coffeeaddict

Wow, as a nurse one should not be as judgemental of others healthcare choices. Most nurses are carefull of the medications we put in our bodies. We too often see the bad outcomes of others personal choices, illegal drugs, and narcs used excessivly, ect. I use provigil after carefull consideration of the pros and cons. I worked 1.5 years on nights with no problems staying awake. Then I moved from a 8 hr a night cardiac unit that one never had a chance to sit, to a 12 hr ICU. Love the new unit but one often has time to sit, just watching a monitor between our one hr pt check. I noticed a large decrease in my thought process, never actually felt sleepy, but just couldnt think on the fly. I feel that by keeping my brain awake and in full working condition I am being my patients advicate. I can help keep them alive, literally. So I take provigil 100mg the first two shifts that I work. I dont skip sleep, I dont work more than 48 hrs a week, most of the time I am only working 34 hrs a week. I feel that after weighing the pros and cons, that my best choice is to take a medication that helps me stay sharp.

I have been taking provigil for about 6 months now. I needed something to counteract that loss of brain power that would happen around 5am. I realy didnt have any problems staying awake, I would just start forgetting what I went into the med room for, or one time couldnt think of the word bedpan. I didnt feel comfortable with the drop in IQ working in a ICU. So my doctor priscribed provigil for me. I usually only use it two out of my three 12 hr shifts. I still sleep the 8 hrs in the day, but I think it helps alot with the wake sleep cycle. There are only mild side affects, the first week or so I used it I got a mild H/A, and a slightly stuffy nose. There is little known about how it works, but they think that it increases the histamine, and dopamine levels in the brain, coping the natural wake nerotransmiters of the brain.

I work 3 twelve hr shifts a week, so I find that my first night back is always the hardest. When I complained to my MD he had me try a pill called provigil. Works wonders, and I only have to take it my first night back. Not what everyone would do, but I felt it was ok to take something so that I wouldn't loose my edge.

I always ask what makes them think that? Sometimes it is because of a fear they need to voice or possible something they over heard us say. It helps to know why they are thinking that. Often they are right, but I work a ICU so yes they are pretty sick. To make myself feel better, I tell them that we are doing everything we can for them.

Spokane, and yes its by choice. I have a 3 year old and find the conservative values nice for familys.

Spokane Community Collage has a bridge program. Not sure about the requirments. Also most of the hospitals dont hire LPNs, but that changes from time to time.

also if that if its the hospitals policy to not take B/P on arms with picc lines, or post masectomy sides, dont yell at me for obeying it, and posting signs above the bed. Also dont remove the said sign and go to the boss about it. It will not help you. Another thing if a pt has irregular HR in the 170s for 8 hrs and a rapid responce is finally called, dont yell at the new grad, she was just doing her job. Hospital policy cant be overriden just because you say to not call rapid responce on any of your pts. I am a ICU nurse and am not afraid of you, neather is my boss, and you will be written up. Also I work for your pt. not you.

That saying "Thank you for your help". "Im sorry that my pt spit on you." Or "you did the right thing." goes a long way. Also that I will treat you with the same amount of respect that you give me, also I have ways of making your life miserable that you havent even thougt of yet. Like letting your d/c pt know that if they need to Talk to you all they have to do is call your office number, any time day or night, and that it will be transfered to your on call phone.

I work a 12 bed ICU, we take alot of ACU overflow pt, occ. float to the rest of the hospital, but can't take a assignment. We end up doing all of the admits, sometimes helping with med passes, and often working as a aide. Most of the other ICU nurses hate to float, 1/2 of them are rude to the floors. Some have been permenently kicked off of the ACU. I started working in ICU about 6 months ago, previously worked M/S, and ACU, I also know a someone on almost all floors. So when I have to float I am treated well. But I always try to tell the floors "Ok here I am, what can I do to help you." instead of " I am only here to do the admit, I will sit here untill they get here." I always have fun floating, most of my shifts, 8 hrs out of 12 are getting caught up with my friends from the floors, I rarelly have anyone giving me busy work with them sitting. If they dont need help they tell me. If they do need help I try to help with anything they might need. Even if it is something they would normaly have a aide, of unit secretary do.

its been some time but here is the list. 20lb wt gain 3 month seperation from husband 1 year post school feelings of guilt for reading/watching TV still 4 years latter have nightmares about tests/naked in class. gave me the foundation to become the nurse I am today. didnt help all that much with spelling though.

I agree with CardiacRN. Dont worry I dont think you missed anything hunny pye. Surgery is not without risk.

If he died within 24 hrs after appy, then it would not be sepsis, ARF. Hemmorage could cause pain and low urine output. Have also seen PE cause sudden death, but most of the time they code on the floor, no time to get to the unit. My bet would be bleeding if younger, if older add MI, Stroke to the mix.

ICU vrs ED For me the big difference is the age of people I am taking care of. I dont treat kids, the concept of coding a baby gets to me, so I work the ICU. Also I like the fact that I can be a controle freak in the ICU. I can know the labs, history, I know most of our docs and they trust me, much better than floor nursing (have not been a ED nurse). The other thing about ED nurses is they have a MD right there. In ICU we rarely do, except after the code is called.