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Hi All, I am a New Graduate RN starting in the OR (peri-operative) and I would appreciate ANY advice from experienced OR RN's. Thanks for your time and interest!

Hi Everyone, I'm an RN starting in the ICU and need some advice, instruction and time saving tricks in keeping my patients clean and comfortable. It sounds dumb but nursing school focuses on meds and procedures alot and cleaning duties not so much. I will be providing one on one care to my patients and would appreciate any advice!

Hi Everyone, Thanks for looking at my post. I am a new graduate licensed RN from California who has landed an interview for a "new grad ED position." I don't have experience in the ED but I do have experience in ICU and ICU Stepdown. I am currently earning my ACLS and PALS certificates. Does anyone have ANY interview tips for me? What type of qualities are they generally looking for and what types of questions might I be asked? I really want this position due to the scarcity of opportunities out there (and I want to work in the ED)! I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me. Thank you all in advance!

Hi everyone, I'm a fourth semester RN student (almost done!) and was lucky enough to land a preceptorship in the CT ICU. I want to learn and help as much as possible. I know some of you may have preceptored students currently or in the past. Does anyone have any tips for me so I can learn alot in a short time (140 hours). I don't want to drive my preceptor crazy! I appreciate any tips anyone can give me. Thanks alot!

Hi there, I'm a fourth semester nursing student (almost done!) and I am here to tell you that poop is important! You need to chart your poop! Poop can alert you to the existance of diseases and GI cancer. If you are by yourself on the floor (NA calls in sick) guess what? You need to provide TOTAL care to your patients. Imagine telling your supervisor your patient's are wallowing in feces because your afraid of poop! I think once you get in there you'll be fine. Try to avoid the C-Diff patients and good luck!

Hi Everyone! I'm a third semester nursing student in California and plan to move after I graduate. I've heard numerous stories about nurses in other states being assigned a huge number of patients. I'd like a reality check from those of you working in other states (especially Oregon and Washington State.) This would calm my anxiety alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for your time, I appreciate it!

Hi everyone, Thanks for your replies. I currently have a degree in journalism. For this reason, my counselor told me, I could take accelerated masters program online to achieve my masters degree in nursing. Instead of going back to a university to achieve my bachelors in nursing THEN my masters, I could skip the bachelors and get striaght to my masters. I'm concerned about the perceived value of an on-line masters. I'm thinking about teaching in my older age. Am I going to be passed over for oppertunities because I don't have a "real masters degree?" I'm wondering if anyone has encountered problems in job advancement due to an "on-line masters?" Thanks for your time!

Hi everyone, I have a BA and am currently working towards an associates in nursing. My counselor informed me I could get an accelerated masters online after I pass the NCLEX. Does anyone know the pros and cons to this time saving move? I'm 40 and need to save time! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you guys so much for explaining. My prior belief was dividing by 60 min to acquire per minute. Your explanations make perfect sense and thanks to everyone for your time and patience! I've never seen a problem like this before so thanks again!

I don't want to sound totally clueless, but in the second problem why is there no dividing by 60 min to get gtt/min? Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone! These problems have me confused! If anyone has time to tackle them I'd be really appreciative! (I think the first one is 12 ml/hr) I have a pass/fail math exam in a few weeks and I'm stressed! Thanks alot for your time! 2. Your CCU patient is currently receiving heparin sodium 800units/hr/. The PTT is lower than expected so the physician orders heparin sodium to be increased to 1200units/hr. Your bag of solution is labeled 25,000 units in 250ml of D5W. What IV rate will set on the pump to deliver the correct dose of heparin? ___________ml/hr 5. Dopamine drip at 250mcg/min is ordered. You have the standardized hospital solution of 200mg in 250ml of D5W. You have micro drip tubing 60gtts/ml available. How many drops/min will deliver the correct dose?

Thanks for the reassurance! You're right they are only dreams. They are just so gory and scary! It really helps to talk them out. The hospital setting is new for me, I just have to get used to it. Thanks for your advice!!!

My dreams are gory and bloody, like intestines and severed spinal cords. My husband says they are nomal, but I'm not so sure.

Hi everyone! I'm a first semester nursing student who is experiencing horrible nightmares. I've never had them before my exposure to the hospital setting. Has anyone had a similar experience?

I inserted a Foley on an Iraqi woman with a female circumcision.