedly agree! But I’m one person with my own assignment and was trying not to drown that day. For the past 3 weeks I end up getting a 5th pt halfway through the day because “everyone else is busy..” Alright enough whining though. Here’s where I need advice: I’m in a contract that says I’ll work for the company for 2 years. I know I can transfer from hospital to hospital (if it’s within the same company: ie: XYZ hospital of abc, to XYZ hospital of def) but I don’t know the time frame. Right now the hospital of my dreams has an opening and I’m trying to decide if and how I should approach my manager about possibly transferring.

I graduated in July of 2020, but due to health issues wasn’t able to apply/get a job until November of 2020. I’m in a PCU floor and am currently in week 5 of a 10 week training program. I absolutely hate it, but I’m in a contract where if I were to break it and quit, I’d owe the company more money than I have (thanks medical bills!). I’m not sure if the reason I hate it is just that I feel so lost during my shifts or if it’s just that I’m not cut out for PCU. My preceptor says I’m doing good and has no issues with me; he even started not really “shadowing” every hour around week 3, so I’m alone for most of my shift. But I still feel like I’m just not with it during my shifts. Last week a patient came back from surgery and was asking for breakfast, I checked and saw active diet orders, so I put in for a tray. Turns out another doctor had made him NPO for a procedure later that day, which he ended up missing bc the patient ate bc I missed a second diet order. I just feel so stupid with everything, a doctor will ask me if there’s anything they need to know and I just stand there like an idiot. I don’t know guys, I feel like I have no choice but to stick it out but I don’t know if I’m cut out for being a nurse anymore.

Hi guys! I start my new grad orientation at a PCU floor this week. I have sims and skills sessions scheduled for next week. My question is mostly what to expect? I never got a chance to practice IVs in school (thanks Covid); did y’all practice during your orientation? Are we expected to allow ourselves to be stuck for IV or injection practice (I’m an endocrine pt so I get stuck a lot and would rather avoid it LOL; esp bc I’m a hard stick). Thanks in advance!