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The Panhandle as we call it also had a lot of hurricanes that come in through the Gulf of Mexico. If I had to choose again where I lived I would take some time if possible and come down and stay in the areas and get out and see them while you are there. Pensacola is also close to the Alabama border and a straight run into Texas. If you have a significant other and or children I would come with the significant other if they are moving with you. I know this isn't always possible. My mom came to Florida and bought a house. At the time it was a sand pile and some cinder blocks. Also, if you decide to come and build contact the state to see if the contractor has any complaints against them. Good Luck

I have to agree with Todd about Tallahassee. It you want school fine but to maybe raise a family no. Also, there are not that many facilities in which to work. Tallahassee Memorial is a trauma center I don't know which level. Just after graduating some time ago I was offered a position there in the NICU/ PEDS unit. They believed in rotating between the two to decrease burnout. Well, three days before going to look for an aptment I got a call and was told someone already working there took the position. I have since had a nasty taste. I am also a GATORS fan. For a variety of medical specialties I would head for Tampa/St. Pete, Clearwater-quiter, Orlando. It also depends on what you plan to specialize in or if unsure still good places. If you are interested in Peds to geriatrics both Orlando and Tampa area can offer those. All have major trauma centers. Both have plenty of activities both day and night. They are just about a an hour and a half via I 4 if you want to go to the other one. Tampa has a large Hispanic community with many festivals. Both have theme parks for all ages and favorites to do. Tallahassee and Jacksonville both have cold weather during the winter months longer than the remainder of the state. Anything basically north of Orlando can get cold and a frost because of the low lying areas. Jacksonville is a seaport town which has an effect on the weather. Orlando may get to a frost just a few times a year. Tampa and Orlando are close to the Space Coast to see the Space center and possible launch of a shuttle. Another place is Gainesville. It is a college town but it is also a large town. It is a city but the definition of city is different for most areas of Florida. I would consider Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville the regular type of city. Gaineville is where the University of Florida is located that has all types of programs to continue ones education. After being a resident for 12 months you are then elligible for state tuition rates. Gainesville has Shands hospital which is a teaching hospital so the nurses are instrumental in teaching med students and interns. Med students usually do some of the procedures that nurses usually do such as dropping an NG tube. I would just like one of them to put a bedpan under a patient the correct way or at least tell someone the patient has to be changed. There is also a VA hospital across the street where the students also go but there is many research programs between the two facilities. Also, the salaries are similar but there are benefits of being a federal employee such as being able to transfer anywhere there is US military or VA facilities. There are two other hospitals I believe not too far from the main campus which is located near I 75 for a drive down to Orlando or Tampa to see a game there and then return on the same day. I would not be in town, unless going to the Fl vs FSU game. The people are friendly and everyone seems to be willing to help. I know this because I have been a patient at Shands 5 times and will again next year.

The flu shot is given to an infant in two doses as each is a half dose so that the child can build immunities against the particular flu. It is not to get extra money. You might want to check some pediatric journals or do a literature research on the subject with peer reviewed studies. It is similar to the dividing of childhood vaccines into more than one injection.

I have come to believe that every work situation has it Yuckies. I found the hardest task was to disimpact someone. I was given the lovely task on an admission. I thought when I had about 5lbs out it would do it. They xrayed the little old lady and she was still f ull. She couldn't have gone in a month. I couldn't do any more so ome of my colleagues rescued me. I had a fellow RN to BSN nursing student say that she would help the tech with one patient as it was a 'sacrifice' for her to do it. What if there wasn't a tech. During my first nursing assignment back in the days of Fred Flinstone which I know some of you remember I had a patient next to the station that had been yelling that there was someone in her room. We explained it as the drapes and had them removed as it was such an issue. Well she continued yelling through the weekend and then around 4a Monday morning I realized it was quiet. Your right she yelled herself to death. I have found that some of the older amputees particularly the 90 year old bilateral ones are sure spry in getting over those handle bars.

I started hearing call bells in nursing school. I still after being out of the hospital for a couple of years have an occasional one from a favorite patient. I have heard things that would be similar to things like metal bedpans crashing in the hall. I think we care too much and there is just so much going on that our own minds don't shut down. This will only add to burnout if it continues that you don't get adequate sleep. Find a diversion that has nothing to do with work and possibly be something that even you would not expect of you. When talking with a colleague while not at work do not talk about work. Studies have been done to show that nurses even off the job will talk about nursing within a few minutes of starting the conversation. Be mindful of it. If it starts stop it quickly. Also, letting your hair down to speak with someone who understands what you are going through but not directly related to the situation. Maybe a stress counselor. Take care of yourself first as your employer certainly won't they would rather dispose of you and leave the rest of the staff even further stressed. So get a hold. Good Luck and be good to yourself and maybe hubby might be able to help. Be certain that you do not bring your work home either. Okay once and a while as with anything else if someone hears too much of one thing it can turn them away. God Bless.

That would not have worked for my place as it is built like a closet with just one door that opens out. BUTT it could someday get mysteriiously locked. Then again, I would be the one to need it first. I can almost put money on it.

