happystudent

oooh...i like poping zits too...but my all time favs are veins.. i love veins. I love sticking ivs in them.. i love threading an 18 gauge right in someones ac. I get a rush when i get that first flash of blood.... (sorry! you guys brought it up!lol)

hey doug! I too worked as a tech in a level one and now I am a nurse there. Based on experience, I would have to say that you should know your duties as a tech. For instance, When a chest pain rolls in the door, start an EKG and pull up an old one on that pt. (if available). Usually, if a trauma is 2 min out, make sure you are there in the trauma room anticipating the docs and nurses needs. Lastly, you must know where everything is!! I respect the techs I work with and they respect me because I was in their shoes at one point and I don't abuse thier help. Being a tech is cool, the pay sucks, but it is a nice job to have if you dont mind a little elbow grease, blood, sweat and tears.... good luck to you!! Let us know how it goes.... happy

I have to go with Danskos!!! I have three pairs. Ive noticed that when Im not working and im out and about with the kids wearing sneakers, my feet are killing me by the end of the day!!!

yea, I had to restrain one of my pts on monday. She was a confused L_O_L... She pulled out her IV's, climbed over the bed rails and walking around with her foley bag in her hand saying, "I need to put my purse in the closet!". So I explained the situation to the resident, Got an order for a vest and wrist restraint. She didn't like it one bit. I also documented every 15-30mins and switched the wrist res from left to right ever two hrs. Kept her hydrated with fruit smoothies... Sometimes you gotta do that...

Hey! If thats the worst it got..then I think your doin A_OKAY!!! :chuckle

LOL! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Im sorry....thats funny!!!!!

Man! On my floor I care for pts that have MRSA, VRE,CDIFF, TB, HIV, HEP A, B and C! I wash my hands before I go in, put on gloves, perform my duties, take off gloves, wash hands and use foam........ Just last night, I had two pts on contact precautions! Whats this world coming too????? LOL!! :)

You are too CUTE!!!! I hate THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION...AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

tele can be difficult. I work the same floor...Yes I feel sick to my stomach when I get off the elevator. I find that If I say a PRAYER and get to work 30 mins early, I am less stressed.........So far, its been working for me!!! Im sending you positive thoughts******** :)

YOu got some veeeeery good advice here, geekgolightly!!!! :)

I totally agree with you!! As a CNA you get down and dirty with the pts AAAAAAANNNNND you work side by side with the nurse! I think that is more condusive to nursing school. Hey I learned how to put in heplocks in one day! I traveled with the IV team for one shift in my hospital and Im ceritfied to start Iv's. Im thankful for starting out as a Cna. The pt contact, mastering basic pt care and basic documentation took a load off of all the other responsibilities I had to master! In the end, you will make the decision that is right for you.... I am sending good thoughts your way!! :)

Bummer....We all make mistakes...Try not to beat yourself up. I too made my first med error my third day on the floor! I gave a pt an extra asprin. What happened was, I remember going thru the MAR and double checking with the pyxis on this pt meds. Well I didnt realize that he was given the asa in the A.M. because it was signed off in the wrong box. When my preceptor and I went over the chart we both realized what happened. I was mortified! I couldn't believe it! My first Med error!!!! We notified the NP and she was SOOO supportive of me. I felt like a heel! She said that the pt will be fine and that she was very impressed that I "owned up" to my error and that I was so concerned about the pt. She went on to say that sometimes people don't admitt their mistakes and that I had done the right thing! I was so relieved! When talking to other nurses, I was comforted in the fact that they too had made med errors in the past! So, try not to beat yourself up! You did the right thing. There is no other feeling than knowing you made a med error! Use this as a learning experience and remember to triple-quadruple check yourself from now on. And no, I don't think you will be fired! If you always come clean about your errors and try to make things right, you will be ok. positive thoughts your way :)

It was brutal last night..... Sometimes on our floor we will get the "heroin junkie/crack-addicted/aids/hep a-b &c/convicted felons" on our floor as pts. The guy I was assigned to was on a methadone taper with the usual cocktail of benzo"s decent pt...not too many issues....untill he decides to go out for a smoke. this guy comes back to the floor and says to me..." Ya know, I just saw my dr in the parking lot and he told me to tell you to call him so you can give me a klonopin"...... (his face------> :stone ) (my face------> :rotfl: ) Yup okay...... So basically he threanted to file a grievance againts me saying that I was not giving him his medication--- oy-vey! So I called the covering doc and she talked him down.......She just upped his dose of ultram....and gave him reglan for his n/v......HE was happy with that.....but he still insist that his methadone was being tapered down too fast! Cant win!! :uhoh21: I do enjoy a challenge, but the whole detoxing a pt on a telemetry-floor-while-I-have-a-pt-in-afib-on-a-cardizem-gtt-and-another-pt-in-heart-block-and-my-fresh-admission-from-the-ed-who-is-vomitting-on-my-clogs makes a very interesting shift! shoot!! now that Im thinking about it...I forgot to chart that she puked!! :angryfire :rotfl: ohwell...(my bad) Anothernitebites the dust!!!! :rotfl: Will it get better?????? :rotfl:

I hope things work out!! Dont ever be afraid to ask questions...If you are not getting what you need to function as a part of the team....run (not walk) to you NM office and tell him/her you need help! Dont risk your pts and your license..okay? good thoughts goin your way!

when you press your finger into the skin. it makes a pit. Then you decied how deep it is by how far down the indentation is. +1+2+3 personally, any edema is bad....

