RNJess10

As jwk said above, Vanc has a 2 hour window to be given prior to incision according to SCIP guidelines. From what I understood in our hospital's inservice about SCIP procedures, the antibiotics only need to be started prior to incision, and not completely infused. At our hospitals, the anesthesiologists start the antibiotics when we are in the operating room, instead of in the preop area, so we can be sure that we are still in the hour window for incision. This is a good breakdown of the SCIP guidelines for antibiotics, but I think some of the other things have changed since this was written in 2012. http://surgery.uc.edu/content/Education/residentresources/SCIP%20one%20page%20guidelines%20draft%204%204-24-2012.pdf

I'm right there with you! I have been on orientation at my hospital for 2 1/2 months, but we only have a 3 month orientation. At our hospital (it's a small hospital), they don't train circulators to be scrub nurses. It is a completely different world that nursing school doesn't even touch on. I think it will get better (for both of us!) as time goes on. Whenever I get down on myself, I look back at what I've learned in just these couple of months and how far I've come. Heavy expectations are always put on nurses no matter what type of nursing you do and regardless of how much experience you have. I was on med/surg for almost 2 years, and remember feeling the exact same way starting out. As long as you're still interested in learning and enjoying the operating room, I think the situation will improve. If you have an opportunity to go to central sterile, that will help you learn the instruments (I wish I had more time to spend there). If it's a slow day, maybe they'll let you open an instrument set so you know what's in there and what the instruments look like. Don't forget you're not alone, and no one expects you to know everything, so don't be afraid to ask. The only way to really learn is through practice, and mistakes are bound to happen...but each one is a learning experience and will help you improve the next time. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. I wish you the best of luck and hope everything works out for you!

I haven't passed out/fainted, but when I was in my second semester of clinicals, I noticed whenever I dealt with anything blood related (bloody, painful wounds, trying to start an IV and watching the vein blow, etc) I would get dizzy, hot, and nauseous. It helped me to eat in the mornings before clinical, I took hard candy to suck on when I knew I'd be seeing something with blood, and I would make sure to step out early on before it was unbearable. If I did have to step out, I would grab a cup of water, take deep breaths, and sit down. If it was available, I'd get something in my stomach (regular crackers, graham crackers, etc). I was terrified that I would never get past it, but after a while, the sight of blood didn't bother me. I was able to do a preceptorship in the MICU no problem. Don't be too discouraged! Some things take a little while to get used to. :)

In a nursing home in KY, I made 9.80/hr, base, and basically less than a dollar in shift differential. In a hospital in SC, I made 9.30/hr base, and 0.75 for evenings, 0.90 for nights, weekends, and holidays as differential. Then my friend back in KY tells me she makes like 11-12/hr and I almost cried. hahah. I think having the CNA classes and hospital experience before nursing school helped me even more than I realized for my clinical courses. I wasn't afraid to talk to or touch patients, I could make a bed and bathe people much faster than some others. Starting out for me, a bath took *forever* but with as much practice as I've had, I'm much faster. I also learned VERY valuable time management and prioritizing skills (but I'm sure I'll be forever working on them). I think time management has to be experienced before being truly appreciated...at least that was the case for me. I hope that helps. Good luck!

This semester, it would have been very helpful for me to have a drug guide on my phone, so that I could look up reliable info about drugs quickly. It would save you from having to hunt down a book on the unit, or googling it on the spot. But I haven't used mine extensively. Good luck!

That is INCREDIBLY neat!!

I'm in my second semester of nursing school (in the upper division / clinical classes) and I've done it both ways -- I think I like using a computer more than pen and paper. I type faster than I write, so when I write, I miss more. Of course, the choice on what to use is very individual -- try both and see what's best! Good luck! The first semester is rough, but after you know what to expect, the other semesters get better :)

Thats what scares me -- the fact that I may one day be afflicted with alzheimers and know it, but be unable to do anything about it. whenever a coworker of mine gets frustrated with or angry at an alzheimers pt, i just tell them our time is coming.

I was working at a LTC facility and one of the residents told me she was angry cause *someone* took a dump in her panties.

I work on a rehab floor (for pts recovering from strokes and broken bones) and I do a lot of moderate to heavy lifting. not too long ago a lady hurt her back lifting a pt and I want to be sure the same thing doesn't happen to me. anyone have any advice on how to lift people that can barely ambulate?

my friends in Kentucky were able to get jobs in Louisville with no experience fresh out of their CNA certification training, but...I had no luck. I guess it just depends on how desperate they are? I now live in SC and they only require high school diplomas to work as a "patient care assistant". but I used to work at a nursing home, and I now work in a hospital, and from my experience...they are two different playing fields. good luck!

the nursing home where I work at had me shadow someone. I was a brand new aide, never had any experience before. I mostly helped out with changing people and transferring residents (which I still will not do on my own if they can't stand -- I may be a wimp, but I'd rather not see any of my residents on the floor!) You're probably almost out of training, but maybe to ease any anxiety about being on the floor alone...don't hesitate to ask questions OR ask for help. especially if this is your first CNA job. I felt like I should know everything, but thats just not possible. I felt bad asking people to help me move someone, but oh well.

heheheh, I had really low blood pressure when we were practicing BP. 90/52 for me. I couldn't believe it either.

I have a hard time taking blood pressure because I can hear my fingers cramping on the stethoscope. I can't determine where the beat is versus where my fingers are making noise. thankfully most places have the automatic BP cuffs.

So many colleges really emphasize that most people won't be accepted into the nursing program. To me, my school gave me such a negative outlook that I felt I'd never be good enough to get into the clinical classes. I'm really happy about the college I'm planning to transfer to because, although they are very prestige, they make the goal seem very attainable. its all about the hard work and the outlook!