Spiker ASN, RN, EMT-P

OR 35 years; crosstrained ER/ICU/PACU

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All Content by Spiker

  1. Spiker

    New grads in specialties without the basics

    Spiker replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you....my feelings exactly! I attended an ADN program (after attending college to be a teacher). I took the same boards as you did in your wonder-program. And passed with flying colors....
  2. Spiker

    An Atheist Nurse in King James Hospital

    Spiker replied to EMSnurse411's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    I have to agree with the majority of the comments here. While I'm NOT an atheist (don't judge, as I don't judge) I do believe in being respectful to our patients' needs & feelings. If they wish...
  3. Spiker

    Periop program and pregnancy

    Spiker replied to quinnle's topic in Operating Room

    Very good points, & excellent advice. It's better to be up-front about your pregnancy (once you've verified it!) than to start the program & spring it on your preceptor. They can do the math...
  4. Spiker

    9 Tips for New Operating Room Nurses

    Spiker replied to Rose_Queen's topic in Operating Room

    Kimlilly07, you stated: It's tough learning every position, machine and utensil however, if you stay in one OR you will remember the surgeon's preferences so well you will come to a point that you...
  5. Spiker

    9 Tips for New Operating Room Nurses

    Spiker replied to Rose_Queen's topic in Operating Room

    These are excellent tips, Rose_Queen! I've been an OR nurse for 33 years & will agree, those of us who are well-seasoned are sometimes tough on newbies, but remember: it's a very fast-paced,...
  6. Spiker

    New grads in specialties without the basics

    Spiker replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    Yes Rose_Queen, I agree! As a student in an ADN program in 1976, we had a 6 week OR rotation: we scrubbed, we circulated, we charted. I soon knew I wanted to be an OR nurse, & by 1984 I was a...
  7. Spiker

    New grads in specialties without the basics

    Spiker replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    Very well said, amzyRN! I agree with you. I was a preceptor in an ambulatory surgery center, after working for almost 25 years in a regional trauma center OR. We had nursing students from a local...
  8. Spiker

    New grads in specialties without the basics

    Spiker replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    We all had to start somewhere. I knew in college that I wanted to be an OR nurse. However, when I finished, the only job I could get was on a Surgical floor (before the Same Day/Ambulatory Surgery...
  9. Spiker

    10 Things You Should Know About the First Semester of Nursing School

    Spiker replied to LoriRNCM's topic in General Students

    I'm sure you'll be just fine! We all went through it, although when I took my boards we actually had to sit for 5 different exams & mark the answer sheets by hand, with pencils. Then we waited...
  10. Spiker

    10 Things You Should Know About the First Semester of Nursing School

    Spiker replied to LoriRNCM's topic in General Students

    I'm sure no offense was taken; I think you & I have a lot in common, & this is a forum for sharing ideas & thoughts. There are always different ways to look at things! We're all part of a...
  11. Spiker

    10 Things You Should Know About the First Semester of Nursing School

    Spiker replied to LoriRNCM's topic in General Students

    ajmclean, i don't see a problem with J.A.B., RN posting as such. I think she was stating how she learned while in Nursing School: instead of reading for hours, she learned more in the hands-on...
  12. Spiker

    What's the funniest most unusual baby name?

    Spiker replied to nirvana1's topic in Nursing Humor

    OMG, when I was stationed @ Darnell Hospital, Fort Hood, TX, we delivered a baby born to a GI & his Mexican wife. She knew little English, but had seen the word "lady parts" on a poster in L &...
  13. Spiker

    Allowing Corpsman to Become Nurses

    Spiker replied to Asystole RN's topic in Government, Military

    Excellent points. My (now) ex-husband, whom I met after getting back to NY in a civilian hospital after 3 years in Fort Hood, was also a Navy/Marine corpsman in Vietnam. He was wounded as he was...
  14. Spiker

    Post-Op Pain with PCA

    Spiker replied to NurseStelri's topic in PACU

    Our PCA's are set up in PACU, & always approximately 30-40 minutes after we bring them in there. I'd wonder if NOT starting it in a timely fashion could be the reason for breakthrough pain? Our...
  15. Spiker

    Working two jobs

    Spiker replied to Nightowl_lpn's topic in General Nursing

    I'm not working 2 jobs currently, but when my 2 daughters were in high school, preparing to go to college, I did. I had been an OR RN for many years when I joined our local fire dept., going to EMT...
  16. Spiker

    10 Things You Should Know About the First Semester of Nursing School

    Spiker replied to LoriRNCM's topic in General Students

    This is excellent, because it's so true. After graduating in 1979 with an ADN, and working ever since in Nursing, this brought a huge smile to my face! I too, was a return-to-college mom (2 girls),...
  17. Spiker

    What's the funniest most unusual baby name?

    Spiker replied to nirvana1's topic in Nursing Humor

    OK...I work with an RN (in her 40's) named Pebbles. Really. And when I was still at Ft. Hood we had a foreign wife who had a baby, saw some literature with the "name" she liked - "lady parts",...
  18. Spiker

    Allowing Corpsman to Become Nurses

    Spiker replied to Asystole RN's topic in Government, Military

    I definitely think there should be a "bridge curriculum" for corpsmen, similar to the type of training I got when I went to Paramedic school after being an OR nurse for 20 years. I was able to...
  19. Spiker

    Will my tattoos hold me back?

    Spiker replied to MLutiker's topic in General Students

    It sounds like you are truly passionate about nursing. I've been an RN for almost 35 years, & certainly want someone with your drive & passion to join the profession! I agree with...
  20. Spiker

    Where to take ACLS in NY

    Spiker replied to mochamocha's topic in New York Nursing

    akinini, do you work anywhere in proximity to a medical center/healthcare facility? Usually the staff continuing ed. dept. has listings of ACLS classes which may be offered in the facility. Also, if...
  21. Spiker

    Well, No Nursing for Me

    Spiker replied to Donald11's topic in General Students

    NurseNed: thanks for the walk down Memory Lane! I graduated from college in 1979, while raising 2 kids. The NY state board exam was a 2-day affair, given in a huge non-air conditioned exhibition...
  22. Spiker

    Well, No Nursing for Me

    Spiker replied to Donald11's topic in General Students

    To say doctors aren't interested in nurses catching their mistakes IS a big mistake. I've never, in 32 years, had a doc get mad at me for catching an error, or suggesting a treatment or medication....
  23. Spiker

    BCLS training

    Spiker replied to bargraphix's topic in General Nursing

    As an RN who was also a Paramedic for 12 years, I think both of my careers were beneficial, one to the other, so congratulations in moving forward in life! I'm also a BLS Instructor, & if you've...
  24. Spiker

    Well, No Nursing for Me

    Spiker replied to Donald11's topic in General Students

    Sorry you feel that way regarding exams. If you think about it, you'd want RN's taking care of your loved ones to be able to pass with a high grade, wouldn't you? We had to have a passing grade of...
  25. Spiker

    Where to take ACLS in NY

    Spiker replied to mochamocha's topic in New York Nursing

    When I still lived in NY (moved to NC last summer) I did this ACLS course on-line: it was great! Do everything you can in advance (I've been ACLS-certified since 1982) to be prepared for it, you'll...