glb1960

Pesticide exposure/reaction/allergy/poisoning while picking fruit?

Hey 16 yo. I, as well as Ludi, wish I had had a plan like yours at 16 yo. I didn't earn my license until I was 40 yo. I have a couple of suggestions, if you are willing. Get into the health care field now. There are spots that only require a certificate that only require a few weeks to complete. Nursing assistant (but work in a hospital, not a long term care facility, too much burn out there), phlebotomist, IV start, transport, HUC. We speak English, but health care has an additional language of acronyms, meds, procedures and codes that you will learn in these supportive roles. I promise you that working in the hospital, in almost any role, will put you far ahead of any of your classmates that haven't. And it will look fantastic on your resume'. Summers, weekends and very part time is enough. Please don't schedule so many hours that you all important grades suffer. Many states have programs that offer Post Secondary Options Programs that offer college level work that also fulfill high school credits. So, double credit for the same class, HS and college. I have a daughter and nieces/nephews that utilized this option in Minnesota. There are also Honors classes with college credits to possibly take. Start with your HS counselor. They should be a good place get started with the info necessary to take these courses. If your counselor isn't supportive of this idea(my niece had one that told her it was a bad idea, she used a different one and graduated HS with 24 credit hours at Inver Hills CC, started her junior year), find one willing to support you. Do not allow anyone to tell you "NO". Start developing a solid backbone now. It will serve you well when you are in the nursing field. Lastly, as you are earning your degree/license, earn some extra nursing certificates. ACLS(Advanced Cardiac Life Support), PALS/PEARS( Peds Advanced Life Support), BLS/CPR, IV start courses which all will make you stand out from your peers. Good luck, 16 yo. Gary

Time is the greatest asset for a wounded heart/soul. For me, crying, praying, anger... were ineffective. Time has taught me that time from the incident is the only effective way to gain perspective and healing. By the way, good job nurse, for jumping in and doing your best. You represented us well!

I couldn't agree more with what brownbook posted. I would like to add a few of my own. Demerol is under used/available to PACU RN's. It has good, longer term pain control and a secondary trait that comes in handy. General anesthesia pt.s can have chemical/gas shaking that looks very different from shivering. If they are 97.6F or warmer and are experiencing large-scale, almost seizure-like shaking, request a 12.5mg dose from your provider, administer, wait 5 minutes and watch them disappear. Phenergan is another anti-nausea med that works wonders and is under available. There is a risk of tissue damage if administered into an infiltrated IV (but we don't do that anyway). So, draw up your dose into a 10cc syringe, dilute with your carrier fluid(0.9NS, LR...) and administer. No tissue risk with dilution. One more thing, be prepared/patient to answer the same question multiple times from the same pt. until they have really woken up.

I went back to school at 40 for my RN and it was easily the best decision I have ever made. Do it and do it now. But first get thee to your nearest community college/tech college for your CNA or NAR license, then to a hospital and start working as an aid on the floor. This was the best advice I received as I was preparing to become a RN. You start learning the language, rhythms, responsibilities and relationships of the nursing world. Keep your eyes open and ask intelligent questions of supportive RNs and you can get a real feel for our profession before you invest thousands of dollars and years of your life towards your degree. Sadly, you also need to realize there are terrific managers and co-workers out there and terrible ones. They can make or break your experience. I am fortunate enough to have found an amazing group of people to call my friends and co-workers. Enjoy this crazy ride we call life and good luck.

I went back to school at 40 for my RN and it was easily the best decision I have ever made. Do it and do it now. But first get thee to your nearest community college/tech college for your CNA or NAR license, then to a hospital and start working as an aid on the floor. This was the best advice I received as I was preparing to become a RN. You start learning the language, rhythms, responsibilities and relationships of the nursing world. Keep your eyes open and ask intelligent questions of supportive RNs and you can get a real feel for our profession before you invest thousands of dollars and years of your life towards your degree. Sadly, you also need to realize there are terrific managers and co-workers out there and terrible ones. They can make or break your experience. I am fortunate enough to have found an amazing group of people to call my friends and co-workers. Enjoy this crazy ride we call life and good luck.

