kitten0509

Hi! I'm new to the Urology division and I'm doing a lot of post-robotic prostatectomy catheter removals and void trials. I'm wondering what practice method you use to fill the bladder and then pull foley and void. I'm trying to establish which method works for me, I've seen a few different methods, but I'm getting a lot of bladder spasms, patient discomfort and I'm really not able to instill much more than 100cc. thanks!

I've always diluted per pharmacy guidelines for my 13 years of nursing.

All excellent questions! the PACU is in another level 1 trauma center, so similar to the one I work in now, thought I'd be going from the city to the community- still.a teaching hospital though. There would definitely be other nurses working. I'm assuming it does take ICU overflow with the covid situation, but I don't think its like the ED where I could have 2 or 3 ICU patients with no beds in sight, but traumas, cardiac arrests, strokes, chest pains, etc are still coming in on top of that. That's what it getting me- the unpredictability and the constant influx of cases. I only have critical care experience to the degree that we see in the ED, I've never worked inside the ICU- although I did precept there so I'm familiar with how they run. Does this help?

Please see my previous post for more details. Long story short, I'm an RN of 12+ years experience, most recently 4+ years in ED of level 1 trauma center. I'm burnt out after the last year, working day/night rotation (every two weeks) with two young school age kids at home. Looking for a change, something less stressful that leaves me with less "fight or flight" response. I applied for a 20 hour evening PACU position. Thoughts on whether or not this will be a good transition, or just a new source of stress? Thanks in advance!

Any thoughts about PACU??? I just found and applied to a 20 hour position, evenings. This would be the minimum I could work, still maintain benefits, come off nights. Would this be less of a stressor you think?

Thanks for the advice so far. I can clarify a few things. I'm on Levothyroxine and Vitamin D supplements and seeing an endocrinologist already for my health. Yes, I'm overweight and have poor energy/fatigue. This is part of the problem. The day/night rotation is also part of the problem, its taking me longer and longer to recover from night shift as time goes on. Working days would help with the problems from nights, but it won't help with the acuity and never knowing whats rolling in the door, which in the ED- happens at all times of day. I'm in counseling for myself to help with anxiety, work life balance, parenting and my health as well as couples counseling to help with work/life balance, parenting and anxiety around the political climate. My work environment is not toxic, in fact, I get along very well with management and they're extremely supportive. But working in a level 1 trauma ED, I have to be ready at any moment for a cardiac arrest, stroke (or 3), falls, MVC, gunshot, broken toe, COVID PNA, or any and all of the above to roll in one after another, at any moment. Then, when I get home, my girls want my immediate attention, they want to eat dinner with me (read: eat my dinner) or I have to go to sleep- and as soon as I wake up, they want my attention. Or I have to sit with my 6.5yo and keep her on task with her schoolwork (non-school days), or my 4yo is asking me to play with her because she doesn't have enough social/emotional stimulation from kids her own age because of COVID. So- something has to give. I can't give my family or myself the mental energy they deserve, and ultimately I put myself last- and my health and weight are suffering as a result. As stated, I'm in therapy for this already. I'm literally doing every.thing.I.can. to help sort these things- and something has to go. As someone recommended, my fiance could put the girls on his insurance (he's their dad), so I don't think that would be an issue with per diem. I would just have to figure out insurance for myself. I don't think I can stay in the ED for another 2 years, we're getting married in 2022. We've also been together for 11 years, so I'm not really sure that waiting until we get married would make sense here. The only reason he works part time is because it allows flexibility in his schedule for me to work long shifts and pick up extra if I choose, since I make more money than he does. It really makes more sense for me to be the one who works more hours since I have the ability to make more money- unless he wants to put himself through college and go on some type of professional/career exploration at this time, which he doesn't, and neither do it (want him to). I don't know. I'm not trying to come up with excuses for not staying doing what I'm doing, but I am trying to figure out what to do that would keep my schedule flexible and allow me to keep making good money, in order to achieve the balance I'm looking for. Happy to entertain more thoughts/ideas on this!

