rn2md2b

At my hospital we are in the same boat as Pepper The Cat. All ICU nurses are required to float to ER when they are short. Two completely different practices. I once read a post where someone bashed ICU nurses who couldn't handle the ER. Its not that we can't handle it, its a completely foreign level of nursing. I am sure if I was to oriente there and learned the routine I too would enjoy the ER, however I love ICU and have all my training there. But to answer your question, NO. They do not give us an orientation nor do they give others (ER staff) who may float to the units.

I've been on nights for 13 yrs and have yet to find one solid thing that works. I use a combo of things. I have my bedroom window sealed with black plastic and I have a dark shade that I can pull down. I also have a noise machine that plays different noises over and over and zzzzzzzzzzzz(sorry I fell asleep thinking about it). It plays different sounds like a train, running water, crickets...etc. Some may bother you but others may work. I have tried a lot of other things but these are the ones that have worked more so than not. It sucks working nights but my life right now can't accomodate days. Good luck and I hope something works.My noise machine I got for a present and I really enjoy it when I am having trouble falling asleep. Also when I wake up and need a few more hours I juzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, sorry just thinking about puts me out. I just lay there and play the train track over and over. I works

I worked pysch for many years as a tech in a Baker Act receiving facility in Florida. We did extensive searches prior to entering the unit but we did once have a male patient sneak in a shank that was made in the county jail. During an arguement with another patient he pulled it out and began waving it and threatening others. After taking him down and condeming the weapon we noticed blood pooling on the ground. Apparently he had it between his scrotum and legs and when pulling it out left a nice 6 inch laceration that started near his orifice and ran 1 inch into his scrotum. I have heard of other stories like families smuggling in drugs and patients taking their life but never witnessed anything like that first hand.

The technique mentioned in carachel2's post is the one I use. Being a male nurse I too feel your pain. Depending on time and age sometimes its easier to find a female nurse to assist, but if you can't stay professional and keep as much covered as possible.

I agree with all the previous posts. I am taking upper level physics and biology classes with the hopes of getting into med school. I've met with a few advisors and was told that most medical schools are looking for a diverse population of applicants. I also have worked with a former RN now MD and she has told me on several occasions that her dream of being a doctor would not have materialized without the support of her family and friends. It seems to me that you have all the key ingredients to make this plan happen. I've been told that the hardest part is making it through residency but only because of the pay and long hours. Best Wishes To You!!!!!!

Peeing your pants in a crowded room while wearing a dark suit.....It gives you a warm tingly feeling but no one knows you're there.(a qoute from my mentor who spent 41 years caring for others)

Good Job!!!!! But don't let this one get away, report him. No matter what level of care or field we are one team and the patient is our goal.

There are so many programs for palms that it is almost impossible to use them all. For work I've found skyscape programs the best. Programs such as Tabers Dictionary, drug guides, patho reference books, and lab manuals makes understanding patient info easier. The programs cost almost the same as the hardcovers and they are right at your finger tips. For personal use my palm is my life. The calender has alarms, notepad makes the many papers I stuff in my pocket obsolete, and the address book is vital for my everyday life. The prices for them hasn't changed at all over the years but I've heard of friends finding them on ebay pretty cheap. They're not for everyone but have truely made my life a lot more organized. Beats lugging around 5 or 6 nursing books each shift.

Having worked both hospitals I can share what I do know about both WHH and LRMC. Both have the same ratio's in the critical care specialties. SICU, MICU, & CICU all have a 1:2 patient/nurse ratio. Unless you have a really critical patient(i.e. ballon pumps or CVVHD) then you go to 1:1. The new CVICU at WHH is 1:1 always and they try to have an extra nurse for more help. PCU is split into two units. The even side regular cardiac(13 beds) the odd side CVU(24 hour post open hearts from CVICU)has 6 beds. PCU is 1:4 and CVU is now back to 1:2. PCU is soon to move to a bigger floor and will start taking interventional patients. The ratio should remain the same if not drop to a CICU type ratio. Now I haven't work any other areas at LRMC except critical care so like the last post said you may want to contact the hospital for other floor ratios. I've worked critical care at Heart of Florida also and I must say that I didn't want it to end but for me the drive sucked. They had the best doctor/nurse relationship than the other two hospitals. I hope this works for you. Anymore questions let me know.

Greetings from Polk County. There are only the 5 hospitals in the Polk County. The two larger hospitals are Lakeland Regional Medical Center and Winter Haven Hospital. Both are quite busy but LRMC has a level 2 trauma ER. I have worked at both and can tell you good and bad points but most are just my opinion. LRMC pays a little more but I think only by about .50 cents. Neither are teaching hospitals and both encourage growth amoung the nursing staff. LRMC has an excellent cancer research center and both now have open heart centers(although Winter Haven just started doing open hearts in Aug 2005.) The Lakeland Ledger(our so called media paper) ran a year long weekly about the infection rate at LRMC. This forced them to put in place a lot of new protocols to prevent infection, I think it was a good thing. The other 3 hospitals offer maybe $1 or so less for nurses. They are Heart of Florida in Haines City, Lake Wales Medical Center, and Bartow Memorial. They offer a good small home town type hospital. Nothing really special but you know its the small places that get the neatest things. I hope this answers your questions checkout their websites and see what you think.LRMC - http://www.lrmc.comWinter Haven Hospital - http://www.winterhavenhospital.comHeart of Florida - http://www.heartofflorida.comThe other two I am not sure of but will find out and post later. Hope this helps.