zooparade

As a clinical instructor and med/surg nurse, let me just tell you that I would be worried if you were not overwhelmed. The scariest new nurses are the ones that think they already know everything. It's impossible to teach everything you need to know in school. Caring for 2 patients is a whole lot different than 5-6+. Take your time and ask lots of questions. I remember as a new nurse looking at and listening to other nurses- wondering if I would ever know as much as they do. It seems effortless on their part. Trust me, we have all been there and a good nurse will remember and understand. Keep your chin up! It will get better- I promise!!!

I have been taking this exam since 1994. This is something you do every day, even the med conversions. There is no "tricky" math on the exam. Trust what you know.

No great ideas on the drainage. However for odor, it sometimes works to crush a Flagyl tablet in KY jelly and apply to the would bed. I have used this successfully with fungating tumors. Good luck...

We a 28 bed m/s floor in a very rural area. Census is usually 12-18. Day shift takes up to 6pts and nights up to 7. However, staffing is based on acuity of pts. For example, this week was "nursing home week" and I came in to see 4 pts in geri chairs lined up at the nurses station. That day, I started with only 3 pts. All confused, bed alerts, you get the picture. Many days I start out with six. The charge nurse does not take pts. unless really needed. Charge nurse evaluates acuity at 0500, 1700, 2100 for the next shift and staffs accordingly. Hope this helps

First, sorry if this posts twice... Had experience last fall as a nursing instructor on med/surg. Nurses seemed nice and seemed to get along well. I have had 2 acquaintences that have worked there. One, day shift, loved it and she is known to be somewhat difficult to work with. The other hated it (night shift) and she is a top notch nurse, smart and easy to get along with. Good luck with your decision!

I am a nursing instructor and we had clinicals there last semester, so here's my 2 cents worth. Nurses on med surg floors seemed nice and worked together fairly well. Didn't see a lot of backstabbing. They do team nursing with 1 rn, 1 lpn, and sometimes a cna. Usually have 10-12 pts. I have also had 2 "friends" (acquaintences) that worked there. One loved it (day shift) and she is known to be difficult to work with at times and the other hated it (night shift) and she is a top notch nurse- smart and easy to work with. What does this all mean? I have no earthly idea :) Good luck with your decision!

Sounds like u definately need a pain management referral for this pt. Problems come in when we use multiple opiods to cover pain. Also the fact that this pt. is experiencing so much brealthrough pain that he needs 16 extra doses of Dilaudid and 10 extra doses of MSIR. Is the pt. on any adjunt meds for other types of pain? ie ativan, elavil, NSAIDS, etc? That would be my first question. Then, why are we allowing this pt. to suffer through having to ask for pain meds 26 times a day. Although it is true that opoids have no ceiling, this just sounds like bad pain mgt.

it sounds like you did a find job. having been a nurse for over 18 years, i know lots of seasoned nurses that could not have done any better. as you gain experience, you will learn how to deal with nurse ratchet. just remember that as a nurse you will see many people at their worst. more than likely, it is not personal, although it feels personal. they could just be having a bad day / night, or they could just be generally miserable people. either way, it is not your fault that she was hateful to you. let it roll off your back and consider yourself lucky you have such great co-workers and a great support team. zooparade