laura.lynn_rn

Thanks for your comments and encouragement. My first day went well. I kind of followed the nurse around for am assessments and then little by little she let me do more of the assessments and then the meds... by the end of the shift (12hrs) I did the evening assessments and meds and then reported to her. This was like the 20th assessment of the day (hahahaha) so, I kind of had no real surprises. The main difference of that day compared to a normal day for me was the frequency of being in the rooms. on step down you are in there eyeballing iv's breathing, etc Q2, but not really doing anything unless there is a problem until Q4 checks. On my new unit, it seemed that we were constantly in the rooms! Started out with 2 pts, one on a vent with poor EF/ horrible CHF and one lethargic restrained pt with a hr in the 30's. (who subsequently became more alert and was quite pleasant after we took him to EP lab for a device placement!) vented pt w/ severe anxiety and questionable bleed (copious amounts of blood when suctioned)....Pulmonologist wanted to extubate and she did not tolerate it..twice, so, rested her the rest of the day... not to mention the new ST depression on ekg and chest pain that had gone on during the night. very very sick. I am looking forward to going back in and learning more... yes there will be some critical care classes... spread out over about 2 months so as to correlate them with clinical experience. So, to say the least I am thrilled... to be home and to be starting a new career path that is so challenging. I think that is what I have been looking for for a while-- a good challenge. Didn't mean for this to be long, but it is what it is. ANNARBORRN if you would like to pm me about traveling, I would be happy to talk to you! Thanks again!:thankya:

Hi everyone! I recently stopped travel nursing and moved back home. I am very excited to say that I interviewed and got the position in our hospital's CCU! I have been a tele/step down nurse and I'm glad to make the transition. I start on Monday with orientation. If anyone has any advice/comments for a new critical care nurse, I would love to hear it! Thanks in advance!

sorry, that "off topic guy was supposed to go where I said "when I grow up":imbar

These are very interesting viewpoints. I began nursing school @ age 18 and graduated an LPN @ age 19. I got soooo many people asking me- "are you old enough to be a nurse?" I would smile and say "yes sir/mam" Even now, I'm 23, an RN of 2 years and 2 yrs LPN exp. I occasionally get a comment of how young I am.. I simply say that I've been a nurse for 4 years and that puts people's minds at ease- it seems. My good friend graduated from nursing school and became an RN @ 20 yrs old... and she looks about a day over 12- she has had patients (who were confused) yell her out of rooms saying she is a child, not a nurse. But we all know that the new nurse young or old has to start somewhere. That said, knowing what I know now, and more importantly what I DIDN'T know then, I agree that a young/new nurse is a bit of a scary thought. As TriageRN_34 said- common sense and life experience plays a big part. When I was a "baby nurse" I was still a new adult with not a lot of common sense or life experience with adult issues... and I'm still learning.:offtopic: All of THAT said, I think that these concerns are good reasons to focus on precepting your new nurses- and mentoring. "when I grow up" I want to be a nurse manager and take a lot of the ideas I have and put them into place such as nurse mentors and other incentives at work... that's another thread though....:typing

This list was emailed to me by a friend.. my husband and his parents and I laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes- it is so true! When we travelled to SC on assignment, I got a LOT of teasing from saying "pop"

Columbus, Ohio here, graduated from Hocking College. LPN 02-04 RN 04- current. (Stepdown/Tele) Travelled in OH, SC, and DC- came back home. Getting ready to start on CCU next week! Wish me luck!

I would also like information on this if anyone can help- also coming from DC area wanting to relocate to NC- Triangle area. Any info on facilities and neighborhoods would be appreciated!

My all time favorite is coding a pt and the primary nurse is nowhere to be found!:angryfire (happened WWAAAYYY too often at my last job.....one of the reasons it is my last job)

Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio

yes, that sounds great, but until hospitals and administrators begin to not only value nurse's input, but use it to change practices, we will probably be stuck where we are. as I said before, that's just my opinion.

How does it work if you are married? My husband may be interested in being a counselor and I would love to be a camp nurse- my later in life goal is to be a school nurse, I just love working with kids... what a neat opportunity.

I think this is absolutely, definately, the most annoying thing about getting report on a pt from the ER. If you have not set your eyeballs on the pt, don't even bother calling me. Just my opinion

I have seen some of the nurses at WHC with the PDAs, but it's up to you. I would say that if you have never been to DC, the GPS navigation system will be the best investment you can make- and save you a million headaches trying to navigate through downtown and all of the construction that is going on right now.

The hospital has a LOT of travelers. The unit I am on, I am the first traveler they have used in 2 years, but, it is pretty small..so I don't know if that plays in to it. The hospital is very well known for their mission- Patient first. They have good reputation in the community, but a horrible one with travel companies and other nurses. I guess you could say they are traveler friendly since they have so many, just remember it is a VERY LARGE teaching hospital and that will be difficult no matter where it is geographically. I live for my days off- 4/wk so that is great. Housing is in Alexandria,VA for me, lots of great shopping, sight seeing, all kinds of things to do.. but you will earn every penny you make at that hospital.

In a lot of ways, it really is too good to be true, in my opinion. There are things that happen that are just not cool and you have to be very assertive, which I am trying to learn. The negatives are: You don't know anyone and if you aren't outgoing enough to introduce yourself to doctors/nps/other nurses- no one else will either and you will be lost for the whole assignment. Some Assignments give you a week long orientation with a week on the floor, and some will send you paperwork in the mail, expect you to bring it in and have you sign more papers and send you to your unit to work. Not fun, but not illegal either. Being a traveler, you are absolutely expected to KNOW IT ALL, but not to act like it, so it's a very double standard in some cases. Also, recruiters will LIE to get you on contract. Not all, I hope, but you have to watch what they tell you on the phone and compare that to what they put in your contract- and what they don't put in your contract for that matter as well. good luck.