CalicoKitty BSN, MSN, RN

Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care

Three cats in the yard. Life used to be so hard...

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All Content by CalicoKitty

  1. CalicoKitty

    Pay as RN in Virginia (Inova...)

    CalicoKitty replied to rmc2's topic in Virginia Nursing

    They did just give a $5 increase to nurses and I think 2 or 3 to techs. But, I'm not sure what the rate of pay is, but 27+5=32 so perhaps that's the new new grad rate. I think overall the area pay...
  2. CalicoKitty

    Now that I've gotten it....

    CalicoKitty replied to CalicoKitty's topic in Disaster Preparation

    One of my coworkers earlier on was infected. She was in her 30s I think. She got pretty sick and even went to the emergency room because she felt she couldn't breathe. Was not admitted. But she was...
  3. CalicoKitty

    Wound care

    CalicoKitty replied to Mrssykes's topic in General Nursing

    Stage 1 and 2 pressure injuries can reverse pretty quickly. A lot depends on moisture and repositioning. Zinc skin barriers/creams can be good if they are wet. If they are bony, adding a foam...
  4. CalicoKitty

    JUST finished school

    CalicoKitty replied to Guest 1064378's topic in General Nursing

    MN - "Midnights" overnight shift.. usually 7p-7a or 11p-7a
  5. CalicoKitty

    JUST finished school

    CalicoKitty replied to Guest 1064378's topic in General Nursing

    I was a weird one. I found nights to be my favorite time. I actually worked night shifts for about 7 years.. until 3 months ago when I did a career change to a "day job" in an area of interest....
  6. CalicoKitty

    JUST finished school

    CalicoKitty replied to Guest 1064378's topic in General Nursing

    I took my NCLEX the same month I graduated. Our program included completion of HESIs that covered all of the course information. I figured it was best to take the test while everything was fresh in my...
  7. CalicoKitty

    PLEASE! Save my life! (PCC Experts PLEASE)

    CalicoKitty replied to Purple_Clover's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Perhaps every foley/indwelling catheter should include a "Foley plan of care", and you can search by the plan of
  8. CalicoKitty

    Who should call family during ICU transfer? (did I goof up?)

    CalicoKitty replied to Ioreth's topic in General Nursing

    I think that since it involved a deterioration of medical condition, it should be a physician
  9. CalicoKitty

    A New Superhero

    CalicoKitty replied to Davey Do's topic in Nursing Humor

    I remember mourning the birth of my youngest brother. I wanted a sister. I cried all day. Don't think there were ultrasounds or prenatal care. Not sure. And he was born at home... in the 70s. My mom...
  10. CalicoKitty

    A New Superhero

    CalicoKitty replied to Davey Do's topic in Nursing Humor

    Keeping yerself busy in retirement.
  11. CalicoKitty

    New grad from online RN program with ZERO CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

    CalicoKitty replied to angel1312's topic in General Nursing

    I did see that some people graduated from programs with "capstones". Where, basically they spend a period of time (semester, x # of hours) working with a staff nurse, on that nurse's schedule....
  12. CalicoKitty

    Heparin Error

    CalicoKitty replied to rnash679's topic in General Nursing

    PICC lines used to have heparin in them to prevent them from clotting. Peripheral IVs also used to get flushed.. That's why a lot of people still refer to them as "hep-lock". I believe dialysis access...
  13. CalicoKitty

    New grad from online RN program with ZERO CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

    CalicoKitty replied to angel1312's topic in General Nursing

    Honestly, schools get so uptight about how pretty your "nursing care plans" look. They grief nurses about having stripes on their shoes. Have a tattoo, maybe you don't even get into a program. I found...
  14. CalicoKitty

    New grad from online RN program with ZERO CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

    CalicoKitty replied to angel1312's topic in General Nursing

    Maybe you lucked out? Clinicals were incredibly stressful to me, and a lot of people. Just make sure you start in a new-grad program. In my program, I never did real IV things on people, no IV meds,...
  15. CalicoKitty

    Confused about IV Infusion that should not be stopped

    CalicoKitty replied to Demareseitipota's topic in General Nursing

    Heparin, Insulin and some ionotropes are titrated. If you pause heparin, when the next lab (PTT/anti-Xa) is drawn, the results may be falsely low (since the patient did not get all of the...
  16. CalicoKitty

    Vertigo

    CalicoKitty replied to Davey Do's topic in General Nursing

    Is this gunna be one of the solve the case riddles? Perhaps you have a tick bite somewhere out of the way with a strange
  17. CalicoKitty

    Family friendly cities in Maryland

    CalicoKitty replied to 1gr8trnstudent's topic in Maryland Nursing

    Sorry, I don't really know much about that area. But looks like a lot of parks nearby. Does your family have any suggestions? I'd just make sure the commute into work isn't so bad. That traffic into...
  18. CalicoKitty

    Starting on Night Shift

    CalicoKitty replied to ToHealTheSick's topic in General Nursing

    I tried to keep my night shift schedule for years while working nights. But, it was just my husband and I. I'd stay up all night, sleep all day. We'd have evenings that I wasn't working together. And...
  19. CalicoKitty

    How much do you owe in student loans?

    CalicoKitty replied to MJB2010's topic in General Nursing

    About 23k now... Finished school in 2010....... (2nd degree), and had a handful of loans from my old degree (2002)... Guess it could have been down to about 21k but half of my loans are delayed with...
  20. CalicoKitty

    Family friendly cities in Maryland

    CalicoKitty replied to 1gr8trnstudent's topic in Maryland Nursing

    It all kinda depends on your budget, what areas you want to live, where you're working. Maryland isn't a huge state, but there are various areas. Baltimore is the biggest city city. There are the DC...
  21. CalicoKitty

    Post offer physical

    CalicoKitty replied to KMULL002's topic in General Nursing

    My "physical" was bloodwork (for immunity titers), bring in my vaccination records, color-blind test and vital signs. They didn't even weigh me. My drug screen this time was a saliva test. The...
  22. CalicoKitty

    What's it like in the VIP wing of a hospital?

    CalicoKitty replied to marienm, RN, CCRN's topic in General Nursing

    One place I worked had a suite of rooms. I think I even worked there one shift (wow, how the memory fades). Separate menu, and people could also I think order anything they wanted. Another place has...
  23. CalicoKitty

    Pending License

    CalicoKitty replied to tegs678345's topic in General Nursing

    You need to click no. You do not have a current, valid license, yet. Clicking yes would be a lie, and disqualify you and possibly mark you as ineligible for hire. I am also reading that NY is...
  24. CalicoKitty

    Is it appropriate to "show off" that you are a Nurse on social media?

    CalicoKitty replied to Convoy2022_TrumpSupporter's topic in General Nursing

    I actually used it once. I brought my badge because I knew the policy (when they were still having long lines form). I was ready for the line, but when they changed it and the line was way way way...
  25. CalicoKitty

    Is it appropriate to "show off" that you are a Nurse on social media?

    CalicoKitty replied to Convoy2022_TrumpSupporter's topic in General Nursing

    Some people share things because they are proud of stuff they are learning. I see people post pictures of their cooking that they are proud of. Gardening. Building. A whole host of things they are...