Julie, RN

I have a 14 month old little boy. I worked until the day before I was induced b/c he was late. Everyone is different, I had no major problems-just the usual (Nausea the first trimester and tired the last). I work as a staff nurse on an inpatient oncology unit. Congrats! Julie :)

Haven't posted in a looong time! I worked up till the 41rst week (3 days a week of 12 hr shifts), then was induced. Still on maternity leave-staying very busy! Here is my pooper-stinker: http://www.growthspurts.com/view.asp?s=81197&mode=photo&page=1&src= Cheers, Julie :)

TColleen, HI, I am also pregnant (18 weeks now) for the first time and working on a busy inpatient medical floor. I plan on working up until I go into labor. I have noticed that working 3-12hr shifts in a row is more tiring to me now, but manageable. How much maternity leave are you taking and are you returning to work full time? Good Luck, Julie :)

8 patients on an onc unit sounds heavy to me. We stay so busy on my adult onc unit they try and give us just 4 pt's per RN. We usually have 2 CNA's for 32 beds. Sometimes thay have to give us 5-6 pt's, but I have never had 8!

Any good medication pt education sites online? The kind that would allow me to print out handouts? Thanks, Julie M., RN

How did the exam go? I am in the midst of slowly studying for the exam......

We calculate the pt's ANC (absolute neutrophil count)=(%bands + %segs) x WBC's. If You calculate this formula using the WBC and differential lab value for the pt.

I give phenergan alot. At my hospital the doc's usually write for 6.25mg-12.5mg at a time. We give the full 25mg very rarely. I dilute it in 10cc NS and if fluids are running I hang it as a secondary over 10-20 minutes depending on the pt's vein status. I've pushed it diluted over 5 minutes before and it caused chemical phlebitis. Julie M.,RN

ALISHAJO, B/c the unit clerk can call me wherever I am and tell me what the pt wants (pain/nausea meds, bathrm needs, nutrition, beeping IV, chemo spill, etc....). Plus if your in the middle of a very busy task that you cannot step away from you can tell the unit clerk and she with either send an aide, another nurse, or ask the pt if they can wait. At my old hospital we used a beeper system where I had to report to the nurses station to find out who called me - this was very time consuming. Addressing some of the posters concerns: I understand all of your apprehensions, but the bottom line is (just my personal opinion)... if your do your job as you should (if needed you can get this info from your job description)), no one should have a thing to worry about. No one has been penalized on my floor /c this system. Our system registers us within a minute of beeing in the pt's room.

My hospital uses this system also and I like it very much. It allows me to know ahead of time what my pt wants and to meet their needs quicker. It is not used as a "big brother" device...it really is used to provide better pt care.

This is the one question that really impressed my employers. It made all the difference during my initial interview. So, I have heard of the term "universal precautions". Can you tell me what it is and do you have one? I hope you guys know that I am JOKING! Actually, I would definately ask about nurse-pt ratios and scheduling. Good luck with your interview. Cheers, Julie M.,RN

Here are two websites that might help: 1) http://critcare.lhsc.on.ca/icu/cctc/procprot/nursing.htm , and 2) http://www.cc.nih.gov/nursing/procedures.html Good Luck, Julie http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Union/1521/

Do what I do.... Write her up! This behavior is completely unacceptable to me. At my hospital we use non-medical incident reports to deal with this kind of thing. People who are mentally unstable should not be caring for acutely ill patients. By documenting (via an incident report) management will see how unsafe this staff person is. Nurses should not take this kind of treatment from other nurses anymore! I don't care how bad the nursing shortage is, I say boot them out of the profession, they just give us a bad name! Just venting... Good luck this weekend and don't forget about the incident report option

I too am sorry that happened to you... But what about when other health care professionals behave this way to you? I am more forgiving of my pt's than my co-workers. I have been a nurse for 6 months and love it! But, I will not tolerate this kind of behavior from my co-workers, so I have actually written up another nurse and a respiratory therapist for truly discustingly unprofessional behavior. I have had several nurses pull me aside and congratulate me on my "assertiveness to step forward and say something". I think it is sad that others just accept this behavior as part of the high stress environment involved with healthcare. What do you all think?

I am relocating to Raleigh, NC within the next year and would like to stay in oncology nursing. Their are so many hospitals in that area that offer great deals to attract nurses. Duke, VA Medical Center, & Rex all have cancer units. Anyone have any first hand info on these places and what criteria you would use for picking a place to work? Thanks, Julie M.,RN