MAL, RN

Hi All, Im on of those "Forbidden" new-grad's in the ER. I wasn't given very good training, but nonetheless learned alot during my weeks of orientation. My concern is adjusting to the fast-pace in the ER. Im on my first few days by myself, and the ch...

You have only one IV access. (For whatever reason). You have two IV medications to give. They are compatible. Lets say one is Insulin at 8ml/hr, the other NS wide open. 1--If you put the insulin gtt on a pump at 8ml/hr and the NS via gravity, can yo...

Recent graduate with 10 months RN ER experience, 1 year experience as an EMT, and 3 month preceptorship in the ED, ACLS/PALS/CERN. Whats my outlook for an ER position? I have an undying passion for the ED and am not sure I would enjoy anything other ...

Wow. Its sad that this is your response and alot of others responses. Someone is asking for help and instead you scold them, and after not having read the entire post where she address this! She feels terrible about it and still does. A more producti...

Good luck OP. Hopefully this child is OK and im sure it will never be a mistake you make again. Thankyou for sharing your experience as it reminds all of us to stay focused at work.

I agree-- the CEN seemed more difficult than the CCRN despite that I also work in the ER. There was so much psychosocial on the CCRN that I found to be very easy.

I didnt have any ICU experience before taking the CCRN. I had 4 years of PRN ER experience. I spent 3 months of studying 3-4 days a week for 2 hours a day. I passed with a 90%. The test in general is really not that hard, but you'll need to review sp...

Moving to Ventura with 4 years ER experience. Im looking at potential hospitals for a job, and Los Robles looks like the closest trauma center. Anyone have any insight into pay/work conditions for this hospital or any other hospitals in the area? Hav...

Hi all, Im disappoined thus far in my experience looking for RN positions on Oahu and looking for advice on getting a job at Straub or Queens. I am moving to Oahu with my military husband, and forced to leave my current (and first) job with only 9 mo...

Federal RN positions at Tripler start around 59k-low 60's and go up from there a year depending on the position and candidates experience.

I've chatted with some other nurses from the area, and it basically comes down to knowing someone. They WILL hire new grads, but you can't go through the recruiter (Im referring to Straub), because she will deny your application based on hospital pol...

Ive been applying to several jobs and talking with lots of recruiters. As long as you have 2 years of experience, you will not have a problem finding a job (in your current specialty). Sometimes SNF is not weighed as heavily as acute care, but with e...

Thanks so much for the link! Anything that surprised you on the test? Did it meet your expectations? What were your scores on practice tests?

Which practice tests are you referring too? Im assuming you took the BCEN prep exam and got a 68-71 ? I dont think Im going to pay for the practice exam from BCEN. Do you think it will help, as far as learning content? I am taking the 5 practice exam...

Im in the same boat as you--studying nearly everyday for the past month and also took Jeff Solheim seminar, which, I think is very informative. They offer a refund for the seminar if you fail the CEN, as long as you take it within 60 days of finishin...

Please tell us your experience!! What questions were the hardest? Any content that surprised you?? Im taking my test in two weeks...Averaging 68-72 percent on my practice tests now. Still have alot of studying to do...

Agreed. Im not so much questioning what insulin can be piggy backed with, but the pump piggybacked into a gravity drip.

Thanks!! Never thought of that. Im going to look into the volume of our extension set. Great advice.

Yes. Seriously. In the ED we dump Liters in as fast as we can. And of course, we can always ask for an EJ or a PICC but if a patient comes in DKA/Hypotensive we need to do what we can with what we have until further access is established.

And if the NS needs to be WIDE open, as in, 1 liter/hr or so? I dont think I could eyeball 8mls from a bag

I agree with you!! Its hard to stop what Im doing to take orders, and I have a tendency to want to finish something if it only takes a few minutes, even if there is something higher on my priority list..Its definetly something to get use too..

Its really a relief to hear everyones comments, especially that even seasoned ER nurses get frazzled. I like the analog about running on a treadmill but not getting any where!!

This is so true. MANY of our nurses are prior techs. Our hospital however, requires techs to be paramedics of military coreman.

Ya, I have mentioned it..But thats a big burden for someone who isnt getting extra pay for precepting. Not all hospitals are like mine though. Everyone is so busy! I'm very proactive about getting experience/explainations so I've been delegating more...

My orientation is 11 wks...sometimes I work 5-8's, sometimes 3- 12's... Im sure that, by 8-15 pts, they mean over the course of the day (unless your fast-track). Otherwise, that's more than the floor nurses and unsafe for the ED. I have 5 pt rooms, a...