jodi_cmsrn

As a new nurse starting out, I remember learning multiple new things every day. Our facility has a couple physician's that are legendary for their temperments. I have always been the type of person that wants to understand why I am doing something,...

Our hospital policy actually allows for parents to administer medications that were prepared by the nurse, in the presence of the nurse.

As a person that gets bored easily, med-surg has been a great fit for me because you just never know from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute what will happen next. I love the variety of patients, illnesses, and never ending learning experien...

I always try to thank whoever I am working with for their help. Just the other day, I thanked an LPN that I was working with, she literally kept an eye on 8 of our patients while I spent a great deal of time with a family of a patient that we were s...

[i can tell you from personal experience that one should never underestimate the pain (like you're on fire) that undiluted phenergan can cause] I totally agree. I came in one morning and went to medicate a patient with phenergan and found half of h...

I have been out of nursing school for 6 years, and have been a preceptor to new grads for the last 5 years. I love helping the new nurses adjust to the culture shock of floor nursing from being a student. This year has been the hardest year for me ...

I just signed up. Thanks for this.

Thanks for posting the above link, however when I clicked on it, all it showed was a Microsoft Outlook Express sign in page. As a nurse in PA I would really take advantage of this. Between the new state requirements and my Med-surg certification re...

Thoughts and prayers to all as we remember this day in history. Thank you for sharing the link above, it was AMAZING!!

I have my med-surg certification from the Academy of Med-Surg Nurses (CMSRN), and although it doesn't directly mean more money at my facility, they did pay for the certification, and it counts towards our "Clinical Ladders" which are achievement lev...

Our med-surg unit (22 bed) is considering switching from team nursing (1 RN and 1 LPN for 10 - 12 patients - sometimes one CNA for all) to some form of primary care system where hopefully each nurse will have 5 - 6 patients. Our biggest issue is how ...

Thanks for the reply. We are trying to prevent the RN's being run ragged, and unfortunately are REALLY short on CNA's, so someone has to pick up that piece too. We are just looking for ideas at this point.

I was also a non-traditional new nurse (mid-30's), and was scared to death when I started. It does get easier and you will become more confident in your assessment skills. As for knowing when something is wrong, there was more than once that I have...

Remember that even though you read the books in school about what the patient should do or look like because of their diagnosis, the patient has probably not read the books. Trust your instincts or the patient that says "Something isn't right"

Sometimes changing shifts can help too. I was pretty stressed last fall, and was asked to help cover some shortages on night shift for a month . . . nine months later and I am going to go back and try days again . . . our unit and patients are a com...

Have had several surgical procedures at the hospital where I work, and one unrelated inpatient admission. Everyone treated me wonderfully, and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else.

I have been a med-surg nurse for about 5 years and I have no intention of going anywhere anytime soon. Med-surg nursing can be hectic, frustrating, and overwhelming, but it can also be rewarding, fulfilling, and educational. I have worked both 7a - ...

I also have tested and passed the CMSRN through the Academy of Med-Surg Nurses, but that does not automatically make you a member. Membership dues are an additional fee. I have often thought of joining, just haven't done it. As for the test itself...

Our facility offers new nurses the opportunity to spend a day in our ambulatory surgery unit to have exposure to starting a large number of IV's in a short period of time. Perhaps you could ask if this could be done in your facility. These nurses a...

Thanks for sharing this. This sounds like a wonderful project that could help promote a wonderful sense of normalcy for a lot of diabetics, particularly the teenagers that don't want to have an adult around all the time, as well as that little extra...

We have used foley catheter's as a type of "comfort measure" for our end stage patient's who due to pain or shortness of breath can not tolerate being turned or assisted to the commode. The catheter prevents the pain, shortness of breath, or increas...

These are the reasons I LOVE med-surg. Boredom doesn't happen, and I really like being challenged with the diverse issues of my patients. I have been a med-surg nurse for almost 5 years now, and although I know the day will come that I physically do...

The graded compression stockings have made all the difference in the world. I would also suggest trying different brands to find the ones you like best. I recently went from Jobst to Juzo and can't believe the difference.

I am from Pennsylvania What I am looking for specifically is: Are you using PICC lines? yes, we use them regularly Has your use increased in the last two years? Definitely Who is inserting your lines--IR, PICC team, etc.? We have a small group of nu...

Student loans were the only answer for me. Will be paying of 20k+ in loans for a while, but I made it and it was the only way.