deanaRN

If our kids are being fed via a button we stop feed, disconnect at the button, use a slip tip to give med, then reconnect to the feeds. If it is an NG, stop feed, flush w 5ml, then med, flush w 5ml,restart feed.

It may be the facility, not you! I am in a pediatric teaching hospital, med-surg, and my ratios are 4:1! I have more time at this job to get it all done plus teach and hold babies and and and....it really does depend on the environment. I love my job! I had time management issues in other jobs. Just keep looking!

Is it fear related? Are you hesitating or just darting it in? Had one student that I took over/redrew/gave then took her in the med room & did a little teaching. She was hesitant, which hurts & is more likely to cause pain/bleeding than just darting it in there & getting it done. After talking to her & calming her nerves she did just fine the next time.

Didn't see anything about how long until it is available, just that it has been approved. Would love to try it.

We have two orders entered on the MAR. Ex. 1 Percocet q4, and another 2 q4 -

I took a refresher a year ago. It was home based study with notebooks/videos, & multiple choice tests, followed by competency exam at the hospital. I then had to complete 80 hours of clinical. The hardest thing for me was all of the changes in technology & pharmacology from when I graduated until now. So glad I did it, no problems finding a job either.

How long have you been out? Were you not nursing at all or just not med-surg?

My hosp does med rec 3 times. Once on admission, again if there is any transfer (to/from surgery or to/from another floor) and then the 3rd at discharge. We must include as part of discharge teaching.

Thank you so muchmeownsmile! What valuable information! I completed the 5 day classroom stuff on Friday. I am feeling better about it. It looks to me like the orientation is set up to be thorough. MUCH different than what was offered when I graduated 7 years ago. I learned that it is set up like this: Day 1 each week on various units of the hospital. The goal is that by end of orientation I know where and what each unit does. Ex. 1 day on admissions, 1 in urology etc. Day 2 and 3 on the floor with the preceptor. (Saturdays and Sundays) HUGE packet of information that she should witness and sign off on each skill when I demonstrate without error. Multiple days scheduled for me to come in on my off days and attend an inservice or skills class like Diabetes, Phleb class etc. Each has a test I must pass. At 6 weeks in I take some sort of critical thinking test. If I pass I will continue with orientation for another 6 weeks. If I do NOT pass I get counseled and must pass the test at the 12 week mark or will be terminated. At 12 weeks if I have passed that test I am off orientation. Is this typical of what most large hospitals do now?

Thank you both. That makes sense about the meds. The thing I wonder about is how do they have the time or energy to worry about what someone else is doing or run them off? If the unit is crazy busy with high ratios isn't everyone busy with patients? I am pretty good at standing my own ground, but would rather I didn't have to get into what sounds like childish quarrels. I was told if the preceptor and I were not a good fit I could change. The one I am assigned to is supposed to be really good.

I graduated 7! years ago, only worked a few weeks, long story. Recently completed simple RN refresher course. New med surg job to start next week after months of looking. No one wants an old new grad. Had to pull some strings to get this job. Was told by blunt unit manager that the position was open b/c the other nurses ran previous nurse off. I am glad she was honest about it but wow. I will get 12 weeks of orientation. Told they want ratios to be 5:1, but often they are 8:1, not divided by acuity but by hallway, and that it is a crazy busy unit with tons of admits/discharges. I know I have a steep learning curve, in what may be a hostile environment. Am scouring all of the threads reading, reading, reading. Scouring books, magazines, anything I can find. I was on a similar unit for 3 shifts during the refresher. I did not see one nurse looking up meds, despite the fact that some pts had a 6 page MAR. Could they ALL possibly know all these drugs well enough to not look up anything? I am reading tons of pharm sites/books trying to learn/relearn all these meds. It has been 7 years after all! I am willing to apply myself and do the work, just worried that the zillion meds combined with the multiple iv's meds combined with my lack of knowledge will lead to error. Told to expect everything, but they get a lot of renal pts, COPD, diabetics, a few peds. I am worried, I want to put in the work to be a great but am scared I will end up looking like a Anyone else out a long time then tackling med-surg?

The course I just completed was about $300 (maybe $350?) It was hospital based. med-surg focused. The state board has links to approved refresher courses in your state.

This is what a hip clip looks like. OOPS - the link doesn't work, enter hip clip in the search box to see it. http://www.marcusuniforms.com/search.aspx?SID=1&

Also, you may not have a lot of job choices right away when you do find one. I went on lots of interviews where they said - "we really like you, but you have passed the critical 5 year mark" Be prepared for the possibility that it may take awhile to get a job. If the refresher program is offered by a hospital your chances of getting a job there may be higher there.

what about PTA's? Does anyone know what they make?

All hospitals here are desperate for techs. Just apply somewhere else. I wouldn't bring up the preceptor thing unless asked about it. Then I would stick to the "wanted a chance to learn different nursing styles" line. As a rule when references are checked (around here anyway) they just call to verify employment and to ask were you fired or would you be eligible for rehire.

I am a recent refresher - I think there are are probably quite a few of us here. Maybe we need our own forum? Anyway, check with your state board. Mine has a list of refresher programs. Contact each one, and if they tell you they can't take anyone that has been out over 5 years ask them if they know who will. Best of luck to you!

The needle wasn't anywhere but in the port of a hanging IV bag of saline, correct? Then you took off the needle, accessed the needless port to flush, then stuck your finger? All accidental sticks are "needlesticks injuries" and should be reported but I would not think this could cause any transmission...but if this is a month ago...

Crocs flip flops.

Those folding things that people put across car windshields to keep out heat do a great job of blocking light from a bedroom window, plus easy to put up/take down if the appearance of foil windows bothers you.

I didn't go into nursing for the money. I did check salaries, and do not feel bad about it at all. I discovered that I could make nearly twice as much an hour if I commute to the nearest city rather than working in my small town. That doesn't make me any less of a nurse, just a smarter one IMO.

They do that here - 2x12's Sat & Sun, one weekend off q 4 months, you get paid for 36 hours.

Been a while since I was in school but I remember a lecture or two on prostate exams. It was an ADN program.

I think that change is really difficult for some people. The "what if's" take over when we think about it. Give it some time, hopefully it won't last long and he will be back to normal.

I feel sure she knows she has it, and she is likely embarassed enough already. Just ignore it, and hope it resolves. Living with bowel problems is no fun. Embarassing her further at work by calling attention to an obvious problem could cause hurt feelings, and more work stress for both of you.