BinkieRN

Congratulations!!!

We would need more information other than your age. What were you doing? Did you go to college to get into that profession? How long ago did you go to college? and what area of healthcare are you looking to get into. Age and/or sex makes no difference when applying to nursing school Best of luck to you

You did everything you should have done. I suspect the reason it bothers you to go on and pass meds like nothing happened is because you are a caring human being. That's normal. Don't feel bad about caring about somebody. Realize that in LTC those patients are at a much higher risk than the general public for a MI or CVA. It is going to happen. It's the nature of working in LTC.

You will learn to be comfortable with venipuncture/inserting IV's. It takes practice, lots of practice. The key is not to let the patient know that you are nervous and don't say to them "this is my first try" or "I'm just learning", or "Gee I hope I can get this". Go in the room with confidence (even if you're shaking inside) after the first couple of successes you will quickly build your confidence. All nurses were new and nervous about venipuncture at one time. I was a basket case but now I'm very good at it. You will be too. Have faith and patience

What are FTE's? We are forced to take call when the census is low

:deadhorse Good Grief! How many posts? A good fitting supportive bra is a part of your nursing uniform.

Thanks, no I'm not near Knoxville so I've never heard of it. Again congratulations!

I think since you already thanked her that's enough but a nice Christmas card letting her know how you're doing in your new job would be greatly appreciated. Of course you can add "thanks again".

I first thought TIA and I'll stick with it. Wonder if they'll ever tell? He does look older than his stated age. ITA

I'm sorry, I don't mean to come across as dumb but I'm in Tennessee and I don't know which school LMU is? I'm currently at work and my co-workers don't know either? BTW, Congratulations!

I think clean matched scrubs, proper ID, clean nails, neat hair, less jewelry, clean shoes, etc...is just as professional as all white uniforms. My Mom said she remembers seeing nurses in white wearing printed underwear you could see through the pants. Stains on their whites. You can't afford to throw away a uniform you've only worn once or twice because you've got a stain. Scrubs are more comfortable for the nurse and tend to make the patients feel their nurse is more approachable and don't scare children. Now making a come back with the cap. That may be a good idea. That was the classic image of the professional nurse.

It is done all the time. I agree about starting a new med or the first dose of an antibiotic when starting the blood because if there is a reaction, you won't know if it's the blood or the med causing it and would have to stop both at least temporarily.

I do clamp a foley for 15 minutes, after a liter, if the bladder is very distended. I learned in school that emptying the bladder too quickly can cause bladder spasms. I don't have a problem doing it if it saves the patient from having any discomfort. On the other hand, when some patients, such as those who have had a pelvic ultrasound, come back from US and sit on the potty and empty their bladders they don't stop at one liter and they only feel relief afterwards. Personally I don't think it matters.

I have job security. Even if I did get laid off I could get another job within days.

ITA, but you will see posts here from ex LPN's who keep both licenses valid because if they want to work in LTC where they won't pay for an RN then they work on their LPN license. It makes absolutely no sense to me to keep an LPN license when you have your RN license. As said, why pay for both? But well, to each his own. I personally wouldn't do it. Congratulations on getting your RN Just reading recently added post. If a nurse is practicing on one license because the other has been revoked or disciplined, I would imagine said nurse would be in even more trouble when they get caught. Shame on them, that's not ethical, not in the least.

are you saying that you are doing charge, taking 6 pts and orienting all at the same time? if the answer is yes, it's time to get out and find another job. that's totally insanity, might as well go ahead and hand over your license.

SN informed pt that her doctor is incompetent, specific examples given! Wow, that felt good

best of luck! be safe, come home safe. binks

i would not give any med with a "known allergy"! no way, no how! if the doctor wants the patient to have it he/she can give it themselves. if a patient is not truly allergic, i.e. codiene makes them nauseated, then i would give it. since it's not a true allergy, there would be no reason to order it with "known allergy" but rather, causes nausea give with zofran.

Gauge does not equal length. I typically use a 1" needle for an IM injection in the arm. Little or elderly people a 5/8".

I think you took good care of him and didn't let on to him that you were annoyed, busy maybe but not annoyed and you handled it politely and respectfully. A 93 year old patient with a history of CP and a multitude of other health problems, could not possibly have had an unexpected death, forgive yourself, he's out of pain now and at peace. You did everything you possibly could have to help ease his CP. There was nothing else you could have done. I think his family members who left him should probably be feeling the guilt, not you.

The order that tubes is drawn does not matter in the least. It's kind of like how many questions did you get on the NCLEX. Nothing to it!

You don't know for sure that your former friend was the "concerned friend" that turned you in. When there is an addicted co-worker, more than one person knows, and anyone could have turned you in. I don't know what you said in the nasty e-mail to your former friend, in the heat of the moment (as you said), but it could have been bad enough that your former friend felt the need to call the police. You could be totally blaming the wrong person.

When you click on a thread in the Nurses & Recovery section you should obviously realize that is the subject about which you will be reading. I don't think smart comments like I'm not an addict are appropriate in this particular thread.

I was proud to wear mine and have cherished it since. Not that I want to wear one everyday because I don't but let's face it, the cap, is the classic image of a nurse. What Happened to the Nurse's Cap? For generations, it topped off nurses' uniforms -- a symbol of pride and accomplishment for a new healer. But infection control dictated that nurses stop wearing caps in the 1980s, according to Lynn Brock, nurse manager at Hackley Hospital and a 1975 graduate of the hospital's nursing school. "It was one of the rites of passage to get your first stripe (on the cap)," Brock said. "As a senior, you earned two stripes." Louanne Utzinger, coordinator of Early On for the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District and a 1969 graduate of Hackley School of Nursing, recalled that her capping exercise was held at First Congregational Church. "Getting the cap and pin was quite an honor," she said. The cap also was an important symbol. It was so dear to her that she has a tiny nurse's cap and an RN charm on her bracelet. "You worked very hard for that cap," said Darlene Smith, a 1960 graduate of Hackley School of Nursing. "It was really something to get it." Reprinted with permission from the Muskegon Chronicle http://www.hackley.org/about/history/nurses_cap.php