KnitWitch ASN, RN

Emergency/Trauma

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All Content by KnitWitch

  1. KnitWitch

    Had My First Conflict With A Preceptor Today

    KnitWitch posted a topic in First Year After Licensure

    She is an excellent nurse and I would totally not mind working with her as a coworker. But as a preceptor I feel like she sort of abandoned me and hung me out to dry. We had a difficult assignment,...
  2. KnitWitch

    Passed my Boards Last Week, I got a Job...Confused

    KnitWitch replied to IloveNursing2214's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Unless you live in a place where multiple facilities are hiring new grads (and there are some out there), take the job. Look at it this way: Take the job you've been offered. If your current...
  3. KnitWitch

    Lining and labs/ hemolyzed specimens

    KnitWitch replied to psu_213's topic in Emergency

    Per our department policy, our lab techs/phleebs are supposed to do all lab draws on our patients separate from nurses starting IV sites in order to reduce hemolysis of specimens. I'm kind of...
  4. KnitWitch

    How to be competitive for a new grad program?

    KnitWitch replied to EmmyRN2B's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I'm from PA so my experiences may not translate exactly, but here's what I have learned in a tough job market (Philly metro area). Get a job as an NA/PCA/whatever on a floor with an acuity level you...
  5. KnitWitch

    You might be a night shifter if...

    KnitWitch replied to beeker's topic in General Nursing

    You occasionally find yourself stopped at a big red thing waiting for it to turn green... Until you eventually realise that "red thing" is a STOP sign and prooooooobably won't be changing color any...
  6. KnitWitch

    Lazy techs!!!!!

    KnitWitch replied to Wantoknow-rn's topic in Emergency

    Our monitors will let you cross over the vitals into our charting program. It's lovely. When it works. I have to admit I do feel a little spoiled by it, especially when it lets me sit for 30 extra...
  7. KnitWitch

    We need a bigger boat

    KnitWitch replied to emtb2rn's topic in Emergency

    We opened up one of our mothballed buildings as a flu clinic. We were recently told that the scope has been expanded to also handle some ESI 4/5 patients to take some of the stress off our...
  8. KnitWitch

    Whats your biggest pet peeve working in the ED?

    KnitWitch replied to Whts_Ur_Emergency?'s topic in Emergency

    Look, you came to see US. Whether it was for SOB or CP or Abd Pain of *** ever, you came HERE. With all your fellow compatriots with the same complaints. So if you come marching up to my desk,...
  9. KnitWitch

    Preceptor Ping Pong

    KnitWitch posted a topic in First Year After Licensure

    Earlier this year I landed my dream job in a very busy ED -- no mean feat for a new grad! After a few weeks of classroom orientation we've hit the floor to get down to the hands-on business of...
  10. KnitWitch

    Things you'd LOVE to tell coworkers...and get away with it!

    KnitWitch replied to General E. Speaking, RN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Dear ED Doc: See this orange hand sticker on my name tag? That means I AM NEW. When I ask you a question, that means I am asking because I genuinely do not know, not because I want to get in your way...
  11. KnitWitch

    Transfusing blood in an emergency situation

    KnitWitch replied to Enthused RN's topic in Emergency

    Some trauma bays stock a few units of O- blood in the bay in order to facilitate getting blood hung and transfusing rapidly in the case of a huge bleed. Blood can also be run through a rapid...
  12. KnitWitch

    BSN degree, not yet RN, can I apply as LPN?

    KnitWitch replied to lioness13's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    As previous posters have said, you cannot practice as an LPN unless you have passed the LPN board exam. However, in many places (hospitals, nursing homes etc.) you can work as a Nursing...
  13. KnitWitch

    Iguana Med Scrubs

    KnitWitch replied to EDjunkie's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    Here's a size chart for Iguana Med women's scrubs: | allheart.com Remember that these are your body measurements -- the scrubs themselves have ease built into them, so if you're on the upper end of a...
  14. KnitWitch

    OB Rotations

    KnitWitch replied to ImThatGuy's topic in General Students

    I think, "Suck it up and get your hands dirty" is going to be my motto for the rest of school. There really is no better
  15. KnitWitch

    Decisions, decisions...

    KnitWitch replied to crayons's topic in Pennsylvania Nursing

    I ultimately decided against Drexel's ACE program after talking to several people enrolled in it, as well as getting my current instructor's perspective. First, it is not cheap. $40,000 and that is...
  16. KnitWitch

    Mean nursing instructors

    KnitWitch replied to nicki123's topic in General Students

    I have learned the most from the instructors that have been the toughest on me. In my experience, my clinical instructors really lean on their students to see who cracks and who rises above. If you...
  17. KnitWitch

    Things you'd LOVE to tell coworkers...and get away with it!

    KnitWitch replied to General E. Speaking, RN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Nursing is going to be my 3rd career, so I've done a fair amount of time in the workforce. I can safely say that there isn't a single sentiment expressed here that I haven't heard in the break room,...
  18. KnitWitch

    Grieving a perinatal loss

    KnitWitch replied to Elvish's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    You've written a very good, very touching blog here that raises a lot of good points. I would, however, like to say something from the other side of the coin, as a woman who miscarried very early on...
  19. KnitWitch

    Why Do Nursing Instructors Rely So Heavily On PowerPoints To Teach?

    KnitWitch replied to SarahMaria's topic in General Students

    I did my first degree in the days when Powerpoint was just coming to prominence; that is, I had seen it used, but mostly my lectures were occupied with several fillings and erasings of the blackboard....
  20. KnitWitch

    What does your username mean?

    KnitWitch replied to LifesAJourney's topic in Nursing Humor

    Knitting is my favorite hobby and I usually carry at least one project with me at all times. The "witch" is because I'm a pagan tarot card reading magic worker who believes in the power of positive...
  21. KnitWitch

    How Do Nurses Do It?

    KnitWitch posted a topic in General Students

    I'm in my first semester of clinical courses (after working on getting accepted to my ASN nursing program for a year and a half). Right now we're in a transitional care unit that deals with patients...
  22. KnitWitch

    MC3 students

    KnitWitch replied to kr74079's topic in Pennsylvania Nursing

    Hey Cazach! The points range each semester is different for each semester. I pulled out my acceptance letter for Fall 2010 (I'm in 110 now and loving it!) for reference. For fall semester, students...
  23. KnitWitch

    Drexel University ACE Spring 2011

    KnitWitch replied to PacoUSA's topic in Pennsylvania Nursing

    I ended up turning down the Drexel program. I think I've really found a home in my little ADN nursing program. I think I'll get more bedside experience and more individual attention here than I...
  24. KnitWitch

    Bipolar and going into nursing

    KnitWitch replied to PghRN30's topic in General Nursing

    This is totally based on my own experience, so you may want to check in with the director of nursing studies at your school. To the best of my knowledge you are not required to disclose your mental...
  25. KnitWitch

    My feet hurt!

    KnitWitch replied to mo54's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    I have a pair of Avia AviMotion toning sneakers that I wear. As someone mentioned, they don't do a thing for the shape of my butt but they DO change the way I stand and walk. Not only do my feet...