Deb123j

After a loooong night shift, I spend the day dreaming about work. I wake up to find that I was just dreaming, then I realize I still have to go and work another shift! Nothin like working 36 hours in a row!!! :)

I love it when they are tatooed (is that a word???) all over and state that they are afraid of needles. REALLY???

:eek::eek::eek::eek:.:eek:!!!

When I worked on the floor I would sometimes have this same situation. My hospital is a total no-smoking hospital, family members/patients have to cross the street across from the hospital to smoke. I work 7p-7a, during this time patients are not allowed to leave the floors, only from 1000-1800. When I pass along this information to some patients they continue to insist that they are going to go smoke. I let them know that, although they are adults, this is our policy and if they do leave I will contact security and they will be brought back. Most patients will comply, however there are a few who sneak out (some return others not) or leave AMA. For all who c/o the need to smoke, I off to get a nicotine patch, however most don't want it. HTH

Intubated and sedated patients!!! Oh and after the family has gone home for the night! LOVE IT!!!

UGH! I just got back from vacation!!! And my kids LOVE the library!!!

I have been on both sides. A floor nurse for 3 1/2 yrs and in ICU for 1/2 year. I had a patient with some mild issues, called the hospitalist and he demanded I send the patient to the ICU. I can't remember specifics, but this was totally unnecessary! I spoke with my charge nurse, who spoke with the administrative officer, who spoke with the doctor. He still wanted to patient to go to the ICU. *I believe this was the last open ICU bed in a very large hospital* The administrative officer wanted me to give it another try with the doctor, so when he called me with a question I asked, "Do you REALLY want me to send this patient to our only ICU bed for xyz problems???" He recanted, the patient stayed and was fine. I agree with the comment from somebody else that stated that some docs just don't trust floor nurses and think the patient will get better care in ICU. 　 　 　

At my hospital they don't have psych nurses float to floors to work. The only thing they can do is be a sitter with patients. Don't know why???

I totally agree c the OP!!! I don't care how much $ it costs when you are talking about peoples lives! We are talking about hospitals here!!! I have worked trauma and now ICU, in both units we have everything we might need...just in case. There was a young woman on another unit who vomited, aspirated and they had NO suction in the room. Not a very pretty outcome. Our trauma docs REFUSE to send patients to that unit now, even if the trauma unit is full.

Try the following website: icufaqs.org It's awesome!!!

I believe that this is TOTALLY ok!!!

I can assure you that I wouldn't be in tears! And your family member would still not be in bed c you. But I'm sure if the manager was called she/he would make it totally alright, because we all know that the "customer" is always right and we do whatever they want. As far as a pt having rights...it is a HOSPITAL not a HOTEL!

I am totally shocked with all of your responses!!!!! When I see somebody in a pts bed, I kick them out and state not to do it again. If they repeat the behavior I kick them out of the room. This is not a hotel (like so many people believe), the pt is there to get well not to cuddle or have sex in their hospital bed. On the other hand, end of life and children are a totally different story.

Well darn...I better just start living at the hospital!

Good Grief!!!! Some people have entirely too much time on their hands if they are bashing nurses who chew gum! :smackingf Would you all like some cheese c that whine???:vlin:

So...I'm a newly transferred MICU RN from a trauma unit. I have a TON of things that I have to learn, computer coorifices and all. I'm trying to also learn some of the major gtts that are used on my new floor. I have a list of the gtts that I want to learn, but am unsure of exactly what/how much I need to know for each. For example: Levophed Action: vasopressor - dilates coronary arteries more than twice as much as epi. Dosage: 8-12 mcg/min initially; then adjust 2-4 mcg/min to maintain desired BP. Assessment: check BP q2m until BP stabled then check q5m Precautions: can casue severe tissue necrosis (blanching along vein pathway) I have a pretty good IV drug book to get information out of, but I want to make sure that I know enough, but not too much (my brain can only hold so much into info at one time!) Thanks in advance for any assitance! :redpinkhe

I found out I was pregnant during orientation. I did 36hr nights throughout my pregnancy. I did fine! There are some younger nurses who did the same, but complained the last few months of their pregnancies. It's totally doable! Good luck!

I'm getting ready to start Ohio University's program. It's a little less than 8K. Only 12 classes, 5 weeks a piece. Heard it's not too bad.

Why is tube feed vanilla flavored?

Thanks for your responses! I never thought about trying to do a trial download of word. Anyways...I purchased the book from the icufaqs.org web site. My oh my...it has a lot of wonderful information in it! I'm going to try to get through it before I start my orientation. :) WSU_Ally_RN - I don't know why my works won't convert things, it tries but then fails. I'm definately going to have to get word before I start my online bsn program!

At my hospital we USED to have 10,000 units/1mL bottles. However they have switched to 5,000 units/1mL bottles. As others have stated, chech your bottle!

On Tues my pts was maxed on neo and was desperate for levo! None in the whole hospital! SUCKS!!!

Is it weird that I'm eating ice cream while watching this and it does't bother me??? lol

So...I've been working on a trauma unit (not ER) for the past three years. I have floated to ICU several times with mostly good experiences (except last night...looooong story ), they almost always give the floats the easy pts. Anyways, I just accepted a position in our MICU. I have anywhere between 2-6 weeks before I will start my new position and am planning on doing some studying before I start the 3 month orientation process. There are a couple of books I've noticed that have great reviews that I'm going to purchase but am also wanting to find some good web sites. The only one I've seen people mention on here is icufaqs.org, but unfortunately since I have microsoft works instead of word, I am unable to open anything up from this web site. Are there any other good MICU/ICU web sites that you know of? Also, any other tips that you can share would be totally appreciated for my transition!

Where I work, nurses pull PICC's, but don't place them. A special PICC team places all PICC's. HTH