LMT2BSN

I appreciate the helpful info! I'm actually waiting on Drains perianesthesia book to be delivered, so can't wait to look into that. I know that managing vents is not beyond my capabilities, so most of my hesitation comes from just being immersed into a new environment. From what I've been told by my employer, I'll be managing the vent (except for RT vent checks) and extubating with another nurse or sometimes the anesthesiologist. Hopefully there's a clearly set protocol for this.

ICU nurse with 14 months experience in neuro/stroke/sepsis ICU and code team. So, good experience but.....still a baby nurse :). I'm super excited about my new job at a level 1 trauma tier 1 & 2 PACU that occasionally has ICU (surgical) overflow patients. I start in 1 month which means I've got time to brush up on stuff (and move across the country). I've been creating a list of study topics that I want to know like the back of my hand. However, what's stressing me out the most is managing vents with limited RT involvement. I know the basics with suctioning, lavage, bump their rate up a bit to blow off CO2, increase their fiO2 by about 10%? if their sats are dropping, switch them over to cpap/simv around 40% before extubating? If anyone has tips and tricks for managing vents or just what PACU nurses usually do with vents, or your experience extubating, etc, etc I'd really appreciate the advice! Also, I have a list of things I'm trying to learn/brush up on so I know about them very well, if you have anything to add that'd be great! Some of these I use all the time (propofol, morphine, ativan, zofran, dilaudid) but would still like to know them better. Here's my list so far: dilaudid, demerol, morphine, fentanyl, versed, propofol, ativan, etomidate, pentothal, glycopyrolate, neostigmine, narcan, romazicon, zofran, ephedrine, vistaril, compazine, phenergan, jaw thrusts, chin tilts, what do the patients expect their pacu experience to be like, reqs for discharge to icu, floor.

I appreciate the responses that are related to info/sources on using medical marijuana for ALS symptom control. Thanks.

My mother is one of the millions that would greatly benefit from medical marijuana. Background: She was the picture of healthy and fit 9 months ago and has been diagnosed with ALS like disease,out of nowhere. It's aggressive, relentless, and sudden. Other than the loss of motor function - she has constant spasms, tingling sensation, sob, and the depression and anxiety that come with such a life altering punch in the gut. It's heavy. The side effects from depression/anxiety meds are causing too many issues to where she's not able to be compliant with them. Nothing helps with the spasms, tingling, and constant anxiety-related sob. Situation: Florida has recently legalized the use of cbd-specific medical marijuana. And, I believe it's an option that she should explore. Problem: The legalities and steps to take to obtaining a prescription for this are so foreign to me. Does anyone have any good resources for navigating this type of therapy? Any informed information/opinions/etc would be greatly appreciated. Anybody care to share their experiences with medical marijuana? I'm familiar with the benefits and risks - I'm just in the dark when it comes to the logistics of actually utilizing this wonderful therapy. Thanks!

lol. not even for the first year, when you want to show off?

I'm no nurse, but I come on here to gain realistic info. I've felt the same way as you! However, I bet if every profession had a forum related to it, there would be an overload of miserable moments turned into a venting post...unless a nightlife journalist had a forum, that would probably be minimal venting. Point is, if there is a place to vent than there will be venting.

I already have the jargon issue, as I'm constantly charting patients at my current non-nurse job. But the no water, no pee, no food thing makes me nervous.lol if i don't eat something within in an hour or so I start to fade pretty fast.. maybe for the lack of "water break time" I'll use my camel pak and a bladder in my pants.. :)

What are all the hospital habits that one must adhere to? big or small for instance to the public it's 8:17, then you get to work and it's 20:17... As a student I've set all clocks in my life to military time, all measurements to metric (do hospitals even use metric mostly?lol) I'm looking to begin those habits early, I figure they could be a few less things that will be new as a new nurse..

true on so many levels! that quote should be a t-shirt, bumper sticker, Somethin!

After two years of prereqs and then two years of nursing program after that, wouldn't you have a BSN. Not just an associates? or am I missing something... (I'm assuming the two years of school after your two years of wait list were nursing program, btw)

I don't think she HAS to go out of her way to speak Spanish, she WANTS to learn it for professional and personal use. I can only speak English, but I think it's a little too pompous to establish a law that citizens speak English in five years of living in the U.S. However, such citizens should not expect to be completely understood all the time.

