gest1971

Hi all! I am currently looking for reviews from critical care bedside nurses on which CRRT machine they use and if they like it. We are currentl using the Nx Stage machine and are finding it to be extremely challenging, even for my best nurses. It is not intuitive at all and is very frustrating to use. I want to find the machine out there that is easiest to use. We are all busy and shouldn't have to be forced to work with a machine that makes life harder! Thank you! I love you, you awesome nerds! gina (Massachusetts)

The whole situation is redonkulous!! If she calls out sick, so be it. If there is a pattern or suspicion that it was not a real sick call, then the DON/ manager should handle that descretely without having the rest of the staff involved in an employees personel matters. She definitely should have been spoken to for yelling at you, but then again, if I call out sick, I'm not coming in. I don't need to tell you the nature of my illness, my doctor's name or anything unless it is an extended absence. Then I would bring a doctor's note to my DON. NOT for everyone else to read. GEEEEEZZZZ! I had to call out one night because a tree fell on my house, car, etc. It landed on my babies' bedroom while they were sleeping. Needless to say we were all pretty rattled. I had no phone, power, or anything since the tree took out the power lines, etc. The charge nurse said to me, "oh well, you can come in for 11 o'clock, okay?" I said to her, " I don't even know where my family will sleep tonight (since we were without heat), so um..... NO, I will not be in at 11. Thanks for the offer." I think more information is worse sometimes. It's like they think you are asking them for their opinion. No, it's a statment. I WON"T BE IN. Simple. I have been a charge nurse and always remember that situation and always said to the person, feel better and left it at that. I know it sucks working short. We have all done it. But that is not the way to handle it. Sorry for the book. :igtsyt: Just my take on it

Hi, I am an AIC alumni. I can say that the clinicals are very important in an undergrad nursing program. AIC's were very good and prepared me well for the real world. I have worked with some fantastic associate's nurses, but I think they have less opportunities for clinical experience due to the shorter program. I don't know much about the pass/ fail rates. I have never followed them. I truly feel that you get out of the program, what you put into it. Always keep the lines of communication open with the professors and make school your number one priority and you will do well. :grad: Best of luck!

Hi there, I successfully did nights for 11 years and just went to days last year. I have a few tips, the one that I didn't see anyone mention is stay hydrated! I always felt "hung over" and dehydrated in the morning after. I would get as much uninterupted sleep as possible and drink plenty of water. Stop at around 2am so your not up to the bathroom all day when you should be sleeping. This really helped me. I would walk in the am, come home, shower and go to bed. No eating anything big. On my days off, I would go to bed around 9pm and get up at 8 or so. I did 3 12 hour shifts. I would try to do them in a row and give myself 3 or 4 days to get back to normal. It is difficult. I realize now how much better I feel on days, but I miss the flexibility of nights and how well it worked for my kids. I am actually looking to go back to nights now. Crazy girl! Good luck!

I belonged to a unionized hospital right out of nursing school. Granted this was over 10 years ago, but I remember them ( including the hospital) telling me that my membership was most definitley contingient on my paying union dues. The union was horrible and did nothing for us. One step forward, three steps back kind of thing. I have since left and work for the other, larger, nonunion hospital in our area and love it. It is run on performance evaluation process. If you want more money, earn it. I don't miss the union nurses with all the seniority in the world who would call out and not work when there and get the same if not better raise than everyone else! I paid somewhere around 12 dollars per pay week for my dues and lost healthcare coverage, we had layoffs with job bumping almost anually, amongst other things. Unions are not what they are cracked up to be. Not around here anyway! Good luck to you! :icon_roll

What schools are out your way? I am in Massachusetts.

I have had a great experience in out CICU. I was charge, did code team for the hospital, Rapid Response Team, and participated in many a cardiac surgical emergency. I have applied to the ER because I want different experiences, not more of the same. I was told they prefer ER experience. I guess I am bummed because I thought my 10 years of critical care experience would help me out a bit. I am in Massachusett. I applied to UMASS for NP school Won't hear for a while. But I really want to be working back at the bedside (preferrably nights) when school starts.

Thank you soooo much! I do think it would be a good thing for me. I just need to get over my anxiety and jump in. As I get older, it gets harder to get myself to try new things, so this is just one more of those things I guess. Again, thanks!

Hi all, I am a CCRN-CSC who worked in our CICU for 8 years and left due to issues on my unit (staff, management, etc). I have spent the last year and a half doing clinical research. This is not for me. Good experience and all, but not my cup of tea. Anyway, the CICU is still having issues and I just applied to NP school. So I am thinking of applying to the ER for more experience, but I am really nervous, expecially about the kids. I have 10 years of critical care experience, none of it pedi. My question is, has anyone else out there done this? Is it a good move for school? Will I be okay with the kids? This is a really busy ER at a level 1 trauma center. They see it all. It could be a great experience. I love cardiac, especially cardiac surgery, but I crave something new. Please give me your thoughts. I really appreciate it!