Nicky30

I was not working but there have been two in our region. The first was a primip and went to section for obstructed labour. When the first incision was made into the uterus it ruptured. Babe delivered ultra quick and was 11lb 2oz. Uterus was repaired and mum went on to have a second pregnancy delivered by LSCS at 38w. The second one was a multi, 5th bubs but first with a new partner and it was too late . She required an emergency hysterectomy.

When I started nursing my hubby told me I was nothing but a glorified butt wiper! Now I am studying for NP and I earn double what he does! He doesnt call me a butt wiper anymore.

Med/Sug - 5-6 during the day 10-12 at night. ED - well being the only nurse on for the department means you get everything. With a resus you call for backup from the ward; we are supposed to be a 1:3 ratio but that never happens unless the patients don't walk through the door. Maternity - because of the way the department is run, there is 1 midwife per shift and they are responsible for everything that could and does happen. Antenatal - labouring - postnatal and sometimes sick bubs or mums too. My best effort lately on nights was 3 postnatal mums with their bubs; and 1 antenatal with BP problems. 2 presented in labour in the middle of the night. I still thought I was managing until my antenatal on the ward that was scheduled for a section decided to go into labour as well. Then I was allowed to call for backup. Ugh we are an accident waiting to happen.

I have only been a midwife for just over 2 years and I have seen one true knot. It was a scheduled section and not known prior to delivery. Mum and bubs were fine. :redpinkhe

I think you only ever regret that which you did not do. You appear to regret not taking the opportunity when you had it. Is it a risk taking the opportunity now? Perhaps, but only the person who risks is free. :redpinkhe Nic.

I am a rural nurse but our tiny (48 bed) hospital has sponsored nurses before as well. We have no paediatric department as such and our really sick kids are transferred to a tertiary centre. With your qualifications you would get a job anywhere - but I guess what I am saying is dont immediately dismiss the rural and or remote experience because what you get to see and do will probably astound you. Have fun travelling around - wish I could do the same. Nicky.

Be wary of the length of time you have to serve after completing your grad program. I did my stint in the Army in my younger days and there is not much that would compel me to go back. Nicky.

I work in a rural hospital in South Australia - while it is not Victoria there should be hospitals with similar programs. Our graduate program should be what is described above - a preceptor for every graduate, one training day a month, and a program to follow (that actually gives you more homework). In actuality my program did not provide me with any of that. I did not have a preceptor, had two education days but I did rotate through various fields of nursing including the ED. Currently our graduates rotate through Aged Care, Theatre, Med-Surg, and the ED (I did not get theatre for my program and argued my way into a midwifery rotation), I am now a midwife but prefer the ED to play in. If all else fails and you are in a position to travel - want lots of opportunites and experience there are organisations that give graduates rotations through the northern states in rural and remote hospitals - it is quite an experience and most graduates will come out very skilled and highly sought after. Nicky.

I work in Australia as well and the situation you describe is all to common to me - an unsupported work place with poor skill mix..... the final nail in our coffin is not being able to request shifts (we are taking this to the union). We can take a set roster if we want to take a 2 week reduction in our annual leave. However, I am still of the belief that not all places are like this - there must be some out there that are nice to work in??? Unfortunately I am not in a position to go looking - I hope your situation is different. Nicky.

One thing my manager told me is the ICU is controlled chaos....... the ER is not! I am grateful that we usually only have one nurse running the ED, and if the doctor wants or doesnt want something then they have to tell us. The computer system is in infancy and as nobody knows how to use it we are safe for the time being.

Two years ago as a midwifery student baby J graced us with his brief existence. J was as beautiful as could be with dark curls and the brightest blue eyes. He was also the sickest little baby I had come across so far. I remember helping with his respirations while his stared into my eyes. We stabilised him and transferred him for specialist care. He slipped quietly away in his fathers arms 3 months later. A week ago his father comes into my care in a desperate state still haunted by the images of his dying son. Sleep tight baby J.

Nope. It happens in Australia too.

I like to take a small baked potato with a choice of whatever filling appeals to you. However whenever I take that I have no time to heat it bup let alone eat it. Finger food I think is best - unfortunately you tend to eat lots when that happens because we take enough for all the nurses on the ward.

Yes a few times but the one that really comes to mind is...... My dad had just passed away after a very short illness and I was in my first week back at work - I am not sure how I got allocated the end stage terminal patient of a family I knew very well. I went to school with the children and it was their dad. I was in the room with them when he slipped away. I shed a few tears - and a lot more later when I was able to make my exit. I remember the doctor giving me an enormous hug (in fact the same doctor had cared for both of these wonderful men). One of my more human moments. :redpinkhe

Oh good lord! A written complaint because you forgot a blanket?

In a single nurse ER I don't usually get any breaks unless the ward takes pity on me an decides to relieve me. It's nothing to deal with 10-20 patients a shift whether in/out, admission or short stays. I make sure I bring a coke with me and something to nibble on. My hand overs are to the ward are generally in the SBAR format.

