maddie45

What does everyone think of being put on light duty (asking OB for light duty note)? I'm 31 weeks. I work on a busy tele floor that is always short staffed. And I'm just so exhausted! I feel like I'm abandoning my co-workers. My manager has talked with me and I'm probably going to be doing admit/discharge paperwork for nurses and making follow-up dc phone calls, etc. So, I'm still contributing to my floor.... I don't know, just feeling blah....

Everyone keeps saying "pregnancy isn't a disability"... well then why do I have to apply for Short-term disability for my maternity leave and it only pays 60% of my wages, which I have to use My Own Paid Time Off hours to make up the 40%! I'm 31 weeks pregnant and have had a healthy uncomplicated pregnancy, but I asked my doctor for light duty/lifting restrictions because I just can't do it anymore. I'm miserable! I'm a hard worker and I go out of my way to help fellow co-workers when needed.... so this is my turn to ask for their help and understanding.

What does everyone think about going on light duty in the third trimester? I work on a 38 bed tele floor where we are ALWAYS short staffed... some days each nurse has 5 patients and only 1 CNA and nurses do bed changes and baths and help transfer patients, etc... So my real question is: Is 31 weeks too early to ask for light duty?

I am considering going into Home Health. Most job positings have 'previous Home health experience preferred.' Not required but preferred. I have a BSN and 2 years experience as a tele nurse. What is everyone's experiences with first applying for HH? Also, I am wondering if some could share 'emergency situation' experiences. From previous post "It is best to have some hospital experience as you are very autonomous in home health and have to make many decisions sometimes in emergency situations. You need good critical thinking ability,the hospital experience is very valuable."... examples? Thank you!

I meant if the patient has a chest tube connected to Pleur evac and wall suction and the CXR showed no pneumothorax. The doctor writes and order saying to turn suction off. Do you just turn suction off and leave suction tubing connected to suction source/wall (isn't this the same concept of clamping?) or do you need to disconnect it from the suction source/wall so that air cannot build up (chest tube still connected to Pleur evac)? I had this order at shift change and i asked the oncoming RN what we should do and they didn't know either (don't have many chest tubes on our floor). Didn't work the next day so not sure what the answer was. Also, I've found articles saying never to clamp chest tubes, but is this only if the pneumo is not resolved? Because I've also read that clamping is sometimes done for a few hours before taking out the chest tube to ensure that the pneumo will not come back once the chest tube is out???? I know that a tension pneumothorax is a risk, but only if air is still leaking into the pleural cavity?

What is the risk of the suction being off and suction tubing/air valve not open to air?

What is the risk of the suction being off and tubing not open to air?

That sounds awful! But sadly many nurses experience similar situations. I am only 1.5 years into my nursing career, but from what I've experienced I am even more motivated to do something to stop this from being accepted as 'just part of the job.' From what I remember, there were 400 or so applicants for nursing school and only 160 available spots! There is the stem of our current crisis/shortage. We need to start looking at the bigger picture. Don't just say you will go where you have better working conditions. Instead, think of ways you can best contribute to help solving this problem! Whether it be becoming a clinical instructor or going back to school to eventually teach nursing...

I've been an RN for 1.5 years on a Tele floor where we have 4-5 patients. We chart vitals/I's&O's and frequently have to do our own accuchecks, baths, meal trays, etc... It sounds cliche but after about a year you start to get the hang of it... still have many days where you don't "feel it." Just do your best and give 100%. My advice (from personal experience) take advantage of classes your hospital offers. Talk to your clinical educator! Banner health in AZ offers soooo many classes! I hope other places do the same. If they don't have these opportunities then take advantage of local conferences/seminars on cardiac topics. :redbeathe