Sparrow23

Hey everyone. My friend just finished med school and will be starting her residency soon. I'm putting together a little gift for her and one of the things I wanted to do is give her a list of "survival tips" from the nursing point of view. What things would you include? (And be nice, she's one of the good ones!) Here's one to start: Don't tell the patient they are discharged at 8am when the discharge papers probably won't be done until dinner time.... Pretty please. Also open to any general gift ideas! I have a few but could always use some more! Thanks!

Keep a little vial of peppermint oil (or mint extract used for baking) with you. Place a few drops in a mask and wear that for extra-smelly tasks.

I had the same thing happen to me. Had never fainted in my life and never had a problem with any bodily fluids/surgeries/etc. Then one day boom: fainted and threw up, and then passed out again. Came to and was given juice, threw up again as soon as I got up, and promptly fainted again. Ugh. Sooo embarrassing. One thing I noticed- I felt way more susceptible to fainting after that happened, and I think a lot of it was due to anxiety over whether or not it was going to happen again. Fainted once more (watching a PICC insertion of all things... granted it was a million degrees in the pt's tiny room) but hasn't happened since, fingers crossed. Was so nervous about it happening again and felt it coming on during another procedure but was able to walk it off thank goodness. You've got some excellent tips from the other posters. The only thing I have to add is, don't psych yourself out like I did. Do whatever you can to help yourself relax and not fixate on worrying about whether or not you will faint again. Good luck!

One lil old lady (quoting a goodness-knows-how-old book): "Salt water cures cancer." So THAT'S why we give most everyone NS, eh? If only...

Am I the only one who's confused as to why the OP is passing meds as a CNA? Does this happen often?? eep... (To the OP, everyone else has summed it up nicely: nursing is hard (and dirty) but yes, rewarding in it's own way. If you are not 100% in it, then find something else before you end up regretting wasting all that time and energy on a degree you despise. Good luck with your decision, regardless.)

I really like it. When random people come up to me and ask what's going on with my pt, I can actually tell them pertinent information instead of... oh say telling the dietitian how well the pt is ambulating after mistaking them for PT, or mistaking the CHF nurse for the doctor. I can't keep track of who's who otherwise! And we look sharp!

My advice: Be the bigger person. If you feel you cannot work there, then find another place and leave with your head held high. Don't prove her right by making a big scene. You can handle this in a professional manner and still let her know that you do not appreciate all the gossiping you've been hearing. If you do talk to her, keep any anger out of it. Keep your voice calm and don't raise voices. It may be very difficult, but if you do decide to leave this place, it would be better to do so without completely burning any bridges. Give yourself a few days to think things over. It hurts when you hear thins being said about you behind your back; when you feel people have no idea who you really are. It is much better to deal with these things when the anger has subsided some. And lawyers? Really? Why on earth wound anyone want to go through all that trouble and drama? What will you gain except smug satisfaction over potentially ruining someone, whether they deserve it or not? You will become the person you hate. My

For my area, yeah, it matters. Very few of the hospitals are hiring ADNs here, and the ones that are... well, they are definitely not the nicest places to work. A friend of mine has her ADN and she is having such a hard time finding a decent place to work. The job market is sucky for everyone right now, but I'd still say it makes a difference.

Don't get rid of my self-scheduling! Ever! I love it :) Granted, out system is computerized and we can see as we schedule ourselves which days are filled up and which are understaffed, so we all try to be flexible and fill in. Works perfectly. And we can always easily swap days too. I have another job so I personally do not like working a set schedule week after week. But if I wanted to, I would just sign up for those days early, no problem!

Never has happened to me but happens to a friend quite often where she works. They usually disappear and then are brought back to the ER later on in the shift, drunk. They're A&O so more of just an extreme annoyance than anything.

8 in a row once (though one was an 8 and one a double). Wanted to die. Now I even dread going in for a 3rd day.

And I kinda wanted to smack Octo-mom upside the head for not making this choice.

I just learned this. Apparently the CHG can actually go into the bottle and kill some of the potential bacterial cultures giving false results. I can't point you in the direction of any particular studies; I was just told that some studies were showing this.

Definitely different in different places! First med-surg job was a h*!! hole of pure insanity (but loved my coworkers at least). Love the place I'm at now and it is the exact same type of med-surg floor I was on before.

And to ICUenthusiast, no offense meant with my previous post as I see you do have this disorder. I am happy that those meds have worked for you. I just really really hate those ads!