nickel78

I'm in my second pregnancy while working as a M/S RN. I frequently care for patients on contact Iso for MRSA C. Diff, I did refuse a TB patient during my first pregnancy. I would hope not to have to take care of anyone on droplet precautions, but the situation hasn't arisen. I'm worked until 35 weeks pregnant the first time. I could have gone a few more weeks but just didn't want to, I was tired, achy and had no patience. I'm 20 weeks pregnant know but I really need to make it working til 38 weeks this time for financial reasons. luckily Im part time now and work in a new hospital where they offer 8 hour shifts, so I might give up the 12 hour shifts once I hit the 3rd trimester

I passed!

My manager encourages all the RN's to sit for at least one certification, but it's not mandatory. I will get a 1.00/hr raise and reimbursed for the test if I pass, so that's good motivation, and the studying has been a a good review of some of the aspects of M/s nursing I don't see everyday.

any other certified Med surg RN's out there? How was the exam? Any advice on how best to prepare this last week?

dansko clogs are expensive about $120, but worth every penny!

How do you all respond to this comment from patients? I work 7a-7p busy med surg, and have baby that wakes up several times a night. I can't help being tired, but these comments irritate me,

I tried night shift on orientation for two weeks. I was an emotional mess. I got home every morning and cried, as my husband was leaving for work and I prepared to go to my dark room to sleep alone while the sun was shining. I'd rather the craziness and anxiety of days than depression:idea:

I am also a new nurse in a hospital as of May 2010. I have been off of orientation for about a month now. I work days as float RN and may be assigned to any of the 8 med-surg floors, each floor has its own specialty (ortho/cardiac/renal etc), which is very stressful, not knowing where stuff is or who to ask. There are times at work where I feel I'm struggling too, I mean like on the verge of having a melt down for the entire first 8 hours of my shift. When there are so many things to do I feel paralyzed for a moment and need to go lock myself in the bathroom. Last week I started a shift at 7am with 4 patients and then got an admission at 7:15, pt with a trach, the Stretcher was coming off the elevator before i even had time to look at the ER report, the patient gets in the room, and he has horrible loud wet rhonchi, and the room has no suction set up! i have no idea where the equipment is or how to set it up. I Asked the charge nurse she walks away says she'll be with me in a minute. Ask the manager, she tells me to ask the tech, ask the tech, she tells me to call engineering, now I'm on the verge of tears, finally another senior nurse helps me, and suction is set up 45 minutes later. AHHH, and meanwhile i had 4 other patients yet to assess other than a quick once over. Even on a typical day there is the am med pass, new orders constantly coming in , phone calls from various departments, family members, and patients who seem to take an ETERNITY to swallow one pill, I maybe get lunch at 2 or 3pm and have so much tension the food is tastless to me. I check my pulse at work, its usually 120-130 from anxiety. at home I'm 60 resting. I don't know if i can go on. The thing is I asked the manger of the float pool how I'm doing, for feedback etc... She said I'm doing fine, no complaints and some good reviews! So maybe its normal and expected to feel this way? People tell me it will get easier. I hope to god it does, I'm giving it one year, after if it doesn't get better, I WILL NOT work in a hospital any more. As far as organization, I carry only one 4 way ink pen on me, one roll of tape, alcohol swabs and flushes. If i carry anymore, my pockets become way too disorganized. I do carry a binder with dividers, one section for each patient, and in my binder a pencil case for extras pens, markers, scissors, calculators, pen lights and anything else I might need. I get to the floor at 6:30 am to take report and look up labs so by the time the other RN's arrive and things get loud in the Nursing station I'm already out on the floor doing my assessments. This helps, but even my the best laid plans are blown to hell on a regular basis!

Hi, I passed the NCLEX 7/10/10, and still no license number!

Its been a while since I did this in school but I think it is Compensated Respiratory Acidosis. The pH is in the normal range of 7.35-7.45, but its on the low end heading towards acidosis The PCO2 is too high suggesting respiratory acidosis. (Normal range for PCO2 is 35-45). However the pH is able to stay in the normal range because the HCO3, which is a base, is also elevated and is compensating for the respiratory acidosis. (Normal PHCO3 range is 22-26)

Hi, just curious if anyone else has been hired into bridge to practice program at Vassar Brothers medical Center, poughkeepsie, ny. I'm anxiously awaiting to hear if I start in June or August:)