AKSkier

It bothers me that you would feel inadequate about not being able to admit two patients to the ICU. This is not something that any nurse would be able to do. The floors that I have worked on would never give a nurse 2 admits at a time. You have to do your assessment along with admission paperwork, orders for IVs or labs, foley etc. It takes time to complete all of this. The charge nurse should have never given you both admits. This is her ( or his) fault, not anything to do with you. Please don't feel bad about this.

I would say it depends on what type of surgery. If it is a major abdominal surgery, of course you will not hear any bowel sounds immediately post op. And you do not need to call the doctor. They don't expect to hear any at first. If it is some other surgery, it depends, but probably will hear bowel sounds. Please chart what you hear (or don't hear). If you auscultate and do not hear bowel sounds, then chart that they are absent, not hypoactive.

You said you want to go to a school in TN. You need to see what they require to be accepted into their nursing program. Plus make sure the classes you take will transfer to them. Find out what their requirements are to apply to their nursing school. It will probably be similar but not necessarily the same. Hate for you to do a lot of classes and then have to repeat them! Good luck!

It depends on what type of PICC line you have. Usually they have to be flushed with saline then heparin. But recently there are some new products that do not require heparin even though they are PICC lines. One is called SOLO PICC. You only flush with saline. But you need to know what type of equiptment is at your hospital. If they switched to a new product they should have provided information to all of the nurses. Follow your hospital policy.

I read an article in Nursing 09 - April about venous thromboembolism. It does not say anything in the section about recognizing DVT about using the Homan's sign. I would just assess for and document the other signs and not worry about Homans. It is not very accurate but I am not sure if it is dangerous. Have not seen in writing anywhere that it is dangerous I should say. Also you mentioned patients with DVT to remain on bedrest. I don't think this is the case anymore. In this article it also mentions that the American College of Chest Physicians recommend anticoagulation and early mobilization. This is new to me. Definitely follow the physicians orders where you work, but we may see that they are no longer keeping patients on bedrest.

Yes, I would definitely get the Nursing 09 drug book. I would NOT get the Davis drug book. I don't agree with everything Davis says, and I know a few other nurses who also agree. One thing, it would say to hold dig or beta blockers for heart rate of 50 or less. Well, all of the nursing school always tell you to hold for 60 or less. Whenever I hear a student tell me something that doesn't sound right, it seems they looked it up in Davis. Just my opinion.

Hi, I wouldn't worry about finding a job when you are finished with nursing school. I think the only reason people are talking about not finding jobs, is because the economy is so bad. Some nurses were not working (staying home with kids or whatever) Now if their spouse lost their job, they are going back to nursing. I read an article the other day (don't remember where now) it said that there are going to be a lot of nurses retiring over the next few years and there will be a big nursing shortage then. Nurisng schools don't have enough instructors to produce enough new nurses. So there should be plenty of job opportunities. Study hard in nursing school. I would get your BSN. I would suggest to work at least a year after you graduate on a med/surg floor, then you can work most any place. you could do travel nursing or agency (both which pay well) Good luck!

Your school should have a list of what you need. Definitely some comfortable shoes for when you start clinicals! A stethoscope, watch with second hand. You need time more than anything. Have to prepare for clinicals, write care plans etc. I know people do great in nursing school with families and jobs, but it is hard. The rest should be on a list somewhere from your nursing school. They will want you to get some sort of uniform, scrubs, but different colors depending on where yu go. Looks like you are in Texas. Where are you gong to start nursing school if you don't mind saying? Good luck!

Hi, I hope you recieve this message. You sent me a private message, but apparently I cannot send one. So I thought I would respond to a thread you started. Although this one is from last year, so hopefully you still check. you asked about my nursing career and if I like it etc. I LOVE nursing! I have been able to work different places, had to move a lot with my husband's job. ALways able to find a job. Used to work full time but now work mostly parttime since we have kids. Works great. If I had to do it all over again I would do the same thing. Have my BSN, work med surg mostly. Not sure what you meant about how would I approach a nursing career if had to do it again. I would get a BSN like I did. I would suggest to anyone to work full time in the hospital prefferably med/surg for a year. Then you can go do anything you want. And you should have enough experience that you can handle most general patients ( you know chest pain, hypoglycemia etc) Hope that answers your question!

I do not work dialysis, so not sure about lovenox and dialysis. As far as the SCD and lovenox, I would not leave the SCDs off. They work together to prevent DVTs. Especially if the patient had surgery, I am used to using both. If the doctor has ordered both you need to use both. In fact, I am used to using TED hose, SCDs and lovenox on post op patients. Of course, you need to take the SCDs off when ambulating and you can leave them off usually while the patient is in the chair. But when they return to bed they need to be on.

Thought of one more thing. If this continues to be a problem, especially if this is "the norm" as you say, they don't come in early. You are just making more work for yourself and not helping any. If you come in on time, then you just have your work and are not taken advantage of. If you can't get everything done, then you can stay late. Not that I would want you to stay late, but then at least you would not be doing other people's work and just finish your own. Plus I have a feeling as you work a little longer you will become used to the patients, routine etc and you will find yourself completing everything on time.

I agree. I would not count and keep their keys. You mentioned they will do this is if the next shift is late. Well, that would be reasonable. But if you are coming in early to get your work done, I would politely tell them that they can just wait for the next shift. It takes time out of your work to count with the shift that is leaving, then you have to count again with the oncoming shift! By the way, are you clocking in when you come in early? If they will let you that is fine. If you are not clocked in yet, then it would be easy to tell the nurse asking you to count that you are not clocked in yet. That usually stops the nurse from asking anything more. One more thing, if they are counting with you because the next shift is late, soes that mean they are leaving after they count? That doesn't seem safe. They need to wait for the next shift to relieve them and give report. If they leave, are you responsible for their patients also? I would not do this. Again, I think it is reasonable to tell them they have to wait for the next shift to arrive to give report and count. Tell them you cannot watch their patients and yours at the some time. If the next shift is chronically late, they need to talk to their supervisor. Hope that helps and good luck with your new job!:)