ElectricHellfire

In my unit (ICU) we have no LPNs. Everyone either has a BSN or is working to get a BSN. We don't even hire LVNs anymore. It ain't easy money and postions are available but experience is required. I am not sure what to make of the male vs female comment since I am a male AND I have a beard. Nursing is a second career for me and I did get into nursing because its a steady choice. I didn't pick it because I like to clean diarrhea and vomit all day. It pays the bills. I dont know anyone who doesn't work to get paid.

Hello everyone, I am currently working in a ICU with one year of experience there. (Grad in 08) I have my BSN and generally work 3 days a week. For about the last 3 months or so I have grown increasingly disillusioned with ICU to the point of being physically ill before my shifts. I like some aspects of ICU but I find myself constantly stressed and depressed. I am seriously thinking about trying my hand at HH. I like the aspects of a changing environment rather than being stuck in a hole for 12 hours like a cage. I have experience with everything from trachs and vents to wound care and everything in between. I have a couple of questions. 1. How does the income for HH compare to Hospital? (currently about $25/hr) 2. How long are your typical days? How many days a week? 3. Is there anything I should watch out for when selecting a HH agency? Any other advice/commentary is most welcome. Thank you all in advance for your comments. Andy

I honestly feel like something is wrong with me sometimes because I am actually working all 12 hours that my shift entails while other people talk and seem to have all the time in the world to do whatever (smoke, take breaks, surf the internet etc). I've only been a nurse for one year but I still have to hustle around to get stuff done and I think I am fairly organized. Anyone else feel that way?

And as an aside, I see a lot more nurses leaving the floor entirely multiple times during the shift to go OFF CAMPUS to smoke. Appearantly nothing can be done about that either. Its much worse to be completely absent from the unit than to go in a corner to text for 20 seconds.

Like it or not, texting is here to stay. We had a rule implemented that there were to be no cell phones on the unit (ICU). It lasted about one shift. While I agree texting, while in a patient room or when other things take priotorty, is inappropriate, texting is much less obtrusive than chatting online or on the phone. I do not text often but I like having the ability to be reached immediately by my family. I have two small children and a wife that works from home. Texting is just a part of my life now and my responsibilities at home are not absolved just because I am at work. Its not going anywhere. Thats just my opinion.

Definately not the norm. Ive been doing ICU for about 8 months now and Ive not seen anyone skip a PA. That being said, the routine PA we do on the floor is not what we did in school but then again nothing much else is either. It is quick and dirty and gets the job done. Not the 30 minute long thing we did in school.

We were taught to aspirate. I do it as a rule. Better to take that extra fraction of a second than to mainline a drug thats supposed to be IM.