86toronado BSN, RN

86toronado has 5 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in neurology, cardiology, ED.

86toronado's Latest Activity

1. 

   What kind of shift report was that?

   86toronado replied to proud nurse's topic in Nursing

   This is why I love ER nursing. Report consists of something along these lines: "Okay in room 1 you have a 65y/o male no cardiac history, chest pain for 3 days. Line, labs, EKG done, doc hasn't seen him yet. Room 2 is a 48y/o female abdominal pain, vomiting for 3 hours. Line, labs done, meds given. Waiting for CT and still need urine. In room 3 you have a 2 y/o with a fever and cough. Tylenol given, and the temp is down, he's up for re-eval. Room 4 is empty. Any questions? No, okay. Have a good day." This is a perfectly acceptable ER report. You're used to knowing nothing about patients when they roll in the door, and having to do some digging, and they turn over so quickly, you really don't need to know much more than what's been done, and what's pending. I went back to work the floor briefly after having worked in the ER for two years, and remember being one of the quickest report takers, because I would rather just look things like labs and new orders up for myself.
2. 

   Sleep deprived due to nightshift

   86toronado replied to hemingrald's topic in Nursing

   Like some of you above, I am naturally "programmed" for nights as well. Prior to starting nights, I was never a "good sleeper" I would take hours to fall asleep at night, and then never feel rested when my alarm went off. Now I've worked night shift for almost 5 years and have the opposite problem from most. I feel like a zombie when I have to be up in the daytime for something. But my husband is a natural morning person who works nights, and here are some things that have helped him out: -We keep the bedroom cool, about 65 degrees -We have curtains on all the windows (it used to be blackout ones, but now that he's more acclimated to nights, it's just regular curtains.) -There is always a fan on in our room, even in the winter. -A sound machine, or some other kind of white noise is essential As far as supplements/medications for sleep go, I've never tried anything prescription, but have used the following (usually when I need to go to sleep at a "normal" time for a class or something in the AM) -Benadryl made me more zombie-like than if I hadn't taken anything at all. I took it when I had to be at an ACLS class all day, and had to go take a nap in my car at lunchtime just to get through the day. -Melatonin I've found to be very beneficial in helping me fall asleep, which is sometimes an issue for me. But I still sometimes wake up after a couple of hours -Valerian root, on the other hand doesn't help with the falling asleep, but is fantastic for the staying asleep aspect. Gives me weird dreams though, so I only use it once in awhile.
3. 

   How do you reward yourself after a tough shift?

   86toronado replied to Morainey's topic in Nursing

   It's probably already been said, but I had to place my vote for a hot bath... just thinking about it now makes me want to have one when I get home from this shift, not that it's been a difficult one at all! :)
4. 

   Curious about Exit interviews

   86toronado posted a topic in Interview

   I am about to resign from my first nursing position on Monday, and am curious about what goes on in these exit interviews that I hear about. Are they mandatory? Who usually conducts them? What types of questions do they ask, and more importantly should I answer them honestly? Just a little background info, I have worked for the hospital that I'm leaving for almost 6 years, 3 1/2 of those in an RN capacity. I am leaving because a much better opportunity came up for me, but there are also some things I would like to get off my chest before I go. Is the exit interview the appropriate place to bring these issues up?
5. 

   1 month after interview and still nothing?

   86toronado replied to tots24's topic in Job Assistance

   I could have written your post! I applied for a position at a local hospital, got the HR interview within days, and then... nothing. I'm beginning to wonder is there something wrong with me? Is it the shoes I wore to the interview? Did I not answer that one question correctly? I have the experience, and the degrees they are looking for, so I have to wonder... Is it me???
6. 

   What is the nurse-patient ratio where you work?

   86toronado replied to kaliRN's topic in Safety

   Wow! I work in NY where we are trying to get state-mandated ratios. I work ER, where our typical ratio is 4:1 regardless of acuity, but 7 or 8:1 is not unusual. On the med-surg (including telemetry) floors in my hospital 7 or 8:1 on evenings and nights is the norm, with 10 or 12:1 not unheard of. I can't speak to dayshift, as I never work it. In the ICU where I work, they consider themselves lucky not to be tripled, and 1:1 is unheard of.
7. 

