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

    The worst job you had before becoming a Nurse?

    CalicoKitty replied to Want2BeeRN's topic in General Nursing

    Door-to-door "sales" for a company that did stuff like windows and siding. (Not sure how many sales I actually got, and wow, was I
  2. CalicoKitty

    Where there is smoke ... there is usually a cigarette

    CalicoKitty replied to Brian's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    There was one patient (not mine) with visitors that came in and smelled "very" smokey. I asked if they were smoking in the room. They denied it (I can't tell for sure). I think the patient was upset...
  3. CalicoKitty

    What Is Your Most Gross, Yucky, Disgusting Nursing Horror Story?

    CalicoKitty replied to yazisizit's topic in Nursing Humor

    I figure one of my first patient deaths was a little traumatizing. The patient was a DNR and actively dying. Terrible lung sounds. I managed to be in the room with him as he was taking his last...
  4. CalicoKitty

    adding skills and experience

    CalicoKitty posted a topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I'm working on my resume. I have a few years of experience in my first nursing position. It is a general med-surg unit. I'm not sure what skills/experiences should be added to my resume. If the unit...
  5. CalicoKitty

    D.C. Hospitals And Nurses Fight Over Staffing Ratios

    CalicoKitty replied to jrsRN07's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    The hospital says that if they hire more nurses, they would not be able to hire the ancillary staff - nursing assistants and other general staff, so nurses would have fewer patients, but increased...
  6. CalicoKitty

    Worst start ever

    CalicoKitty replied to thelema13's topic in Emergency

    Just had a mediocre start. I was worried for a while. 3rd night in a row, my legs have been killing me for a week or two (causing me to toss and turn all night). So, I overslept (first time in a...
  7. CalicoKitty

    New sheriff in town

    CalicoKitty replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    I'd really like an updated system so I could see, online, somewhere in the patient's profile, the "likely time" procedures would be done on a patient. I hate when a patient is NPO for breakfast and...
  8. CalicoKitty

    I really need advice about new grad positions!

    CalicoKitty replied to skyed92's topic in First Year After Licensure

    If you want to take some time off, see if you could do work with "medical missions" or something. Some new grads do take a long time to get positions (a year looking isn't unheard of). If you have...
  9. CalicoKitty

    Did I waste my time/money?

    CalicoKitty replied to vm156's topic in General Nursing

    Even in hospitals, after getting some experience, you could progress towards more administrative work, or even education if that holds your interest. You could almost think of hospital work as...
  10. CalicoKitty

    Confessions of a Job hopper

    CalicoKitty replied to OnlybyHisgraceRN's topic in General Nursing

    From what I gather, some nurses get a job and stay there forever (or so). Others change after a few years, either to different hosptials or different specializations. You can change from bedside...
  11. CalicoKitty

    New grad, please Help with med surg organization!!

    CalicoKitty replied to Futuresos's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I have a brain (and a half) for working med-surg 12 hour shifts (7-7). The brain is 2 per page, double sided (if you print that way). I'm working on the 'cover' page so I can more readily keep up with...
  12. CalicoKitty

    Learning Spanish is a plus, bilingual? trilingual?

    CalicoKitty replied to jtoms's topic in General Nursing

    There's (at least) one online medical spanish program that grants CEUs (after passing tests). I'm thinking of doing this since I need CEUs to renew my RN. I'm sure Spanish would be helpful in getting...
  13. CalicoKitty

    How is the floor/hospital census lately?

    CalicoKitty replied to rn undisclosed name's topic in General Nursing

    I think our is somewhere at "maximum capacity". There were, I believe, over 100 patients in the ER waiting for a room. In end of shift report, we were warned that when our patients were due for...
  14. CalicoKitty

    Am I making the right decision?!!

    CalicoKitty replied to Amro421's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    If you can get the ADN in 2 classes (one semester), I'd go for that option. If you have the ADN and can sit for the NCLEX to be an RN, that will offer more options than being an LPN. If you can, take...
  15. CalicoKitty

    Does your hospital ID badge have your first AND last name on it?

    CalicoKitty replied to Deetail's topic in General Nursing

    I think some nurses go by their last name. Especially the older ones. A few younger ones (that have more difficult to pronounce first names). It is a personal choice in most cases, I
  16. CalicoKitty

    new grad on med-surg

    CalicoKitty replied to nurseGi's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I started in April in a geriatric med-surg floor. It definitely has it's challenges. The geriatric population can be rough to work with since many of them need "coaxing" to take medications, many...
  17. CalicoKitty

    Who do nurses make more than?

    CalicoKitty replied to Amber215's topic in General Nursing

    I don't think you'll find an apartment with a pool for $1000/mo. Much less one that is larger than an efficiency. I'd focus on saving $ so you can buy a house and stop wasting money on rent. Right...
  18. CalicoKitty

    New RN's in a long unemployment line and super hurt/angry/frustrated

    CalicoKitty replied to Becka305's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Moving can be a challenge. I moved, then became gravely ill the next day (literally). So, it took me a while just to get healthy enough to look for a job (so, it was about 18 months from graduation to...
  19. CalicoKitty

    Floated for the first time

    CalicoKitty posted a topic in First Year After Licensure

    I just floated to another unit for the first time (been working 8 or so months). Only 4 hours, after spending 8 hours on my unit. In some ways, just seemed like night and day. Much quiet. Was in the...
  20. CalicoKitty

    Floated for the first time

    CalicoKitty replied to CalicoKitty's topic in First Year After Licensure

    An oncology floor. It is Sunday. Perhaps just a really slow day. But quite nice.
  21. CalicoKitty

    Floated for the first time

    CalicoKitty replied to CalicoKitty's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Oh and my new floor was so much quieter. The phones weren't ringing off the hook. The call bells weren't a constant ding ding. I don't even know where their telemetry was, but I certainly wasn't...
  22. CalicoKitty

    How to get out of patient care?

    CalicoKitty replied to lockheart678's topic in General Nursing

    It's not handicapped, it's
  23. CalicoKitty

    criminal history,accepted to nursing school??

    CalicoKitty replied to smiley gal's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    I agree with the first poster. I'd make an effort to get the record expunged. May cost a little bit of money. You may have to wait a little more time. The verdict also matters. But, yeah, shoplifting...
  24. CalicoKitty

    Nursing in Washington DC

    CalicoKitty replied to redicedtea's topic in General Nursing

    I can't really speak to much. I am a new-grad working at Washington HOspital Center, and the starting salary for a new graduate was a little over $27/hr. WHC is a hospital with nurses in the NNU...
  25. CalicoKitty

    Nurses, how are you going to vote? 2012 US Presidential Election

    CalicoKitty replied to Brian's topic in General Nursing

    I voted for Jill Stein. I care more about the earth than the country. That and I live in a state that will most likely vote for Obama. I would not vote for R/R because I think the rich get enough...