One of the facilities I have had family in at one time or another plays charms everytime a baby is born. However, with the awful possibility of abduction these days if a baby is missing or taken it is Code Pink. The staff closed every exit including those to the roof. I guess though if someone is desperate they will go to the roof. I don't think we get enough fire or any type of drill as we should.

What the hey is vitamin H? I am taking a stab at it it it Vitamin humor?? Would lke the true meaning Thanks

Karalea, for only two hours. That is nothing in the real world as she is probably still screaming unless she has laryngitis or has gone HOME. I have had patients scream for days at a time and it is when they are quiet that you begin to worry. I had billateral above the knees amputation and she would scream to the top of her lungs until the day she decided it was her turn to get out of bed. On rounds she managed to get out of bed and pull out all lines. I was lucky as she had to have an 18 in and I was able to get two into her. We called the doc as none of us had witnessed the getting out of bed and were afraid of some type of injury and he made a remark of how she couldn't without legs. She went over the rails as they were up on both sides. Other than the lines being out she had no injuries. The ER doc was p__ss__d that they had to wake him to see this fisty woman. When we got her back to the floor we put a vest restraint on her to save further possibility of injury. I was so scared as it happened as a GN and I wasn't sure what to do and my head nurse took right over. Thanks Nancy where ever you are

BugRN, the only reason I can see a heparin drip is if the mother had develop a DVT but she should be exercising her legs during the post partum period. I would not want it on the floor, but would you want to seperate the mom and baby by being on different units. I can see why they have chemo on your floor as there is little ristk of diseases as I would think the fresh deliveries and post ops would be considered a clean floor. We had our chemo patients on the surgical floor at one end. Anyone who developed and infection was sent to one end of the floor and put on contact precautions as a reminded for infected materials. That way hopefully there won't be cross contamination

So what else is new. I had a patient scream for days. She would also say that someone was in her room. It was the drapes on the window which could possibly have been a trench coat. Well, around 4am one morning I said to other staf members that something was different. I was screamer had stopped screamin' and had an apical by doppler of 38. Now wonder it was quiet. Back then the nursing supervisor ran the codes. Sometimes it dows take a minute to realize that it is quiet or someone starts screaming who has never before.

Don't forget me down here in Sunny but already hot Florida. I know lets have it in Bermuda. That way we can go around tax laws the weather is the same practically all year 60s-80s a nice breeze, beautiful blue water. Most of the patients would be on vacation so they will not want to spend time in the infirmary. Let's go gang. I will show the way as I have already been there. Disabled Besides it is just what the doc ordered.

As far as the Ativan, Alcohol and other drips, which the facility did not have one on the alcohol they had a rolevice that was suppose to work just as well or ALMOST as well as a pump. You still had to figure the number of drops per minute and set the roller to the closests amount. The reason my patient was on it was that they did not want him going into DTs either before or after surgery. I have given Ativan IV but not as a drip. We do insulin drips with a protocol as how often bs were done by fingerstick as well as by lab. We always kept the glucagon and DW50 tape over the headboard in the event there were additional problems. I have given Ativan IV and have recieved it IV but I have not hung it. I would onlly give cardiac meds without a complete inservice of the meds so that I don't have to stop at the last minute to look it

Nurse K-bear, in Florida LPNs maintain all perifpheral lines. They do not do any IV pushes or hang blood. Usually the RN hangs and then the LPN who has that patient monitors it. I don't know why this restriction exists because it hampers everyone. I would switch off when I had an LPN on my team. I would take the patient that required IV pushes and she would take one of mne. I know that some LPNs hang blood and sign the form as a second signature or go ahead and give IV pushes. I don't agree with it but I know it happens particularly on a busy floor. Don't give into an RN saying you go ahead and do it. DON'T DO IT or you will be out of a job in no time. It is too risky especially if it is a med that is specialized or if it is not diluted or even the wrong med because it looks similar to what. As I always say no matter what level you are at watch your butt.

Brassdragon, you're incorigible. I like the idea in the diaper but before you do that if you use baker's dark chocolate it will look more like a dart adult? Is the baby having dark ones or go with the milk chocolate for lighter stools. Be sure the camera is ready Disabled

I have never had a nitro drip on the med/surg floor. I think I would be taking vitals every 15 minutes for quite some time. What about the paste? Then again it is intermittent give the pill with different guidelines in particular for a patient of this age.

Peter, I can see why your friends call you evil. You must find some new jokes and pranks. If I think of any I will let everyone know so that they can try it.

