RN28MD

I am new to the ICU. I thought we could start with experiences to help us use our critical thinking skills. Any one?

most GN start working before passing their boards. Its ok to feel nervous we all did at this time. Choose a field were you will feel comfortable in. Start looking now. If Resp/ICU is what you love go for it! why wait. If possible try to do some shadowing. This make help in making up your mind

If this person has been using the pen over the month period how does thier sugars look like? There could be the answer wether the affect of the insulin has decreased. Is usually changed every month but people do use it longer than a month and they will start to notice their sugars to increase.

Hello. I have read many new grad experience to MICU. I was wondering what medical/surgical nurses with some experience and moving to a MICU experince was like. How was the transition? was it easier because of some nursing experience? have you learn more? Do you regret it? Would you go back to medical/surgical? ANy experience would be appreciated

I have to add that it all depends where you live and your area. I have seen ANP and FNP work in hospitals as hospitalist and that is in acute care setting. I also seen them in ER too because lot of ER is primary caring if you will.

just curious where do they have a dual program for FNP/ACNP???

I have to agree with the post above. What if the pts is on IVF? Dextrose? In our hospital regardless of NPO status any sugar higher than 300 needs to be called to the PA/MD/NP even if it says to give for example 8units. Still call. Some pt can hadle a sugar that high without any sx but some can't and if they are NPO. That sugar can keep rising. Remember the body under stress will try to fix it self but side effect of the hormones that are being release to help a sick pt will increase the sugar. What was your preceptor thinking ????

Great point! Thanks for replying.

I have started working in a medical floor and having a hard time documenting. I try to write what happened on my entire shift but can't seem to word thing right. I even bought a book on charting from the incredibily easy collection ) but is not enough info. Plz any suggestions would be great! I have to write on safety for everyone and teaching but how do I word this with out writing a book????

Sorry I can't answer your question cause I also feel the same way. I am not in a hospital but I think if I was I would contact the IV team if that is what your hospitals uses and ask them directly. They would know. Let me know if you find out. For some weird reason I thought heparin was no longer used.

Good luck to you

I haven't ever run into this problem but I would of called the practitioner to verify or even call pharm. There had to be a good reason for it or it could of easily been an order for another pts that you could catch so it can be dc

If you never practice as an RN you are still new. You are a new grad right? so why would you look to apply for experience positions? Apply to many New grad positions because they will give you the orientation you need. Make sure you write a cover letter and have a resume clear to the point. The cover letter I must say is very important because if it doesn't look good then they don't even bother looking at your resume. If you need any more info PM me. Good luck

That sounds like such a great tool! I can't wait to use it. Thanks for sharing

Those of you who have done the refresher course. Can you please described what you learned in clinicals? Someoone mentioned foley, IV and meds but what else has anyone out there learn during this time?

I am trying to come up with a list of things new grad nurses are seeing in the hospital environment that they wish they learned as a student. Once of the things I wished I saw was bladder irrigation. Does anyone have any input this will truly help the nurse re-entry programs for nurses. Thanks

I had a very similar question. Great post guys. I have been an inactive nurse for 4yrs now. I don't really have much nursing to back me up. I really would like to do ER as Med/Surg I hated. How is someone like me considered since I am not a new grad. I have just 1yr of nursing and that was yrs ago. Does anyone know of somone who went into ER after taking a RN refresher?

lms2.. I know you had your interview a while back but what types of questions were you asked? If you don't mind me asking

bld24, YOU ARE RIGHT! That is my mistake The reason for the question was to state that the pulse ox still read a saturation of Hgb even though is CO do to the color. The color still maintains a cherry red color and this is why is trickly to tell. NEED TO CHECK Hemoglobin to determine the quantity. By this time 50% of the Hbg can have CO attached to it instead of Oxygen. Thanks for the correction. KEEP it coming guys and gals!

WOW great ideas guys very helpul. I still haven't decided completely but great ideas!

thanks for the advices, you guys are great! I am currently in an RN refrsher course and half way done. I will be shadowing a Er but is just one day. I don't know what else to do? Someone told me to be a tech but I already have my Rn degree. So then someone else suggested to volunteer in a ER. What do you guys think? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks for replying guys. I stayed home after having my babie and decided to be a fulltime stay at home mom. I don't know if you guys have children but life had change so much for me. Not only I am so comfortable with kids but I also have mature a lot. Is hard to explain but i am at a different phase in my life now. I find the ER to be very exciting from what other nurse friends have told me about. IS nothing like a Medical surgical floor. Don't get me wrong MS was very busy and I know ER is busy too but a different type. How would I ever know I can do it if I can't even get in there. I like the quick fix and move on to the next patient. In MS you take care of patients for days. That can be a good thing but at it also limits what you learn as to new diagnoses such as the ones you see in the ER. Thanks again and I will try to find a place to shadow. Happy holidays

Hello ER nurses. I have a question for all of you. I have one yr of MS and have been inactive for 4yrs now. I am currently getting ready to enter the work force again and would love to work in a ER. I honestly didn't like med/surg and always found Er to be exciting but have no idea what goes on there other than TV shows of "trauma life in the Er' but it focus more on t he docs than the nurses. Unfortunately since am already a nurse I can't just go and do an intership in an ER but am planning to shadow on soon. Any advice as to wether I need more experience else where before considering ER? WOuld I be treated like a new grad? WIll I get at least 6mos of orientatation? ANy info would be appreciated thanks

Thank you alll for replying. JBUDD... is NF seen often in the ER?

Hello looking for something interesting in the ER. I was looking for something i can use once out in the field. Maybe some dx that are hard to diagnose and are important to know. thanks guys