ChipNurse

I will be starting Akron's rn to bsn program this summer and was wondering if anyone has been through their program? I was hoping for some details on how their program works. Thanks!

I started in the SICU as a "baby" nurse and have managed just fine. I did work as a tech in the hospital system, so I was familiar with the charting system and did a practicum in the SICU within the same hospital system, so that may have helped as w...

You need to advocate for your patient. Like others have said about the Heparin, ask your pharmacist to clarify. In terms of the aid, just tell her that you use a new washcloth for each body section. She may not know.

It is very possible for new grads to be successful in a specialty fresh out of nursing school. However, I do not think this is recommended for ALL new grads. I think the new grads that do fine are those who went to a good nursing school (adequate amo...

I have only seen one nurse write in the 3rd person and it weirded me out big time? I was never taught to do that in school. It seems strange and unnecessary.

I only want basic info from ER... why are they being admitted, pertinent PMHx, Baseline mental status, current vitals, Fluids, what you did for them (lasix, fluid bolus, blood, etc), did they get any scans, what labs were sent already, what was repla...

As a new grad it is normal to feel overwhelmed by the "tasky" things like starting IVs, inserting NGTs, foleys, etc. You will get help in orientation. Do not be afraid to tell your preceptor what you need help with. She will find you the experience. ...

We use mcg/min without weight. Order is usually 2-40 mcg/min and titrate to MAP > 65 mmHg. If the MAP was 40, then I would crank it up as the flow rate would be higher and the pressor would reach the pt faster, once my MAP was about 55, I would s...

I work ICU and I don't get as many people who are complaining about trivial matters. However, it does happen more often than you would think. If you do go into ICU, be prepared for family members who can become quite difficult.

I would be living paycheck to paycheck if I spent $3000 per month

I prefer a man just because the men who perform my PAP is usually more gently whereas the women who have done my exam were a little more rough...

Yeah... where I work, the docs do not even listen to the patient as we listen to them frequently and are expected to report changes...

I started in the ICU as a new grad, but I did do a 200 hour practicum one on one in an ICU within the same hospital system, so I was already used to the patient population, policies, and charting system. I think there are many new grads that can hand...

Couldn't agree more with staying ahead on your charting. I always tell newbies that you have to stay on top of your meds and charting because it's when you slack that your patient starts to crump and then you're in real trouble...

So should female nurses not cath male patients?? Inserting a catheter is not sexual and most women do not feel uncomfortable with a man putting one in if they are professional and have good bedside manner. There are special circumstances ie: Muslim w...

We get liver transplant, multi visceral transplant, bowel transplant, occassionally kidney transplant. We have had 2 face transplants as well. We get anything surgical (other than cardiovascular) that gets sick. We see a lot of pneumonia, sepsis, afi...

I just wanted to give an update for anyone who is interested in U of Akron for RN to BSN program. I just started the program and already I can say that it is a very good program. So far in the first class (I am taking online and it is 10 weeks), ther...

If a policy isn't in place to check and label IV tubings, then maybe you can work to get a policy in writing. It would be hard to verify that nurses are tracing lines, but maybe create an auditing system for checking that IV bags and tubings are labe...

I work in SICU and I would highly recommend. The cardiovascular ICU have a reputation for being a hard place to work (difficult docs/ hard personalities). The SICU has great staffing, awesome management and we have docs in unit 24/7...it's a great pl...

Yes, liberal visitation is beneficial for the patient and the family, but many family members feel it necessary to never leave the patient's side and take care of themselves. I have literally seen family members who don't go to the bathroom or eat fo...

I would worry about getting through nursing school before you even think about CRNA school. You need 2 years experience as an RN in the ICU even to be considered for CRNA school, plus some schools require CCRN certification as well. CRNA schools ar...

Neuro ICU is a notoriously depressing environment. I would try a different ICU. Surgical is nice as they typically get acutely I'll but then better. MICU sees more chronic disease processes with repeat admissions. There is more sitting and monitoring...

I wish every code ran like this..

I work in ICU but before the patient leaves, we take the Foley out. If the doc orders Lasix before patient is due to be transferred, I wait until I give the Lasix, they diurese and then take it out and then ship them out :) oh and if a doc orders t...

Drip concentrations.... we get different concentration when the pt comes up from OR that are different that what we stock/mix on the floor. I once had a very unstable patient on 3 pressors, one of which was signed off by the previous nurse as a certa...