cakegirl

Thank You so much everyone for your kind words and support. It has really helped. You've sure shown me how all of us nurses have compassion, even towards each other when we need it. It is very much appreciated.

So I realize as a nurse this is part of the profession, but this was my first patient that died on my shift. I just needed to talk about it. I was taking care of her all week, she Pulmonary Fibrosis, and stage COPD at the young age of 55 & a DNR. I guess what gets me the most is I had just been in the room with her and resp. therapy right before the change of shift. I was pretty freaked out because when I went in she was cyanotic in her hands and face, my first time witnessing this. R.T. said it was ok she was warm and alert and this tends to happen to her when she first wakes up because she gets so anxious. So I gave her anxiety meds & she recieved her TX and I stayed & held her hand because she gets so scared. Once she was settled I told her I'd be back to check on her before I left. I gave my morning meds, the PCT emptied her foley and she had better output than she'd had in days. I walked to her room last thing before going to give report and she was sitting upright sleeping labored respirations which are her norm. When the next shift was going on rounds to do vitals they found she had passed. This was a time frame of 40 mins. I was so sad. She was going home from the hospital in a few days with Hospice her husband was just waiting for all the equipment to be delivered to their home. I felt like I should have stayed with her longer so she wouldn't have been alone. My co- workers say this is how it is and that people that sick pass in a heartbeat & thank goodness she isn't suffering anymore. I understand that but I feel like I missed something I don't know it happened so fast. Now I have to go back in tonight and I just want to keep it together. Thank you all for listening.

Hi! I worked in LTC as a new grad ADN for 8 months and I was recently hired at a hospital on a med/ surg unit. They are giving me a 8 week orientation before I go on my own. But during my interview my DON said she started off in a nusing home 30+ years ago because back then hospital jobs were hard to get for new grads as well. She said I must have developed excellent time management skills. So I think it depends on who is interviewing you as far as there opinion on LTC experience. I loved working in LTC & miss my residents everyday! :) Good luck with your job search.

Congratulations!!:) I to was just offered a Med/ Surg position and I graduated August of '09. I've been working part time in a nursing home since Dec. In the Northeast hospitals are just not hiring new grads. I too feel incredibly lucky & grateful. I think the director who interviewed me said it best when she said that she remembers being a new grad years ago & having no luck getting into a hospital and then she said " you just need someone to give you a chance to become a great nurse". I think that's how we all feel. Hopefully this is the beginning of a turn around on the job front. I wish all my fellow new grads luck in their search. Hang in there!!:) Good things do come to those who wait.

A cake decorator for 14 years.

I just purchased a wrist cuff from Omron it has a setting that will beep until you have the patients arm in the correct position for an "accurate " reading. The directions tell you the wrist has to be at the level of the heart. Working on a dementia unit I find it easier to get a wrist cuff on them then an arm cuff. Anyway I've only used it once on a patient having angina, so I can't be certain of it's accuracy yet. What I did think was neat is that it can detect an irregular heartbeat as well and last night it showed that this patients beat was irregular. I shopped around for prices and found Walmart and Walgreens had the lowest prices. I would reccomend buying one that says it's approved for medical settings not just home use. But again if you suspect anything out of the ordinary I agree with the others always go back to a manual & stethascope.

I had to take a med test after I was hired during orientation. COPD drugs, Digoxin, BP meds, well basically anything with parameters. Oh and what order you would give multiple asthma inhalers come to mind. I also have 32 residents for myself & 3 CNA's on evening shift. It's very busy but you'll learn a lot!:)

I found my nursing home job by looking up what was in my area on the internet, then I called each place and asked about any openings they had for nurses. I found two jobs this way. I work 24 hours at one facility and per diem at another to give me full- time. Good Luck. LTC may not be a hospital but I've learned a lot about disease processes & wound care & they have paid for my IV Certification as well. Plus in this economy they gave me a sign on bonus!:)

I also work on a locked Alzheimer's unit with ome resident's that can be really aggressive at times. I was told in a round about way from my preceptor that if a resident is a physical threat to other residents by regulation they wouldn't be aloud to stay at our type of locked Alzheimers facility. I was also told by management that since the residents can't control their actions due to their disease process it's not the same thing as if a non demented resident threatened or hit. I absolutely do not not agree with this! But have also been told that it isn't necessary to document specifics of any instances, just to note that the resident was given a prn for " increased agitation". I have been punched in the face by a resident and then told it really wasn't necessary to fill out an incident report! I really need my job so I've been sticking it out until something else comes along but I know exactly what you mean about the brushing of behaviors under the rug. My concern is what happens if someone really gets injured by another resident. I'd like to see what other people think too.

LOL! That's very good!

You would write a summary of the patient on your shift. If a new admit, how are they adjusting. I's & O's. Vital signs or skin issues if present. Did they refuse meds. If changes in behavior a detail description, ie combative with staff, what was your intervention & what was the outcome. If a pt refuses AM or PM care. In my facility we note if someone has vomiting or large loose stools X how many. Since it's longterm care we also note anytime someone recieves a prn & why and of course the effect. Basically you are painting a short specific picture so if someone else reads it they will know exactly what happened. When I first started I used to write my notes out first on scrap paper & reread it. That way you tend to catch whatever you may have forgotten & can rewrite it so it flows better. My first note I wrote about a resident falling was so bad it was allover the place, because I kept thinking of other things I should have included & I didn't use scrap paper first. Just take your time and read your own notes from throughout your shift and pick out what relevent info you wrote down and then include the current condition at the end of your shift ie resting comfortably in bed, or will f/u with PCP in the AM. Hope this helps!:)

I recently went through an interview with a recruiter for the O.R. some of the question were. What made me think I wanted to work in the O.R. With all the areas of nursing what is it about surgery that I find so interesting. What was my most liked/ disliked thing about nursing school. And describe myself in three words. I have another interview with the Director this week I will let you know what she asks me as well. How soon is your interview? Good luck! :)

You should be fine whatever you decide. I had 13 credit semesters with two eight hour shifts of clinical and worked 40 hours for 15 months. I still kept up my grades although family time was not as much as I would have liked ( nor my sleep :) ). There are alot of really long days and even longer nights ahead but it's worth it in the end. You just have to want it. Good luck with everything!! Nursing is a great career.

Thanks so much for all your input. Now I feel like I can relax and focus on how excited I am!!!

Hello! I will be shadowing in the O.R. tomorrow as part of applying to a new grad program. My question is if they are supplying me scrubs for the day what do I wear under them? Do I put them over my own clothes? And if so what would you recommend I wear to the hospital. I know it always cold in the O.R. so I was thinking of wearing a long sleeve t-shirt but not sure if thats allowed. I never really thought about this until today now I'm feeling stressed out I want to make a good first impression and not seem totally lost:confused:. So what would you wear? Thanks in advance.