corkyrn

I FIND MYSELF FORTUNATE. I WORK IN A BUSY CCU/ICU. IN 5 YEARS I WAS ASKED (YES ASKED) IF I WOULD FLOAT TO HELP OUT AN ONCOLOGY FLOOR. OUR HOSPITAL HAS JUST DEVELOPED A NEW PROGRAM. FLOORS THT ARE IN GREAT NEED FOR RN'S ARE REFERRED TO AS "CRITICAL NEED UNITS". YOU SIGN UP FOR THE DAYS YOU WANT IF ANY. ON TOP OF OUR REGULAR PAY, THEY ARE ADDING 10.50. THIS IS GOOD WAGES. IT HELPS OUT THE FLOORS THAT ARE DESPERATE AND I HAVE MET A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE AND AM LEARNING A LOT. OUR MANAGER HAS BEEN HERE FOR 32 YEARS. SHE IS AWESOME. NOW LET ME SAY I WORKED ACROSS TOWN AT ANOTHER HOSPITAL IN WHICH ALL OF US FLOATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. 2X A WEEK AT TIMES. GUESS WHAT. THIS HOSPITAL IS NOW IN A BIGGER CRUNCH. VETERANS OF 20-30 YEARS HAVE LEFT AND US WHO POOLED HAVE LEFT ALL TOGETHER. I AM A CRITICAL CARE NURSE. THIS IS WHAT I KNOW AND DO. MED SURG IS IN MY EYES A SPECIALTY FLOOR OF IT'S OWN. IT IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF NURSING. YOU HAVE TO DEVELOPE NEW AND DIFFERENT ORGINIZATIONAL SKILLS AND THE CHARTING AND AQUITY GRASPING IS DIFFERENT. THE WORSE THING FOR ME IS I FIND MYSELF SPENDING MORE TIME LOOKING UP DRUGS IN A BOOK BECAUSE I DON'T GIVE THESE DRUGS ON A REGULAR BASIS. I FLOATED TO 4 DIFFERENT UNITS WHILE I WORKED THERE. I WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE AS A PT IN A HOSPITAL THAT IS WORKING THAT MANY "NEW ORIENTIES". THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WHEN WE GO TO ANOTHER UNIT WHERE WE ARE NOT TRAINED OR ORIENTED.

I WORK IN A BUSY CCU/ICU DEPT. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF CHEST TUBES. DO RN'S IN YOUR HOSPITAL REMOVE CHEST TUBES S/P CABG 12-24 HOUR POST-OP? WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RN'S WHO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TASK. I AM NOT. I NEVER HAVE BEEN CHECKED OFF OR TAUGHT THIS PROCEDURE ON A FRESH HEART.