What A nice post, Katemea. I am off orientation as well. I was a trainwreck the "first day". I felt ill- prepared, unknowledgeable and scared. I made it thru that day....sure, I forgot to do something, nothing major, and I stressed about it for a few hours. I ve been learning how to shut that part of the brain off when I get home. Its not worth it. Stressing does not make you a better nurse, it makes you a STRESSED NURSE! What I am doing is trying to improve my routine. Each time I work, I do something different to see how it affects the way I perform my job. For instance, The night before, I remember driving home from work and I forgot to total a pt IVmeds on his flowsheet...... I stressed for a minute, but I thought to myself, 'the pt is safe, no harm done'... I just probably piffed the nite nurse off because she had to total my shift and hers... (my bad) So, because of that, I now take all my bedside charts to the nuses station, sit down and go thru each one. My usual routine was to chart in the beside alcove. I think the new way of taking the charts to the station, where I can focus on each one will work better for me untill I am more experienced.... I think that instead of going home worried all night about something..try to get a system where you can verify the things that you have and have not done. That way you have verified that you have done the task and can wipe it out of your brain! It really works! You had a bad shift....think of ways to change your routine to avoid the chaos....sometimes you cant, but a lot of times you can...... good thoughts to all of us who are in the trenches! And thanks to all our mentors/preceptors...we couldn't do it without you guys.....!!!

Yea, we use them on our floor as well....It cuts down the voice traffic in evenings and its very convienent when I have to call a doc. No more waiting around @ the desk! I think its great! :)

This is my second week off orientation!! I am still alive and kickin' :rotfl: I had the craziest shift tonite..... It started like this.... 1500: Im getting report and organizing myself....okay I have five pts tonite on my assignment...no prob! said a small prayer 1510: Walk into room 604, just as I was about to open the bedside chart I hear....."CALL A CODE>>>NOOOOOOW!!!!!" my heart jumps out of my chest because the room is right across the hall from where Im standing! SO I grab a pair of gloves while running across the hall into 610 and there she is.....not breathing, lips blue! I immediately grab the ambu off the wall and start respirations.....Everyone is running down the hall, code cart in tow......Next I hear Anesthesia STAT TO 610 over the loud speaker! Im still bagging her....theres like twenty people in this room! Im staying focused on her airway until Anes. arrives to intubate...... PEA's on the monitor...not looking good...Epi goin in.....no response....Anesth. arrives...She grabs her intubation blade and ET tube....She asks me to put my finger on her trach while she intubates......She's in! Co2 cap turns gold..... meanwhile compressions are being done.....the resident goes for her fem artery....no good.....shes asystole.... Docs called it @ 1540............ It was over, the pt was gone.....It was sad.... all in the first 40mins of my shift! man o' man!!! Unfortunately, it was a good experience being in a code as a RN....... I worked as a tech in the ED, so Ive been thru similiar experiences....just a different role..... It was very interesting, though.....I was happy that I responded in the way I did. This is something that I know I can be good at! when its time for me to return to the ED next year, I will know that I am making the right choice for myself.......There are alot of things that I dont understand, but Im sure in time I will.... It feels so good to type this out.......... Well, after all was said and done...I continued caring for my pts the rest of the evening........ :) its nice to be home, now.

heres my 2 sense (lol) If I were you, I would do the CNA thing...The phleb idea is cool, but you will get that training on orientation. If its a free course, I say go for it. If not, I would definately work in a hospital as a PCA. It takes practice, practice and more practice to hit a vein, I wouldnt focus too much on that....I would direct my energies on patient care. What ever you decide...Im sending you positive thoughts!!! HAppy :)

yeah...what they said....if left untreated, strep can lead to kidney infections........Listen to your momma!!!!!!!! good thoughts to you and hope you feel better

oooh dear sweet pie123.......I am sending you positive thoughts......I know what your going thru! Please let us know your results if you wish......((((fingers crossed))))

CNA ED TECH RN That about sums it up!!

good thoughts flowin' your way!!! Let us know how you did!!! :)

DID you decide where you would like to go???? inquiring minds want to know... :)

Tele/med-surg........WOOOHOOO!!! lol