pghfoxfan

My daughter is applying to a one year "2nd degree" BSN program. Any advice?

There is a difference between being "assertive" and being "aggressive". A good nurse SHOULD be assertive. "Mean" people are aggressive. The laws today prohibit a hostile work place. When someone is treating a peer badly, you should point it out. You can start out in a friendly tone, "Knock it off, you wouldn't want someone to run to HR and report you for creating a hostile environment now, would you?" If you are not comfortable, talk to your manager. Many places have anonymous reporting.

I believe that studies have been done with patients who reuse catheters at home, and there was no increase in infections. The "germs" at home are not the same as the germs in a hospital. Hospitals are WAY worse. I believe the study was done years ago with Spina Bifida children(many, of whom cathed themselves). I am not saying that it should be done, I am just why it has been acceptable for all these years. About the commercials, I also hate when they show nurses as "bimbos". I also cant stand TV/Movies that portray this way. Even the shows that show women as strong, educated, etc (Nurse Jackie) feel the need to have them having sex with any cute doctor in a closet, or next to a patient in a coma. I want to see a nurse who is No 1, dedicated to her family, and then No 2, dedicated to her profession. I realize that Sex and Bimbos are money makers but, sorry Hollywood, Bimbo nurses are a small handful that make the rest of us look bad. IMO, these few nurses, are not nursing for the profession, but out to get a Doctor.

Pacers and ICDs are placed in a vein then into the heart via the superior vena cave. (NOT an artery.) Therefore, there would be no issues with the blood pressure on the affective side. There has been reports of venous swelling on the affective side do to occlusion of the vein with the leads.

Glee is a great show! It's a comedy...treat it as such. (my husband is a "sin against nature"

It is 7p-7a Friday and Saturday.

if offered the other job, I would probably take it. I would tell the other place honestly the reasons. For one, the money. They need to know that 5 mins away, nurses are making close to $10 more an hour. I would also say that you really need your 40 hour week. 4 hours a week over a year, adds up. That said, money isnt everything. I have taken jobs for less money to be happy.

I would ask for more "ancillary" personal. I think most administrators underestimate their importance to our team. People who probably get paid just a little over minimum wage, yet have a big impact on nursing,,,ie "escort", housekeeping, pharmacy runners, etc. It is not beneath a nurse to do these jobs, but heck, hire people for these positions and keep nurses where they belong, with patients. Many of these patients don't even need to be full time, or don't need benefits, they just need a job.

I think the sue happy people in this world has RUINED it! I can't stand our legal system when it ignores common sense. If someone is asking for a tylenol, chances are, they know if they have liver disease or are allergic. I would have totally given the person a tylenol if they asked me. If we have to do this in a "politically correct"/policy way, I guess I would have (like the person did above) left the tylenol in a public bathroom, saying that sometimes visitors leave their tylenol in there.

I'm sorry to reply this way. I was trying to edit something that I wrote, and couldn't figure out how. I just wanted to say, that I have nothing against Degree nurses. I DO have an issue with someone that comes straight out of school and goes into a manager type position, with limited clinical experiences. I think that your boss, (in any profession) should at the very least be a resource person both academically and clinically. I have had managers from both extremes. When the going gets tough, one would run into her office, and the other would roll up her sleeves and help out in any way she could. I'm just saying, I had respect for the one that had experience, and wasn't afraid to get involved and be visible when needed.

I think that a manager should remember what it was like when they were a new nurse, and be a good support system/mentor for their staff. One problem I see is when managers come right out of school with their degree and no practical experience, it's difficult for them to "be there" for their staff when they have often not had certain clinical experiences. I understand that this is a job of a preceptor, but I will have more respect for my manager, if she honestly knows how to do the job that her staff is expected to do. Being a good manager is way more than just having leadership skills. IMO, it's being able to get your hands dirty and actually be part of the machine when necessary. A good leader will not keep a nurse, just because they are a "body". This goes for a "good" nurse with experience. If a nurse is toxic to the department, get rid of that nurse. I would rather work harder than have a cancerous nurse destroying the department. This includes nurses who love to "eat their young". I see no need for them.

I absolutely agree with looking at lead II first when you are learing how to read EKGs. You have to know the basics, before moving on to 12 leads interpretations. Once you understand and can recognize basic EKGs, then move on to the other leads.

I always thought that CVVHD and patients on left heart assist should be one to one. I agree that not all patients on CVVHD are unstable, but DANG, the whole procedure itself takes so much time, especially when you have to increase and decrease fluids constantly to balance I&Os. Personally, I think that a unit that runs well as a team (including the charge nurse) can make any assignment doable.

4 10s for me.

I say let her quit. I would tell her that the department doesn't need negative people who bring the department down. I would rather work harder without her than miserable with her.