   Shift Work is Taking a Toll

   86toronado replied to joanna73's topic in Nursing

   I have to disagree with those who have stated that 8's or days may be better for you. I myself have worked 12-hour nights for years, and love it, I feel way better than when I worked 8 hour day shifts years ago. The key is to, like you said, not try and live on a day schedule when you aren't at work (hence me posting at 3am) I think all you need is to get in a position where you work no more than three on. Any more than that and I am fried.
8. 

   Finished my MSN this morning - ask me anything!

   86toronado replied to meanmaryjean's topic in Western Governors

   Hi All! I just wanted to congratulate the OP on finishing her MSN in education at WGU. I myself am almost finished with my BSN, just waiting for my test date for my microbiology exam. I am also doing the MSN in education, so look forward to PM'ing you with questions if needed. @ Bruce Wayne - If you already have a bachelor's degree in something else (I am just guessing because you said you have most of the non-nursing courses out of the way) don't rush right out and take statistics... I didn't have it, and they waived it due to my prior degree.
9. 

   Ever Think Nursing Might Not Be Enough?

   86toronado replied to FattyMateo's topic in General Career

   Here's how I see it: NP is 3+ years more of school for not that much more pay MD is lots more school for maybe a lot more pay, but also more loans and way more malpractice! PA is also3+ more years school, for also not that much more pay. Morale of the story is finish RN school, work for a couple of years, then decide!
10. 

    Night Shift or Evening Shift

    86toronado replied to MsNewbie's topic in General Career

    I :redbeathe working nights. I would recommend the 11-7 with no hesitation. Having done both, the 3-11 means you are literally going to miss dinner with your loved ones every single night. 11-7, as long as it isn't every night, means that you have dinner, then go to work, work while everyone's asleep, then sleep while everyone's at work. While it's not a great option long term if your hubby works days, it's a great way to get started, and a great schedule if you have kids. And the shift differential is slightly more ( at least where I work it is).
11. 

    Hospitals Pay A Price For Nurses Strikes

    86toronado replied to DoGoodThenGo's topic in Headlines

    I wish I could hit the "Kudos" button hundred times!
12. 

    "Smart Is The New Rich" Graduate Nurses Cannot Find Work

    86toronado replied to DoGoodThenGo's topic in Nursing

    That article may have been true, but it was so poorly written I found it difficult to even read. Why not get someone who knows what they're talking about (and maybe can string together a few comprehendible sentences) to write the article?
13. 

    How to get practice starting IVs / drawing blood

    86toronado replied to Izzy11's topic in Nursing

    My school didn't teach these skills at all, they claimed that we would be trained by our facility when we started as RN's. It's true that my employer did send me to follow the IV team for half a day, but it was really my phlebotomy experience from working as a tech that helped me feel competent at "getting" a vein. So to the OP, I would suggest a phlebotomy course, and then either volunteering, or an actual paid job with the Red Cross, or somewhere like that where you will really do a ton of sticks every day.
14. 

    I can't stop dreaming about the NICU!~

    86toronado replied to babyCNP's topic in NICU

    I had that kind of problem when I first started in the ER. What worked for me was Valerian root supplements, 30 minutes prior to bed. They helped me fall asleep, and sleep through the night, but I was able to get up and not feel groggy the next day. Now I don't use them every night anymore, but I still use them once a week or so.
15. 

    What career did you have before nursing?

    86toronado replied to julibyrd's topic in Nursing

    I was a catering manager at a large east coast university before I decided to go to nursing school. What drove my decision? I remember it clearly: I was getting ready to close for the night, and noticed that my dishwasher had done a shoddy job on mopping the floor. I realized that I was going to have to mop it again myself before I left for the night, and thought "what am I doing? Did I really go to college to clean up after my dishwasher? Is the 38K salary a year I'm making worth the 60+ hours a week I put in?" The answer on all counts was no. I put myself through nursing school and never looked back. I will double that salary this year working way less than 60 hours a week, and I feel like I'm actually doing something kind of important. Is it a calling? Maybe not, but I work to live, I don't live to work! :)
16. 

    Clinicals, and Job Offers

    86toronado replied to sj73201's topic in Nursing

    My nursing school gave us the option of doing a special preceptorship for our entire last semester, rather than doing the school based clinicals. Of those who chose to do that, most of us were hired to the unit that we worked on. As for the rest of us, quite a few had a hard time finding jobs (this was 2009 folks BTW)