Hands&Feet

I saw a classified ad just a few weeks ago for a "Veterinary Nurse." Qualifications - HS diploma or GED.

Send him to the neuro floor with 1:1 orders - meaning that a nurse will be pulled off the floor to babysit, (because of course night shift doesn't need an aide) and split her other 6 patients with the remaining 4 nurses. Happens to us all too often! Extremely frustrating!

We were taught IVs on a plastic dummy arm/hand, or a "virtual" computerized program (which did not help in the least). We were not allowed to actually place IVs due to hospital policy where we did clinicals, but we could d/c them. During hospital orientation we were also trained and checked off in a skills lab for IV placement. I've been working almost a year now and although I would like to learn how, I have yet to do any blood draws (other than from PICC or CL). The lab does all of ours.

Yep, sounds like our neuro floor too. Our hospital does have an inpatient psych unit - but they won't take anyone who isn't "medically stable." (and apparently even MRSA means they're unstable.)

We had to pay for our own, if we wanted one.

. . . bachelor's in anything or BSN?

Just a little update - I'm on orientation, and things seem to be going well. The staff seems supportive and always willing to help & answer my questions. There seems to be quite a bit of psych cases, but I think I'll also have a decent exposure to med-surg type "stuff" to build my foundation. All in all I think it's going to be ok. I may not want to stay there forever, but I'm feeling much better about it. Thanks for the support & encouragement!

That was the main influence! I had a desire to help people on a more personal, hands-on level and was trying to decide if I should quit my secure, stable government job (in the midst of the recession). It just came down to "I'll go where You send me." Also, since I was in newborn screening, we always had pics & logos of little feet on everything. And no, you are not old! :)

Thanks for the info - I'll definitely check into those! I don't start until June 1st, but I'll try to keep you all updated. Thanks for the encouragement, too!

Ugh - why is this all I hear about Neuro?! Does everyone really hate their job and is it so much more physically demanding than other nursing jobs? I'm really not looking forward to this as my first nursing job!

Thanks for the reply & information. I think that I'm just nervous/depressed because I have no idea what to expect. I've never set foot on the floor, and this wasn't an area I had ever even thought of going into. My only experience in school with trachs and pegs was in a long term acute care hospital (which seemed much like a nursing home only more intense) so that is the image that popped in my head. I know I should be thankful that I have a job, especially in this economy, and I'm sure that I will learn a lot. I just hope it's not miserable. I guess I need an attitude adjustment & to just focus on the positive. Thanks again for the replies.

Oh, sounds just lovely! Maybe I should apply to nursing homes, at least I'd get paid better.

I was offered and accepted a position on the neuroscience floor. It is at a teaching hospital and is a certified stroke center. I have never set foot through the door, so I don't know what to expect. It's not anything that I planned on or imagined myself doing, but I'm sure I will learn a lot, and I'm just thankful to have a position lined up. During the interview, it was mentioned that there were several nurses who had been there for a long time - so I look forward to drawing from their knowledge and experience. From the literature I was given, their patient population includes: traumatic brain injuries, epidural & subdural hematomas, seizure disorders, cervical & lumbar strains, laminectomies, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, strokes, aneurysms, and subarachnoid hemorrhages. I plan on reviewing all the above, cranial nerves, communication issues, and of course neuro assessment. Is there anything else you all recommend? Any insight on what I can expect, or tips to handle it? How well will this prepare me for other units/floors if I decide this isn't for me, long-term? What do you love about it, what do you hate about it? Thanks!

Sorry about that! I noticed after I posted that it was an associate program, but I was too lazy to edit. I'm not sure why I had it in my head that it was a diploma program. BTW, I've heard nothing but great things about it - Congrats on being a part of it!

Yeah, I had to take one for a position I applied to. It seemed to be a personality type questionaire. At least it did tell me rather quickly (within a day or two) that I passed and that my application was being considered.