Hey smiggers, Hang in there. NO ONE knows everything about the O.R., not even 20 year vets. We have a saying around our O.R. whenever a surgeon requests some obscure clamp, retractor, lap instrument or whatever, we share the info with the others and then declare that we all learned something new today, time to go home!It will get better. Unfortunately, it took me to the 12 mo. point to feel really comfortable. I kept copious notes on the different surgeons arrangements and set ups so I could refer to them instead of asking all the time. Also, our pick/preference cards have modifiable areas to include some of the surgeon preferences for another resource. At the end of the day, sit down with your notes and reflect a little. Give yourself credit for the cases that went smoothly. Disect what was less then smooth on the other cases, jot down corrections in your notes for the next time and compare the next time for improvement. Treat this position as a nurse note using the DIAP formula:D) data - what case, what went well, what didn't.I) intervention - what do I need to improve to have better success next time?A) assess - Am I improving? What in my notes is not accurate? P) plan - how to get better. What things are happening at roughly the same point in each type of case. Can I anticipate better? Most importantly, develop a third ear. Surgeons will give you clues, if you hear them. My ears always perk up when the surgeon is asking for some instrument that I am unsure was opened onto the sterile field, suture I didn't open, asking for sponges after we have counted off 5, ect... That way I can already be moving towards the supplies before the tech asks me for something. Sounds hard, I know, but break it down to steps:1) Incision = listen for retractors, clamps, pickups, "gas on", another trochar.2) Mid case = new blades, different cautery tip, different lap tools.3) closing = sutures, dressings, casts/splints.You'll come up with your own verbal/timing triggers.Good luck, Gary

We use Ambit pumps for our pain control with very good success. Never in the joint, just nerves; femoral, interscalene, poplitial, axial... As far as assessments going overboard, lawyers will ensure that we will always be buried in excessive C.Y.A. nonsense.

I feel you are selling the profession very short. From Associates degree to Doctorate, there are hundreds of subspecialities with a nursing degree. You mentioned business as an option. There are countless business opportunities for RN's. Pre-qualifing, post care follow-up, insurance review, collections, ect... If dealing with those icky humans is the problem, try circulating O.R. nursing, you only need to deal with an awake pt for a few minutes. From Radiology nursing to cath lab nursing to home care to a dozen different types ICU/CCU of nursing, the nursing world is your oyster, if you so choose. You have done a lot of heavy lifting to get to this point, don't boot it all now, before you understand where your place is in all this. You never HAVE to be caught somewhere you don't want to be. Your R.N. liscense opens SOOOOO many doors, try something new! Good luck, Gary

hey nightingale1231, i worked at the u. of m. children's hospital - fairview for 3 years on the peds blood and marrow transplant floor, it's a specialized heme/onc floor treating various blood disorder issues. they are almost always hiring and really need icu level trained nurses. the icu on that floor is 1 to 1 nursing. the kids are in isolation rooms and when they become icu level care, that is your room for the shift. good nurses, leadership and assistants and 99% of the families are terrific and grateful and even helpful. the nurse managers name is ann. tell her gary says "hi". good luck and let us know how everything turns out, gary breckenridge

You could try the A.O R.N. magazines. They can get a little item specific, but they provide a lot of very good info. I've been a circulating nurse for just 7 months now, still learning the details but completely loving it. Good luck, Gary

Hey Bleppity - I worked at the University of Minnesota/Children's Hospital - Fairview on the peds bone marrow transplant floor for 3+ years. It's a great place to work, terrific, helpful nurses, good management and most importantly, excellent CNA staffing. Being in the heme/onc world, you know the joys and heartbreaks of this field, so I resigned this spring to work OR in my local hospital. I tell my new co-workers that I had to find a job where the little kids died less often. Anyway, the U of M/Children's is always advertising for peds and adult BMT nurses with needs on their regular heme/onc floors as well. Goole search for their website and apply online, that is the only way they take applications anyhow. As far as outdoors goes, yes many bike trails, lakes, fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, hiking, state parks and endless other opportunities. The problem is that summer is limited up here. Outdoors is best late April until early October. Native Minnesotans don't stop for the cold, though. We just ride snowmobiles, cross country/downhill ski, icefish, hike, snowshoe or whatever. Many southerners lock themselves inside with the first snow fall and just complain when they move here. Gotta get out and play. It is not that hard to stay warm, especially when you are active. Hope this info helps. Write any time if you need more specific answers, Good luck, Gary

Hey lorabel - Go ahead and apply for those jobs that state 2 yrs experience, if they are appealing to you. Many times your drive, desire, intelligence or heart will make up for your lack of experience. And sometimes you might be the only applicant. Hang tough bel, Gary

Hey Wheaties - I would suggest you take your very valuable 1 1/2 yrs. experience and try it out at a few different places. You will find someplace where you are not scared to come to work. And when you find a place to love/be loved, the phone ringing will not have the power to terrify you any longer. You deserve nothing less. Good luck, Gary

So fellow nurses, have any of you heard of this type of employment? Certified RN-Coders are Being Recruited for Code@Home Jobs? How about The American Association of Clinical Coders and Auditors, Inc. ? Are these real opportunities are another scam? $999 to get certified and then start fullfilling their contracts. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gary

