AusRN

Getting an IV in that no one else could manage. ABG bloods, I've done that plenty of times, but I still love doing it and interpreting results. And ECG's... love interpreting ECG's. However I hate assisting intubation, but only because I haven't done that very much. Hopefully will do that soon :)

You won't have to run a code as a first and if you're not advanced life support trained. I'm advanced life support but quite junior, before that I was just scribing, which is a great way to learn how a code is run. As you learn more, you'll recognise when your patient is crashing and hopefully avoid a code altogether, but sometimes that isn't possible. It is scary, your heart beats out of your chest, but if you've got great staff on it's amazing to watch. I work in a high dependancy unit, am advanced life support trained and seen a few code situations in the last month and still am scared. Good luck

Wow... the ones where blood going everywhere sound horrible. My first code was a elderly lady post op who had massive pulmonary odema, and went straight into asystole. Had great staff on but for the life of me couldn't remember how the bag and mask got into my hand. The most traumatic one was a twenty eight year old that went into massive pulmonary odema, wasn't even coughing and had frothy sputum coming out, the look in her eyes knew that she was really sick and I'll never forget that. Still in ICU with a tracheostomy, down in a major center. Scary as hell.

"Run!" "Thank god you're here." "This person here is waiting to code and we don't have a NFR" "Another admission."

Hello! I know this has probably been done before, but I was just wondering if people would like to share their first code stories? Or their most interesting codes? We've had a lot of resus and codes lately and would love to hear other peoples stories. Thanks! AusRN

I think we measure in nanograms- our old system used to be anything over 0.02 as positive. The highest one I saw the other day was 8800, but I think our measuring system in Australia is different- the old style would have been 8.80. Inferior stem, thrombolysis.

A nurse I worked with left an 28 year old with respiratory distress and sp02 of 82% and did not notify MO. Pt ended up coding and intubated.

Calling everything a "thingy". Swearing when hurting myself. Being too loud.

multivitamin, vitamin c, fish oil and glucosamine for my joints as they hate long shifts. fish oil tastes blergh!!

Would but I'm in Australia and don't know how well that would correlate

I get the "wow you're so tall.. do you play netball?" all the time, it makes me laugh I never get the i'm too skinny bit except from my workmates who see me eat so much food.... I never find it offensive from my workmates, and I'm lucky that I don't get skinny comments from patients. Just looking up at me going "wow!!" I would be annoyed about the lecture. Your workmate should not have given that information out!

Fill up the bath with bubbles, grab a glass of wine, chocolate, music, and chill for a couple of hours. Can't do that atm due to having a piercing in my belly, but when I get some waterproof dressings I'll be right back at it. I cuddle my two dachshunds and watch them do the craziest things ever.... I go hassle my boyfriend and his family. I go and dance the night away. Netball is my best destressor, and my favourite thing in the world. I have days where I refuse to get out of bed. :)

It's a full moon. Several people booked off and because the ward is so full and heavy no one wants to come in... I've had 10 patients before, was scary. Report done. Previous shift state "run!!" Wanders. Multiple of them. Ones that are x1 assist and can cover 100m in 10 seconds.

I have just finished my grad year and don't plan on moving yet, but I'm torn between finding a hospital that has ICU (I'm in country Australia, everything ICU goes to the capital) and staying where I am because I love the people I work with. I'm only young and don't plan to change careers so I guess I have time, but I am lucky to have found a job I love.

I'm from Australia, and I'm a RN :)

I got plenty of offers from Queensland when I applied, and they always have vacancies posted on several websites, I had 2 offers, one palliative care, one oncology. If I moved up there (I'm from South Australia) I'd do intensive care, but I don't think you'd struggle getting a job up there, google Queensland Health or NCAH (Nursing Careers Allied Health)

Thank you to the people who help me out when I can't hit a vein, get a patient to shower, or find yet another stuffed up cannula.

Hello all! I'm a second year RN in South Australia, and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to get into intensive care work in either SA or Australia. I'm finding it pretty hard to find stuff on intensive care in Adelaide, and am accepting the fact that I may have to move, was just wondering if anyone had any advice or tips, or how they got into intensive care in Australia? Cheers! AusRN

I was meant to spend a month in high dependancy unit as part of my program but never got the chance due to budgeting, in the country I believe its a bit more tight out here than in the city. Wish I'd gone to the city to do my post grad year

I got a permanent part time position, 7 shifts a fortnight but they love to call me in because I'm quite flexible in the off netball season. I'm going to get some more experience and hopefully do an intensive care program, hoping in Adelaide, but not liking my chances. I've got family in QLD so thats where I will go if I don't get a program down in South Australia. Education oppurtunities seem pretty low down here though.

A paediatric code. Always in the back of my mind when I work the kids.

When I grow up I want to be an intensive care nurse, or be in the navy. Think I got my heart set on intensive care though.

I'm struggling to get a job in SA and I've worked here for two years in the health system. I've had job offers in QLD, I'm currently reaching the end of my grad program and I am slowly getting more annoyed with the lack of response. Good luck, I'm sure you'll find something

Hello! I'm in SA but I'm completing my Grad program here, Get paid pretty well. Year long contract with a rural placement, medical/surgical and currently on Paeds All the states have grad programs, and I know the ones in the city offer a great variety. A friend of mind who is post grad next yr is doing med, radiology, ER, theater and ICU.... After your grad year there are programs around the place that are ER based, not sure where they are though- think it's in Sydney?? Competition has greatly increased though for grad positions so I would recommend working in a nursing home/assistant in nursing position, I was a aid in my second year and did an undergrad position at the hospital in my third year. Good luck :)

I've been feeling the same way. I think I need a holiday, I'm getting one in January... but I don't feel like going to work, just want to stay home and do nothing and hope maybe the world will change and become a nicer place, even though I know it won't. Chin up, you're making a difference to a least one person when you go to work... and that difference is the world to them even if they aren't getting the care they need at home. If I make a patient smile and laugh, then that normally improves my day.