RNKPCE

If you test positive I think it important to get a reportable test such as a PCR and not just a home test. This may help you out for any issues if you need disability for prolong time off for recovery from covid or even long covid.

My kids are adults now but I switched from day shift to 3-11 after my first child was born. I worked 24 hours a week which I think is the max I'd want to do working that shift with kids at home. When they are school age you will have days when you don't see them much but if you work every other weekend then that would likely only be 4 shifts in two weeks. I loved having the time to volunteer in their classrooms and go on field trips.When they were babies I did a daytime new moms group. A family member babysat my kids two weekdays a week from 2p-4:30p until my husband got home. The parenting responsibilities were very much shared. I'd get home from work at midnight and after showering be in bed asap because my kids got up between 6:30- 7a. I still work 3-11. Love no traffic going to or back from work. Like that generally it starts busy but winds down as the night goes on.

Tips or techniques in getting an IJ CVC dressing to stay on patients with facial hair growth/beards appreciated. During change of shift noted dressing not occlusive. Changed the dressing, the white tape like part of the dressing was coming off almost immediately.

What is the staffing like on your covid unit? What level of care med/surg , step down , tele ? Has the staffing varied? Are you in a surge? Do you have ancillary help such as CNAs , phlebotomists, housekeeper, ward clerks? Do you change isolation gowns from patient to patient? Are you provided scrubs? What other PPE do you wear? Do you have core staff or a constant rotation from all over your facility?

I found this to be a problem too. I only need readers a few times a shift to see bevel of a fine needle.

So the weekly max is $450/week and if you had reduced hours but earned say $600/week, you won't get any benefit? But if you only earned $300/week you would get some benefit? Anyone have any reference about this?

This is a big topic. If we tested a nurse today and that was negative and then worked 2 more shifts possibly exposed would you test them again in a week?........ the working and testing could go on and on. That's why I think its good for all healthcare workers to wear masks at all times. Maybe get a baseline test, where a mask at all times, and then test only if there are symptoms. However if you are in an area without enough PPE maybe you won't be able to mask at all times.

I agree with what the other posters have said about throwing your back out doesn't necessarily mean your bedside career is done. Do the prescribed therapy and see how you are feeling. Your back may flare up from time to time as mine does. Educate yourself about good body mechanics, use all lifting equipment available to you at work. Each person's back issue is unique but I'd actually be worse with a sitting job. My back does great with walking, not so good with standing in one spot and terrible with sitting.

I was in your shoes. I've been a nurse for a long time now. These days when patients ask me how long I've been a nurse or how long I've work at my hospital and I tell them, they say " Did you start when you were 10 years old?" It never was a real issue in my career.

We can do them from home and are paid, if the system works from home. Some e-learning only work on the intranet at work. Some things are long and require headphones and would be very difficult to do during a shift. In the past employees have gotten suspended for padding the amount of time it took them to complete learnings. Some of our systems have timers built in so management can tell how long you are using it. Other items we are told how much time is allotted for each thing. I set my timer on my phone when I sit to do my education and charge that much time.

https://www.rn.ca.gov/consumers/fees.shtml the information I have says $300 for initial PHN app and $125 for renewal., as of January 2019.

Also it is only $125 a year to renew the PHN certificate. $187 if delinquent

I don't know the answer for sure but I renewed last fall and no penalty. I don't think most graduates even get that certificate when they graduate anymore. I don't know the ramifications if for some reason you want to get it back. For me it was a non issue

I got mine 30+ years ago without any extra effort on my part. Never paid a dime to keep it. I let mine lapse when I saw the cost at my last renewal. Other people I graduated with that I still keep in contact with let theirs lapse as well. You have to look at your individual circumstances but I have no intention to have a job where I need a Public Health Nurse certificate. I know I don't need it if I were to do home care in California in the future. Nor do I want to pay $300 every two years.

I remember long ago> 28 years, when only RT had access to pulse ox. It was rare to get an RT to do one without an order.

I don't have enough fingers on my hands to count how many times I have been asked to trade or work extra for someone and I can't do it and then that person calls in sick that day. Most people manage to squeak by within the absenteeism policy. It's funny how the people who sound actually sick(coughing, laryngitis etc) express the most guilt about calling in sick.

I do believe that some hospitals cut back on nurse's aides when the ratio went into effect or did so over time. Some tout it as all RN staff! Some hospitals cut back on the number of nurse's aides on a floor, so now maybe two for a unit of 30 patients where before it was 4. I also worked with someone who about 8 years ago came from a hospital in the central valley of California that would tell staff "they were a ratio free" hospital and they tried to get away without following the law of 5 patients at all times on med-surg etc. There are no such hospitals in CA that are ratio free. However despite the law not being perfect it has 1) increased patient safety 2) increased nurse satisfaction. Why is is much harder to get a job in California? Many travel nurses have taken permanent positions in California, even with the high cost of living in most areas. After having only 5 patients I don't think I could work in another state where I'd sometimes have 8 patients at one time. If it has worked in California it can work in other states too. Nurses in MA would be wise to vote for this new law.

No I hadn't and I've worked with many travelers. Thanks for the reply.

Just curious what is a "guest staff member in the icu"?

I'm wondering too. Years ago you could get uniforms that weren't scrubs. Most staff were excited when we could get "scrub" like uniforms. The other uniforms would sometimes button up the front and have Peter Pan collars, and a belt around the waist. They weren't nearly as functional as scrubs are today. Wouldn't want to go back to that.

Not sure you have enough practice hours yet for any of them. When you do also consider, cardiac-vascular nurse certification. Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (RN-BC) | ANCC

Unfortunately what someone prefers isn't always what they can afford.

May for an old school style watch you pin to your chest and lift up to take pulse, resp. etc

Do not encourage the practice of pulling meds all at the beginning of the shift and storing them. Do not encourage pulling meds on more than one patient. Both practices increase likelihood of a med error. Also depending on your EMR and electronic drug dispenser it may set a "due" time based on when drugs are pulled from the dispenser.

Look for your hospital policy for hypoglycemia protocol. One normal or even elevated blood sugar after a hypoglycemic reaction is not enough. We check 15 minutes after treatment if normal or up we have to check again in 30 minutes. If after 15 minutes still low we do further treatment and check in 15 minutes. if ok then we have to check in 30 minutes to see if it is sustained. We also must notify the provider for low blood sugars. Given this low blood sugar I would have done a 2-3am blood sugar at a minimum. I would have checked with the provider before administering insulin. We can do blood sugars PRN. We haven't let techs do blood sugars in more than a decade. This is a learning experience you may end up becoming a diabetic resource down the road. Not sure about your preceptors response or her supervision/guidance. On a side note I hope you are on the clock while waiting for preceptor to finish so you can do your paperwork.