RNinICU

As nurses we often complain about our careers. We vent about the long hours and lack of respect. One thing we don't seem to talk about is the differences nursing has made in us. I have changed a great deal over the years. I have grown wiser, and ...

In our ICU, the patients usually come down from the cath lab with the sheath still in the groin, and the RNs pull them after a few hours. Until recently, we have not had too many problems with pulling them, a small hematoma on occasion, and a couple...

Last night when I got report from the RN who was leaving, he told me the doc had ordered a stat med for one of my patients. After report, I checked the chart, and found the order timed for a half hour before the start of my shift. I bit my tongue, ...

I always found it cheaper and easier to pay a babysitter when I went shopping, especially for groceries. I would take less time in the store , and spend less money when I went alone. The couple of dollars I gave the sitter was a great investment. ...

A "good smack across the cheek" may stop the scream, but IMO is not only physical abuse, it is emotional abuse as well. A four year old can feel humiliarion, and slapping someones's face in public causes that person humiliation. When children are a...

MRSA is usually not a problem for healthy individuals. It is more of a concern for people who are already compromised. Our infectious disease specialist tells us that a fairly large percentage of the population is colonized with MRSA, and that an e...

This seems like an easy question, but is not really that simple. Caring is a feeling of wanting to do the best I am capable of doing for my patients. I cannot relate individual incidents to demonstrate what caring means, because caring is not episo...

How committed is your boyfriend to helping and supporting you? You will need a lot of help if you want to attempt all of this. And what do you want most? I personally would not attempt all of this at the same time. You are setting yourself up for...

Anne, Welcome to our ranks. I love ICU, and could not imagine working elsewhere. I love the challenge, and there is always something new to learn.

We use propofol IV push for concious sedation, but it must be given by the anesthesiologist. Nursing staff is not permitted to push this med.

We have a form of self scheduling that works quite well. Everyone fills out a six week schedule for themselves and gives it to the unit manager. We are given guidelines regarding the number of weekends and off shifts we have to work, and are allowe...

My thoughts too.

Succinct and to the point.

Some people never learn.

Most of these questions I can only answer with my personal opinion, not facts. I don't really feel like typing all of the answers. If you would like to call me, PM me. and I will give you my phone number so I can answer your questions.

Heather, I'll have one of those Margaritas, too. Extra salt please

Hospitals are getting very creative with staffing to attract more people. Ours currently has regular full time, flex full time, regular part time, limited part time, prn, and per diem. Per diem people are scheduled a set number of days in a pay per...

The best site to go for information would be the AACN website. This is the professional organization for critical care nurses. You can do a Google search for other nursing organizations as well. I can't quote statistics about any of your questions,...

Most of the LPNs I have worked with are hard working and knowledgable. I have worked with a few who were lazy and incompetent. Most of the RNs I have worked with are hard working and knowledgable. I have worked with a few who are lazy and incompet...

Fab4Fan, I agree with everything else that has been said here. Take your time looking, and I am sure you will find a job you love. Take care of yourself.

How was I supposed to know she didn't know what she was giving if she didn't ask? Had she asked, I would have explained the difference. And as far as the patient not being harmed, he had to undergo an extra dialysis treatment to remove the excess p...

I have frequently made verbal bloopers when taping report. We had aconfused patient that kept getting out of bed and trying to get into bed with his room mate, so we put a Posey restraint on him. When taping report, instead of saying we poseyed him...

There is a huge difference between covering for a co-worker, and covering up for a co-worker. Helping and supporting our fellow staff increases patient safety, IMO. I would never let another nurse flounder, but I would also never let another nurse ...

I will be attending the Nursing Horizons seminar at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Oakland campus on March 7th. Anyone else going to be there?

I'm about two hours East of Pittsburgh, but far from being a new grad. I work all nights in ICU. I also have relatives near Philly and York, and usually visit there several times a year.