andi2634

Latest Activity

1. Help me please!!!!

   andi2634 replied to jessica47201's topic in General Nursing

   Jessica- I went back to school to get my RN when I was 29- I already had a degree and chose the 2 year route- I had absolutely no problem getting a job after I graduated with a 2 year degree. I'm now...

2. New Grad about to be interviewed at ICU...Needs advise!

   andi2634 replied to mye614's topic in General Nursing

   I would be sure to ask questions about staffing- does this unit have a large turnover- or do nurses stay. What is the orientation like- will you have one preceptor or be put with someone different all...

3. Icu Nurse To Nicu Nurse

   andi2634 replied to ANGIEICU's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   I worked adult cardiac surgery ICU for about 2 years and recently made the change to a level 3 NICU- and absolutely love it! It was a really difficult transition for me- I felt like a new grad all...

4. Assessments & IV meds

   andi2634 replied to malaga00's topic in General Nursing

   There are lots of threads on assessment if you do a search you'll find tons of great info- this is how I chart. We have a flow sheet that we can check of most of our assessment such as lung sounds,...

5. Game: Name that smelly drug

   andi2634 replied to Rhoresmith's topic in General Nursing

   I've been floating to our CCU lately and it's part of standard pre cardiac cath orders- I think with a bicarb gtt. to help protect the kidneys form taking a hit with the dye during the cath. Our...

6. Blake tube removal post CABG

   andi2634 replied to cabgrn2's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   We pull all chest tubes unless there has been a specific order for one of the SA's to pull them. When I was orienting on days I had a chance to pull many chest tubes but now I'm on nights and we...

7. Essential Skills~Input from ALL Nurses!!!

   andi2634 replied to msnursealot's topic in General Nursing

   Assessment skills are so important. When I was in school I precepted in labor and delivery. It was a great experience but I didn't really work with sick people. When I started working in a surgical...

8. staffing ratio CTICU

   andi2634 replied to byfaithbrampton's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   In Ohio-- patients just out of open heart are 1:1 for 1st 4 hours, if they have a balloon pump or are on CVVH are 1:1, once out of surgery stable patients and ICU overflow are usually 1:2, and if...

9. Open heart ICU

   andi2634 replied to Kiwi's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   I started in an open heart unit directly after graduating from nursing school. My orientation was about 13 weeks and I started working nights as soon as my orientation ended. we also get a lot of...

10. Need Advise

    andi2634 replied to pmanrnbflo's topic in General Nursing

    I thought the same thing about the patient/nurse ratio. I just graduated in May and am in a cardiac surgical ICU. We normally have 2 patients but we are 1:1 for balloon pumps or fresh open hearts....

11. First night shift

    andi2634 replied to Ortho_RN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I started on nights around the beginning of November, after working days for my first 3 months of orientation. I'm definitely more of a night person- but it was a hard transition after having to up...

12. drug calculation problem

    andi2634 replied to whinnymay's topic in General Nursing

    this is how I learned: To find the rate if you know the dose (amt. desired): Amt of drug(mg or units) / Amt of solution (cc's) x 1000 = A then Amt desired (dose) / A x wt (in kg's) x 60...

13. Does anyone recommend working as a patient care technician?

    andi2634 replied to LPN-n-2005's topic in General Nursing

    Definitely think about taking advantage of this opportunity. You will get a ton of hands on experience with patients and get good chances to learn while at work. If the staff knows you're a student...

14. Anyone take the HESI?

    andi2634 replied to geekgolightly's topic in HESI Entrance, Exit Exam

    I took the HESI twice- The first time at the end of our first year and then right before graduation. The first time I got an 84.73. If we weren't in the 85th percentile we had to do review...

15. Malpractice Insurance: Having your own policy is a NECESSITY

    andi2634 replied to -jt's topic in General Students

    One of our instructors is an attorney and she told us it was a really good idea to have malpractice insurance of our own in addition to the hospital's. Face it-- if the hospital gets sued who is...