ORRN0808

Thank you!

Thank you! =)

PHEW!!!! Ok, all done-- went in smooth and he has way more muscle left there then I gave him credit for =) Was able to go probably about 85-90% of the 1 1/2 length in and never felt any bone. What a relief! Thanks so much everyone for all your support and advice!! Hope y'all have a great night!

Thank you all so much! It's nice to know I can come here for advice when needed =)

Thank you for your feedback and advice! =) Unfortunately, no it's just me. When prescribing the med today his doctor suggested the dorsogluteal site saying that would be the "easiest for him to inject himself" and given the fact that 1) that site is no longer recommended for IM injections and 2) I would think that would be super difficult for anyone to do to themselves in the proper location, I kind of lost confidence in any of her advice. I reassessed his arm and think I feel most comfortable trying the deltoid. I am going to make sure I am in deep enough to get muscle but not too far in all the way. Thank you for responding, I really appreciate it!

Thank you so much for responding. It's 1ml so the deltoid should be ok in that regard. It's the length of the needle and how far in to go that makes me the most nervous =(

Hi! Help!! I have to give my dad IM injections (vit b12) and haven't had to give an IM injection in quite some time (I currently work in the OR and don't need to administer injections). I've been reading the best site to give it is ventrogluteal, but I'm not that comfortable with that since I've never done that at all.... at least I've done them in the deltoid before - even though it was a long time ago and only a couple times. My dad is super skinny and his muscles have definitely atrophied (hence the vit b12 needed), but he does still have a little more muscle in his deltoid then I anticipated. The pharmacy gave me 22 gauge syringes with 1 1/2 length. My questions are: -Do you think it's ok to administer in his deltoid vs. ventrogluteal? -How deep do I actually go in with the needle if he doesn't have as much muscle as an average 66 yr old man? Should I stop at 1 inch? I'm Terrified to hit bone, but want to make sure he gets the med directly into muscle. -Any other pointers/tips??? Thank you guys so much in advance for your help and advice (I know these are amateur questions, so no judging, please!) =)

Thank you so much, I appreciate the feedback and advice! =)

Hi fellow nurses! I am a RN in Houston and my husband and I have a garage apartment we are looking to rent out. I would love to rent it to a nurse needing housing while on a travel assignment here. Does anyone have any suggestions of websites frequently used by travel nurses when searching for housing so I can post our apartment there? Thanks so much!

Thank you very much! =)

Thank you for your reply!

Thanks for your response, Rose Queen! You mean lady partsl vault prep first?

Hi all, I'm new in a specialty hospital that primarily does OBGYN surgeries. I am not new to the OR, but GYN is new. I know lady partsl preps are constantly debated, but I have been searching and researching this topic with no consistency in answers found- even on AORN. I have seen different RN's do the lady partsl prep all a variety of ways but am trying to develop my own routine and way to do it-- right now I'm way too slow because I can never decide which order is the "right way" to prep in and which sponges/sponge sticks to use in which order for the betadine scrub and solution prep tray. I understand both sides of the logic-- some people say incision outward (with idea that lady parts is "incision area" so start vag first then out to thighs) and others say clean to dirty (start mons pubis, then thighs inward), so I am just confused and want to do the best job I can for my patients. If you guys could share with me the order you do your lady partsl preps I would really appreciate it!! (ex. start at mons pubis, then down labia middle and both sides before starting on thighs, OR down labia and perineum then one labia/thigh side at a time, AND start at thighs working inward then labia-- OR start at labia and scrub out toward thighs?). Thanks so much!

Yes, full time =) I didn't know when I interviewed, but the position also has ability to work from home after 6-9 months if you are performing well. So that's another good perk!

Thank you both So much! I appreciate the feedback and it definitely validated my concerns so that I know I'm doing the right thing. I just accepted the position and started to panic thinking I made the wrong decision-- once I checked this site and read both of your responses, I immediately felt better and it reassured me that I'm doing the right thing. =) Kimbalou- it is also really reassuring to hear you are enjoying it so far and that you have friends that have been doing it for years! Thank you and I hope you continue to love your new position! Brujacakes--I found the call center job through the website Indeed that has job listings. From reading some of the threads on here, another place to try would be the actual insurance websites for career opportunities. A lot of them have recruiters that can work with you on finding the right position. Good luck! =)

Hi all, I am a RN that hasn't quite found my "niche". I have done one year in OR, one year in cardiac outpatient, and am currently in my 4th month on an Acute Transplant/Med-Surg floor. I have considered leaving my current position for two main reasons: 1) due to the stress level, frustration and extreme acuity of the patients we see. Our patients are very sick and the ratio is usually 5:1 or 4:1, which sounds great but is still somehow unmanageable with all that has to be done all day. I rarely eat lunch or take a break before 3pm and run around wearing myself out all day. I should mention that I am at a really prestigious hospital (also Magnet) so I don't want to act impulsively. 2) The most pressing reason-- I am trying to get pregnant and don't feel that this is the healthiest environment for my situation. I have already had one miscarriage since working there (which could have been from anything, but the stress didn't help I'm sure). PLUS, most of our patients are CMV and a ton on isolation, high-risk Hep C/HIV, etc. I was also recently exposed to active TB before anyone knew the patient had it. So, my anxiety around becoming pregnant again in this type of work setting is REALLY unsettling, even though I know RN's do it all the time on the floor. However, I am in 30's and so I don't really have the time (or want) to wait to start our family, and I'm at a crossroads where I don't know if personally putting myself -- or my future child-- at risk is worth it, just to say I stuck it out... SO, I have the opportunity to work at a call center (for a Great insurance company) where it would be M-F and the pay is surprisingly 10k more a year than I make now, which is a huge incentive. (I forgot to mention that in my current position I also have to find a second job to make ends meet, in addition to the three 12 hr days). It seems like it might be the perfect fit for me right now while we are starting our family-- I am just SO scared to make the wrong decision, leave this great hospital and regret it....does anyone have any advice on how hard it would be for me to go back to a hospital in another year or two if I end up hating the call center? I know the setting is different than "traditional" bedside nursing, but feel I could make a difference with the patients over the phone. I really do enjoy education and patient interaction. I really don't know what to do given the current situation. If we weren't trying to get preggo ASAP I would stick out where I am for another couple months and try to transfer back to the OR maybe....that's where I liked the best so far, and since I know now I hate bedside, I would be able to appreciate it more. I have no clue, I go back and forth so much on what I want to do when I grow up! ANY advice on call center nursing in general and/or what I should do is GREATLY appreciated. Does anyone know if call-center/phone triage nursing can really be a long-term nursing specialty? Does anyone stay in a position like that very long? I am so confused and just want to do what is best for my family and my future career as a RN. Thank you to all of you in advance =)

