AtomicWoman

AtomicWoman

Member

  • Content

    1,747

  • Visitors

    17,572

  • Followers

    1

  • Likes

    54

All Content by AtomicWoman

  1. What should I do?

    AtomicWoman replied to jballa34's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    Do the basketball thing. Enjoy yourself. Take the time you're playing BB to think and explore your career options. Shadow a nurse, an NP, a PA, maybe a doctor. See what appeals to you. You have plenty...

  2. Transistion from student to Nurse.

    AtomicWoman replied to shadowrunner's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Realize you won't be able to do everything right off the bat, and you'll be slow at some tasks. Don't beat yourself up for it. :) I agree, the mentor and/or preceptor can really make the transition...

  3. Drug seeking or real pain? How do you tell?

    AtomicWoman replied to JudyPRN's topic in Pain Management

    Macsusan, I couldn't agree with you more! But as I mentioned a few posts ago, it is my opinion that people, including nurses, hate feeling like someone has gotten over on them; no one likes to feel...

  4. Just accepted position in rehab hospital.

    AtomicWoman replied to NurseFrustrated's topic in Rehabilitation

    I work in an acute rehab hospital (free-standing). I have found the nurses in general work well as a team, and many of the nurses have been there 20+ years, which says a lot. I love meeting and...

  5. NP or CNS

    AtomicWoman replied to car2614's topic in General Nursing

    Research the roles of each in your state and then shadow one of each. In most states, CNSs do not have prescriptive authority, but NPs do. Many CNSs do staff education and are the "go to" person on...

  6. Is this fair to ask of a new RN?

    AtomicWoman replied to squatmunkie_RN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    "I also try not to drink alot of water or coffee during the day so it will cut back on the number of times I need to go to the bathroom." That's why nurses get so many UTIs.

  7. Hating the med pass

    AtomicWoman replied to NotFlo's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It sounds like your difficult med pass is made more difficult by an evening shift that does not want much responsibility. That's a matter for management to take up, and I feel for you. There is no...

  8. When you were new, how did you learn meds?

    AtomicWoman replied to chiuli's topic in General Nursing

    If I give a med that was inappropriately prescribed, both the prescriber and I are liable. Know your meds, and question anything you think is wrong or potentially

  9. When you were new, how did you learn meds?

    AtomicWoman replied to chiuli's topic in General Nursing

    If you have a smartphone, download Davis' Drug Guide or a similar book. It takes almost no time to look up drugs, side effects and drug interactions. Or get one of the "pocket guides" out there....

  10. VA and new grads

    AtomicWoman replied to hbgwan's topic in General Nursing

    It depends on your location, I'd imagine. I was told flat-out by a nurse recruiter at the VA in Philadelphia about six months ago they were "not hiring any new graduates at this

  11. What's with all the work gossip and bull****? A lot of it can be avoided.

    AtomicWoman replied to Spikey9001's topic in General Nursing

    I couldn't care less about the lives of my co-workers. I live by the credo: "This is my job, not my life."

  12. Has anyone else applied to Jefferson's FACT program?

    AtomicWoman replied to kdrose01's topic in Pennsylvania Nursing

    I'll answer and then MPHGirl can answer and you can compare. :) To prepare, be sure you know your medical terminology. It will help you during lecture a lot. Here's a link to one site that has free...

  13. what to do during the gap after graduation as a RN?

    AtomicWoman replied to V-Heart's topic in General Nursing

    ACLS and PALS certifications come to mind, if you are interested in Peds and OB. There's another thread on AN about a run of codes in an OB unit, so that ACLS certification could come in handy. Also,...

  14. why dont you monitor prophylactic SC heparin?

    AtomicWoman replied to bennett12's topic in General Nursing

    I work in acute rehab and just yesterday, we admitted a young man who developed HIT after ortho surgery. He had a brain bleed and now has cognitive deficits. That *definitely* made me think...

  15. Any hospital hiring new grads? anywhere in the country?

    AtomicWoman replied to zefutebolera's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Keep an eye on the University of Pennsylvania Health System website. Watch for jobs that say, "new graduates welcome" or Clinical Nurse I. They don't have a ton of them, but they do pop up. They have...

  16. Tips for nurses in their first year of nursing

    AtomicWoman replied to Brian's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Make friends with your CNAs! Respect their knowledge and rapport with patients. And help them if/when you can. Help a patient get off a bedpan, chart a set of vitals, etc. CNAs can be a new nurse's...

  17. My first year was spent looking for work

    AtomicWoman replied to PACNWNURSING's topic in First Year After Licensure

    It's way more important that they match you up with a good preceptor. Have they done

  18. Still no job and no experience?

    AtomicWoman replied to chiuli's topic in First Year After Licensure

    UMDNJ had a program of the type you are looking for, but it is full. UMDNJ - School of Nursing

  19. I cannot stand Med/Surg!!!! 3 months in my job and ready for a change STAT!!!

    AtomicWoman replied to misha8210's topic in First Year After Licensure

    You will be a MUCH better OB nurse once you have that year of Med/Surg under your belt. Your time management skills will be honed, and you will have learned how to tune in to subtle changes in your...

  20. Crappy orientation

    AtomicWoman replied to Imagine720's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Whatever you do, DON'T STOP ASKING QUESTIONS! You *must* ask questions, as a new grad and beyond. For someone to tell you you ask too many questions and irritate the preceptor is just wrong. I'm glad...

  21. BSN, New Grad in Cincinnati, Summa cum laud, volunteer nurse--NO JOB!!

    AtomicWoman replied to warmorrigan's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I was in the same position as you. The above post is good advice. Also, contact your classmates who are working and get the names and contact info of nurse managers and nurse recruiters where they...

  22. Unsure of what happened

    AtomicWoman replied to Tepidorchid's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Just curious -- did the nurse order the X-Ray, or did a doctor? Stat or not, only a dr. can order a CXR. Sorry if I am confused.

  23. CNA's on your floor?

    AtomicWoman replied to nursingal32's topic in General Nursing

    I work in acute rehab and I must say our CNAs generally bust their butts. The ones who don't are soon dispatched. CNAs come in in the morning knowing what their assigned tasks are and they get right...

  24. ER job- new grad

    AtomicWoman replied to RN-Ella's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I would be leery of such a short orientation, especially in a fast-paced ER. I'm orienting in acute rehab and it's 12 weeks with a possible extension if my clinical educator and I think I need

  25. When the Trach tube comes out, how do you ventilate the patient?

    AtomicWoman replied to chiuli's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Awesome, Grey