Lace-RN

Alpha, Nursing interventions are the things you need to do or be aware of with those drugs..ie digoxin- check apical pulse before administering, lasix- monitor I&O, monitor potassium level. Hope this helps!

Ari, Remember, you are the patient advocate. You have the "front-line" knowledge of how your patient is doing and that is valuable info for their doc. Be respectful but not subservient. Be knowledgable about your patient and think ahead as to what info their doc may want. Are there new lab results? How is their fluid balance? Recent vitals? Have that type of info on your report sheet in your pocket.. don't get flustered. If a doc asks for info you don't have, be honest that you don't know but are willing to find out the answers. Good luck and hang in there!

Pt name,age, DR IV fluid/rate VS times___ Diet Activity Past shift event diagnosis ____ code status All in columns with a small amt of room to jot notes. Carry it in my pocket so that if the doc rounds I have it at my finger tips. I note any abnormal labs xrays etc from the previous shift in the last column and leave room under VS times to write in the VS.

Have you thought about an interim evaluation? Since they both "said" they were surprised, how about doing an "informal" evaluation at 3 or 6 months? That way you can show that you are staying on top of the situation as a manager and they can't claim they didn't know how they were progressing when next years eval rolls around?

Hang in there! The skills will come. Let your preceptor know how disorganized your feeling, and be willing to ask ANY question you have. It is better to ask then to come off as you know everything and then make a mistake, especially considering how we as nurses tend to "eat our young"! As far as getting more comfortable talking with your patient, sometimes it helps to "put yourself in their shoes". How would you feel if it were you lying in that bed? Try to be yourself and show the caring you have. Whenever I ask my patient how they are doing, I try to make sure that it's not just a casual question, but one of true concern. And remember, they are not just a diagnosis, but a person with multiple concerns such as family, finances, jobs etc. You will have good days and bad days, but usually the good ones outweigh the bad ones!! Don't give up yet!

Thanks so much for your post! I've been to all the websites, but what I was looking for was an "inside" opinion before I made choices. I've worked for 11 years in a small town type hospital and know all the in's and out's of that type of hospital. What I was wondering is what nurse/patient ratio's were, are nurses respected by docs, if you had to work for one of them which would it be, is there mandatory OT? etc. I have only been to that area once and when we make the trip to check it out I don't want to waste my time in places that I wouldn't want to work. I'm hoping to be able to move before winter, and trying to gather as much infor as possible. Any info you can give me I'm sure will help. Thanks so much!!

Thanks for the reply! Do you or anyone else know how the hospitals compare for working conditions?

Hi , am a RN in Pa with 19 years experience and am looking for any info on Polk county and hospitals/clinics etc there. Anyone from there or work in that area? Am sooo sick of cold and snow and want to move towards the sun! Am specifically looking at the Lakeland area. Any help would be appreciated!