Sometimes the the patients are more alert than the staff. On night shift we were always accused of sleeping but the work got done some how. I have met a full code patient with 700mcg of Duragesic q 3 days. She is at home and ambulatory, I have left the practice due to a disability and part of it is nonmalignant chronic pain and diabetic neuropathy. I take Pamelor 75hs and25 q am. I am also on Duragesic 75mcg. My highest level was 125 but I asked to reduce it. I also have Percocet for breakthrough. I had stapling and bypass as well as an abdominaldermalipectomy for formaly weighing 425. I did not have the pain then that I do now. It seems that the abdominal adhesions are intertwined with the colon and they say it is too risky to remove them for fear of puncturing the colon and ending up a lot worse. Every time there is peristalsis there is pain. That is also combined with IBS from the surgery but I think I have had it for years but ignored it and just took care of it. I know of patients that have indwelling intrathecal pumps with dilaudid as well as a stack of prns for breakthrough. One in particular is taking Neurotin 3600mg daily. I could never swallow that many pills Hopefully, in time I am able to reduce the Duragesic even more. Note. Do NOT give a pt on Duragesic Nubain. I was in an ER and it happened and from being on the Duragesic I went into immediate withdrawal. It took Ativan 2 mg IV to decrease it. I do not know how addicts do it. I never want to go through it again. Now until I am off the Duragesic or there is something else I say that I am allergic to Nubain.

Now that one with the resident bm is really sick and I actually think the whole idea smells but not like a rotten egg.

Pleeeez, send me an application STAT. I am feeling better and I believe the disability is lessening. Thanks guys. I was working as a clerk in an ER just before I became a nurse and we had a DOA and I was asked to go empty the pockets. We usually did this in twos for security sake. Well, I did not know about gases and that a body can do strange things. Shortly, after I regained my composer a colleague came up behind me without my knowledge and put a cold hand on my shoulder that just barely touched my neck. I was no longer FOS

Ditto, keep that good work coming. As nurses, I think at times we come up with the sickest jokes that usually no one else can understand.

Susanmary, it sounds as though you might be new to nursing and if you are welcome to one of the best professions you can get. I worked in med/surg for 18 years until I became disabled. Many times u will see Ativan and Haldol used as chemical restraints. I never liked it but in some cases it really is for not only the patient's safety but the staffs as well. After giving those two drugs, particularly if IV make frequent checks. Just call the patient by name or gently shake to be certain they arouse. I would take vitals before hand unless the patient is extremely combative then I would give the med and take the vital signs as soon after the patient becomes drowsy. I have found that either of these medications can make it even worse so be prepared. If it is too bad and your facility permits it use soft restraints. Sometimes they are better than Hudini in getting them off. If you can't and a vest restraint is still in supply then use a bed sheet and go around the lower chest and abd. Also, if you just don't have soft restraints and the patient is in a chair with arms take 2 towels and go around the wrist and arm using tape under the arm to secure it. Be sure with any of these restraints you are able to get a fingers breath in there so as not to occlude circulation or anything. As far as the alcohol drip, if you are hanging it initially check your facilities policy. I would get a set of vitals before attaching the drip get vitals then in 15 minutes times 2 then q half times 2. I had a patient on an alcohol drip and it was to keep him away from DTs so that he could go into surgery without difficulties. If you are not sure just take a deep breath and go over the reasons why and how as best I can keep the patient and the staff safe and free from injury. Both of these issues should not involve much time. On days I had 6 with an admission by 6, on evenings 8 with the possibility of an admission as days would hold patients I am sure and discharge them just before their shifts end. Nights usually had 9 or 10. They were also responsible for changing the nurses notes as they were done on a daily basis as well as getting people ready for tests and procedures. If you are new you will in time find your own groove so be patient. Your patients will teach you more than any text book so just listen. The med/surg floor I worked was primarily respiratory with some diabetics and strokes. It was an older population and many could not do for themselves so it was a heavy floor in many ways. Some I called lovingly "my repeat offenders" They say that patients become like family but their families do to. I had a brain cancer patient and it was just her and her husband as they did not have any children. Each day she would have on a different color turban. We all had to go in at the beginning of the shift to see what color and style. She would always have a smile no matter how bad she felt. Her husband was a golfer and she had told me that she did not want him there when she went as she wanted him to remember her alive with a smile. Well, one day we all new it was close and he wore knickers like the late Payne Stewart with the knee socks and hat. He had a tee time shortly after my shift began so we all said see ya and he left for his game. Well, I was holding Betty and she took a breath and was gone and that would have just been about the time he got to the golf course. I called my older women mum and the mature fellows pops. I would go in and say I didn't have my hug today and just to see a bit of a smile coming on was payment enough. I think I got more out of the hugs than they did. But you don't do it with someone who is confused. When I started practicing HIV was just becoming something big. Many of my colleagues would triple glove and double gown even after we found out that was not necessary. They would no more go near these patients so I took them. Many times their families had already written them off and it had been a while since they had a real human touch and I was never afraid to give a hug or whatever. I was careful and maintain universal precautions but I did not make the big deal of it as others had. Some would not even shroud there patients as it was up to the techs. Well, whenever I could I would help the techs as if it is someone we have come to know well than it is just as hard on them as it is on us. Sometimes I did it for closure or to diminish the stress in the room. It was my patient just as it was theirs. Remember, in time you will find your own nitch in designing a flexible schedule in order to get things accomplished. Who knows before long there will be another nurse who will need some support. I will to this day and still do it. I say to myself what would Marylou or Nancy do in this situation. Marylou showed me how to do things to get IVs going when I was a clerk in the ER and Nancy was my first head nurse. I would trust them without question. I hope this helps Disabled