tazski12

Oh wow.. I wish I had your time. I wish I had a time off. Unfortunately, work could be addicting, or should I say, the pay becomes addicting. So watch out, my dear. Always prioritize self worth over money worth. Enjoy life, especially the things that doesn't cost you a dime. wink! wink! ~taz

I understand that. I truly do. But....!!!! Is it not, on those very moment when you got to do what you've got to... when a PACU nurse has to fix the problem ... as that is mostly our forte is (I think) ... how safely should it be done?? Oh well. I guess we just have to be just really really truly really careful on the actions we take. Thank you!

Hahahahahahah........ I Cannot Stop Laughing...!!!!!

I know it's a case to case basis. Can you share your experience? What about those blake tubes... those are not so friendly to do... or not to anyways. Taz.

You've got a point there. I mean, on concentration wise. We use 450mg/250ml. That's probably why we use filter. On my preceptor's attitude, I don't know. I guess it's because she's a product of the era "spare the rod spoil the child" that she's treating me the same way too. My in-law is a very positive person and she shares my in sight that I am in a very emotional and psychological draining experience Thanks for the dilantin, tip. I'll look it up. Although, I've never seen anyone use a filter when they administered it.

I'm still orienting in PACU and it ain't easy when your preceptor doesn't think you're good enough to be there becaus the highest critical care experience I have is 2 years in IMC. Anyways.... One night, we were doing a CABG, and my preceptor asked me if I've hung amiodarone before and I said yes so she gave it to me. I looked at the bag and there was a blue thing attached to it. I asked her what it was. She was shocked and said "Obviously, you haven't hung amiodarone before. This is a filter and Amiodarone needs an inline filter". I was dumb founded. In the other facility I worked at, we never used an inline filter for amiodarone. Just now, I called their pharmacy and he verified that yes, we do have a protocol for amiodarone iv but we never had to use an inline filter. However, on the drug books that I've read, it does say to use an inline filter. I'm not about to debate this case to my preceptor but I sure would like to know if it was okay for that other facility to continue hanging amiodarone without an inline filter or not. Or, if this new facility I'm working at is just stuck on the olden' days. What do you think??? ~taski12

As an RN, you are and will always be the patient advocate. Such as, the RN will be the patient's last safety device before a medication is made sure has is for her and is safely for her. Or that the patient's right to live according to his/her will is upheld. It doesn't really matter which unit you go to. We nurses are the patient's advocate. What does differ is the level of expectation on critical thinking. Since the cases you get on PACU are not stable, as nurses, we have to stay (or atleast we try?!) to be one step ahead. I'm a two year old (in IMC/Rehab/Hospice -- I liked experiencing a lot of things) RN and I'm doing critical care course while being precepted in PACU. I made a note at how my preceptor is treating me like as if I'm a newGrad. The educators I talked to and a colleague that I talked with told me that it is normal. As the line goes "When she says: JUMP! You say: How High?", is expected. Did I go off track? Pardon me, I couldn't help sharing you a piece of my experience.

If my preceptor starts yelling at me for being slow.. in which I sure am because I am starting... what am I suppose to do? Or say? By the way, what's the best way to differentiate obtunded versus stupurous? or should I just avoid using those words all together?

Thanks! Alright. Here's my question... or questions: When do you extubate? What are your parameters or weaning protocols?

It's totally acceptable for you to vent your frustration about floor nurses complaining about you slamming them with patients. The way I see it, we're all in the same boat. We'll all have our chance to be in their shoes, where we'd be slammed with work and we'd probably complain about being slammed with work and we'd probably complain to the wrong person, too. So, I hear you my dear. I hear you.

Help! I'm a 2 year old RN but my preceptor in PACU tells me I need more experience, or ICU experience, before going to PACU. I think this is her reverse psych in challenging me to be better but OMG. This is killing me! I'm doing ICU class right now. It's helping me. It doesn't cover much on post anesthesia care though. I am enjoying reading all of the members experiences and recommendations on post op care. They all are worth gold. For starters... how did you all start at PACU? How did you remember to get along with CVPs and PA lines without the fear of messing them up?