Hey Toots - I graduated from the nights/weekends program at St. Kates in Dec. 2004. The night classes were usually from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. 3 times a week. Clinicals were on the weekends for 7 - 8 hrs. each day, sat and sun, for 2 - 4 weekends per semester. It took me 3 yrs and 4 mo to get through all my pre-reques and my ASN. It was expensive, @ $22,000, but well worth it, so far. I had to work full time during the day as I have a house payment and everything else that come with being in my early fourties when i went back to school. Hard work, but i pulled it for. Good luck, Gary

There is a new supplement on the market that has loads of published studies documenting it's effectiveness against cancer and up-regulating the immune system in general. Beta glucan 1-3/1-6 from a company called Xymogen. The supplement is called Immunotix 3 - 6. Supposed to work by irritating the white cells into a higher state of aggression to non-self and hyper cell division. Hope this helps, Gary:balloons:

Hey LiLCHRiSSYRN, I have been in peds for 2 1/2 yrs. now and totally love it. My wife said I would because I am the biggest kid she knows. As for pointers, learn the different values for lytes for the little ones (under 20 kg) and develope some thick skin. Parents seem to come in three styles on peds floors. First are the ones who are scared, mad or unfunctional for some reason and you can't fix their baby fast enough or good enough. The second ones are the know-it-all ones who are smarter than the doc's, because they looked it up on the internet. The vast majority of parents are terrific and truely supportive of the team working on their baby. You will need the thick skin on a peds floor when working with the families of the first and second types, and so you don't cry your eyes out for the littles ones when you are working with the third type of terrific families. Good luck and go get 'em. Gary

Hang in there everyone. I have been in the hospital in peds bone marrow transplant just over 2 years and I can still remember feeling that way like it was 2 weeks ago. And, sadly enough, still feel overwhelmed sometimes. You are all bright enough to figure out this nursing thing and be successful. It took me about 9 - 10 months to feel like I truely got this thing and felt under control. And then as soon as I did, management began pushing me to begin ICU training. EEKKKK!!! Again, after some time, all went well. You' ll all "get it" too!!! Best thing I did was get assertive with the management and begin to tell them "NO" to extra shifts, over time, poor scheduling and no breaks. Start developing your backbone, you'll need it to survive AND do your best for your pt's. Can't let doc's or management get away with pushing us around. Good luck and God bless, Gary

Please start out with an adjustment to your attitude. If you begin this new job expecting to get sick, I promise that you will. You know that the most important organ in healing is the brain and it's expections and attitudes about healing. Expect to enjoy your new position. Be excited to welcome those new babies to this world. Believe in your strengths. Know and work on your weaknesses. Continue to eat right, exercise and enjoy life. Please DO NOT stress yourself out over "maybe's". There are very good suggestions on surviving noc's here already. Just get your heart, soul and expectations wrapped around your new job and take off. Good luck, Gary

Just another thought to add to this saddening thread. I learned early that many of the nurses I admired had some similar traits, which I try to emulate. I describe them as having very thick skin and very tender hearts. The thick skin serves well with management, crabby doctors and poor co-workers while the tender hearts are reserved for the sick, hurt, scared and needy patients. I might suggest you try some of these qualities on for size to help you handle your stresses in your life, nursing or otherwise. Good luck, Gary

I swear this is the best and the worst that we as nurses do/have to do. I haven't been able to talk myself into going to the funeral of any of my kids yet. Not sure if I would handle it very well. Good nurse. God bless. Get up and take care of another one tomorrow, because that's what we do!

Those are just computer generated responses to internal movement. Nurses already working there are able to bid into different jobs they want before outside hires. Keep trying and try calling HR to set up an interview. I had a big stack of those letters as well. Good luck, Gary

Options, healer27, options. The key here is that you have a zillion options as a RN!!!! Home care, hospice, urgent care, peds, geriatric, school, correctional, cardiovascular, temp staff, heme/onc, psych, rehab, clinics of all kinds, triage, chart review, legal nurse consultant, telephone interviewer for an insurance company, emergency, donor coordinator, OR, pre & post surgical and on and on and on. The local sunday paper here has 2 - 3 PAGES of nursing positions. And they are usually just the leadership positions. Most places don't even bother to advertise for floor staff. The point many of us here are trying to make is that a Med/Surg hospital floor does not need to be your only option. You are a RN. We are a very tiny percentage of the population very much in demand. Treat your career as a trip to the ice cream counter and taste test all you want until you find the flavor YOU love. When the fit is right, nursing is truely magical.

Graduated 2 yrs ago. Started with 7 men in a class of about 70. By the 3rd semester, I was the last one standing and the only one to graduate. glb