Neon8

Here's a link to the major nursing theories: http://www.sandiego.edu/nursing/theory/

Here's a few more sites" http://www.embbs.com/ekg/fileroom.html http://www.nurse-beat.com/stripshow/strip_index.htm http://rnbob.tripod.com/arrhythmiarecognition.htm http://sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca/cardiophysio/default.htm

"Just keep your lip buttoned, don't give anyone any ammo to use against you and pretty soon you'll sift out a few co-workers who won't stab you in the back the first chance they get." This is excellent advice. Worked for me...I finally have freinds on a "sick unit". And another thing to consider is the age of the gossipers and back stabbers. Some of them just don't know any better, and plus they are very insecure. As to the olders ones, I would just stay away from them.

You have ignored what I have said. I said the people I know hold RNs in high esteem. I did not say that nursing has been a positive experience for me.

On the telemetry unit where I work, we RNs get 7 patients with either a CNA or an LVN on the team. Beginning in January, it will be only five patients, but there is talk that it will be either primary care, or with LVNs and CNAs having been laid off having only one CNA per 12 patients. I t may be a lot worse than it is now. We will see.

Keep in mind that BB's are used for venting. So they are not an accurate pertrayal of how nursing really is. Sure, nursing is not a bed of roses, its a hard job, but I was talking about how RNs (me)are veiwed by others in my personal experience.

I mentally divide my worksheet into three's - Past, Present, and Future. On the left is basic pt. info:- Name, age, Adm. Dx, Doctor, Pertinent History, and other things that have already happened like Lab results, tests that have been done and their results if revelent, other info I get from report like if the pt was in pain during the preceding shift, or what happened that day. The middle portion is for the assessment: Cardiac monitor rhythm, LOC, Lung sounds, Hep lock or IVs running, pulses, edema, foley, ambulatory status, incisions, dressings, and whatever else is pertinent. The right side is for things yet to be done: IVs to be hung , pending tests or procedures, fingersticks, notes to myself to call the Doc, give pain meds, NPO after midnight or special diet, etc. I write whatever I hear in report in a different color of pen, and whatever I, myself, add in black.

Everyone I know hold RNs in high esteem. To be a RN was a long-time goal of mine. Now, I am proud to be one. My family is proud of me also. I have not seen this so-called prevailing negative attitude toward's us... Just my two cents.

A Telemetry nurse does much of the same things you would do on a Med/Surg floor. But since all the patients are connected to cardiac monitors, the heart rhythms must be moniotred and documented. This requires a "Basic Arrythmia" Class. Also required is an ACLS certification so the nurse can run a Code Blue, at least until the Code Team arrives. After the team arrives, the nurse fills the ER Doc on the patient's history and takes whatever role is necessary: pushing meds, recording, bagging, etc. Our facility required and provided yet another "Telemetry" class that focused on the heart problems in general and cardiac meds. Many of the patients on the Telemetry floor have just had Angioplasty and need to have their arterial sheathes pulled (if it hasn't been done in the Cath Lab). This can be taught to you once you begin working there. Also common to the floor are post Open Hearts. The incisions have to be watched and cared for, and the pacer wire dressings have to be changed - again something you learn on the job.

I work nights - 12 hr. shifts - but I only have to work 3 days/wk to be full time. My schedule for the first week is 4 days on and five days off, and for the second week, it's two days on, three days off. On the days I'm working, I don't really get enough sleep and usually get up around noon. On my off days, I revert to sleeping at night, and maybe go to bed early on the first night off and sleep maybe 12 hours. So, I have never really become a complete "night" person and have the best of both worlds. So far, this has worked for me.

I origionally planned to take the ADN program and took Beginning Algebra, English I, Psychology, Anthropology, Communications, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology. When I couldn't get into the ADN program due to the long waiting list, I decided to transfer over to the State University for their three-year nursing program. In order to do that, I had to take more General Education classes: College Algebra, Another science course - I took Physics, Political Science, English II, History, SpanishI, plus Organic Chemistry, and Developmental Psychology Once in the nursing program, I had to take BioChemistry, Upper Division English, Statistics, Spanish II, Spanish III, more History, A Humanities Class, an Energy class, and a class on Race and Racism. There may be a few more miscellaneous classes that I don't recall right now. The nursing program consisted of Long-Term Care, MedSurg, Peds, OB/GYN, Mental Health Nursing during the first two years. The third year consisted of Nursing Research, Nursing Theories and Theorists, Public Health Nursing. I might add that the the difference between the Community College and the University is like night and day. For instance, the program at the University was reasearch-based: you had to find references from existing research to back up each intervention on your careplans, so a lot of time was spent on the Internet and Library. We had many, many papers to write, too.

Another little trick is when spiking a new bag (assuming the line hasn't run dry) is to crink the line with the hand you are going to spike with, spike the upside-down bag, turn the bag upright, half-fill the drip chamber, then let go of the crink.

I was 50 when I graduated with a BSN. I've been a nurse for a year now, and I'm doing alright (except for my poor feet). Go back to school now for your nursing degree. Take it from me: that nagging little voice telling you to do it does not fade with time.

I like nocs too. I find that if I eat before going to bed, that it helps me sleep. I usually find some left-overs in the fridge - nothing big. My "big" meal is before work. I work 12 hour shifts: 7 to 7. Since I only have to work 3 days a week, I get back on a days schedule right away. I can't sleep much past 1:30 in the afternoon, so I get up on the first day off and and go to bed that night like usual.

I have the concept down of PIE charting: You state the problem, you do an intervention, and then evaluate. I bought a book on documentation even. Here's my problem: I need EXAMPLES of how things are WORDED when charting. Anyone know of any sites/books that have examples to go by?