Wave

Thanks for the support. I felt a little silly when, after posting, all kinds of similar threads just "appeared". Still, I guess that it was still kind of cathartic. I have been trying to keep my emotions to myself, all bottled up inside (although I was doing a lousy job of that, too). My wife has been dealing with some postpartum issues and I didn't want to add to her stress with my problems. My parents kept saying that I would just have to try harder, get in earlier, stay later. I just couldn't get them to understand, so I just avoided talking about it. Really felt like I was all alone... Wave

Hello everyone Need some serious advice/ guidance, please! Little background first: I graduated from ASN program end of May, took and passed NCLEX in July and became a licensed RN the same month. Started working on a busy cardio/ vascular/ thoracic telemetry unit. Needless to say, very nervous in the beginning which became worse after errors (2 med errors, few bad judgement/prioritization calls)[previous thread]. I had about 9 preceptors due to staffing issues. Management extended orientation from 12 weeks to 20 weeks. At 12 weeks, I felt compeled to tell management about my ADD (Sort of my last resort. Seems that they had kinda guessed my dirty little secret anyway.) Made some adjustments in med regimen (with good results) and changed from 8 hr days to 12 hr days. Towards the end, things seemed to be coming together, but apparently not enough. Management felt that I would not be ready to be on my own by the end of orientation. They couldn't say what would happen to me at the end of orientation (whether or not I'd be terminated or not). Still had two weeks left, but they would have to be perfect, mistake-free for any consideration of any kind. Decided that I'd had enough stress/ worrying at this point so I took my accrued vacation and gave notice. Really hated to throw in the towel, I'd been fighting this up hill battle for sooo long and I had worked sooo hard, but the stress was coming home with me and it was affecting my relationship with my family, especially my 2 1/2 year old son. I actually spanked him!!! I still cry about it when I think back to that incident. Sigh! This is essentially my 3rd career. I was very excited about becoming a nurse and I hung alot on the line to made this change. Now, I feel like a failure, like I'm no use to anybody. I kept it from family and friends for as long as I could because I was so ashamed and embarressed. How am I supposed to feel when this was my FIRST choice and I got in, but couldn't stand the heat! I'm sure management had thought that they found a diamond in the rough, and instead what they got was a cubic zirconia -and flawed at that! I feel like I'm damaged goods. How does one recover from something like this? Is it over before it ever started? I had started to feel better, trying to put those negative emotions behind me, but I need a Job! How am I supposed to honestly, truthfully answer questions about why I left after only 5 months?! (You know that they're gonna ask!) That I was a screw-up?! Anyway, sorry for ranting and the really long post. I was hoping to get some suggestions on what kind of job I should try for next. Telemetry is all I know, but I don't want to put myself in the same situation again. Will anybody still precept me? or will they expect me to be independent? How about rehab nursing or a position at a long-term acute care facility. I also saw a pediatrics position available. Any links to previous posts about questions that interviewers ask or questions I should ask. Given the time of year, I'm feeling a little desperate, but don't want to jump into another mess. Thanks for listening and/or any advice. Wave

It's not "no contact with in-pts" so much as it's no bed-side nursing. I don't know what management plans to offer and I would like to have some input. There is a clinic next door w/ doctor's offices and out-pt testing. That may be one of the choices. For all I know, there may be only one "option", "take-it or leave-it". I had never considered anything else besides bed-side nursing and, at least at this facility, my current manager would be "very candid" if any other in-pt units (i.e. bedside nursing) were to ask about me. On an emotional note: My wife was watching one of those reality T.V shows (where someone gets voted out by a panel of experts/judges). As I walked in the room, one of the contestants was eliminated and I turned to my wife and said "I know exactly how that feels!" Depressed, humiliated, embarassed, a little dazed. I guess at this point I feel like I'm damaged goods and feel that where ever I go I'll be dragging this around with me.

Anybody?

Hello everyone, In need of some good advice and some consolation. A little background: In June, graduated, took the boards and started on what I thought would be my dream job on a tele/ cardiothoracic unit. On Mon, I had my second "big" mistake. I was off on Tues anyway, but was asked to take some time off. Now, after being on the floor for eight weeks, I have essentially been asked to find another place to practice nursing. I'm not fired, but if I don't leave then this incident will be considered a 2nd/ written warning. I can't transfer to another dept because I haven't been at my current position for six months. My managers and preceptors just seem to feel that I couldn't handle the stress and wasn't able to multi-task enough. Anyway, the point of the post is I'm to come up with my list of "other" (non-inpatient unit) jobs where I could work. So, although I'm crushed, it does seem like management is still trying to work with me. Problem is that all the other positions I considered needed at least one year of med-surg or are specialized areas of nursing. (ex.: or nurse, first assist, wound/ ostomy care) A friend suggested being an admission nurse. In school I was thinking of going for NP, now I wonder if I even made the right choice to be an RN. (Still licking my wounds a little, I guess) Any and all advice appreciated ~Wave

Thanks for the reply, Oldiebutgoodie, We tried nystatin cream covered with Balmex for a week. It was a tug of war. Really and truly, the best ting has been just having his lil' butt open to air, but it only works until we cover him up. And we have to watch him as we have him on his tummy. Sigh! Double sigh! Apparently the compound is made up of Desitin, nystatin and stoma adhesive (not sure whether or not it's powder or paste). Just not sure what to do. I wish that she would culture the darn thing in several spots! I'm no expert on diaper rash, but I think that it's kinda funny how some things work for a day or two then get worse. Or how it's so much better when exposed to air, but quickly returns when covered up. Sorry, just venting. Wave

I'll try to be short and to the point. Our one month old has a bad case of diaper rash. Probably combo of fungal and something else. Usual stuff doesn't seem to work for more than a day. So the family practitioner that we see had some thing called "Dr Doody's Butt Balm" compounded. Apparently the base is stoma adhesive. So, the question is: how to remove the old stuff with diaper changes? We are not supposed to be wiping the baby's bottom, but merely rinsing, as the Dr. was concerned that his skin was abraded or something like that. Thanks in advance, Wave Graduate Nurse!!!!

