sophie09

oh-hugs-. i know how you feel.every nurse knows how you feel. don't give up. do you get a really good report at start of shift? you should be able to look at your report sheet, and have a pretty good image of that pt. Use a really good documentation Brain sheet that covers all the basics, and don't rely on memory for anything. chart any chance you get, don't wait till the end of shift. Ask the nurse you most admire for any tips and timesavers. i load my pockets with everything possible-saline flushes, alcohol swabs, etc. I do my easiest pt assessment and meds first, that way i feel like i've accomplished something right away(unless of course someone is unstable, then i see them first). Check my iv pumps and fluids right away too. hang in there.you sound very concientious, and that is very good:nurse:

just started a new job where we use CPSI--i am pretty good with computers, but this is awful. i waste more time clicking, it is very redundant, yuck. Bad enough i am new to med surg, but really, i used to pass meds to 24 people in less time than 5 people with this program.

hi- just an update- i have a great preceptor:yelclap:. So far, so good. Its better than I thought it would be. This 12-1/2 hour shift flies by, but doesn't completely wipe me out (yet). I think i can actually do this :)

hi- i'll be starting a new med surg job- 7p-7a. I've never worked med surg, just LTC and home health care. Now i am worried that I've bitten off more than i can chew. I am 47 years old. Any words of wisdom? thanks, and Happy New Year.

hi- i have an interview for a unit manager position in a LTC/sub-acute facility, and was wondering what type of interview questions to expect. What kind of questions to ask, and what a salary range would be. I have always worked 3-11, so even though i've worked in LTC, we didn't do any MDS or PRIs,so I don't really know too much about that. Any help would be appreciated. i am in NY state (great lakes area), if that helps. Thanks so much.:)

i try to alternate the morphine with the ativan-for example, if both are ordered q2h prn, then i would give morphine at 1300, ativan at 1400 and morphine again at 1500. This has seemed to work the best. What do you more experienced hospice nurses think?

I've been anurse for several years, and frankly, I'm tired. There seem to be so many troubling trends nowadays. What, to you, seem to be the most troubling trends in healthcare? What can we,as nurses do the improve things? Thanks. By the way, this is NOT homework:lol2:

hi- i work in a large LTC facility where morale is very low among nurses. Policies seem to change on daily basis, and what was the right way to do something last week will get you a talking to this week. Families are out of control, CNAs are out of control, and the nurses don't feel like administration, including DON, care, or know what they are doing. All authority has been taken away from supervisors. Last week the DON tried to have one of the unit managers apologize to a nurse for "berating him" because he did not know the whereabouts of one of his patients for the entire shift! What can I do to improve the situation? Other than look for another job:confused:

i work in rehab/ltc, and a recent admission tested positive for respiratory MRSA- when she was admitted, she had cultures pending at the hospital, but this info was not on the screen we received from our admissions screener. Several people ranging from our driver to nursing to dietary were exposed to this patient, who is a respiratory pt. What would your course of action be?

hi- many nursing homes offer free CNA training classes, which may be a good place to start- the pay isn't bad either

you should not need to be certified as a Home Health Aide because CNA requirements are more stringent- you can check with any homecare agency in your area as they are the ones who usually offer the classes.