sas15

Awesome!!!! That sounds like a typical day where I work, too!! Are you from TN? LOL.

We have 2 on call RNs to cover weekends, and an oncall nurse for Mon-Thurs nights after 5pm. We do have to take back up call during the week at night, but alternate between the 7 of us. We get paid $15/shift to carry the pager and then pd $30/visit if called out or $60/admission. Our census is currently around 100 patients. We see anywhere from 6-8 patients daily. Our typical case load is 12-15 patients to case manage. Our coverage area is very large and when we are on call, we have a tremendous area to cover. I had 4 patients this past Monday (holiday) and drove 114 miles.

I'm seeking any advice or tips anyone may have on this situation. I have a young lady, 50yrs old with a single lumen PICC. She is on 20mg/hr basal of dilaudid with a 10mg/every 10mins prn bolus dose. Weekly, I change the PICC dressing and usually it is also time to replenish her Dilaudid PCA bag. The concentration is 8mg/mL. This has only happened 2 times, but both times were soon after changing both the dressing and replenishing the bag. Probably about a month in between episodes lapsed. Her bolus was up to 18mg q 10 min prn, but we decreased the bolus after the first episode thinking it may have been related to the bolus dose. Both times, she has bolused and then immediately feels like she is "on fire" and even gets a red appearance as if sunburned. I've never had this happen with anyone. We've done blood cultures to rule out an infection in that aspect. If this were an allergy, wouldn't she be experiencing a reaction to the basal as well?? Benadryl helps to alleviate the symptoms, but not the underlying problem. HELP!!!!

Definitely take as little as possible!! We HAD to go with student loans for my education b/c with my husband's income we didn't qualify for pell grants. BUT...it wasn't enough to pay for tuition. We have 6 kids and that can be pretty expensive!! My education was something I decided to do after my kids were all in school and I don't regret it one bit, but I do wish we could have somehow managed with less student loans than we ended up taking out!! Good luck!!

You will get general experience while in school, but your majority of experience will be when you graduate or intern/extern/precept. As far as what to expect....tons of dirty laundry b/c you are always studying!!! Good luck!!!!!