Trauma08

Thanks 3rd career, The second of the two links I did find yesterday when hunting around on the internet for the answer. I totally get that the steam is just water vapor that I exhale. I guess I wonder if the vapor is going through the mask or around the mask. It seems like it would have to be going around the mask and if so wouldn't it be possible for other particles to travel through the same space? When I inhale of course. I don't know why I'm so paranoid about it. We do see a lot of patients with active TB plus my employee health nurse seemed a bit cavalier about the whole thing, I just needed some reassurance. Thanks again!

Oops. I meant Portacount in the title not Portcount. Anyway, hope to get some replies. Thanks.

Hello, I did a search regarding the N95 mask but I couldn't find anything regarding the portacount machine. I was fit for a n95 mask when I started my job about 2 months ago and passed the taste test. Than I actually needed to wear it for a patient and I couldn't get a good seal - my glasses kept steaming up. So I scheduled a repeat test. My employee health nurse put me on a portacount machine that somehow measures whether or not particles are getting into the mask. She switched me from the KC n95 regular to the 3M green mask for the test on the portacount. I had the same problem with the steaming glasses but I passed the portacount test. She said that my steaming glasses didn't matter because I passed the portacount test. I know that the masks only protect for 95% of particles but does anyone have any information regarding the portacount machine and its accuracy? I just want to be sure that I'm not being exposed to TB. I work in an area of the hospital with a lot of TB patients. Thanks.

Thanks you so much for the responses. I really needed some reassurance about being up front with my potential new employer. My interview is tomorrow so keep your fingers crossed for me. Thanks!

Thanks for the response. I guess I should be a little more specific about my question. I would never leave a job without giving two weeks notice, but probably once my current employer gets notice that will be my last day. As you say, they probably won't want to waste another red cent on training me. I guess I was asking how best to phrase it during the interview that I would be leaving a job that I've only had for 6 weeks for greener pastures. I'm worried they won't hire me because they may be wary I'll do the same to them. One thing in my favor is that I applied to the potential job 6 months ago, so I would have had to have some job in the meantime. I'm not independently wealthy. Interviews are difficult for me and I get really nervous so I need to have some idea of how I'm going to answer that question ahead of time so that I don't sound like a total fool. Thanks.

Hello, I'm a new grad nurse, I graduated in December. When I graduated my goal was to find a job in another part of the state where I lived for 10 years. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a job in that location. I've been working for about 6 weeks at a local hospital. Well one of my top choices of hospitals (in my home location) called me for an interview! I really want this job. My questions is: what should I say about my present job. I don't want to appear as if I would leave their job for something better, which is what I will be doing to be present employer. Is this a really huge deal? Has anyone else done this and what did you tell the potential employer? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

Hello Everyone, Thanks for all the replies I have definitely put some into action already. I've worked 6 shifts so far and things are going well. My preceptor is really nice and crazy energetic, but I'm learning tons. So far I'm taking 1-2 patients and doing all the charting etc and helping with other patients as well. I've been to a couple of codes and helped pass meds. I feel like I'm in a fog and I'm not sure what questions to ask but I like the idea of reading more on my own so thank you for those suggestions. There have even been a couple of times at work that I thought to myself that I was having fun. So, so far so good. Thanks again and if you have more suggestions or ideas please let me know.

Hello, I'm a new grad and I am finally starting my first job in the ED this week. I've read the stickies and searched this forum for information and suggestions for new grads in the ED. I was looking for some advice regarding clinical experiences. For example, on one thread someone suggested that I go through the most common ED complaints (i.e. ACS, MI etc) and go through what a nurse would/should do in each circumstance. Does anyone have any suggestions along those lines? Or are there any really useful cheat sheets I should take with me (or just the usual from my med/surg clinicals). I'm of course extremely nervous and I don't want to roll into my first day of work without reviewing something, especially since it has been so long since I graduated. Some stats about my ER. It is a level II trauma center (soon to be level I). It is extremely busy with approx 300-400+ patients/day. It is also the county hospital if that makes any difference in the advice. Thank you in advance!

Hi Jane, No, I didn't reschedule my exam and I took it on Sat. as planned. I decided to bolster my confidence a little and take a few more of the Saunders exams since I did quite a bit better on them then Kaplan. The NCLEX exam stopped at 75 questions which I think is a good sign. I haven't received the results yet so I'm waiting and very nervous. I know that 75 questions is generally considered a good sign, but I also know that people fail with 75 questions. I'll let you know what happens and thanks for asking.

I have the same concern. I am taking the NCLEX on Sat, the 29th and I'm worried about my Kaplan scores. Should I reschedule? I only paid for the qbank and my scores are anywhere between 48-89% with and average of 62%. I'm also using the Saunders NCLEX review book and CD and I do much better on those exams and quizzes. I sort of decided to get Kaplan at the last minute because I heard the questions were similar to the NCLEX. All it is doing is giving me test anxiety (which I never had in school). I see in this and other forums that some people only use the Saunders and seem to pass just fine. Should I be that worried about my qbank scores? Should I reschedule my test? Thanks!