Blueorchid

Blueorchid ASN, RN

Trauma ICU

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All Content by Blueorchid

  1. The woes of acid base balance (please help!)

    Blueorchid posted a topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    So after getting my first MedSurg patient, I've been assigned to interpret her abnormal lab values. There are several different results I feel that may or may not be connected and I feel like the...

  2. The woes of acid base balance (please help!)

    Blueorchid replied to Blueorchid's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Her WBC count is definitely elevated- its 27. She also has an abdominal wall hematoma so I'm thinking that's playing a part. Her staples around her surgical wound are clean though so if there's...

  3. Phlebotomy question

    Blueorchid posted a topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    So I know this doesn't necessarily apply to nursing students as we don't always get to learn blood draws. But I'm learning to do both IVs and straight sticks through my job as an ER tech and I figured...

  4. So embarrassed today and nervous (re vital signs)

    Blueorchid replied to Kringe38's topic in General Students

    I was a hero the first few weeks of my first semester because I could find brachial pulses on my classmates. The biggest tip I can give is that you don't need "just two" fingers to feel them. A wider...

  5. Will work for...anything?

    Blueorchid replied to maman2zoe's topic in Maryland Nursing

    I don't know if the geriatric floors are hiring (I see prior posts about long term care) but I work in the ED at Union Memorial Hospital and have seen 2 new grads getting oriented to the floor the...

  6. University of Maryland Traditional BSN Fall Program: Any idea when we will hear back?

    Blueorchid replied to Agrippa's topic in Maryland Nursing

    Oh my goodness yes-9 Days will not cut it for updating their online sources. They are getting more and more applicants with every semester and with a limited number of staff they have to sort through...

  7. Do you practice your skills on dummies/mannequins

    Blueorchid replied to AusNurse2B's topic in General Students

    In nursing school I've practiced skills on mannequins extensively, and like many others, the not so invasive skills on fellow students. My Health Assessment professor said to us at the beginning of my...

  8. Does timing have anything to do with it?

    Blueorchid posted a topic in General Nursing

    So a few days ago I had my first hospital code. Paramedics brought in a full cardiac arrest who had been down for 15 minutes I believe before he came in. The patient was already intubated and once he...

  9. Does timing have anything to do with it?

    Blueorchid replied to Blueorchid's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks guys- I had my BLS certification in the fall of 2009 so I didn't think it changed that much. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing the wrong

  10. UMB Adult Health/Med Surg Tips

    Blueorchid posted a topic in Maryland Nursing

    So I'm about to head into my second semester at UMB and I just received the first of what will undoubtedly be many e-mails from my professor. He mentioned a lot of things to prepare the class for the...

  11. UMB Parking

    Blueorchid replied to jtk57's topic in Maryland Nursing

    I agree with *ac* I stay away from the Lexington Market overflow garage unless I absolutely have to use it. And if I do end up parking there I walk with a friend and drop them off at the regular...

  12. Required Texts; Are they really required at UMB?

    Blueorchid replied to jtk57's topic in Maryland Nursing

    Open lab? Yeah its pretty much what you described. There's a series of classrooms on the second floor where you'll have your lab section of Fundamentals and the last one on the right is open lab. Its...

  13. Required Texts; Are they really required at UMB?

    Blueorchid replied to jtk57's topic in Maryland Nursing

    Do you absolutely need all the CDs and access codes that come with the books when they're brand spanking new? Ehhh...not necessarily. The two CD packs that come to mind for me first semester are the...

  14. University of Maryland Traditional BSN Fall Program: Any idea when we will hear back?

    Blueorchid replied to Agrippa's topic in Maryland Nursing

    Ah yeah...first semester for Baltimore students is definitely different. You're allowed to pick your clinical site but understand that there are certain days which only pertain to CNLs and others that...

  15. Student Bullying

    Blueorchid replied to rambleandwrite's topic in General Students

    As an afterthought, if people know your username on allnurses.com...its quite possible that's the way the administration has learned you're sharing your thoughts about your situation outside the...

  16. What would be more beneficial, CNA or EMT?

    Blueorchid replied to MassADNstudent's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Just something to add about being an EMT- some states don't grant you the right to work as an EMT upon passing the course through college or your local firehouse. I saw Maryland tossed out there, many...

  17. UMaryland CNL Program

    Blueorchid replied to Chris33's topic in Maryland Nursing

    While I am but a lowly BSN both the BSN and the CNLs have the same clinical times the first semester. We had ours the last four weeks of school and you either chose a Saturday or a Thursday clinical...

  18. Things you would love to say to your fellow nursing students!

    Blueorchid replied to Faeriewand's topic in General Students

    1. Its probably my fault for being honest in the first place...but lying through your teeth about validation, your care plan, and your clinicals when you stayed at home because you had a "panic...

  19. HUGE mistake in clinical....

    Blueorchid replied to MattiesMama's topic in General Students

    If he's at risk for aspiration and on thickened liquids I'm wondering why they've only provided you with regular toothpaste and a toothbrush to clean dentures in his mouth... I just finished my first...

  20. University of Maryland Traditional BSN Fall Program: Any idea when we will hear back?

    Blueorchid replied to Agrippa's topic in Maryland Nursing

    I collected all of my letters of recommendation from my teachers and mailed them in a big envelope with the other paperwork when I was ready. As long as you make sure they're sealed letters I don't...

  21. For all those applicants out of the loop- Rant

    Blueorchid posted a topic in General Students

    Having almost completed my first semester of nursing school I have to say I'm immensely frustrated with how hard it has been to find a job. Here I am, a good student with several years of health care...

  22. Converting Magnesium Lab Values

    Blueorchid posted a topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    In working on my care plan for a patient I've received magnesium lab values written in mg/dl. My lab values book includes ranges in mEq/L and I'm looking for a conversion factor. So far I've seen...

  23. EMT on a Resume

    Blueorchid posted a topic in General Nursing

    The semester before I entered nursing school I took an EMT-B class at my local community college which qualified me to sit for state certification. I received a letter about a month later explaining...

  24. EMT on a Resume

    Blueorchid replied to Blueorchid's topic in General Nursing

    Hmmm- I wonder if mentioning something like "Pursuing State Certification- MIEMSS EMT-B examination passed" might work? I just feel like mentioning that I only took the class doesn't cover the fact...

  25. Assessing with Altered Mental Status

    Blueorchid posted a topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Alright, so for my very first care plan (in my very first clinicals) I've got a 69 year old male patient with a chronic subdural hematoma developed from a fall his family believe occurred last...