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I had a stroke patient that had just come from ICU. He came to my unit with Go-Lytely on a feeding tube pump through a PEG tube at a rate of 100/hr. He was also ordered 3 enemas for the morning of the colonoscopy if he was not clear. The patient had right side paralysis, was unable to use a call bell, unable to turn and position, and was on an air matress (meaning that he repeatly slid down on the bed and was unable to boost himself back up). He could not turn side to side. He was in a private room. He had no visitors. I continued the Go-Lytely on the pump as it was set from ICU. I work night shift and I informed the nurse coming on at 6AM that although he had bowel movements throughout the night, he was not yet clear, but that the three enemas were ordered. As it turned out, she gave the 3 enemas, he had the colonoscopy and all went as scheduled. I was told by my manager that I should have had the prep completed in 4 hours and that there is no difference between the patient drinking the Go-lytely or having it run through a PEG tube. I explained that he was a stroke patient, unable to use the call bell, unable to be heard from the hall if he was in distress, unable to be in view because of placement of the room, and the whole nine yards. It goes without saying that this patient was receiving prep far slower than a fully functional patient. The last time I prepped a patient through a PEG tube, the patient was alert and oriented, fully functional and I was told to push prep through the PEG throughout the night. Shortly after that was started, the patient was projectile vomiting. Would anyone run Go-lytely in the above patient I described at a rate of 1000/hr? Please keep in mind this is a patient unable to be seen or heard and unable to turn and position. FYI - his Jevity was started today at 20/hr, increasing by 10 every hour until goal of 50. Waiting for your input!

Holy Smokes - I am waiting for my appt to take the NCLEX. Studying every day and nervous as anything!

I'm with you on that one - save the "U" learn "2" . . . "ur" for texting your kids.

I'm just curious, what do you consider "immediate" environment? I think if there's a rule, follow it everytime with everyone.

If there are precautions to be taken, then they should be taken. You are correct in that hired nurses do not usually follow the precaution standards and it usually does take either a student or a family member to point it out. Then, if you're lucky, they might roll their eyes and either follow the policy or they may just tell you "Yeah, that's what they teach you but it's different in the real world." Regardless, set the example and follow the rules. It's protecting everybody and isn't that one of the things that nursing is all about?

That is true about the parking for Shadyside. The lot the woman is talking about is a guarded lot and there is a shuttle that runs from the lot to the school. If you were with a couple other people, you can walk it in about 5 minutes, but I wouldn't recommend walking it alone. Truly, parking wouldn't hold me back.

I think I might be a little concerned if the tuition is that different, meaning that I do not think Shadyside tuition is high, especially given all the clinical experience you gain. We've been on clinicals with Pitt students (a 4-year program) and they don't seem to get near as much hands-on time. I don't know what figures you're getting or your source. As far as Christian values go, I don't know that I would base much on that either. If you are truly getting into nursing for all the right reasons, then you do have wonderful values, whether you boast Christianity or not. I have no idea what Mercy is like and I am going to assume that it's a wonderful school as well. I just am not sure how much weight I would put on statements made regarding Christianity. A school, like a person, can say anything they want about Christian values, but how you live and behave is what matters more so than what you say, if you know what I mean. Parking can be an issue at Shadyside, but leases are available and whether or not you lease, you still have a shuttle to take you to a lot of the places that you need to go. Before I go on rambling, I will just suggest that you check out the clinical time and experience that you get. To be honest with you, being almost done with the program, I can tell you that I wouldn't want any less clinical time and from what I've heard from students at other schools and from nurses working on floors where I've been, no school compares to Shadyside, not even 4 year programs. I hope this helps!

There are a couple ways to look at it. I do know that Shadyside School of Nursing provides so much clinical hands-on experience, which I don't believe you get other places. From what I understand, even Pitt's 4 year grads don't graduate with as much hands-on experience. It's all in what you want. The way I look at it, if you sign on WITH the tuition forgiveness, you have the option of opting out I believe at any time (of course, paying back what you used). BUT if you hang in there until graduation, you can even make your choice then. I really don't think there's anything to lose, especially because Shadyside School of Nursing gives you so much more than other schools. The evening/weekend program is another option. Hope this helped.

I don't believe you are legally bound to work for any hospital, even with tuition forgiveness. If you decide not to work for them, you pay the tuition back and that's pretty much it. Also, since jobs are scarce, if you are not interested in the leftover jobs that experienced nurses don't want, you won't be forced to take one of them. You just have to decide if you want to pay the tuition back or not. The only thing you are bound to is repayment if you forego the tuition forgiveness.

Just a quick question for anyone who may know the answer: If ABGs indicate respiratory alkalosis, the patient is post-op surgery and you walk into his room and he states he has severe pain, the FIRST THING you would do is to: 1. Administer IV Morphine 2. Talk to the patient and try to relax him There were 2 other answers which were ridulous. My feeling on this question is that you don't administer a drug like Morphine prior to assessing the pain. "Severe" is different to different patients. The question didn't state if it was a PRN med or if there was even an order. With computer charting you have to document prior to administering pain med and then reevaluate 15 minutes later w/IV drug. Respiratory alkalosis can be caused by fear, stress, pain, etc. According to my instructor, you would just administer the Morphine (you would need to assume it was an ordered PRN). Her rationale is also that you wouldn't talk to the patient and try to relax him because that would not help the pain, and a pain assessment is unnecessary because he is post-op. Which makes me wonder why "talk to the patient and try to relax him" was even an option. I personally feel that taking a couple minutes to assess the pt (getting HR, BP, etc) and finding out how severe it truly is just makes sense. How long does it take to ask "on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worst, how bad is your pain?" THANKS

What Kaplan study does anyone recommend? There are so many options. I cannot do one with a true class because I just don't have the extra time. Graduating in December and really really wanting to pass the first time. LOL - who doesn't??? Thanks. Pattie