Jennabugs

I had some controversy at work last night, and our pharmacist was going to look into our hospital policy, but in the mean time... Your order reads "Oxycodone 5-15mg po Q3 hrs prn pain". How do you interpret? I interpret this to mean the patient may receive 5mg say at noon, if that does not work, they may receive up to 10mg more for a total of 15 within that three hour period. Then they may not have more until that three hour period is up. My colleage says that is incorrect, you may give 5-15mg at noon, if not effecitve, you must wait the full three hours to give more, even if you only gave 5mg. Can anyone give their opinion? I would much appreciate as I have always dosed this way and now am worried I have been making med errors!

On my step down/progressive care unit in California, the charge nurse did not take an assigment. She or He rounded, resolved issues (family concerns, etc), talked with staffing/admitting regarding unit staffing and census, and assisted RN's with things like IV's, medications, whatever was needed. This was on a 25 bed unit. I always found the charge RN a good resource. Here in Utah, the charge nurse has an assigment! However, the hospital I am now at does not have a staffing office, so they field calls from those that are sick, etc. I don't find them to be as helpful at all.

NO! Unless, of course, you want to work on med-surg. I think if you want to progress to ICU or a specialty (peds, L and D, etc) then it's not good for you. Sure, you get your "time management" down, but I don't think it's worth it. I don't think it makes you a better nurse. I started in a step down/tele unit, and although I was overwhelmed at times (we took trachs, vasoactive drips, etc) it was great for me to get the experience. I would have been bored on med surg, and I can't imagine caring for four or more patients. It's just not me.

I finished a 15 month program at California State University Long Beach in Dec 2005. I agree with what everyone else said - be prepared to but the rest of your life on hold! I had no children or other major committments while I was doing this program (I was 28), I know those that did it with kids and it was VERY hard for them. You must have a flexible spouse. I recommend doing it if you can quit your current job - you can't work. Our classes were six weeks long, so you had a major schedule change every six weeks. We had 12 hour clinicals frequently on weeknds. In the long run, it was worth it. Although I have alot of student loan debt as I was not a CA resident at the time. Best of luck!