HeatherISU

I'm MSN Education in the first semester of my DNP program at Indiana State University. There are a handful of MSN eds in my cohort.

I think its a good idea to get students involved. In the hospital I work at the orderlies do compressions, but if a student is there... why not? As long as they are BLS certified. Good experience! When I was a student I once was let to do compressions (I honestly think cause this guy was practically dead anyway) and got a heartbeat back. I was so excited! Since then I've only done compressions once. I've had 2 pts code on me... I've been a nurse for 9 months. And 4 pts die on me. Both of my codes died. I heard someone else who had been a nurse for a year say that she hadn't had anyone die on her yet. I was like Oh my! Watching codes doesn't bother me too much. Its interacting with the families that gets me teary eyed. Only once have I really been affected with a code, because I had gotten to know his fam. I almost always throw in a lil prayer during a code. :)

I did my practicum in the ICU and now workin the same ICU. I would know what pressors are used (neo, dopamine, levophed)...doctors asked me this a lot and sometimes I would be racking my brain to remember what the names were. Know your sedation drugs for vented patients (versed, diprivan) and paralytics (we use nimbex). You will come across these drugs a lot and are pretty basic info you need to know! You might ask if there are a set of "Routine ICU" orders and get a copy to look over.

Thank you so much! The school I was looking at close to where I live doesn't require a GRE score. I wondered that maybe if I took it and scored high it might look better? Really hoping to hear from my advisor on advice but thank you so much!

I graduated in December, and started in the ICU 2 days after I walked commencement! I just remember them being completely generalized questions. What makes you want to be in ICU Where do you see yourself in 5 years Greatest weakness What makes you a good nurse I actually knew my interviewer, as I had done clinical there, worked in the same hospital (not in ICU though) and did my senior practicum there. I really remember her asking me "You know me. Why are you so nervous?" LOL. Because I really want this job! The "Where do you see yourself in 5 years" threw me off. I think I said something about working in this unit, and considering my MSN. To the first poster: I would mention how being an aide helped be familiar in a hospital setting, interacting with pt's, knowing the basics of direct patient care. A lot of people I graduated with ONLY had clinical experience...nothing outside! To the other poster: I would def play up your somewhat familiarity with ICU equipment... that helps. Good luck!

So I just graduated in Dec 08 with my BSN, but am already starting to get the itch to go to back for my Masters. I struggled in school and often felt like I never was going to see the light at the end of the tunnel and my GPA wasn't so great. I graduated with a 2.95. ALL of the grad programs I have looked into so far online have wanted a 3.0. So am I just out of luck? Anyone have any ideas on how to "beef up" an application to make it look more appealing? Or is it possible to take extra classes that may be needed (or not... if it bumps up the GPA!) to get a 3.0. Sorry that was a lot of questions! I just never thought I would go to grad school, but now I am really scared I might not be able to. I wrote my advisor for my undergrad but she is notorious for not answering! Any info would be great! Has anyone else dealt with this??

You guys hit it right on the head. She was intubated/sedated with propofol. (She barely responded to the versed.) Extubated in the AM. I just had one nurse that thought I was crazy and actually said that she would have drug her med cart in there to sit with her and manually wake her up from each apneic spell to avoid intubation. I didn't know Narcan ran the risk of putting the pt into seizures. Interesting.

I did my final practicum for school in the ICU that I work now. I just happened to mention it to my preceptor that I had interviewed, and I guess she went to talk to the NCMs. Must have been something good she said because I got the job before graduation! Sometimes it does pay to know people. Get your foot in the door somehow. The techs that work in the ICU know SO much, it amazes me. More than I knew as a student aide working the regular floors. And ICU tech job would definitely be an "IN" if you can find one.

I have a situation that occurred and I was wondering about alternatives that could have been explored. Late night admit 20yo F with polydrug intentional overdose on an Emergency Detention. Up from ER coming in and out of extreme agitation then lethargy. The pt would really fall asleep while talking. Apneic episodes 10-15 seconds with desats into 75%, pt remains pink. One nurse had to sternal rub her awake, and she would become agitated again. Pt received no medications other than NS in ER. No charcoal r/t pt stating took meds IV. No narcan given. (pt positive for benzos and opiates) Telephone call made to admitting doctor. I told him exactly as I have listed above. I'm still new, and I mentioned our detox policies (which are evidently for alcoholics, not ODs...which he made clear in a very annoyed manor. Oops!) He says to me... "I can't give her ativan because of her apnea. Narcan will just make her crazier. Go for a rapid sequence intubation" I wasn't expecting him to say intubation, but I wrote down the order and informed the other nurses assisting with her admission. I got some "Are you serious?!" reactions, and one nurse in particular seemed annoyed by this, as if we were intubating her instead of actually caring for her... or taking the easy way out. I asked a senior nurse who opinion I absolutely trust, and she said that intubation made sense since she was at risk for anpea/seizures with an unprotected airway. What have you seen done in these situations? Were there alternatives? Was intubation too extreme or justified? Thanks for any input. I know doctors rely heavily on our assessments given over a telephone report, so knowing a future "recommendation" for the SBAR report would be lovely.

Where are you that you cannot give morphine? I have heard nothing about it. We are still using it where I work in IN.

If you aren't happy... move on!

What is it that you were able to do? Your post is a little vague. I think that in ANY situation, its annoying when people continually brag. Ugh! Just annoying! Especially with me being new I try to be humble and just do my job the best that I can. As for me, I get embarrassed when people say I am doing a good job or get compliments. I think as a nurse you should be humble but accept compliments graciously. But hey... don't beat yourself up! If you did something good then you deserve someone to notice! (Don't we all hate it when it goes unnoticed continually!)

What does SNF mean?

Thanks for your reply. So it indicates the presences of an OLD MI. Thank you so much!

Ok. So I am gonna pull the "I'm still a bit of a newbie" card. I know what a STEMI is... what is looks like, get them to cath lab right away. But what in the world is a Non Q Wave MI? I've never seen anything change on an EKG with a Q wave that I know. What does it (the Q wave) look like in one of these?