Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Meriwhen

    CA student w/ recent DUI - PLS HELP

    Meriwhen replied to JasmineJoy's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Moving to the Criminal History forum. Be advised that this is a moderated forum and all responses are reviewed before being published...so it may take a bit for replies to appear. Unfortunately, you...
  2. Meriwhen

    More than one nursing class

    Meriwhen replied to ceebeejay's topic in University of Texas Arlington

    It's possible to take two at a time--I did it for most of my time in the program--but do consider what two to take together. Generally try to pair a tougher nursing class with an easier one or a...
  3. Meriwhen

    How do you tell a nurse recruiter you're not interested in a specific floor

    Meriwhen replied to WannaBNursey's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    If you are a new grad, YOU DON'T. New grad jobs are very hard to come by and you'd be foolish to toss any opportunity way without checking it out. Also, if you start getting too finicky about where...
  4. Meriwhen

    New Grad RN Salary

    Meriwhen replied to Lan_RN's topic in California Nursing

    Keep in mind that the first job is about gaining experience so you are no longer a new grad, because until you do that, you're pretty much powerless in the job market. Unless this salary would put...
  5. Meriwhen

    First nursing interview in Psych!

    Meriwhen replied to EatYourVeggies's topic in Psychiatric

    Congratulations and welcome to the Dark Side
  6. Meriwhen

    when to add cogentin/benadryl?

    Meriwhen replied to sassyann85's topic in Psychiatric

    For IM, we automatically do, partly as an EPS-prevention measure and partly for the sedating/calming effect. For PO: if they have a history of EPS reactions in the past, yes. Otherwise, some...
  7. Meriwhen

    What questions to ask at interview - New to angency nursing

    Meriwhen replied to dodiewayne's topic in Agency Nurses

    Keep in mind that most of the orientation/training that you will get will be facility-specific: "this is our daily routine and here is where the supplies are." If you don't know the basics of the...
  8. Meriwhen

    Buying from co-workers (never again)

    Meriwhen replied to Emergent's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    If someone/someone's kid is fundraising I may donate a couple of dollars, but otherwise I don't conduct any transactions involving the receipt of goods and services, just to avoid having what happened...
  9. Meriwhen

    Describe your 10/10 pain. Piggybacking off of recent pain discussions.

    Meriwhen replied to 0.adamantite's topic in General Nursing

    My 10/10 was labor before the epidural. I just take the patient's rating at their word and give them what is ordered...though I will document their behavior as well as mention it to the MD, and let...
  10. Meriwhen

    Help Help

    Meriwhen replied to RN_TOBE's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Convert the doses to the same unit: either work in grams (g) or milligrams (mg). You can't work in both. 500mg/5mL = 600mg/XmL (5 * 600)/500 = X 3000/500 = X 6 = X It's 6 mL. Seriously, I second...
  11. Meriwhen

    Local hospital now says "BSN or MSN preferred" for all bedside positions?!

    Meriwhen replied to Nola009's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    That's probably because most ADN programs are at community colleges/specialty
  12. Meriwhen

    How is your schedule set?

    Meriwhen replied to Em843's topic in General Nursing

    Same here. I'll set my schedule about a month in advance so I know when I'm working...and also when I'm available to pick up shifts on short notice when I'm interested. When I was a permanent staff...
  13. Meriwhen

    Researching these online programs

    Meriwhen replied to ERnurse71's topic in Online Distance Learning

    Many RN-BSN programs don't require clinicals, or if they do, it's something that could be done at your current place of employment, such as shadowing a nurse leader. Almost all of them require...
  14. Meriwhen

    Nurses who are mothers to small children.

    Meriwhen replied to Lillian11's topic in General Nursing

    It will be hard at first, but kids are more resilient than we give them credit for. Plus being in childcare will give your child a host of experiences and social interactions that they not have...
  15. Meriwhen

    Being pulled to medical

    Meriwhen replied to Sissybee1's topic in Psychiatric

    I have to agree with Esme. To act as a tech is well within the nurse's scope of practice even for psych nurses. Vitals, bathing patients, changing linens, and assisting them with ADLs...that is...
  16. Meriwhen

    New nurse just doing screening, frustrated!

    Meriwhen replied to Bikernurseof3's topic in Nursing Career

    Alas, one nurse's plum is another nurse's cabbage (or insert whatever fruit/vegetable you dislike here). And this job seems to be the OP's unliked veggie. I agree with you: OP should definitely...
  17. Meriwhen

    What is your degree in other than nursing?

    Meriwhen replied to nija315's topic in General Students

    Sociology with a minor in
  18. Meriwhen

    What do you think of fibromyalgia?

    Meriwhen replied to Emergent's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I don't have it but I have coworkers who do. You'd never know by looking at any of them that they suffer from it. Pain is whatever the person says it is. The pain of fibromyalgia is very real to...
  19. Meriwhen

    New nurse just doing screening, frustrated!

    Meriwhen replied to Bikernurseof3's topic in Nursing Career

    If at all possible, DO NOT quit your current job before you have the next one lined up. It's an unkind job market, and getting that next job may take a lot longer than you think. Also, you may not...
  20. Meriwhen

    Local hospital now says "BSN or MSN preferred" for all bedside positions?!

    Meriwhen replied to Nola009's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    I'm not surprised more places are now asking for BSNs/MSNs for bedside positions. It's an employer's market: with the glut of nurses out there looking for work, they know that they can be as choosy...
  21. Meriwhen

    drug/alcohol pt questions

    Meriwhen replied to sassyann85's topic in Psychiatric

    You can give clonidine and Tylenol together. Though consider that clonidine is NOT an analgesic and won't do much for moderate to severe pain. Clonidine is a blood pressure medication that happens...
  22. Meriwhen

    Critical Thinking in Mental Health Setting

    Meriwhen replied to EatYourVeggies's topic in Psychiatric

    I use critical thinking pretty much every time I have to deal with an escalating
  23. Meriwhen

    How often are you called off?

    Meriwhen replied to sistrmoon's topic in General Nursing

    With my main job, almost never. With my agency work, I'm cancelled about a third of the time. But it seems to be cyclic: I'll have weeks go by where I'm never cancelled and even hounded to pick up...
  24. Meriwhen

    BSN required by hospital system, chance of this being waived?

    Meriwhen replied to Vervain7's topic in Nursing Career

    Though no matter how you slice it, JD is not BSN. As of today, there is no national/state mandate that requires hospitals to only hire nurses with BSNs. Hospitals can set whatever requirements they...
  25. Meriwhen

    BSN required by hospital system, chance of this being waived?

    Meriwhen replied to Vervain7's topic in Nursing Career

    Whether the requirement is waived is due to the hospital's discretion. It's very possible that if he is an exceptional candidate, they may be willing to overlook the lack of a BSN. Or they may not....