JAL85

I remember my first patient who died even though it was 31 years ago. He was all excited about being d/c in the morning so he could be at home with family and friends to watch the OSU vs Michigan game. He slept peacefully through the night as I made rounds. The nurse aide talked to him around 5:50 am when he asked for some water. I was on my way to give him an early morning med and took the water pitcher with me. He was laying kind of oddly in the bed. He was unresponsive as I lowered the head of the bed. I came to the hall and yelled for the other nurse who came running. Everything happened so fast....but I remembered what to do. We coded him for about 30 minutes but there was nothing. The resident who ran the code talked to me about what happened just before I found the patient. He assured me that I did everything right. So what I learned throughout my career is these three absolutes: rule #1 is that people die even when you do your best; rule #2 there is nothing you can do to change rule #1; rule #3 you have to make peace in your heart, mind, and soul about #1 and #2. Peace be with you, my friend!

I work at a Children's Hospital. It was made clear to me, that as a hospital wide policy, employees were: not allowed to smoke anywhere on hospital property (including in your car in the parking lot or garage); not allowed to come to work smelling like smoke. Any deviation from this is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Hey.....best wishes in your new endeavor. My orientation was hell for 12 months. No really........only a portion of it was hell. There will be some folks who will go out of their way to make themselves look better by trying to make you look stupid, silly, etc. Just remember, EVERYONE who works in the OR started where you are. I wouldn't trade one day of working in the OR for anything. This is something that I told new nurses that I precepted when they told me how dumb they felt about not knowing anything. Do you know where to clock in? Do you know where the scrubs and locker room are? Do you know how to find your assignment? Do you know how to read the schedule? Do you know how to set up a room for the day? Do you know how page doctors, x-ray, etc? Then you aren't stupid and you DO know a lot. Every building needs to have a good foundation in order to remain strong. I know that you can do it. Just keep telling yourself that. As far as shoes.........I love my danskos!! Judy

Hey..........I have just started my RNFA training program. I hear what you are saying. The surgeon who encouraged me to become an RNFA originally hired a ST as his group's assistant because it was cheaper than hiring an RN. Then he discovered that she couldn't do any of the pre- and post-op duties. He also discovered that as skilled as she was as a ST, her knowledge jsut didn't measure up to any of the OR nurses, much less an RNFA. So, my suggestion is not to get mad.............get ahead. Make sure that you are as knowledgeable as possible. Act as an educator to everyone........including the surgeons, residents, RN, ST, patients and their families about what an RNFA is and can offer. Maintain the hightest level of professionalsim. Check the job decsriptions that your facility and department has regarding who can act as an assistant. Get your manager and senior VP of nursing behind you. Have all of your little ducks in a row. Hang in there.