Gigglesforall BSN, RN

Hi all~ I take NCLEX on Tuesday the 21st and have been pacing myself in taking the tests on the CD and I have two left. I've only been getting 61-67 percent so far and each test I take my score gets a little lower, i.e. I just got 61% on test #5, s...

This also bothers me when I see people completely uncovering their patients. I always leave at least half of the patient covered when I'm not washing that half. I'd say the majority of nurses that I've seen totally uncovering their patients had gon...

EXACTLY! Especially in regard to the head. Gets me every time.

The one thing I can't get over is that heavy "thunk" as the body goes into the cadaver transporter. EXACTLY! Mostly in regard to the head. Gets me every time.

I currently work in ICU but am interviewing for an ED position in a level I trauma center. Just wondering what skills you use the most on a daily basis and what I should start practicing! (I hope I get the job!) Thanks!

I talk to the dying, not the dead. After they've died, I say a a little prayer (inside my head) wishing their spirit well and free from suffering. During post-mortem care though, I move them just as gently as I would had they still been alive. And...

Thanks for all the replies so far. I have 3 years ICU experience, so I have a pretty firm grasp on my assessment skills. I wish I was more confident in my IV skills...but most of my patients either have a central line or are grossly edematous and/o...

Thanks for everyone's replies. I know the problems have been addressed at various hospital trainings that eventually turned into an ICU pt. visiting rant in iteself. That was not the appropriate venue to discuss it though. Our unit doesn't have a ...

I work pm/nights in ICU and am getting so fed up with pt.'s families. (Not all, of course.) I am talking about those who have 20-30 family members lurking around or lying on the floors and more just keep coming from every corner. I am also talking...

Anyone using heparin anti-Xa labs now instead of PTT? Our heparin protocol still uses PTT, but some orders say "pharmacy to manage" and whatever their protocol goes by uses the anti-Xa result.

I moved to Chicago 3 days after I took the NCLEX in my hometown in MN. That was 2 1/2 years ago. It was the best thing I've EVER done! It's been amazing to pick up and move to a city where I didn't know anyone and start a new life with a new caree...

Hi~ St. Joseph is part of the Resurrection Health Care system, one of about 10? hospitals now. It's the largest Catholic hospital system in Chicago. My first job two years ago was with another Res hospital. I left after a year, it wasn't for me. ...

Hi everyone~ Just looking for some input from experienced SANEs. I've been an ICU RN for two years and will hopefully be transferring to the ER by the end of this year. I worked for law enforcement part time in college and have volunteered as a ra...

How often do you change the filter for say, mannitol or dilantin?

Hi everyone~ I have been an RN for 2 years now, currently working in ICU, but plan on transferring to ER within the year and then on to grad school for Forensic Nursing. I worked for a police department as a college job and absolutely loved it, but ...

Our ED does not fax report, gladly. At another hospital I was working at I got a chicken scratch of a "report" that I could not discern anything and could not even fine out what the patient's diagnosis was, lab values, IVs, etc. I like getting repo...

A few people on nights in ICU would wear them when it was slow and they were just charting or during a.m. care with a sedated/vented patient, but they were "outlawed" when someone told the manager. It's not the most professional thing to do, but sur...

Hi all~ I work in ICU and often times am running Regular insulin drips on DKA or post-surgical pt.'s. Our hospital doesnot have an insulin drip protocol, it is up to the ICU nurse's discretion on titrating the dose, which works out fine if the nurs...

(So I guess this is turning into my own thread!) I just wanted to update in case anyone is interested. I purchased "Forensic Nursing" by Virginia Lynch and I am sooo glad I did. It is such a great resource for me to learn the basics and the very t...

Thanks 4n608, I will be checking those out. I just want to get a good background of knowledge now before I start school because I am so excited about this specialty and want to start as soon as I can! Any other beneficial websites would be helpful,...

This list is hilarious, I forget all these things! My pt.'s name (last name) in the pyxis is frequent, my 4 passwords for each program (they're changed q 90 days!) all the supplies...red dots, duoderms, sterile gloves, foley leg strap, blood bank or...

I have to agree that there isn't a single definition for a "step-down unit" because I work in a hospital where there is one 14-bed ICU and next door is a 16-unit "Intermediate Care Unit" where the ratio is 1:3, but often the patients are still as ser...

I completely understand the frustration, as I'm in the same boat! I started as a new grad in an SICU last July and am STILL not ACLS certified. I did EKG about 90 days into orientation and they wanted to wait about six months for us new grads to do...

Hi everyone! My dad is age 61, had an MI this past July. He has no other medical conditions and his physician told him his only dietary restrictions should be to cut saturated fat and calories, but didn't give him a sodium restriction. He has been...

I'm a lefty too! I do a couple things right-handed though...batting and bowling. Sometimes it's just easier to use my right hand when things aren't lefty-friendly, like scissors and knives.