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.

I'd say go to West Penn.West Penn Allegheny Health System cares more about the patient. UPMC is all about making money and screwing West Penn Allegheny. They closed one of their hospitals, taking away health care from a large community and are building another 1 mile away from a West Penn Allegheny hospital. That community did not need a second hospital. They are like cancer invading Pittsburgh.

If it helps you get a job, go for it. I think that if you can study and pass the test, the experience will bring you the greatest rewards.

I too am interested in the pros and cons of cruise ship nursing as well as the estimated pay. I heard that on average, one person dies on each cruise. Anyone else hear this? I would think that a cruise ship is pretty well equipped for almost any emergency. I am sure their are a ton of AEDs around and I am guessing they have a pretty nice sick bay area. I am guessing probably at least one critical care bed. Do they have the ability of doing minor surgery? I'm sure they have equipment to stabilize a patient till they reach the next port . Heck, they might even have a heliport.

If your job requires you to know EKGs then yes. If it is a monitored unit for example. But if it is a Med Surg.Ortho etc floor, I think that not doing something everyday makes it harder to remember.

I do not give "Float" nurses a difficult patient when possible. IMO, it is not in the patients best interest. For the most part, they are less comfortable with the routines, doctors, and location of supplies, meds etc. It's called common courtesy.

Broken Heart Syndrome is real. As said above, it can be diagnosed with a negative Cath and an echo. I believe the heart has a specific shape of an hour glass. Their EF is low, but in most cases, that is reversible. Unfortunately, their are some doctors that rush into treatments such as an ICD/Bi V ICD instead of waiting for time and medications to help. There has probably been just as many cases of takotsubo syndrome, but we just called it "broken hearted".

I have been to a Magnet Conference. I LOVED IT! Everyone involved had positive attitudes. (I have been a nurse almost 28 years, and negative attitudes are a huge downer.) It was so refreshing! I have worked at a Magnet Hospital and loved working there. I was actively involved on both nursing and hospital committees. I know that my opinions were appreciated. I was respected by administration and Doctors and CoWorkers. Our outcomes were the best in all of our non Magnet sister hospitals...by FAR! I believe in the Magnet ideals.

As much as I hate to lose a nurse, I would say that after 13 years, you would know if you like the profession. It might be time to move on.

I noticed a decrease in nurses with compassion when the economy dropped in certain areas and many people went into nursing for the wrong reasons, ie "money" or job "protection". (Understandable) These people needed a job but didn't go into the profession because they wanted to care for people. (I'm not saying this is wrong, you have to do what you have to do to survive.} I'm just saying that, IMO, that even though there were some wonderful "displaced" workers, there were many that treated nursing like a 9-5 job rather than a profession. They did what needed done, and nothing extra. As people said above, I am not sure you can teach a person compassion, it's who you are.

IMO, with proper lead, a person protected. MANY tests have been done with "Baby Badges" (badges the mom wears under their lead) which have shown that there is no radiation getting through their lead"aprons".