aussiemom

My patient, just the other day, called me over to her chair during her dialysis treatment. She complained of having "terrible gas". The 'bowel sounds" were loud and audible without a stethoscope. I went through the usual litany of questions regarding...

I appreciate you taking initiative in clinicals and grabbing interesting opportunities for yourself. This will strengthen your knowledge base and practice. However, I suggest that you not "tell the nurse what to do" while you are on the unit. Maybe I...

Please, when you have an observation day or working day on a specialty unit, please don't act bored with what I am telling you. I have worked hard for the knowledge I have attained and I truly do enjoy sharing it- so please don't act like you know it...

In my purse: Ipod touch, cell phone, wallet, lip balm, feminine products, ibuprofen In my locker: Binders for various committees, assorted paperwork, stethoscope, bandage scissors, BP cuff In my lunchbag: yogurt, frozen diet meals, granola bars, poss...

My unit offers opportunities to care for chronic as well as acute patients. Caring for the acute patients from the floors, as well as those in the ICU, gives me exposure to med-surg as well as critical care environments. She may be able to float to o...

Get to a store that can fit you properly for your Danskos. I must have tried on 6-8 pairs of the SAME size shoe, and none of them fit the same due to being handmade. If one shoe fit, the other didn't. Find a local place that will let you switch shoes...

Thanks, I needed this right now after a run of some hard times lately. Hopefully, I can take what I have learned from them and be a stronger, more resillient nurse.

Epoetin, Zemplar, Ferrlecit, vancomycin, heparin

I'm a new grad with 7 months experience, and I'm feeling frustrated. Maybe someone could provide me with some insight on this situation. I have a great fit with my unit, for the most part. I get along well with the other nurses, our nephrologists, an...

Wise move sending a thank you card! I sent one as well following the interview I had with my current department. My manager still mentions the fact that I sent a card, and how much that impressed her. You will stand out as a gracious, thoughtful, and...

I love both my Dickies and Grey's pants- they have drawstring as well as an elastic waist, so you get the best of both worlds Grey's pants run a little long so if you are vertically challenged like myself, consider hemming them (or get taller shoes)...

I'm not sure if I've mentioned epocrates for Ipod before...it's free and you can download it right onto your Ipod touch. I use this in my daily practice as a RN to look up meds my patients take, and it would have been infinitely helpful as a student....

I'm a "mom" to my Australian Shepherd puppy

Appearance is part of projecting a professional image, so you're wise to consider what's realistic while still being attractive. I wear a little makeup to work, about the same as I would apply on my casual days off. Light foundation, mascara, a littl...

I started in dialysis straight out of school (approx. 6 months ago), and I enjoy my work. Starting as a new grad anywhere is tough, but dialysis is challenging as a specialty. There is a great deal of technical knowledge you will need to acquire abou...

I am still edgy at 6 months! The good news is that I'm not as utterly terrified as I was when I first started, and either will you. Make your charge nurse earn his or her keep. Utilize them as well as your preceptors, and your other co-workers as we...

You get really excited when your renal patients tell you they can urinate and how much. You grab your stethoscope when hubby is sick to check his lung sounds, then toss it back around your neck like you're at work. Did this just the other night.

I too was in an accelerated BSN program with no prior health care experience, per se. I had some related experience, but nothing like being in a hospital. Give yourself time to become used to the environment and the pace. Do not compare yourself and ...

Staff on our unit last year purchased matching "Happy Halloween" t-shirts with festive skeletons on them. We decorate seasonally, and our patients enjoy the warm atmosphere. Though we take seriously what we do, we try to keep the mood light.

Hi everyone, I'm sure this topic has played itself out many times in this forum but it seems appropriate to ask for some guidance and reassurance here. I hate to put this on my co-workers, because we're all in the same very busy boat together. I'm a...

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughtful replies to my dilemma! I appreciate having some concrete, tangible ways to manage my anxiety and uncertainty regarding my practice. This will definitely ground me and rein in my free-floating anxiety, and give...

Mine did as well. The blue screen of death is terrifying! You probably did fantastic, though, if you got those results on Kaplan. I also did Kaplan and bought an additional set of flashcards. The waiting is the worst part, but don't make yourself cra...

I agree with what previous posters have said. Now that the shoe is on the other foot and I'm in the RN role instead of student role, I understand more now why the RNs with whom I was paired often didn't have time to talk me through everything they we...

Do the whole Kaplan course. Definitely. Reschedule your boards, bite the bullet, and take the whole thing. It will be better for your career in the long term. Plus, they guarantee that you will pass the first time or you get your money back. I went t...

I also used the Kaplan course, which was required by my program. Passed first time in 75 questions! Was definitely a scary experience, but Kaplan teaches you how to reason through questions even if you're not 100% solid on the content. I went through...