NickiLaughs

NickiLaughs ADN, BSN, RN

Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care

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All Content by NickiLaughs

  1. How many steps do you take a shift?

    NickiLaughs replied to j0yegan's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I did over 15000 steps today, in 8 hours..and I was a triage

  2. Driving REALLY far for an interview?

    NickiLaughs replied to Neurotic Student's topic in Nursing Career

    7 hours I took the job and relocated to the area. Considering how far is it is I would really look at every

  3. ER nurse wanting some info on pediatric hyperglycemia

    NickiLaughs posted a topic in PICU, Pediatric

    So upon leaving work one of the other nurses was telling a tale of a hyperglycemic kid with a blood sugar over 900. They gave him a 20mL per kg bonus (about 600mL) over an hour, rechecked his blood...

  4. Mission Hospital Vs. UCI

    NickiLaughs replied to fauxpaus's topic in California Nursing

    I never worked at either. I heard from other nurses though that they were happy at mission. I also knew a case manager who had used to work at UCI but he said most of the nurses hated it there but...

  5. Always 'paying my dues' because i'm PRN?

    NickiLaughs replied to Mrs_Momma_RN's topic in Nursing Career

    I think a lot of that is the norm with PRNs, you don't get guaranteed hours, but you mostly get to pick your schedule. No benefits, but a higher rate of pay. Most positions with opportunities to...

  6. The 10 Best Cities for Registered Nurses

    NickiLaughs replied to rawjurdawjur's topic in Nursing News

    This list is lame. Neither San Diego or LA are affordable on a nursing salary and they greatly underestimate cost of living. Sacramento should be on the list. Average RN salary is likely close to...

  7. Oh, you quirky night shifter you!

    NickiLaughs replied to dannibeeRN's topic in General Nursing

    I used to....and then I had a child. And family got tired of me missing events even on my days off because I slept all day. I'm swings right now but my new norm is productivity on days. Someday...

  8. For nurses in WA or CO

    NickiLaughs replied to MNNICU, RN's topic in General Nursing

    In California, same rules go, it might be legal, but if you are tested and it's found in your system,as a nurse you can be fired because it breaks company policy. For all intents and purposes,...

  9. No One Talks About… An Easier Way to Catheterize Women (and Prevent Complications)

    NickiLaughs replied to melissamabd's topic in General Nursing

    I use this method frequently in the ER. However not every patient can tolerate and it won't always be effective in this position. I've tried it a couple times for morbidly obese patients. Doesn't...

  10. Your Worst Mistake

    NickiLaughs replied to aurora_borealis's topic in General Nursing

    Worked in critical care and this genius doc decides to stop the levophed on a pt "to see what would happen. " instead of just pausing it. He took it off the pump and threw it in the trash. I have...

  11. Nursing is not recession proof

    NickiLaughs replied to Bluekitteh's topic in General Nursing

    How do you even find a 5 year old thread? I think the picture for new nurses has been dire since about 2009, when I was lucky enough to score a job with a sign on bonus and 3 months later no one was...

  12. When you're done. Just done.

    NickiLaughs replied to gemmi999's topic in General Nursing

    But she's the triage nurse and that pt shouldn't be in the waiting room. I'd be fighting too because a symptomatic pt with a hemoglobin of 5 is a level 2 and that gets higher priority than the 3s and...

  13. opportunities in both a level 2 trauma center and regular ER

    NickiLaughs replied to amzyRN's topic in Emergency

    I agree that level 2s aren't usually teaching institutes, but OP mentioned wanting to work trauma and didn't say level 2s were the only sight, just that There was a current job offer at a level 2. I...

  14. CEN

    NickiLaughs replied to ScudderRN31's topic in Emergency

    I just bought a CEN review book and studied Mark Boswells stuff. I practiced 5 tests over a few months. Don't give yourself too big a time frame, for example, 4 months is good but if you give...

  15. opportunities in both a level 2 trauma center and regular ER

    NickiLaughs replied to amzyRN's topic in Emergency

    I have to agree it comes down to the better orientation. Btw, the major trauma centers are frequently teaching institutes and they tend to pay less than everything else. Usually it's good to get all...

  16. Delay in transfer to floor

    NickiLaughs replied to bebbercorn's topic in Emergency

    I chart a note, because the rule is we have 60 minutes to get them up and that time goes fast. I'm hoping we transition to written reports like my last hospital because the phone tag game gets...

  17. Have any of your patients ever told you that you're a good nurse?

    NickiLaughs replied to EquinoxSolstice92's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    4 times this week which I think is a record. I had a very sweet expressive aphasic man give me a kiss on the cheek because I talked to him and not over him during his visit. I normally try to duck...

  18. Inappropriate Facebook postings by family and friends of the patient

    NickiLaughs replied to morman's topic in General Nursing

    Anytime we catch family with cameras or taking pics or video in ER, they are immediately told to stop delete or they will be asked to leave the hospital. If it's a patient, they can either delete and...

  19. Double Drug Tests

    NickiLaughs replied to RBlis's topic in General Nursing

    Probably not but if they do they'll probably just make you sit there til your urine is more concentrated. Nothing to worry about since you don't do drugs. Good for you for drinking more water then...

  20. ER nurse wanting some info on pediatric hyperglycemia

    NickiLaughs replied to NickiLaughs's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Thanks for that info. So everyone being upset about a 20ml/kg bolus is unfounded. Chances are other factors were involved resulting in his rapid blood sugar drop as opposed to the bolus. Thanks so...

  21. RN I (new nurse) salary in Orange County, CA

    NickiLaughs replied to candycaneRN7894's topic in California Nursing

    Based on what I made when I left the area four years ago with 3 years of ICU experience. I was making 32$ hr and my differential was 6$ on night shift. One of the hospitals was time in a half after 8...

  22. ER nurse wanting some info on pediatric hyperglycemia

    NickiLaughs replied to NickiLaughs's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Thank you for the info. I was thinking the bolus wasn't a bad call but my ER workers seemed to think it was. Yes I'm aware of dropping sugars quickly causing severe cerebral edema. I did adult...

  23. Another reason unions suck!

    NickiLaughs replied to Ruger8mm's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    I've worked at hospitals where the union does nothing and others where they work really hard for everyone. It's facility and often even floor based. Currently my job ensures we always get our lunch...

  24. Best PICU reference/patho book

    NickiLaughs replied to RNthenDoc's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Thanks for posting this. I'm an ER nurse looking to increase my pediatric knowledge. I don't get them much, so all the more reason to make sure I know what the heck I'm doing when I do get

  25. Thank You Nurses

    NickiLaughs replied to jcam25's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Thank you for listening! Many nurses are more than willing to help the docs if they listen. There should always be a mutual respect and we always need each