teleRN08

I'm wondering if any home care or hospitals have a nursing checklist for assessing a wound vac... we have had multiple errors as it is used so infrequently.. I'm thinking of creating a very basic checklist (is the unit plugged in? is it set correctly? etc) I'm just wondering if there is a checklist others are using? Thanks

5 on days. 7 max on nights.

I agree. We are a med/surg/tele unit at a small community hospital. I've been there five years. And each year it becomes more and more exhausting. More work and less time. Ugh.

I will be finishing my MSN program with a concentration in nursing education this summer. During our practicum we have to come up with a capstone project. This project can be any type of education for the stafff. I will focus on the medical-surgical-telemetry units. What have others done for a project? Just wanted to hear others ideas. I will be performing a needs assessment at my facility soon :)

Best sleep mask ever is this one. I use it daily. Going on five years. http://www.tempurpedic.com/Travel/Tempur-Pedic-SleepMask.asp

Thanks. I think I will take PALS this summer. I want to get an ER job in another hospital, hopefully closer to my home. Also, our ER is currently being staffed by travelers because they have so much turner over.

I have been a night shift med/surg/tele RN for the past 5 years (since graduating nursing school). I am currently getting my MSN in education and plan to finish in August. After this I would like to find a job in the ED. I'm curious about what certifications (etc?) I could get to help improve the odds of getting in without experience? I have ACLS.. thinking of PALS.. anything else? Thanks in advance :)

Maybe this is why I'm so crabby on my back to back shifts... I work 7p-7:30. Get home by 0820. In bed by 9am.. Up at the latest, 3pm. I feel and act like the devil working night shift.... I.Will.Work.Days..Hopefully.Soon.

love this!!!! so true!!!!:w00t:

I have no idea Merlyn. She stated she never works back to back nights (which is what we did). In her last job she would swap with nurses to work on-off-on schedule. However, that shouldnt be an excuse either, as every weekend is a two on type schedule. At our facility, nurses most likely won't swap because no one on our night shift likes an on off schedule like her. I hope things work out though. I'll keep everyone posted. I do love orienting. It's a great experience. I'm currently getting my MSN in nursing education

There was a definite improvement the next night. She stated most of her defensiveness was her being "overtired." I spoke with the manager again and she stated she still planned on having her come off orientation after the next night and will have a meeting with her in a week or two.. We will see.. I still have concerns over this because her bad attitude did come out again on the last night of orientation. We shall see how things go now that she is off orientation. I'll update in a week or two again.

this is not my first time precepting. i have had great experiences in the past. i do not talk to her any different than i talk to any other peer i work with. i am precepting her, but i am not following her every move. i have told her, "i'm your back up, if you need me." i do check her documentation etc because that is part of my job as the preceptor, to make sure she is doing things correctly per our policies, etc. she has the ability to do the nursing tasks just fine, that is not the problem in the slightest. my concern was taking a break when a patient obv needed medication and attitude. i just feel as though the manager should know if i sense an attitude on day two of my precepting of her. i spoke to the manager and she was glad that i went to her, which is why we are having a meeting to discuss how orientation is going. i am just looking for the best way to approach this situation in the meeting. she has been precepted by 3 other nurses, unfortunately, each nurse only had her one day. i spoke with one of the three and she did state she noticed an attitude but was unsure if it was a one day thing or not. i have a close friend that i have known for years who i knew went to nursing school with her. i did not gossip with her at all. i only stated i was precepting her and my friend starting telling me her opinion of her back then. i did not disclose how i felt about her at all. but it was helpful to know if this was a new thing or not. thanks for your thoughts though

Thanks. I did speak with the manager regarding my concerns which is why I am having a meeting with my orientee and mangers after the next shift. My manager had a decent suggestion: we have a list of values we want in the staff and I can discuss my concerns in a positive manner by discussing what we expect from our staff. I think m plan in the meeting will be use the "positive sandwich" idea I learned in a clinical educator program (state a positive, then a issue/problem, followed by another positive). As for report: She will jump right into something like "medicated so in so with this, at this time" and go on with other information... She also loves to repeat "really nice person" or "super sweet" numerous times- but never mention what brought the patient here, if cardio/surg consults, test results, important vitals, etc. We shall see.. It will be a challenge but I'm trying to stay positive

I don't believe I am approaching the situation in a confrontational way. I have precepted many times before with great success. I also wonder if the age between us could be a problem. I am 26 years old (been in this nursing position for 4 years) and she is in her 40s. I spoke with someone who knows her from nursing school and she states she's always been a very defensive and outspoken person.

Thanks everyone!! I don't think there will be an easy way of discussing my concerns. I have one more 12 hour shift followed by our meeting. Maybe I will have a stronger idea and better examples after that.