TinyHineyRN

I get the flu shot annually for two reasons: 1. I work in the Peds ICU and not only come into contact with the flu a lot, but my patient population is particularly susceptible. 2. I can't afford to be out sick with the flu when all 12 of our beds are filled with little ones with flu and RSV on oscillators and JET vents and conventional vents.

The sheer fluid volumes alone will be a huge change! Yes, you can really give that whole liter bag AND 500ml of albumin AND a unit of PRBCs AND FFP!!!

The test they give you is really to guide you through your orientation and is helpful to determine where your strengths and weaknesses are. When I started at PCMH as a new grad, they told us straight out that most new grads will not pass the exam because it requires a certain amount of experience to be able to correctly identify certain interventions. If you don't pass, there will be a chance for you to retake it several months later. Good luck with your interview!! PCMH is a great place to work and a fabulous place for a new grad!

I'm pretty sure you can do a CCRN cert for NICU. Its interesting though how there is no distinction in the actual CCRN cert designation between adults, peds, and neonatal. For instance, I am a Certified Pediatric Nurse. The letters behind my name are CPN. If I were to take the CCRN exam for peds, there is no way to determine my cert from that of a certified nurse in a medical ICU. Its not like its CCRN-A or CCRN-P. Just strangely interesting...

Oh yeah I have totally cried, especially over the death of a patient who was very dear to me!

No nursing wasn't my first degree either, but my story is like a big, freaking circle!! I went to a university after high school and was pre-nursing. My sophomore year, I decided I didn't want to be a nurse, so I changed my major. My junior year, I decided that I did, indeed, want to be a nurse....whoops!! I was only about 2-3 semesters away from graduation, so I went ahead and finished. So I got my BS in Community Health Education and Promotion. During college, I actually made sure I had my nursing pre-reqs done so I didn't waste any time at all! RIGHT after I finished my BS, I went to a community college (MUCH cheaper!) and was admitted directly into the nursing program. 2 years later, I finished my ADN. I now work as an RN and I absolutely love it!! I don't regret (most days!) getting my first degree. A degree is a degree and while it doesn't help me much right now, no one can take that away from me! Good luck in your own nursing pursuits!

I had a friend a few years ago that couldn't find a job as an RN new grad. She also took a position doing flu shots and, while she didn't get a whole lot of varied experience, she can do one heck of an IM! Also, I think you may be a little misguided about the RN-BSN program. If I'm not mistaken, you aren't doing inpatient clinicals so the statement about school giving you critical care experience (I'm sure at this point you have been drilled enough to know you can't do CCRN without about 2 years experience!) isn't very accurate. Good luck with the job hunt! FYI, it also may not be the best idea to "beg" the nurse for home health assignments straight off the bat!!

SOMEONE is about to lose their callbell privileges!

I am never, EVER amazed at the things that come out of people's mouths in PALS!

I have an ADN and didn't need stats for nursing school but I did for my other BS. It hasn't changed my nursing practice but I have found it helpful when reading studies. On a different note, I had a health ed professor tell us that statistics are to be taken with caution as they never imply cause and effect. Statistics can be skewed any way the surveyor wants them to be taken!

The practice in our PICU is to flush the line (PICC, port, art line, whatever) with 10cc NS, waste 10cc blood, then collect the coag. The only time I have had a problem with this is the other day when I was drawing a coag from an arterial sheath which is quite a bit larger than an art line. I just did a bigger waste the 2nd time and then my value was right on!

Congrats on making the decision to go to PCICU! I transferred to PICU from the peds floor about 5 months ago and I definitely KNOW I made the right decision. My last day was a little scary. I remember thinking the same thing, "do I know what I am getting myself into?". It is so scary to think about leaving a place that is so familiar and comfortable with a family you have grown with and love. And I was literally moving down the hall, not hundreds of miles away like Jan! In the end, I have found a great match with PICU and I really love it! I hope you have a great experience and good luck with your new job! Oh yeah, and like Jan, we totally spent my last night on the peds floor eating! Oh I was pretty much useless that night!

I think another issue is that there isn't a rate in the order, or at least a time frame to infuse!

When you prime the IV line quickly, air will collect in the syringe ports. You have to flick the air out. Otherwise you will always have tiny amounts of air with a push no matter how conscientious you are of air in your syringe.

I had a teacher in nursing school that taught us this: Water is stupid and will follow sodium (salt, solute, whatever you choose) wherever it goes. Best rule on osmosis I have heard in a long time!