opensesame

Look at it this way -- your patient was DEAD if you were doing CPR. You were trying to resucitate him. If it was successful, a few broken ribs are a small price to pay for having someone save your life. I had an immediate post-CABG have a V-fib a...

I had a serious surgical error occur when I was in the hospital after I had my last child during a tubal ligation. My physician took complete responsibility for it, and everybody makes mistakes, but you have to wonder why it has to be YOU. My OB/G...

You know, it might seem like this is a good situation for you to go into, but I would be pretty wary if they won't at least give you two weeks before your start date. This is pretty much the minimum as a professional standard and your new employer ...

God bless you, Leeyuh. You sound like you have been through a lot in your young life. The bare-bones basics -- a BSN is a 4-year college degree. Most if not all BSN programs require you to do one to two years of general college courses and prerequi...

Yes, I think most places do this. It's a courtesy. Float nurses usually don't know the floor as well as the regular staff and usually appreciate a somewhat lighter assignment if staffing allows. It takes them longer to find things and complete tas...

OP -- definitely get another student to help you turn. If you haven't had any information in your programs on moving/lifting patients and body mechanics, please do some research yourself on the best way to do these things. Bedside nursing is hard ...

I think doing both of those things independently could be construed as diagnosing and treating, which is out of the scope of practice of an RN (other than an APRN) in all states. I could see it being in line with practicing medicine without a licens...

Hey, this is a little off topic, but if you have to wear the white scrub pants for two years, invest in some nude/flesh-colored underwear. White panties under white pants, especially if they are thin, just makes you look like you have a giant white ...

Ain't that the truth.

Get a job -- any job you can find. Any nursing experience at all is better than nothing to a nurse recruiter. If you can't find a hospital position for 4-6-8 months or more, I can almost guarantee that LTC or clinic position is going to look bette...

You could cap the vent off. You will want to make sure this is okay according to your facility's policy. Some places I have worked this is done all the time, others say it is a big no-no. FWIW, there is little plug that is specifically meant to fi...

But didn't the OP do exactly what "Ms. Frustrating" did? It sounds to me like she went behind her and had the order changed back. Looks to me like she is handling it exactly the same way. If that is the case, I'm not sure what OP is complaining abo...

I am not a CWOCN but I have sat on my hospital-wide skincare committee for 6 years. It is my understanding that Tegaderm is generally not used anymore even for small, superficial wounds, with the rationale being that when the dressing is removed, any...

Yes, yes, yes, agree with what your nurse told you. This happens to me all the time but I work with a population that has a high incidence of CAD. I pretty regularly will pull blood with some fat stranding. The worst one I ever got was with a patie...

I think what you are more or less describing is what is called private duty nursing. You would need your own insurance. I know very little about it (I'm sure someone on here knows more or has worked in this capacity). Is there some reason why you w...

My hospital does not offer CRRT in any of our ICUs. It isn't that large of a facility (?300 beds) but I thought this was more or less a modern standard of available care. We have traditional dialysis and aquapheresis, but no CRRT. Do any of your ...

If your parents are going to cover your costs, do the BSN. It will benefit you in the long run. That semester of chemistry will be long behind you before you know it. Some ADN nurses plan on going back to do their BSN, and then never do. It can ...

I share your frustration. I work in a different setting but we just had probably 1/3 of our staff retire and they were all replaced with less experienced people. Thankfully I am not working with new grads, but I am working with nurses that are new ...

I would add that your insurance policy is likely adequate if they are covering you as an IBCLC. You should call them and let them know this is what you are going to be doing. Your premiums might go up or down depending on your new certification and...

I was thinking that too. Too high a level of care for long term.

I have actually had incorrect information regarding infusion compatibilities given to me straight from a pharmacist's mouth. I will call them as a last resort to consult if I have a question I cannot figure out. I think in most hospitals these days...

In defense of your GF -- it sounds like she is young (probably you both are young, early 20s at the latest, if you are traditional 4-year students.) Many, many young women have an inferiority complex. She may be one of the types that doesn't feel l...

Yes. Altered tissue perfusion R/T hypotension, possibly hx of CHF. Generally the priority nursing dx should be based on the medical dx and patient's medical plan of care. That isn't what your instructors are going to tell you, but if the doc is c...

This actually looks pretty good, I take it your assignment is to write a DAR note? Just a few suggestions: in D: Need to note RR along with labored breathing and O2 sats. Need to note WHAT specific adventitious LS you heard (crackles, wheezes, etc)....

Angina is the name that you give the pain when people have a MI. People can have angina without having an MI. Typically these patients have known CAD and they are to self-treat the angina at home with rest, nitroglycerin, etc. This is called "sta...