Bubbles_RN

Well, I've been ICU nursing now for 12 years. I still remember my first year. I remember thinking I was insane for doing this, that the hospital was insane for hiring me. I cried.....a lot!!! I worried, stressed and somehow got through it. You are not alone, we have all been there, or are there now. Nothing lasts forever :). Hang in there, keep going forward!

Well, I've been nursing for 14 years, and I still pretty much suck at IV starts. As others have said, it is a skill, and one that takes practice. In my clinical setting, we don't have a lot of peripheral IV's. Speak up for yourself, let your educator know, and work together to figure out a solution.

Hi Fiona, I work in Ontario, in the GTA. A full time weekend worker is allowed under our union contract. Also, I've been fortunate to work for some amazing managers, who will let nurses swap to work either full time days or full time nights. I do in fact realize that most nurses work rotating shifts, and I did my share prior to having my first child. Like I said I've been very fortunate to find a great life/work balance schedule.

I know a lot of nurses where I have worked have a shift buddy, so they are able to only work the type of shift they want (ie all nights or all days). Not sure if that may be something that would help. I have been a full time weekend worker for the past 7 years, and dread the thought of going back to a regular rotating shift schedule.

To begin with, figure out which ones are most commonly used at your facility. Then figure out what they do, how they work, and major side effects. Your facility IV manual should help with it as well. Ours is awesome, lets ya know how to mix it, what it does and what to watch for without info overload of a drug book.

Ok, yeah you made a mistake. I would go to my instructor with a plan around remedial action. For example, you could tell her you plan on reviewing allowed procedures, and perhaps a reflective journal entry on the situation. Be proactive in admitting your mistake and taking action to help prevent further errors. Oh, and as far as I know, unless there is a complaint filed to your local college of nurses, there wouldn't be a permanent record.

Go for it - I've gotten coffee for family members, scrounged up sandwiches and done emergency McD's runs when it seems needed. It may seem small but I bet to him it will be huge.....bless you for being a nurse through and through :redpinkhe

Ummm I convinced a friends signifigant other that his cramps were really ovarian pains......which he promptly reported to my friend (also a nurse).......oh dear we laughed until we cried over that one........

Well we have a scale usually 2 - 10 mg/hr with the option for the docs to write higher end points as required. Although if we can't maintain a RASS of -1/-2 with high dose versed/fentanyl we usually look at adding something else.

Yep I've had a couple o docs do that....the best was just last night give a beta-blocker and hung up......uhhh news flash a) I don't get to pick which one, nor do I get to guess how much and b) the SBP was already 70....so no beta blocker there :bugeyes:.

Our hospital is talking about it, and quite honestly I'd love it. Having been on the other side of the bed as both a pt, and a family member, it is quite annoying to ask every single person coming in your room who they are and what they do. I worked damn hard to become a nurse, and I want people to know that my role at work.

As a general rule we use valium not ativan for our ETOH'ers......and I had one guy that we gave something like 50 mg IV to in a 12 hour period. Most lorazepam I can recall giving was a guy we had on a gtt at 10 mg/hr + at least 2 mg IV push q1H.

I will give narcs within a 1/2 window on either side for prns. However if I find they are needing a fair bit of prn medication......or if the timing isn't working for them I usually re-assess thier medications. Maybe they need a change in narc or do they need an NSAID or something like gabepentin if they are having nerve pain.

My most heartfelt condolences for your loss. I am so sorry that you were treated so terribly in your time of need. If you are in need of something to return home I agree with others, go to the local ER and hopefully the nurses there will advocate on your behalf. Many hugs to you.

Yep an all too common issue in ICU. If you are new to ICU I would have suggested speaking to either your preceptor/nurse manager. They could have provided you with guidance as to what your next steps could be. If a situation doesn't feel right listen to your instincts...they were telling you the situation was wrong. There should be hospital policies on what to do if you don't agree with the treatment plan. Me - I would have directly asked the doc if he had discussed this with the pt. Alternatively I would have discussed why the pt wanted to be a DNR with the pt. Knowing why the pt made that desicion might have strengthened your position with the doc. Good luck, I spent many a shift as a new ICU nurse feeling like I should be beating my head against the wall.