NotReady4PrimeTime RN

NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist

All Content by NotReady4PrimeTime

  1. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Thank you Peds Nurses

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    You're welcome for the support and the calming influence we peds nurses try to provide our parents. We know it's a terrifying time for moms and dads - even those with health care backgrounds, perhaps...
  2. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Tell on yourself, if you dare...

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to audreysmagic's topic in General Nursing

    Some of these are hard to top. I've sprayed myself in the face with any variety of nasty fluid, had a toddler pee out the side of his diaper onto my pants while he slept on my lap, blown apart the...
  3. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Help! PICU interview and no experience

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to alex1987's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    I think that although your last work experience was a couple of years ago, your telemetry background is what got you in the door. My advice? Don't downplay the gap in your employment but also don't...
  4. NotReady4PrimeTime

    The View from the Other Side of the Bed: The Family Member

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to justjamesthenurse's topic in General Nursing

    My experience began on the other side of the bed, with my son being critically ill in the PICU for several weeks when he was 5. The details of that situation can be found in a number of my other posts...
  5. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Don't do the physicians work!

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to ModernRN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I said, "No" to a physician yesterday and was publicly lambasted for it. A little background: We do sternal closures on the unit, with one of our intensivists providing anaesthesia. The nurse is...
  6. NotReady4PrimeTime

    aspiring nurse

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to Ifunanya123's topic in Canada Nursing Programs

    Sadly, no. The only path to becoming a registered nurse in Canada involves 4 years of university. There may be options for financial aid that you could explore through the schools you're considering;...
  7. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Texas Children's PICU New Grad

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to dmorenoRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Congratulations on your new job! I hope you love it. I'm happy to know you'll be given some time on the acute care units to develop your time management, prioritization and assessment skills before...
  8. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Do nurses have to work from home?

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to lilythorburn's topic in General Nursing

    Checking work email from home has been a thorny issue on my unit. In theory, we're not expected to check it when we're not working. But since about 97% of the communication between bedside and admin...
  9. NotReady4PrimeTime

    LPN upgrading to RN

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to JDMeight08's topic in Canada Nursing Programs

    One thing a lot of people aren't aware of is that educational credits have a shelf-life. Educational institutions require prior learning to fit within their acceptable time frame for them to be...
  10. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Tips/Ideas for dealing with stressed/difficult parents in the PICU

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to Snowana's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    My dialog with parents runs something like this:, "Your baby is very sick, and that's why she's in the PICU. We're going to take very good care of her so you can take her home as soon as she's better....
  11. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Advice Needed On Nursing In the Canadian Military

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to joseechristinev's topic in Canada

    The new Comox Valley hospital will have 153 beds, is purported to be a state-of-the-art facility and is expected to open this fall. Might be some opportunities
  12. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Advice Needed On Nursing In the Canadian Military

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to joseechristinev's topic in Canada

    Fiona59, I think you mean "MIR" as in Medical Inspection Room. The new hospital in Comox is nearing completion... just
  13. NotReady4PrimeTime

    US RN Travel nurse in Canada?

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to mfoster0's topic in Canada

    Canada doesn't have "travel nurses" in the sense that I think the OP is meaning. Short-term contracts are not a thing here because most facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centres,...
  14. NotReady4PrimeTime

    AHS undergrad nurses employment

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to hellohobbit's topic in Canada

    The provincial budget came down on Friday. AHS is getting money for bricks-and-mortar projects but I didn't see much in it for human resources. At the sharp end, we're being wedged into a...
  15. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Nicardipine via direct IV

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to papoy's topic in First Year After Licensure

    There are only two or three reasons I could see for rapid reduction in blood pressure, so I'm going to say no, it's not okay. The manufacturer's drug monograph stipulates continuous IV infusion only,...
  16. NotReady4PrimeTime

    AHS undergrad nurses employment

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to hellohobbit's topic in Canada

    I've heard from various sources that AHS isn't hiring any new UNEs (except maybe in mental health). And the UNEs already in the system are being included in baseline staffing... dangerous at any...
  17. NotReady4PrimeTime

    What's it like to be a PICU nurse?

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to Jdjmj's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    That's something no one can predict. Each person manages these aspects of their job differently. There are times when we all over-identify with a patient or family but if you're already afraid you're...
  18. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Frustrating CNO process for IENs

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to kakeru's topic in Canada

    Ontario is a bit of an outlier in Canada, in that there are a number of hospitals and facilities that aren't unionized, including the Hospital for Sick Children. But... HSC is a real stickler for...
  19. NotReady4PrimeTime

    PICU patient returning or going straight to PICU versus PACU

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to debberslnc's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Right off the top of my head - not stopping in PACU eliminates one hand-off, and therefore decreases risk of errors and omissions. Having said that, I often get a much more complete report from the...
  20. NotReady4PrimeTime

    NEED HELP! I am looking to interview a Pediatric nurse.

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to Kikisilver1000's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Critically ill children, like those admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU), are not usually assessed for developmental milestones. They're simply too sick for that to be a concern. When...
  21. NotReady4PrimeTime

    LPN to RN through athabasca

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to BC bound's topic in Canada Nursing Programs

    That's going to depend on where your clinical placement is. If you're in the city, you'll need to either rely on public transit, or be close enough to walk to work. If you're in a smaller town your...
  22. NotReady4PrimeTime

    RN from US to Québec to Ontario

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to RN_3000's topic in International Nursing

    Had you done some in-depth research into the process of becoming registered while planning your move back to Québec you likely would have learned all of these lessons the easier way - before you'd...
  23. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Leaving PICU...

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to RNsydneygirl's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    I find myself mildly bothered by the tone of your comments. You haven't worked PICU for a full year yet but feel like you're spinning your wheels already. Do you honestly feel like you know everything...
  24. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Placement if ND tube

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to rnpete's topic in Pediatric

    We aspirate for stomach contents at the gastric mark before advancing. When the tube is at or beyond the jejunal mark we aspirate again, looking for a "snap" and for movement of the tube. Typically,...
  25. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Are there Rn jobs in Edmonton/Calgary? 2016

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to Kwas's topic in Canada

    It's impossible to predict what will happen here. The collective agreement between AHS and the United Nurses of Alberta expires at the end of next month, but the two sides haven't exchanged proposals...