I wasn't familiar with this eye gtt, so I looked it up. Here's a link for those interested (as well as a good resource on the web): http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/chloramphenicolopung.htm Wave

I agree with the previous post about not flushing. If the pt has been seen by a MD (any), hopefully the situation has been correctly assessed. What caused the ulcer in the first place? Do you know how deep? If it is superficial, more like a corneal abrasion, it could heal fairly quickly with proper treatment. This type of eye injury is very painful as the nerves are so close to the surface. Part of the issue may have been the patching. Did you use a pressure patch to keep the effected eye from moving? Sometimes simply the movement of the eye against the closed lid can be enough to cause irritation and pain. What is the ointment? Unfortunately, topical anesthetic eye drops impede the healing process. Of course, an eye Dr (either a optometrist, or ideally, a ophthalmologist) would be the best. (In some states here in the U.S. optometrists can dispense drugs.) Wave

Hope that helps, or at least points you in the right, I mean, correct direction :chuckle. Wave Oops! didn't mean to reply twice!

I agree with the others, not quite sure what you're after here. Are you passing meds right now? If you're trying to understand what the directions are, the doctor wrote: "ointment to left knee at night". You might find this web site useful: http://www.herbdatanz.com/pharmaceutical_latin_abbreviations.htm Wave

To be truthful, I'm not positive but I believe that you have to buy the book(s) and the rest is "free". I was looking at the situation as whether or not it would be advantageous to take now, before I learned about telemetry, or if it would be too difficult without telemetry experience.

Looks like I'm moving up! After a short hiatus (due to school/ family life) I'm finally able to find time to hang out here. School got pretty rough, although this is no big surprise to any of you. Since Sept, I've been working as an aide (although I was frequently called upon to be a sitter/ 1:1). We've also had a baby (our second one -another boy) in May and I have graduated from my RN program shortly after! Howrah! To add to this, after a failed interview at my facility on one unit, (which I was certain that I had) I found out that the nurse manager who interviewed me had passed on my resume, along with a recommendation, to a different ward. I was called in for an interview (turns out I was the tech who examed the second NM's eyes about two years ago)and walked away with a job, pending passing my NCLEX. And...it was my first choice! It will be on a cardiac/ vascular unit with a strong telemetry component. My first job as a nurse!!! Times like this when ya know Somebody is looking out for you. Very exciting, scary,heady stuff, let me tell you! The degree alone means so much to me and my family. I was the only one in my family of four with out some kind of post high school degree. Let alone that it was in nursing. For me it also goes to being a provider to my family as well as some deeply held religious beliefs. So, a few questions: first, should I take ACLS now (it's available at the end of this month and I won't be taking the NCLEX until probably mid July) or wait until I have been on the floor for awhile. We studied arrhythmias in school, but never really used a lot of strips, so it's all sort of just theory, if you know what I mean. Second, any books (esp for telemetry) recommended -for anything? Sorry this is so long, just wanted to share the news and thanks in advance for any/ all advice! Wave

Can anybody explain why/ how , say, a healthy runner in top shape can have a HR below 60 and the sinus-atrial node is functioning normally (or is it?)? If SA node is 60-100, AV node is 40-60 (even the healthiest person couldn't have a HR below 40, could they?) is the SA node just "resting"/inactive? Did I frame the question O.K.? Can you tell where I'm coming from? Any thoughts/ explanations or links/ websites would be great. Oh, two more question: if the T wave (on a EKG) is re-polarization of the ventricles, what part of the EKG indicates re-polarization of the atria (atriums? atrials?) and What are "f" and "u" waves? Again thanks in advance!!! ~Wave

Well, after 20 years working with eyes and eyeglasses in one way or another, I have left the safe harbor of Ophthalmology for parts unknown. Anticipating my graduating from my AD RN program in May '08, I have changed jobs to work as a "nursing associate" in the float pool where, in addition to working as a nurses assistant, I will also be cross trained as a unit coordinator/ secretary. Very nervous and a little scary. Three days off orientation and I've survived so far. When I finish my shift, I'm tired (in a good way), my feet are sore and my knees ache. I know that I needed new shoes, I just didn't know how badly I would need them. Here's my dilemma: I've been off for a few days and my feet are fine, but my knees still ache. In peoples experiences, is this some thing that is normal/ common experience or adjustment? Would knee "conditioning" exercises/ PT be in order? I should add that if my knees gets worse/ doesn't get any better after the new sneakers arrive and I've had a chance to take them out for a test drive, then I'll make an appt. with my M.D. I didn't want to jump the gun if this was a normal adjustment to being on my feet all the time. ~Wave