thinwildmercury

Hi everyone! I am a newly minted, proud medical-surgical nurse. I am curious if those with some experience under their belts have any recommendations for resources that would be helpful to a newbie on the job. I know that's kind of vague so more spec...

My patients are often shocked at my age. I am 24 but I have been a nurse since I was 22 and I don't usually wear make up so I look younger than that. I do realize that in my first 6 months as a nurse I was asked my age CONSTANTLY by patients. Now I a...

ACLS is required to be a med surg RN at my hospital. Yes you can take it. I believe you have to complete a pre-test and do some studying beforehand.

Thank you for what you do! You reminded me of exactly why I became a nurse.

I did not have a plan B! Sounds kind of crazy considering how difficult it is to get into nursing schools in my area. I had many academic advisors tell me to pick a back up major or to change my major all together. Somehow, I never let that get to me...

Ditto!

Our PICC RN tells us that this is a partial occlusion which puts pt at risk of clots if not corrected. If MD has not ordered alteplase prn we are to rrequest it. It has worked for me every time. ETA: This is after trying to change the cap and reposit...

This was absolutely the best choice for me. I was 22 when I graduated nursing school and making 6 figures. What other degree can you get where you can say the same? I also love nursing. I love helping people. I love the physical skills. I love learni...

I have been feeling bad lately for thinking the same thing. It's a relief to have someone else say it lol. I love my job but it's almost embarrassing the way people treat nurses like we're this holy breed. I usually go pee when I have to and when I d...

Yep. Like I said, I'm aware of the rules of my facility. Thanks.

I, along with many of my coworkers come into work about half hour early to prepare and look up our pts. It's not about being nice to anyone but ourselves because it makes us feel more prepared. However, we would get a good talking to if we actually c...

No advice, but just know it gets better!

on me i usually have several black pens, a permanent marker, bandage scissors, my "brain sheet", alcohol swabs, a couple of saline flushes, a carpujet, pen light, wrist watch, my cell phone, work phone, and chapstick or lip gloss. If my hair is not u...

Good to know, thanks!

My least favorite nursing tasks have to be inserting ngs/dobhoffs and fingersticks. I don't know why but I haaate fingersticks.

I have to give them 4 days, including 2 weekend days per 4 week period. Also 2 holidays per year. They don't have to schedule me any of those days. I imagine it would be different depending on the facility.

I have never before even thought about my boyfriends penis and a patients penis at the same time. Two completely 100% separate things. You have nothing to worry about.

I wore business casual but no one told us anything about what to wear. When we had skills days they told us to wear scrubs. I would definitely wear scrubs if they said that's ok. Much more comfortable! lol

Lol, thank you but I see nothing wrong with my advice. It is ridiculous to be this concerned with leaving a 3 hr class 2 minutes early. OP is making her life unnecessarily difficult.

You really need to relax, college is not that serious. Leave early.

Why would that be the wrong reason to go into nursing? That's like the response you are supposed to give when someone asks you lol. I personally don't think there is a right or wrong reason. As long as you earn your degree and your license and you do...

City/State: SF Bay Area, CA Position: Inpatient RN Pay: New grad 70/hr, after one year, 78 (not including shift diff of 6-10/hr) Benefits: NONE Housing/Rent in area: 2000/mo for 2 bed 2 bath My pay is much greater than most but so is my rent :/ To ...

Don't listen to your high school counselor! You don't have to go to a 4 year school straight out of high school. Go to the 2 year school first, then you can transfer. You are going to drive your parents broke paying for that. Also don't listen to eve...

Interesting. My hospital has no policy at all on bathing pts. Other than those with central lines get a CHG bath daily. Almost all pts I have given a CHG bath to have stated they felt very clean and refreshed. Never touched a wipe with bare hands so ...

We got to choose when we registered for classes. If you had a late registration date like myself, then you just got what was left. In retrospect I got a lot more experience from being stuck wherever there was still a spot open. I ended up in 5 differ...