Baboosh123

Yes, this is why it is ordered for any seizure activity. It works directly at the GABA receptors to stop the seizure.

Hi, I'm a new nurse (been working on a surgical floor for 5 months) but I thought I would give my 2 cents. Like you, I have always struggled with being shy. I have social anxiety that got better for a while in college and has taken a sharp turn downhill with this new job. Being new and feeling so stupid some times really took a toll on my self esteem. I have been having a lot of trouble as of late even getting myself to work, just thinking about how awful the night might be. I am mostly alone in a new small town and not enjoying it too much -too boring and quiet for a city gal like me! I have spent several nights wondering if I can do this work, if I am cut out for it. Even after all this, I am still pressing on and so should YOU. That desire to help people, to do the best for your patient is so important. It's the root of nursing and it is what will get you through. Trust me, those times when your patient gives you a hug or tells you that you made their day will be worth all the doubt and the stress. You will soon learn that you have to use your voice and the more you do, the easier it will be. Keep your family as your support group and any friends you have. If you don't have a therapist, it will help to have someone to talk to. (I'm going to start seeing one this week.) My point is that nursing is hard and life can be that way as well. But underneath your shyness, keep your fire going and remember what you are in it for. Remember any and all victories that you have in school (talking to a patient, building a good rapport with staff, doing a great job with skills) and don't beat yourself down if you fall or feel you are not doing as well as you should be. It takes time and practice to overcome shyness and to become a GOOD nurse. Good luck!

This thread is several months old, but I am curious as well and in the same predicament. Any one willing to answer this time around?

I would say to definitely take this job! I was in the exact situation as you almost a year ago, living in NYC where the new grad market is absolutely abysmal. I was offered a home health position with a little girl with a g-tube and central line and snatched it up because honestly - who knew how long it would take to find a job? If the job market in Mass is anything like NYC, then you will probably be waiting for a while. It's better for you to take this position instead of possibly waiting for months for a hospital job. That way, when you do land those interviews, you have nursing experience that is on your resume. I also personally consider it a way for me to get my feet wet before totally jumping into the clinical field. My two cents.

These are all really great suggestions and thoughts. Thank you everyone for your input. It's obvious to me that 1) I should go look at what mom is doing during dressing changes and 2) I think I need to talk to the doctors about this as well and bring up the suggestions said here to form some type of plan of action. And as I said before, I'm going to be ultra careful when I access her line from now on... To answer some of your questions: 1.Chloroprep is used and Mom does access the line on days I am not working. 2.She is immunosuppressed but not because she is a transplant patient. She just seems to get colds and viruses easily. 3. The line was changed and I believe is changed every time she is admitted. I wouldn't even want to imagine that this child is a victim of Munchausen by proxy...urgh. Are there any signs that I could look out for?

Well, mom is the one who does the dressing changes since she prefers it that way. But to my knowledge they are done about 3 times a week (sterile.) They also seem to be changed when wet from what I've seen. I'm never around when she is bathed, but mom is pretty good with compliance and following directions, so I can only assume she is doing a good job with that. When I ask her about it, she says she is careful. Perhaps I should try to see for myself what her technique is like? She does wear a diaper at night sometimes so perhaps I will suggest that technique to the mom. And I will be more diligent about rubbing the hub with alcohol.

Hello, I'm a pretty new nurse and I am currently doing home care nursing while I wait for this dismal economy to bounce back so I can get a hospital job. (Still holding my breath...) Anyway, I have a pediatric patient with an indwelling Broviac catheter. The child has had a lengthy history of catheter infections/other infections before I started to care for her, and I have gathered that they had been occurring about once a month! I am no expert, but that definitely seems too frequent. For the past 5 months, she has been admitted to the hospital one time, and again in early April. She also developed an infection under the care of another nurse in January. So that makes 3 hospital admissions in the past 5 months, 2 of them while being under my care. I know that central venous catheters, (especially those used for TPN administration like my patient's) get infected regularly, but are these numbers too high? Is she just prone to infection?

Yes, it helps tremendously =)

Another question: You would change that secondary tubing according to agency policy, correct? There is a standard set up in every hospital as to how often primary and secondary lines are to be changed.

Ahhh, nurse pants, you are a lifesaver! I learn best visually, so your scenario made it very clear to me . Big thank you to you and everyone else. I worry about keeping my skills current as I wait for that dream hospital job. Nine months and counting!

Thank you for the responses! So, basically, back priming is priming a secondary medication set with fluid from the primary infusion rather than fluid from the secondary medication itself. And @LouisVRN, what do you mean by "You can then spike the secondary set"? Wouldn't it already be spiked with tubing prior to all of this? Sorry if this sounds stupid, but I am genuinely confused.

Can someone explain to me what IV back priming is and when you would do it? I am a new grad RN working as a home care nurse and have been out of the clinical setting for a while. I don't recall ever back-priming anything when working with piggyback IV meds during clinical. Thank you in advance!

I am also interested in becoming a midwife in the UK, and I think all your info is correct except that I believe your credentials as a midwife in the USA would transfer to the UK.

I think it's awesome that you were able to move away and find such a great job! But, I think moving is an unrealistic option for a lot of young new grads who don't have the kind of money it takes to move...moving can be expensive lol! Especially if you've been studying for your boards and haven't worked...or haven't been able to find a non nursing job somewhere for the meantime. It's a great suggestion, if you have the money or if your family is willing to help, though.

5cats thank you for giving me some of your experiences. There might be some hope after all. I think I might visit a hospital and see if I can have a word with some nurses on the floor...or contact a nursing department and see if they can help me as well.