Hello, I was talking with a veteran surgical floor nurse about the differences in work environment, culture and general attitudes of nurses between ICU and med/surg floors. At our facility, we have 3 ICUs that seem to have pretty different cultures....
geminigirl11 replied to laceface24's topic in Nursing
My step-son was thinking of nursing while he was in high school. At a dinner party one night, an elderly lady was very attentively listening about my choice of career. When it came up that my step-son was also considering nursing, she looked aghast a...
geminigirl11 replied to Studying24.7's topic in General Students
I like the motto of focus on the issue, not the individual. A lot of these posts seems to attack individual opinions. I think students deserve respect and they should do a fair amount of observing before taking action on something like this. I am so ...
geminigirl11 replied to PopeJane3rd's topic in Nursing
from thecommuter's post: nursing is the only profession that scrutinizes the motivations of its members. are you doing it for the money? are you a nurse because you like people? are you a nurse because you're a selfless angel of mercy? take a close, ...
Regarding working four 12h days in a row, we have a union contract that states management may not do this unless the nurse wants to. We have a limit of three 12h days or three 12's and an 8h day in a row. At my teaching hospital, our residents usuall...
I have just read the majority of posts on this topic and am surprised at the lack of support for this guy who made a mistake as well as at the remarks like "I would've failed you too", and other mean, vicious comments. In general, I am not sure what ...
Orientation at my hospital for ICU is 6 months or whatever the person needs, sometimes it's 3 months; sometimes it's 7 or 9. Safe practice is the key guide. While it is possible people may "milk" the system, it is more likely that they need the time ...
Can anyone tell me how to position a patient with a newly developed pneumothorax? Is it affected side down with good lung up or the other way around? I have heard this makes a difference in helping the patient breath better until a chest tube can be ...
My hospital definitely hires new grads in the ICU. I joined the SICU with almost 4 years med/surg experience and it still felt very difficult. In fact, some of the new grads I started with may have had an advantage from just finishing pathophys, anat...
Hi Squirtle, one thing I've noticed is that teaching can sometimes bring up feelings of embarrassment on the part of the preceptor. And this happens with people who want to teach! They have to really show themselves and this can be hard at times (eve...
I thought we are supposed put it at the level of phlebostatic axis...? Can you say more about this? Also, at my teaching facility, the new group of anesthesia docs sometimes use brachial based on research that says brachial is more accurate than rad...
I have seen lots of people die and I think I will never not feel a sense of grief and loss at least on behalf of the patient's loved-ones. I remember being in a code recently-the excitement of doing chest compressions and the adrenaline rush of it al...
Hello Everyone, It seems like a toxic environment if an experienced nurse "reams out" an orientee in front of others. How disrespectful! You do not deserve this no matter what. I also think it's impossible to learn when something like that is coming ...
geminigirl11 replied to rainbowcak3's topic in Nursing
almost 70K/yr base pay, full time, before taxes. shift diff is 25% of base pay. VA Federal hospital, Seattle, WA. BSN/RN, 4 years experience. At my hospital, most start at 54K/yr depending on other degrees and experience. Housing is expensive but it'...
geminigirl11 replied to iLovemyJackRT's topic in Relations
Thanks for this question; it's been weighing on my mind. I started in my current ICU 7 months ago after a few years of floor nursing. I noticed that the ICU nurses who have never worked outside of the ICU have a really different sense of themselves a...
geminigirl11 replied to exairex's topic in Nursing
Hi, Exair, I'd love to hear an update on your class discussion of this topic. I work at a VA hospital and the Director of Nursing is fond of the saying, "a nurse is a nurse is a nurse" to our dismay. When nurses hear this statement, they may easily f...