Same Here!! So, do most hospitals just use the Cavi wipes or Alcohol mentioned previously?

I would suggest Bikram Yoga! As well as strength training, conditioning, stretching, and oxygenating the muscle/body; a huge focus of Bikram Yoga is effectively circulating blood throughout the body, through tense and release poses. Be warned: Don't try this for the first couple times on a days that you work...

Enroll in a community college spanish course, at a college that offers Rosetta Stone. NOT for the course, but for the unlimited use of Rosetta Stone via their languages center. The one course would be way cheaper than actually buying the software....

Thanks for your input guys!

i have always been a big fan of bleach and never truly considered something clean unless i could smell the bleach... however, if peroxide is more efficient and less toxic to humans than it only seems logical. i've used peroxide as mouthwash for years and never thought about it for sanitizing, for some reason. you're right about alcohol, though, probably the most used in medical settings (?). which brings me to consider alcohol vs. peroxide? lol

I'm testing the effectiveness of different cleaners, and was curious as to what your hospital uses to regularly clean..(I'm not sure if there is legally a standard for this) ---I know, sort of a boring topic, but it's peaked my interest as I'm becoming more and more interested in Chemistry. Just looking at some chemistry forums, some have stated that Peroxide works better than Bleach.(99% effective vs. 95% effective in killing staph and bacteria). I would have naturally assumed that hospitals use Bleach, so this Peroxide news has peaked my curiosity.. (err I should have titled this "Bleach or Peroxide")

Thanks, I appreciate your help. Both classes have labs, I was just curious about whether I should be in the Majors class or non-majors. Update: Yes, OCCC apparently did not inform their staff of this, and I was placed in the wrong bio. It is the first semester that they have ever split. Now I'm stuck with $200 of un-needed and un-returnable books, 1 missed lab, 2 missed classes. yay

Sorry, I'm not familiar with schools in that area. But I have heard of people taking additional courses at a cc, just to bring their gpa up, before they apply to a Nursing Program at a university. Nursing Programs like to see a lot of natural sciences, chemistry, and higher level math, so I would take something along those lines in addition to any pre reqs

You'll have to find one that is accredited. Also, if you want to end up at a different school (university) for your nursing program, I found that it's best to figure out which classes that they require. Then make sure they offer those classes at the community college. BE CAREFUL: a few pre req courses at my community college are intended to transfer to a nursing program at a university; however, they do not. I think it's best to work from the end goal then down. So I would first talk to a nursing advisor at wherever you plan on taking your nursing program, before you pick a cc for your pre req's.

Due to OCCC's ability to be understaffed where they need to be staffed the most, I have not been able to get an answer for this issue... Since OCCC split their Bio classes for the first time, they now have a bio w/ lab for non majors and one for majors. I was placed in the Bio for non majors; however, my professor said that anyone with some type of Health Sciences major most likely needs to be in the Bio for majors class. I'm a pre-baccalaureate nursing student planning to transfer to UCO after I receive my AS. Any one know whats up with the Bio Classes?? Should I switch to Bio for Majors? -thanks

You're a very good "explainer"

Thank you everybody for your suggestions and critiques. They are very helpful. I just wanted to point out that I never said that I don't want to be around people, just in a less social setting. Certainly that's understandable to some degree. Since I'm not familiar with all units and specialties within nursing I can't provide a great example. But, I would assume, while both have the investigative aspect I'm looking for, ED would be extremely "social" and OR would be less. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks again everyone.

I should add that I am certainly up for any suggestions on non advanced-practice nursing specialties that are similar to the function or commonalities relevant to a nurse anesthetist. Thanks!

That's a great idea and my school offers a 30 hour double major option for BSN holders. However, in reading about forensics nursing, the career opportunities listed are 1. Sexual Assault Nurse or 2. Child Abuse Specialist and these are just not for me. However, a Bio major with the same 30 hour double major option in Forensic Science lists forensic molecular biologist which sounds right up my alley. I would like to stick with nursing though. It seems as though there are WAY more opportunities once a BSN is "under the belt." Ready to pull out my hair, but it's worth the stress :)