babbsrn

Noryn-thanks for the detailed info...Julie-Unfortunately I too have been plagued with MRSA, and I was a bit freaked out at first. It started as an abcess, then I developed another and became very suspicious because I work for a surgeon, and I know what these MRSA abcesses look like..and the cultures come back positive..Reluntantly started treatment (because I was in denial)..Life goes on..it does appear to be getting into the community..There was recently an outbreak where I live among the high school football players. I am just glad that they received some education about it, because they apparently were all being checked head to toe for "suspicious abcesses or wounds" before even dressing for practice, and were not allowed to play if anything was found on them...I do wonder sometimes though, how, specifically at what moment I failed to break the chain and get infected myself...I have always been careful about washing my hands, etc. but I am definitely more deligent about it now..I will never know where it came from, but hopefully it will remain supressed.

Thanks for the input..Flytern, out of curiousity-which did you do first and where are you now? Do you go back and forth? Did you always want to do one and then decided later to do the other? Sorry for all of the questions, I am just torn...

To be honest, it has been about a little over a year since I have placed a foley, but best I can recall the sheet you are referring to on top does go under the pt, then you don your sterile gloves. That is, if it is unfenestrated (without the hole). I always had a little drape under the patient before I began, so that I would be certain not to unintentionally contaminate the entire package.. Hope that helps. Good luck to you!

It depends on your hospital and policies where you work..Some places have standing orders and protocols in place. For example, when I worked on a med/surg floor a nurse could order an EKG before calling the doc, but I have also worked on a floor where that was not excepted. It depends on where you work. Just make sure that you do have yourself covered before you order anything if you are unsure.

is it just me, or does it seem like everything is going great, and then (some) obs gets there and mess it all up? would just like to say kudos!! i am not a l&d nurse(yet), but have had 4 children and i was induced with all of them. just fyi- i did not particulary want to be induced this last time because i thought that w/out the pit labor might be tolerable...well there was not time for an epidural the little guy came so fast that my nurse delivered, and let me tell you all- it was the best delivery of all 4! there was no-push, don't push..she was my advocate and let my body do the work..thanks to all of you l&d nurses so dedicated. my nurse has now made me do what i originally wanted to do all along and pursue l&d myself.

Thanks for the response..That is exactly what I have been thinking, that I will find the L&D more fulfilling, but I also like the idea of not coming home absolutely drained...Been there..Not sure how bad I want to go back..

I am confused and could use advice. I am still uncertain after shadowing if I want to work in L&D or NICU. There are perks to both for me, but I am still unsure as to which one I want. I have always wanted to do L&D since I went to nursing school 7 years ago, but I think I would enjoy the NICU as well..I have worked a variety of nursing jobs, including a Level One Shock/Trauma ICU..So, I am used to fast paced and staying on my toes..Is there anyone out who happens to have tested the waters in both fields? Or anyone with advice on either direction?