SwimNurseRun

I started off with the Littman lightweight an had trouble hearing heart murmurs or diminished lungs. I shopped around online to find a good deal on the Littman Master Classic II and I LOVE IT!! I never have a problem or question with what type of lu...

Being educated and knowing what to expect is the best way to have a great experience with natural childbirths. Staying mentally in control is key. You go girl!!!

Even coming to postpartum or l&d as an experienced nurse can be challenging and stressful. All nursing is HARD in the beginning but stick with it and it will get better and better!!

Best: A unit of triage, emergency, OR, and one on one intimate patient care experiencing miracles every day with the BEST patient population in nursing! Worst: Stillbirths/fetal demise, stress, liability and q15m+ charting. Okay, that was a few thi...

I used to cry every time I would see a birth, tv or not, c-section or vaginal, and I was the only one in the room crying like a baby in nursing school the first time I saw a birth in person. I almost think this is an indication you know this is an ar...

I think that it is relative to ACLS training in med/surg... It is important to have the training and understand what to expect when running a code. Maybe in emergencies you would be the one to get things started before the doctor gets there, but doc...

10+ years to get a day shift schedule???? Wow that seems extreme! Most of the nurses on my l&d unit rotate 12 weeks on days, 6 weeks nights with the exception of the people that prefer straight night shift. That might be true at your facility, bu...

The L&D unit I just started on is still hiring and I've noticed some things my unit director has mentioned about the people she has interviewed since. She said anyone can learn the skills required for the job, but the main thing is a personality ...

This is ironic for me because i am a 2 year tele nurse who just applied to an L&D position, and had the same fears! Even though i was very nervous to talk to my boss about it, my family assured me it was the ethical thing to do when applying for ...

Dont feel like you are the first person to ever feel this way about report! It will definitely get better with time. If you have a set line to "break the ice" with every report you start, it gets your nerves settled. "mr. _____ is a ____ year old pat...

Whenever i need to put lotion on a patients dry feet or itchy back, i work in a little massage time. Less awkward feeling than, "would you like me to massage your shoulders now?" ya know?

12 hour shifts = less handoffs of report where information can be forgotten or misinterpreted. 2 nurses taking care of the patient in 24 hours gives more continuity for the patients, too. If you come back multiple days in a row and have the same p...

Optimism. If I tell myself I'm going to have an easygoing day, great patients, steady but not chaotic, I'm going to have a great day and remember why I wanted to become a nurse in the first place. This can tend to backfire when we're short-staffed, ...

I love this post! I will try to keep all of these in mind as I work tomorrow on Thanksgiving! :hrnsmlys:

I can definitely empathize with you, charlie8025. I work on a telelmetry floor with 5-6 patients and find myself stressed out many of my shifts. It is especially hard worrying about coming back the next day after a long hard shift. Something that ...

I have a coworker that only had "RN" on her badge and an old senile patient made some sort of comment like, "You're just an associate degree nurse!" That comment even got ME heated, I can't imagine how she felt. (Even though she's one of the best nur...

Any thread that involves politics or faith is bound to get a little heated... But even though I am Catholic and work in a Catholic hospital, I know that not all of our patients are Catholic. I incorporate my faith in my decisions every day and how I ...

I am a new grad that has been on my own for almost two months now on a telemetry floor, with a 5:1 patient ratio on the day shift. Of course there are many things that I am learning every day, and I feel that I am getting the hang of the routine task...

I am already finding the truth in that charge nurses range in leadership styles and strengths, haha. Still always a good resource, nonetheless. But thanks for the reassurance, everyone! I agree that I just need to get that first code/RRT call under m...

Hide under a rock for the rest of your life?? Quit??? Don't be so hard on yourself! Making mistakes is NORMAL. Sometimes that is how you learn. I PROMISE that you will make more in the future. Even the most experienced nurses forget things from ti...

I'm sure that you are nervous about starting orientation and are filling up your day with doing something productive... we nurses LOVE organization! BUT just wait until you come home from a 12 hour shift and you drop your bag, coat, and clothes on ...

I am a new grad just starting orientation at my first job. Here are my tips: -I had a new definition of what "studying" was every semester, even all the way up to NCLEX. Hey, you really need to READ the chapters! Even highlight and maybe read agai...