Hi everyone, RN of 13 years here. I’m employed part time (24 hours/week- day/night every 2 week rotation) in the ED and I’m burnt out. I need to get out of my perpetual “fight or flight” state and relieve some stress somewhere so I can once again be emotionally and mentally present for my family. I’ve been in the ED 5 years, med/surg tele for 8 years before that. I have a 6.5 and 4 yo at home doing hybrid/part time preschool. This year has exhausted me and I’m very strongly considering taking a per diem vaccination job locally. I’ve never relied on JUST per diem, and I’ve always had a reliable benefits package (health insurance for me and my girls, 401K, etc). I do think this would likely be a temporary move- maybe 6months-1 year, my fiancé works part time during the week and his schedule is made around my current schedule at the hospital. I’m very, very tempted to take this position. Thoughts, feelings and opinions please!

Hi! Looking for pros/cons from nurses who have made the transition to GI nursing. I am shadowing next week in the Advanced Endo Unit, I have already interviewed. It's a busy Level 1 trauma center, I currently work in the ED, and have a 4 and 6yo at home. Pros: potentially less stress due to nature of ED vs. procedural area. Hours 10a-630p 4x shifts/week, with 2 of those being late call until last case is finished. No nights/holidays/weekends. I would pay less for benefits with increase in hours. Potential for salary increase if negotiation is allowed. Cons: Would be forced increase in hours, decreasing flexibility to work extra at my convenience. Fiance works mostly during the week, and around my current schedule, so we would likely have to hire someone for school pickups/babysitting to supplement, or he may have to seek alternate employment (works part time and self-employed, so moderate flexibility). Right now I work a lot of weekend shifts. Not sure I can negotiate for higher salary as this would be a lateral move, but I plan to ask. Fiance would have more nightly duties with kids (dinner prep, bedtime- generally stressful for either of us to do alone). Less days of during the actual week. I'm less stressed about the nature of the work itself, and thinking more about the work/life balance. Although, I do worry sometimes that it might not be the career change I'm looking for as I don't know a ton about it. But, I have 8 years MS-tele, and 5 years ED experience, so theres that!. thanks in advance for any advice!!

I'm following this thread, I also work in the ED (5 years) and will be shadowing in the advanced endoscopy unit next week. I've been wondering about this transition as well- I made a pros and cons list. I'll be increasing my hours from 24/week to 32/week, but I won't have to do nights, holidays or weekends anymore. I'm just hoping for something less stressful. Fingers crossed it is what I think it is! I guess I'll find out :)

I've been a nurse 8 years. Recently transferred from doing MS/tele (more like a step down) on a very busy 20 bed unit at a level 2 trauma teaching hospital to a Level 1 Trauma Center in big city teaching hospital. I've found the transition to be ok, but I feel overwhelmed almost every shift im there, even with my preceptors help. I only have two shifts left in orientation. One thing im struggling with is the psych and less ill patients monopolizing my time. I have a psych degree but have trouble saying no. I go in to introduce myself to my new patients at 7, tell them my name and im their nurse and end up being sucked in there for 20 minutes. This is slowing me down, especially on days when the ED is bursting at the seams. I know I have to start IVs and draw blood elsewhere and get to my sicker patients... But even if I leave those pt's until last, they're out at the desk causing a scene. I'm not fast and im not efficient yet, and this bothers me. I know it's part of the learning curve. Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

I've been a med-surg/telemetry nurse for 7+ years. I want to apply for a Nurse Educator position that requires 3 years in clinical cardiology. Just trying to figure out if this qualifies me or if it would be inappropriate to apply. Thanks.

Promin, though you make a good point about there being jobs elsewhere and flexibility is key, part of the reason there are less jobs here is because hospitals are hiring from within... which means that they are benefitting their aides. Why would a unit want to hire a new grad from outside when they have an experienced aide (and believe me, aide work counts for something in a nurses' experience, imo) that they know gets along well with staff, knows the layout and systems, shows up on time and works hard? (provided all things are true..)

Hey everyone, this is mainly for Nursing students in school possibly going to be entering their last year. I am graduating in exactly 30 days. yay! I work as an aide at a major hospital in Burlington, MA (if you're from around here you know which one i mean). I got a job as an aide last June (2007) and I am now employed on my unit at this hospital. My friends, all of them, that are graduating with me cannot find a job because they didn't work as an aide (thus having their foot in the door somewhere). Just a word of advice, get your foot in the door NOW as an aide in the hospital that you want to work in when you graduate. Yes there is a nursing shortage... it doesnt matter. Read the posts on here about new grads not finding work, then having to step stone from LTC to med-surg.

A couple friends of mine are doing their preceptorships at MGH too this semester, and they told me that there is no need for nurses at this time at MGH. Crazy.

did it say the original article anywhere? I'd like to read it