kiszi RN

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All Content by kiszi

  1. kiszi

    This week, I have learned..... (6/13)

    kiszi replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

  2. kiszi

    Floating Policy

    kiszi replied to NGYSUN's topic in General Nursing

    My facility has a float pool which helps keep regular staff from having to float, but it still happens. Nurses are not *asked* to float when needed, but told. It is indeed in the job description....
  3. kiszi

    LTC Nurses please respond

    kiszi replied to crd521's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I no longer work in LTC, so I will answer based on the last job I had there. 1. What size is your LTC facility? I.E. Maximum capacity for residents. 120 beds 2. What is the nursing to patient ratio?...
  4. kiszi

    Certifications

    kiszi replied to FloatRN19's topic in General Nursing

    NIH stroke scale certification takes some time to complete all the modules, but it is FREE and looks good on a resume. I have even seen job postings that ask for it. NIH Stroke Scale |
  5. kiszi

    This week, I learned..... (6/6/15)

    kiszi replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    I have learned to never, ever explain to a patient's family what the numbers on the BIPAP mean--because they will Watch. It. Like. A. Hawk. and call in a panic when something is
  6. kiszi

    LPN to RN, will being a PN hinder my progress?

    kiszi replied to Vital2U85's topic in General Students

    I found being an experienced LPN in RN clinicals to be nothing but an immense help. I think the key is to be open-minded and willing to learn different and new ways of doing things. Good luck to
  7. kiszi

    Resume Question

    kiszi replied to LuvScrubs2's topic in General Nursing

    On the resume I would put dates only. It's a given that people often work more than one job at a time so it's ok if the dates overlap. Save the details for the
  8. kiszi

    Open mouth, insert foot...

    kiszi replied to Christy1019's topic in General Nursing

    Pt in severe resp. distress, close to getting tubed. Me: (uncomfortable in mask for droplet precautions) "I can't
  9. kiszi

    What do you like and don't like about your current job?

    kiszi replied to Libby1987's topic in General Nursing

    Small catch-all ICU. Likes: Usually good variety of patients No lack of opportunities to hone clinical skills Rarely a dull moment Good pay and shift/weekend diff Great unit culture that is close-knit...
  10. kiszi

    IV Insertion Problem

    kiszi replied to iamcutiekath's topic in General Nursing

    ::hugs:: same thing happened to me when I came back to the hospital after a couple years. Now, over six months in, I just now feel like I'm getting my groove back. Don't give up! A few smooth starts...
  11. kiszi

    Do you titrate drips?

    kiszi replied to LittleRedOwl's topic in General Nursing

    What are your ratios? I work in a small ICU where we commonly titrate sedatives such as propofol and versed, as well as vasoactives such as cardizem and labetalol. The pressors aren't used as...
  12. kiszi

    Is anything at your work that puzzles you

    kiszi replied to pras's topic in General Nursing

    Or, on the flip side, a family member waits quietly while you finish a conversation then sheepishly says "Sorry to bother you, but I think something's wrong with my mom's IV" and you walk into a BLOOD...
  13. kiszi

    How many jobs/units until you found your "niche"

    kiszi replied to Michellelove's topic in General Nursing

    In close to nine years, I've worked in LTC, SNF, post-acute home care, private duty, and now ICU. It's the closest thing to a niche I've found so far, but I am not done
  14. kiszi

    Esme Needs Your Prayers

    kiszi replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    Prayers and hugs for
  15. kiszi

    Professionalism....name your irritation here!

    kiszi replied to LobotRN's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Disrespect for patients, which can take the form of anything from loudly talking at the nurses' station about how pathetic or what a PITA your patients are, to making fun of a sedated or unresponsive...
  16. kiszi

    Question re: Overtime

    kiszi replied to as1234's topic in General Nursing

    you are doing 3 twelve hour shifts, yes? That's 36 hours a week. Usually overtime pay doesn't start till you hit 40. You should be getting paid for your time, just not
  17. kiszi

    Good Scrubs, Body Type

    kiszi replied to mindofmidwifery's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    I am 5'8 and order Dickie's bottoms in tall length. I don't find them to be overly long and would even prefer another 1/2 inch, so they might be what you're looking for. Also I would say to measure...
  18. kiszi

    Secondary and piggyback

    kiszi replied to Birdy2's topic in Patient Medications

    If I am infusing a med that is connected to the secondary tubing above the pump, I call it either a secondary or a piggyback. If I have something y'd in below the pump I say it is, um, y'd in. :)...
  19. kiszi

    best way for a nurse to manage cuts on her fingers?

    kiszi replied to RNexplorer's topic in General Nursing

    It's the worst when you don't know you have a little cut and the sanitizer finds it for you! At least if you know you have one you can brace for it.. I haven't tried tegaderm but will after reading...
  20. kiszi

    What's the appropriate response?

    kiszi replied to thekrazykook's topic in Emergency

    My response would have been a dry "ha ha very funny" and I would've ignored anything
  21. kiszi

    Needed to vent

    kiszi replied to jojo489's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    I can't tell you how many times I was asked when I was an LPN "so you're training to be a nurse then?" Gah. I'm happy to educate people who don't mean any harm and just don't understand the different...
  22. kiszi

    Smelly nursing home what to do?

    kiszi replied to middleagednurse's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    May also be that the residents are not being changed often enough; a wet brief can start smelling bad after a couple of
  23. kiszi

    The hardest parts of nursing?

    kiszi replied to calivianya's topic in General Nursing

    Finding out my patient's devastating diagnosis before they do, and anticipating their reaction when the doctor tells them. Knowing what to say when they ask about their test results. On the same note,...
  24. kiszi

    Trying to get out of Home Care and into a hospital

    kiszi replied to HLC814's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Disagree with above. No mention of references needs to be made. Firstly, most online applications include a place for references. Secondly, references are typically not checked until after a job offer...
  25. kiszi

    Helping other students!!

    kiszi replied to renee_OSF's topic in General Students

    I think maybe you are reading too much into your advisor's comment. No one is going to expect you to help others constantly to the point where it affects your own tasks or learning. The clinical...