applewhitern BSN, RN

ICU

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All Content by applewhitern

  1. applewhitern

    Pharmacology

    applewhitern replied to KSjo88's topic in General Students

    You would have already failed if you had been in my class. We had to make 84 or above on every test, except any math test, which we had to make 90 or above on. Anything less and you were...
  2. applewhitern

    BSN or Biology

    applewhitern replied to allie127's topic in General Nursing

    If you don't get into medical school, you could consider becoming a psychologist. Or, since you are obviously not intimidated by numerous science classes, maybe consider becoming a physician's...
  3. applewhitern

    Hs senior in need of advice please!

    applewhitern replied to MelaneyL's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    Just make sure the college you plan to transfer to will accept the credits you take at the community college. Some classes may not
  4. applewhitern

    Y-porting potassium IV - what's your policy?

    applewhitern replied to sarmrn's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Our potassium only comes as 20mEq/100ccNS. We don't have any 500cc bags with potassium. Sometimes we do as you suggested, and run some saline concurrently, but sometimes we add lidocaine to the...
  5. applewhitern

    Nurse tech working as RN

    applewhitern replied to esrun77's topic in General Nursing

    I wonder if the patients are told that they aren't getting a real, licensed
  6. applewhitern

    Swan-Ganz Usage

    applewhitern replied to Cvepo's topic in Critical Care

    It doesn't matter what I think, it is up to the doctors whether they put one in or not. I hate setting them up; it takes up too much of my time between getting the patient ready, and getting the...
  7. applewhitern

    Rural Nursing - How long do most nurses stay?

    applewhitern replied to frances81's topic in General Nursing

    I have worked in a rural setting twice, now, and have no problem with it. You still see a lot of the same things, you might just ship them somewhere else, but you still take care of them until you...
  8. applewhitern

    Gross Things Patients Do

    applewhitern replied to bluegeegoo2's topic in General Nursing

    I am so nauseous now, and I only read a few. I think I am going to throw
  9. applewhitern

    Calling off :-(

    applewhitern replied to gaby19's topic in General Nursing

    We don't have to find our own replacement if we call out sick, but we don't get paid sick time, either. We only get paid for sick time on the 3rd consecutive day out. So even if you have tons of...
  10. applewhitern

    Med/ surg nurse to patient ratio

    applewhitern replied to aloha16's topic in General Nursing

    Our medical-surgical floors have a 1:8 ratio. Our ICU's have
  11. applewhitern

    Insight from current nurses- do you like your jobs?

    applewhitern replied to The new nurse's topic in General Nursing

    There are plenty of hospitals that have a 1:8 ratio on their med-surg floors. Every ICU I've worked in has had a 1:3 ratio, and I worked in one ICU where I was required to take 4 patients. It seems...
  12. applewhitern

    Swan-Ganz Usage

    applewhitern replied to Cvepo's topic in Critical Care

    My previous hospital used them all the time. The cardiac and pulmonary doctors loved them. I have heard that some places don't use them that often, but this particular hospital I worked at placed...
  13. applewhitern

    If you could redo it....would you choose nursing?

    applewhitern replied to ICURNPA92's topic in General Nursing

    I haven't had a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Christmas Eve off in 13 years. I end up working every single holiday. I haven't had a raise in 4 years due to a wage freeze. I am getting more and more...
  14. applewhitern

    If you could redo it....would you choose nursing?

    applewhitern replied to ICURNPA92's topic in General Nursing

    I wish I had taken engineering like my family wanted. My brother, a chemical engineer, makes a ton of money, has lots of benefits, and is highly respected. Me, as a nurse, have a mediocre income in...
  15. applewhitern

    Online or face to face.

    applewhitern replied to Shane87's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    What are the requirements of the nursing school you plan to attend? Some will accept certain classes taken online, some won't. You won't be able to do nursing school 100% online, anyway, as you will...
  16. applewhitern

    Cant get any recommendation letters :(

    applewhitern replied to angel1312's topic in General Nursing

    It is not unusual to simply write the letter yourself and have the professor sign it. I have seen that done many, many
  17. applewhitern

    Scared that I hate nursing

    applewhitern replied to Fairyflakess's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    I've known very few people who actually liked
  18. applewhitern

    Does anyone else ever envy their patients?

    applewhitern replied to purplegal's topic in General Nursing

    Years ago when I still had young children, I worked the night shift on a busy telemetry unit. I had to drive one hour each way to get to work. Got home in the mornings to send kids off to school, try...
  19. applewhitern

    New grad vs Veteran

    applewhitern replied to mm7614's topic in First Year After Licensure

    It might be a blessing in disguise. Step-down units are very, very fast-paced, in my experience. I worked one for five years, and really never sat down. Constant admits/discharges, everybody on a...
  20. applewhitern

    Pt family pocket narcotic

    applewhitern replied to pikachu715's topic in General Nursing

    WOW. Never leave meds sitting at the bedside, especially narcotics. I don't leave the room until I have seen the patient swallow the
  21. applewhitern

    Patient complaint-freaking out!

    applewhitern replied to CrazierThanYou's topic in General Nursing

    I was suspended once, without pay, for patient abuse. Turns out, I never even had that patient. She was 94 yes old and confused. Somehow they decided it was me, and suspended me without even checking...
  22. applewhitern

    Emergency Titration Protocol ?

    applewhitern replied to Kimmy_RN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    My hospital finally had enough of TJC and quit using them. Administration decided they were tired of PAYING them to do nothing but criticize
  23. applewhitern

    Drawing blood

    applewhitern replied to MF123's topic in General Nursing

    Years ago we would use a 60cc syringe when drawing blood to discard from a sickle cell patient. We drew whatever number of cc's the doctor ordered, then discarded the blood. I don't know if that is...
  24. applewhitern

    Discrimination for being a new mom?

    applewhitern replied to Karn88's topic in General Nursing

    I understand exactly where you are coming from. That is how things are done at my facility~ discreetly and not posted. Hand-picked, so to speak. Yeah, it happens all the time
  25. applewhitern

    Have you ever been mistaken for a doctor?

    applewhitern replied to ThePrincessBride's topic in Men in Nursing

    Here in the deep south, if you are male, you are the doctor. If you are female, you are the nurse. Patients also see no difference between an actual nurse and a nursing assistant. To be fair, a lot...