theantichick

theantichick has 3 years experience and specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

theantichick's Latest Activity

1. Patient waking up during CPR

   theantichick replied to LisaStone's topic in General Nursing

   Yep. First time I started CPR on a patient (I'd taken over several times with other patients, but this was my first time to decide to start it)... broke ribs, whole 9 yards... (geriatric patient) Anyway, after about 6-7 compressions, she moans and m...

2. Midlife Career Change to Nursing - Advice, please

   theantichick replied to mcgocara31's topic in Career

   I thought I'd offer an update, and emphasize the importance of having backup plans with a midlife career switch. I worked a little over a year in the ICU at the LTAC I mentioned in my previous post. Started my BSN online, and then got an offer for m...

3. Are you a new informatics nurse?

   theantichick replied to InformaticsRN.MA's topic in Informatics

   A little off topic, but wanted to ask you something about UIC. I started that same program this summer, and have been very put off by the way they deliver some of their courses. I've now had two courses out of four where the days in which I had to ...

4. Firearms

   theantichick replied to cracklingkraken's topic in General Nursing

   I have a concealed carry permit. I would never consider carrying while on duty at a hospital. The responsibility of keeping track of my firearm would distract from doing my job as a nurse. Also, while on duty, I don't feel a particular need. Shou...

5. Keep your license?

   theantichick replied to theantichick's topic in Informatics

   Good points, thanks! This particular position doesn't require me to retain my RN, but future ones might.

6. Keep your license?

   theantichick posted a topic in Informatics

   For those of you in informatics jobs, have you kept your license up? How do you address the CE requirements? Does your employer want you to keep it up, and will they help by either paying you to take CE classes or paying for the classes themselves?...

7. The Controversy: Mandatory Flu Vaccines

   theantichick replied to Julie Reyes's topic in General Nursing

   1)__ Do you take the flu vaccine yearly? If you do not, what is the reason you do not participate (if you don't mind answering this question)? Yes, always. 2)__ Does your employer have a mandatory influenza vaccination policy as a condition of ...

8. What is your ER policy for lunch breaks?

   theantichick replied to emergency_love's topic in Emergency

   I am incredibly lucky with my current ER. We have a ratio of 4:1 to start with. They staff for someone to cover lunches. We also have the ability to go pee when needed, or go get something to drink. On rare occasions if too many people call in, o...

9. What did you do before nursing?

   theantichick replied to golson's topic in General Nursing

   Worked as an executive secretary/ administrative assistant in a number of industries. Became a Paramedic, after about a year on the streets blew out my knee. Got into computers, did a number of things in that arena including report writing and data...

10. Am I remotely qualified?

    theantichick replied to downthealley,BS's topic in Informatics

    I'm in the same boat... 15 years' data warehouse/integration then became an RN. Now a RA diagnosis is pushing me back to the tech side of the healthcare world. Feel free to PM me if you want to keep in touch, share tips, critique each others resume...

11. Bedpan? Why not a Poise pad?

    theantichick replied to TryVeganToday's topic in General Nursing

    That's really great. I would imagine that if you needed two extra people to keep your patient positioned to ensure a sterile insertion, that happens too. Places I've worked didn't make it possible to get extra help for placement, and we couldn't en...

12. Bedpan? Why not a Poise pad?

    theantichick replied to TryVeganToday's topic in General Nursing

    Probably TMI, but I had to have a cardiac cath for an ablation, and during my 6 hours flat, I could not make myself pee in the bedpan to save my life. I don't know if I could have made myself go in a pad of some sort or not, but nothing we tried cou...

13. Bedpan? Why not a Poise pad?

    theantichick replied to TryVeganToday's topic in General Nursing

    I find bedpans to be more mess than they catch. The patient's bottom is almost always wet, and if we're using a bedpan then usually they don't have the strength to stay "lifted up" for both the pan removal and drying/cleaning. And that's *IF* all o...

14. Nursing Informatics Course

    theantichick replied to paupeeh's topic in Informatics

    I am applying for an MSN at University of Chicago at Illinois. I liked what I saw about the program. Walden also has one. Both of them are completely online.

15. Transition from the Trenches back into IT

    theantichick replied to labdad1234RN's topic in Informatics

    Thanks for the encouragement. Health issues are pushing me back into the I.T. world. Wish I could move to Illinois, I'd jump at it, but alas my husband is in love with Texas. :)