Thank you SO much, danggirl!! I really appreciate you taking the time to review all that info with me and write such a thoughtful and informative response. I will take your suggestions and experience to heart and review all I can before I start. Thank you again!!!

Hi all! I accepted a position on an organ transplant/med-surg unit (kidney, pancreas, and combo), in addition to other renal patients (TURP's, etc. to my understanding) that happen to be there as well. I have been a RN for 2 years, but was in the main OR one year and then outpatient cardiology practice the next. Therefore, it's kind of like I'm starting brand new to nursing again, at least in regards to floor nursing (not too mention the clinicals I had in nursing school a few years ago were def not the best). I start in a few weeks but am trying to refresh/study as much as I can before beginning this new position (I'm very excited, but also very nervous). 1) Does anyone have any specific recommendations on what basics I can prepare for in regards to the organ transplant patients? 2) How about prep I can do that will help me with transitioning to med-surg (I feel like there is so much to cover studying wise, and not enough time to teach myself everything all over again!) Any tips on keypoints to focus on to help prepare me to start at least? Thank you in advance, I love this site and all the support it helps us nurses provide to one another!! =)

Thank you for your response, Melizerd! I really appreciate it. That makes sense, I guess I just look at it both ways and think with a new baby (1st one and I will have No clue what I'm doing lol) maybe getting the new job and new schedule down before throwing a brand new baby into the mix would be a little easier, so then I'm set with at least that by the time a new baby is here.... instead of trying to get used to a new job, new schedule (and I'm sure I'm going to be having to study a ton Outside of work since I feel like I'm starting from scratch) with a new baby and completely changed life at home... but then again I'm terrified of being tired, hormonal, and overwhelmed during pregnancy with trying to get ready for a new baby and then having to do something new and scary, while on my feet all day (and really stressed) as a new RN on a unit, so what you said totally makes sense as well. When I look at it both ways each has its pro's and con's of when to make the move....

Hi all! I am a fairly recent new grad who has spent one year in the main OR (right out of nursing school) and the next year in an outpatient clinic setting where I am now (fast paced cardiac clinic). Although I am still not sure what specialty area I will end up in, I am definitely wanting to make the switch over to the hospital on a med/surg unit so that I can learn the foundations I missed out on since i started right in the OR after graduation (and didn't need to do IV's, hang/distribute meds, admit/discharge, etc.). I am VERY nervous about the switch since I will be basically starting as if I was a brand new RN (as far as floor skills go, etc.). This is something I definitely want to do soon- not only for learning skills, etc., but also for financial and scheduling reasons as well (switching to 3 12's instead 5 days/wk where I am now). However, my husband and I are no spring chickens and have been putting off starting a family for awhile and have decided we need to start very soon to try to get pregnant for the first time. My main question is: For those of you in med-surg and/or those of you who have experienced pregnancy while working on the units, would you recommend making the switch now and transitioning (which I anticipate will be very stressful during my first year of learning on the job in general) while being pregnant the majority of the first year on the unit.....OR....do you think it would be smarter to remain where I am now and start brand new med-surg once I return from maternity leave with a newborn? (which would mean brand new baby, new schedule, and stressful new job all at the same time?!) I know either time to switch would be challenging, I just want to make the right decision since I know it will be anxiety provoking and stressful to start a new area of nursing brand new as it is, then adding either pregnancy or a newborn into the mix will be tough. If anyone can offer any advice I would really appreciate it!!! I am really stressing out about the right thing to do- for myself, my career, and our new family hopefully soon. Help!! =) Thank you so much in advance for any wisdom you can offer.

Thanks so much for the advice! I really appreciate the tips!

Thank you both so much! Colleen, unfortunately no my school doesn't offer that type of course. That sounds like an amazing opportunity- I'm going to look into other programs, maybe I'd be able to take a course like that elsewhere over the Summer. Thanks for the great advice =) Snowstar, thank you for the clarification. I'm definitely going to keep looking for a position like that as well. I really appreciate the help!

Thanks so much for the advice! I'm definitely going to look into that. Don't you have to have a certification as an OR tech, though?

Hi! I am a current nursing student who just completed my OR clinical rotation. Needless to say, I LOVED it and am sure that's what I want to do once I graduate next year. :) My original concern was that as a new grad it will be tough to find any job at all right away (nevermind choose an area of specialty), so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to things I can start doing now or jobs that would be better to pursue to put me on the road to the OR. It seems every OR job says 2-3 yrs experience (I'm in NJ) but how can I get the experience if I can't get an OR job? Any advice or experience is appreciated. Thanks so much!