I became a nurse at 30 (I started studying when I was 26). Yes I am a female - and I only had two children and my youngest was still a baby when I started study. My husband supported us for the first 6 months of study then I returned to the workforce. I am not sure how I got through but I haven't stopped studying. My children are now 9 and 8, and I am a fully qualified RN, midwife and (the Australian system is different) am currently studying for a masters degree. I guess my point is - if you want it bad enough somehow you will make it happen.

I would like to add that the OP forgot to mention managemet and government funding in their vent. Picture this scene from 2 weeks ago...... Small country ED normally has 2 RN and one EN (LPN) on a weekend shift - well I was running short 1 RN. It was busy until 2000 then the proverbial hit the fan. SVT comes in and doc wants to treat with amiodarone infusion and magnesium infusion so I am busy setting this up when a DKA walks in and collapses (thankfully on the bed), and then I am setting up an insulin infusion/fluids with K+ the order of which was changed 3 times (grrrr)! The waiting room is full and I am responsible for triage as the LPN is not able to do so and ward staff will NOT come down to help (apart from one lonely midwife - kudos to her) I haven't been able to triage for about 1 hour now....... Request to management for more staff is denied. 8 day old baby in respiratory distress comes in and requires 1 on 1 care as does the SVT. I am then informed that the DKA is being retrieved to a level 3 hospital (we do not have an ICU). Oh almost forgot I was also giving IV pain protocol to a patient with severe abdominal pain (and one in the waiting room that I know about but am unable to find a bed to put them on). I work 2 hours past my alloted shift with no meal break. The following week I am informed that I need to delegate more to other staff (umm who would you have me delegate to?) oh and my paperwork was not entered into the computer in a timely fashion (errrr sorry??) In short you need to pick up your game......(insert expletive here)! Frustrating to say the least because this shift is hot on the heels of one exactly the same, except add MVA patient with parts of muscle tissue missing with an open fracture, and an 11wk old baby being retrieved instead. They dont call me the poo magnet for nothing. Ah and I still love my job.

In Australia we have used Coca-Cola to dissolve food in the oesophagus or IV glucose (to stimulate peristalsis). I have two memorable choking scenarios - the first definitely qualified for intervention, unfortunately the food was lodged too far down and we were unsuccessful. The second was my daughter and it was the scariest thing seeing her little face go red and then pale trying to get rid of the obstruction. Due to her age it was the swift blows to her back and the obstruction (a partially chewed biscuit) was dislodged. That first breath of air was like heaven on earth. Nicky.

I am an Australian midwife so our system is considerably different to yours and as such doulas are only just surfacing. To give you an example of the hospital where I work I will just describe my last shift...... I had 4 postnatals on the ward and was caring for an induction as well (we are usually the only midwife on the shift and we do everything i.e. antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care as well). The induction was not going superbly at this point and the babe was in distress a section was being organised and at the same point in time another woman walked in the door who had ruptured membranes and was not yet contracting. Thank heavens the early shift stayed to help me out or I would have drowned..... I would have been grateful to have the help of a doula too as dad had already fainted once during labour because he saw blood. End of the story was healthy new mum and babe who had gotten themselves a bit stuck, cranky management because of the overtime and exhausted midwife at end of shift. I am hoping that one day I will be able to work with a doula to see exactly how they can help both the mum to be and me as well. Kudos to you for assisting the woman and her family. Nicky.

Well just in case you wanted a spin on the 'traditional' water fight....... Get a 20ml saline syringe with a needle on it. While your co-worker is not looking you quickly inject the cloth chair in the nurses station with the whole lot. The best bit about it (or worst depending on your perspective) is that you cannot tell that the chair is wet. It's only after they have been sitting on the chair for about 2 minutes that the saline soaks through to the top and they work out that they have a very wet behind. Best for the ND nurse and always handy if they have a dry set of pants. Oh and yes it did happen to me (very uncomfy feeing all night long as I didn't have any dry pants to change into). It's alright though the nurse that got me ended up with he contents of my water bottle on her head (it was a very slow night). Nicky.

There are some places that offer graduate nursing programs in outback Australia and rotate the grads through a number of larger hospitals at the start of their program and working towards the smaller ones towards the end. You might consider this if you are really interested. Top End - rings a bell perhaps you could check with them.

Nothing as dramatic as some of the posts already here but...... It was wrong bra choice really. Male nurse and I were bathing a demented elderly man when I bent over and the girls popped out. Not even really thinking about it (I have these issues from time to time as it goes with the bust size) I took a few seconds to pop myself back into place - much to the amusement of my co-worker and patient. Nicky.

Wow you guys are spoilt rotten lol. Our cafeteria is open from 0830-1600 and is a privately run business in the hospital. Our kitchen is open from 0600-1800. On the ward after hours we get a limited number (3 usually) of cheese sandwhiches and packet soup (chicken noodle). Thats it! Nothing more is stocked because "the staff might eat it" (end quote)! LOL they are probably right. Nicky. p.s. on night duty its bring your own or starve. N.B. Tea, coffee, milk & sugar are supplied for staff use.

Weird... I had a patient that had an anaphylactic reaction to a microlax enema (so I guess it is true ).