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Where I used to work we had this round putty like ring we used with the wafer, called an eakon sp? How it works is that you can put it around the stoma to kind of even it out then you put on the wafer. The eakon actually works pretty well. Just check to see if your hospital carries it or ask the ostomy nurse to make a special order if possible. Hope this helps.

Athabasca seems much more convienient, I mean I wouldn't even have to leave my place but it is also a lot more expensive. Since I live in Montreal Mcgill would be less expensive, but I would have to go to scheduled classes. Is there anyone out there who went to Mcgill??? Please let me know what the program is like!

I am looking into pursuing my master's degree and am looking for information from people that have received their master's from either school. I have thought of pros and cons of both school but have not heard any information directly from students that have completed or are in the middle of completing their degree. Thanks to anyone with info.

Hey everyone, thanks so much for being so supportive I really needed it. To reply to Daytonite's questions, the nursing supervisor wanted to make sure the patient's oxygen level had incresed before change of shift and it had. I would also like to know what the med student told the resident he didn't call her he went off the unit and spoke to her there because she wasn't answering the pager. The nurse that had been helping me was going to call the number where the resident usually is but the med student said no I'll go find her. So I can only imagine what he told her. Initially he had ordered a blood gas and CBC but after consulting with her he said to forget it. Anyways next time I will call back the resident myself and tell them something needs to be done. Live and Learn, with some smiles and tears along the way.

Last evening I was taking care of a lady with an extensive past medical history. For most of the evening she was complaining of feeling weak, since she is older and just had surgery I figured it had taken a toll on her. The whole shift her oxygen level was low so I got an order to put a mask and the level incresed. She had one episode of acting very strange. The other nurse and I decided to do an ECG then we called the doctor. They didn't seem very concerned and had the medical student examine the patient. He didn't think anything was wrong, he consulted with the resident and they told me just to monitor the oxygen level overnight. The other nurse and I found this strange but the patient was feeling much better and the oxygen level had gone up so I didn't persist that something more be done. Well today I found out that the patient coded during the night and is now on the cardiac unit. I feel really awful, that I should have been more persistant. I had a gut feeling but for some reason I ignored it. Unfortunately my gut feeling was pretty much on target. This is the last time I take a gut feeling for granted.

I am certified to remove the epidural catheter but when I was certified I was taught one way and then a few weeks ago I was talking with a co-worker and found out we had not been taught the same way.

I was wondering the correct technique for removing epidural catheters. Two people told me two different things. When removing the catheter do you pull down (parallel to the back) or straight out (perpendicular to the back)? Before doing it again I will clarify this at my hospital but was just looking for how others remove them and if the procedure is the same in different hospitals.

When I was a new grad I felt the same way as you do now. I got a call almost everyday that I was not working. I felt that if I said no I would be letting my co-workers down. For the first year or so that I worked they really abused me, saying things like you're my last hope blah, blah, blah. After one particularly terrible extra shift that they had called me in for was the breaking point. I thought to myself who comes first the hospital or my own health and sanity. When work calls me now I just say no I can't or something along those lines, sure I still feel a bit guilty but I get over that feeling, all I can say is the more you say no the easier it gets.

I work either D (7:30-3:30) or E (3:30-11:30) on rotation. I am only working part time because working full time with this type of schedule and school at the same time is just too much. I used to work 12 hours shift 7a-7p and 7p-7a. I can say working full time it was easier for me with the 12 hours. I like having more days off. Also I would consider D (7:30-3:30) only as a good deal. I love being home in the evening. If you like sleeping in E is great.

I am currently working on a gyne/oncology unit. We would get this type of patient for sure. Today I had a patient who had a miscarriage at 11 weeks, quite an emotional situation to deal with especially since I am new working there for 3 weeks previously working in gen surg. I found it a bit difficult to deal with the emotional aspect I can only imagine how it must be if the patient is admitted to a busy med surg unit.

I just accepted a new job and will be starting after the New Year. When I told my current employer (I've been working there since I graduated 3 years). I was leaving it was a very emotional experience. I told her on Tuesday and I am still feeling sad, but at the same time excited to begin on the new unit. One minute I am smiling and excited, the next minute I'm sad and crying. What other experiences have you guys had when changing to a new position? Are these feelings normal and will they go away?

Yes it is a union job

I have a job interview tomorrow on a gyne-oncology unit. Currently I am working on a busy surgical unit and doing 12 hour shifts. The new unit does only 8 hour shifts. Has anyone ever switched from 12 to 8 hour shifts and what did you find as the advantages and disadvantages. It will be mostly D/E. Any information would be great, the 8 hour shift is one main reason I am not totally sure I want to move. Currently I am in school and have no family commitment.

Wow I guess I am pretty lucky. Where I work now we get a 1/2 morning break, 1 hour lunch break and sometimes even a 30 minute supper break. This is for a 12 hour shift in Quebec.

I am a from Quebec. For fulltime employees you get 4 weeks vacation plus about 13 stats (for all the holidays). It's not that bad