clayah

I disagree that it is haughty - if you earned the degree through hard work and dedication why is it haughty to acknowledge this? It is something you earned - and no one can take that from you (though they may try). Why is demonstrating your educational background? Would a doctor not show his/her specialty because it is haughty? No way!

I learned to sign it with the degree first (because if you have legitimately earned it, it can not be taken away from you). Then the RN follows because the RN needs to be renewed periodically, so there is a greater risk of losing your RN licensure than there is of having your degree title taken away from you. Congratulations on your achievement!

I think you should have reported this instructor for abuse - you still can after ou have graduated. Your instructor was totally inappropriate in criticizing you infront of a patient - for the patient's sake and for your reputation. You need to report this instructor or she will continue to abuse students.

I think it's great that you want to go to Nursing School - always remember that Nursing is a profession where life experience counts. The older you are, the more mature experience you bring to your patients and coworkers and you may have a deeper understanding of life having experienced so much life before Nursing school. Also I see that young nurses desperately need mature Nursing role models. I wish you the best - it can be tough but I believe it takes 99% willingness and plain old perseverance.

Can PICC lines and CVC's be clamped? We used to clamp them all the time when not in use to prevent air embolism if cap falls off. However, I am reading clots can form if lines are clamped. Can anyone enlighten me about this? Thanks.

JMGRN65 Thanks for your answer. Just one clarification - the 3 or 4 inch tape goes over the gauze dressing to make it occlusive, right? This is how I have always understood it, but I see chest tube dressings with 4 x 4's only and paper tape around the edges> Thanks for your help. Clayah

Hi, Can anyone tell me how they change chet tube dressings? Do you have an occlusive dressing by using 3-4" tape over a 4 x 4 that is over a 4 x 4 drain sponge that is over vaseline gauze? I haven't been able to get a straight anser and have done some researching. Does anyone use vaseline gauze, then drain sponge 4 x 4 then a 4 x 4 (unsplit) and then tape the cornmers only/ Any help is appreciated. Happy Nurses Week !!!:nuke:

Hi, Can anyone help guide me to where I can find a Competency checklist or information to give an inservice on chest tubes>' Greatly appreciated. Clayak

Great postings! Can anyone help me - I need to find a competency checklist for Pleurovac chest tubes? It's for an in service. I have found Atrium competencies but unable to find ones for Pleurovac. Thanks.

Can anyone out there help me? I have been asked to do an in service on Chest Tubes for Pleurovac system and have been searching for a good Competency List to check the nurses off with this. I am creating one myself because I have been unable to acess any information from "Pleurovac" company. There are great competencies for "Atrium" but we don't use "Atrium." Does anyone have any suggestions? These will be greatly appreciated. Also this has been a great thread - woow 2 months out of Nursing school and working in the ICU! Thanks for any help.

Illuvit, Thank you so much for this information - we use prefilled NS syringes but have the NS vials in stock also. I appreciate any info you may have on this subject, but I will also try to google so I can submit the evidence based info to my unit.

Wow! I wasn't aware that there is a restriction of 30 ml Normal Saline flushes due to the preservative. Can anyone tell me where I can obtain more information on this? Thanks.:nuke:

I agree with Marie. I stopped working 12 hour shifts and now work 8 hour shifts because I know I can practice safely in an 8 hour framework. Age isn't the only reason you forget names of things. It is scary when you do it yourself - I have and have wondered why to myself. If I'm not in a stressful situation my recollection is better. I wish you the best and thank you for bringing up this topic - I was wondering if I was the only one.

I have recently graduated with an MSN specializing in Education. I have been offered a job as a Clinical Specialist in the facility where I did my Practicum. I have also interviewed at a Community College where the interviewer has an MEd. She told me she needs to return to school to obtain her MSN because the Board of Registration in Massachusetts is requiring Educators to have their MSN. What do you want to do? Do you forsee teaching students in the future? I would discuss options with other nurses in your State and find out the requirements. You may do well by getting a degree that will open more doors for you. I wish you the best.

I am sorry to read of your nightmarish experience. When you experience this unfairness alone it can be devastating. You have done the right thing to contact peer nurses and to speak about the situation. You need to vent and to share with other nurses. Yes, it is frustrating to see lazy nurses have charge nurse positions, nurses who "befriend" the charge nurses and chat while buzzers are ringing. There are some lazy, self centered nurses in the workforce today. However, this is what it is - you can now move on and look at a five year plan for yourself. Where do you want to be in five years? Do you want to teach and have some influence on sharing your experience with Nursing students? What do YOU want to do? Think about a five year plan. I was in a situation that was like living in Alice in Wonderland - everything seemed to be upside down - between the nurse educator, nurse in charge and nurse manager and how they acted towards me. I had been at this hospital for twenty-three years when these nurses started attacking me like sharks. (I think they were jealous because of my seniority and pay scale.) Anyhow, my sister encouraged me to go on for further education, use the hospital to get my education paid for and focus on working for my advantage and in that way ignore these nurses. This was new thinking to me because I had a displaced sense of loyalty to this employer and my bosses. Am I glad I listened to my sister! I have a whole new life. I have started teaching part time as a Clinical instructor and feel respected and that my experience can help these students. Don't give up - maybe take time for yourself to reassess where you want to go in life. Remember - you are a caring, compassionate nurse - don't let anyone defeat you. Keep faith in God and pray for guidance and discernment. You can do it - you have so much to give this world and we NEED you- whether as a nurse or whatever you choose to do. I will pray for you and wish you the best. Clayah