natnurse23

Hi all, I was in the mall last night buying a bday card when I noticed a lady behind the Counter having a seizure on the floor. I went to help,basic stuff I knew to do, other Sales lady already had a pillow under her head. I told her to call an ambulance, she Left and when ahe came back she had called ther ladys brother to come pick her up. Apparently she had a hx. Of seizures and had brought in numbers and a card with Instructions on what to do. I sat with her about 20 min before going. She was resting on The floor. Alert and oriented, no acute distress,hr normal and able to talk. Did I need to stay until he came? (I was reading the good sam law) some nurses stay they Help in public out of fear. I think id rather try to help and not do things perfectly than Just look the other way. Btw, I've been a nurse about 8 mths. Thanks!

hi, your answer is of course you can! i think everyone has some problems and psych is a great place (im biased because im a psych nurse!) besides- that's like saying you have to be perfectly medically healthy to work in the areas you've worked! not likely. i say go for it. you can learn so much about yourself working there. good luck to you!

hi, i am a new grad and i started in psych in los angeles though. i absolutely love it and am glad i went this route. if she wants to go this route then go for it. you will get plenty of everything in psych. i have heard there arent as many jobs there but prisons may be different. my 2cents is is she doesnt have any other experience than school clinicals in psych, then do a acute psych setting first if possible. most prisons will give you an orientation but from what ive seen its only enough to do your job there. and she will need that experience in dealing with that population and not just for safety reasons. many prison nurses have alot of autonomy and must be able to make decisions on whether to send a pt. out as many times she may be the only rn on duty(in some places) good assessment skills are needed, especially when people know exactly what to say to get what they want and if you are brand spanking new, and you are just trying to remember the basics, not to mention get around the behavioral and possibly aggression issues..that can be alot to swallow at once. there is a reason they pay that much. i have only been on my unit 1 month and i have already learned way more than i ever did in school. prisons arent going anywhere anytime soon! good luck to you in whatever you guys decide.

Wow! great reply. thanks alot for your input.:)

hi all, for those of you who don't work in a hospital setting, what do you do?? im just wondering what other fun or creative things people are doing as a nurse. (even if you dont do it personally..if you know of it) thanks a bunch!

I didnt take the kaplan class but i did buy their qbank. i didnt read any saunders or lippencott even though i have both of them. i had the evolve review book (from the hesi) which our school provided. i really liked that. try not to overload your brain too much in one day. also if the answer doesnt pop out at you-its okay. you can usually work your way through them...you have 6 whole hours!! i would say be familiar with infection control, priority assessments, delegation, major disorders from each body system. know vital signs each age group/lab values and growth and development stages. dont worry yourself about knowing all meds- you probably wont get the ones you studied anyway- like me! haha. on a final note-you made it through school and you have it all in your brain more than you may give yourself credit for. :)

Thank you so much !!! I am still in shock!

Hi all, i want to thank all of you who didnt know you helped me. all the advice and stuff to study and encouraging words put up. you guys rock! i just found out this morning that i passed. i had 75q and i was thinking please keep going i need more questions. i felt like i had to guess on so many and i had 30 SATA !!! I saw none of the common meds i knew. i though i was so cool knowing all about dig and lasix and all the other must know meds. but nope. i never saw one of them-only weird ones that i never heard of. So for those of you who think you may have failed--cheer up. I think if you shut off at 75, you have a pretty good chance at passing. Just relax. I went a little too fast and missed some easy ones that i would have gotten right if i had thought it out more but i was so nervous. If i can do it then so can you !!!!!:wink2:

btw what hospital is this?i am a new grad also starting in geropsych. i see you live in la so i was just wondering.

Thanks everyone! ill be joining my union!

Thanks to all who replied. Well, I guess ill be joining the union

Hi all, Do you guys pay the dues to be in the union at your hospital? The place im going to work offers it. they say you dont have to pay and the benefits still apply to you but you just cant vote. Im a new grad so i have no experience to go on with this. What do you think?

Congrats to you too. what area will you be in? im sure you'll be okay. from from oc is pretty far but you can do it! i dont really kknow any nurses there either but when i went there they seemed pretty happy and friendly.

Congrats to finding your way back! It good to see nurses that love this field Good luck.

thank you all so much for replying! this really helps:specs: