kelseybel

I did compressions recently on a fresh post-op, about 1 hour out actually. Yes, you just start pumping away like normal. We got him back and 3 days later he was on the floor. Nice....so glad to hear when things go well after a lot of hard work. Our surgeons/PAs will open at the bedside for bleeding, tamponade, things like that. No big deal, under a CONTROLLED environment.....in a code situation, that's a whole 'nother story!! Gets that heart rate up for sure! :)

Hi, I work nights in CSICU and I love it, would not trade it for anything!!! Maybe I am a little biased but our night nurses are the BEST. And I think you have to be at night because usually it's just the nurses, occ. the PAs hang around but not usually. It is a good chance to learn because things are quieter but not slower, IMO. There are still things to be done: outputs, titrating gtts, weaning/extubating, pulling Swans/A-lines. There is a lot of pressure on the night shift to get the patient up and ready to transfer, to get ready for the new cases. I love the pace, but more importantly love the nurses I work with. I have only been a nurse a few years so I rely on the experienced nurses to guide me and back me up when necessary. I know that one day I will be as good a nurse as they are because of what I have learned working on nights. And that's how I feel about that!!! :)

Wow, I have worked in my unit, cardiac surgery ICU for over a year now and I still learn something new everyday, honestly. Admit a few patients straight from the OR, who were pretty sick to begin with and that will put you in your place in no time! How about a patient on epi, vaso, levo, milrinone, lasix, insulin, diprivan and an IABP??? oh yeah, and add an open chest. Now that's a challenge, just managing your gtts and hemodynamics. How about taking a pt. with a VAD? Or on CRRT? There are so many opportunities, I feel like I could work in my unit forever and never be bored..........but that's me. Seek out new and challenging opportunities, but never get too comfortable, that's when a surprise will come up and bite you in the butt!!!:wink2:

HI, just wanted to tell you that my test shut off at 80 and my last 5 questions after the 75 were wicked easy so I FREAKED thinking that I was being given a second or something. I think I even missed my last question and I honestly felt as if I guessed on 90% of the questions or more. NO LIE!!! And I found out today I passed so have faith and don't sit there and analyze each question, you'll give yourself a serious migraine. What's done is done!!! Good luck to you.

Thanks so much for all the replies. I have calmed down somewhat from this morning.....I will just try and be patient and hopefully I will be able to see my results Thursday AM. Thanks again!!!

OK, well, this is my first post so here goes........I just finished taking the NCLEX and when my computer didn't shut off at 75, I about passed out. Then, it shut off after 80 questions!!!!!!! What the HECK does that mean?!?!?!? WHO gets 80 questions???? In my negative mind, all I can think is, I was failing at 75 but they gave me 5 more to say, keep on trying and then I missed those 5 so they said STOP!!!!!!!! Plus, those last few were not very difficult, at least, that's the way it seemed to me. Aghhhhh, this is killing me. OK, OK, so I know many of you have gone through this before, I just had to post because I am so nervewracked!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!