HeartRNBSN

I have been a nurse going on 7 years and even teach some of our future nurses... there are still times I beat myself up after work because of something I should have maybe clarified or done more for a patient. In the end, we are all human and we all make the mistakes. With the demands of health care and patient acuity, it becomes increasingly hard to perform 100% for each and every patient. As nurses, we are "type A" by nature which tends to stress us out more! You did a commendable thing by calling in and being accountable for your actions and it does take courage to be an honest person sometimes. But remember, every moment is a learning experience!

I had actually already contacted them and the represenative I spoke with was very vague.

Hello everyone!!! I would like to thank you in advance for your time! I am interested in certification as a pain management nurse through the ANCC. As part of their practice requirement, do you need to specifically work in a pain clinic (or similar setting)? Currently, I work on a med/surg and oncology unit. I see a lot of chronic pain and cancer pain, probably near 75% of our patients. I feel this is sufficient experience for pain assessment and managemeny required by the exam. Does anyone have the certification and NOT work in a pain clinic (or similar setting) but rather an inpatient unit? Thanks again!

I work steady night shift... so does my spouse (also a nurse)... When working my nights, I sleep from 10am until 5pm... I actually find that I am more refreshed than if I had gone to bed at 10pm and woken at 5am... I eat "breakfast" before heading into work then eat "lunch" around 2am... I have a slight addiction to McDonald's breakfast menu, so I get my fix on the way home... I used my "morning time" to run any urgent errands or spend some time playing with dog and watching my morning shows... When I am off, I do stay up all night but only until about 4am... I try to wake up by 10am or 12pm at the latest... At night, I clean my house, do laundry, catch up on DVR'ed TV shows, or even go to the grocery store... I find it way to difficulty to flop back and forth, so I just stay on a night routine... I also teach an evening class one day a week, so that helps to fill some of the "lonely" time at night with all of the paperwork...

Your first year is definitely the most difficult! I remember feeling the same way... My best advice, try to arrive at work at least 30 minutes before the start of your shift to get your assignment and look up patient information. This way, as soon as report is done, you will be ready to hit the floor. Also, try to find a good worksheet that keeps you well organized but is simple (PM me if you want mine). Just try to go with the flow and realize that sometimes you just can't accomplish anything. Also, learn to delegate! This is a big problem for new nurses.

We used to give methotrexate to ectopics in our outpatient chemo department (OB office would send them). You need to follow strict guidelines for the administration of hazardous drugs, as this is an antineoplastic agent. This means a gown and gloves, also a mask with eye protection if there is a potentation for splashing. Be sure to use a needle with a safety-lock device to avoid sticks. Any other questions, send me a PM.

I will share a story with you... We had a patient come into our department once that was scheduled for a cardiac catheterization. The nurse assigned to this patient had previously worked in LTC and was unfamiliar with the consent process, not to mention just off of orientation. The physician, who would try any stunt with any nurse to get out of doing his job (I'm sure you know the type). This nurse got the consent for the procedure at the physician's requet. When the patient had questions, she told him to ask the physician before the procedure. The patient went down, was unable to see the physician beforehand (assumed that he was in good hands), and had the catherization done. However, no one had relayed the patient's bloodwork (creat 4ish) to the physician, assuming that he had seen the result and that Mucomyst was given. To make a long story short, the patient developed "trash foot" which led to an amputation and his kidneys were so badly damaged from the IV dye and post-op antibiotics that he required dialysis until he died from sepsis. The family filed suit and won. The nurse's license was supsended for 2 years for practicing outside of her scope, not sure what happened to the physician but he was mysteriously gone after the papers were served. So please, DO NOT OBTAIN CONSENT FOR PROCEDURES!!!

I always thought that I wanted to work in pediatrics and loved my rotation in nursing school. I applied to the regional children's hospital in my area about 6 months before I was to graduate, but they were already filled for the spring/summer with GN's. I was told to wait and apply the following fall, but that did not work out financially. I ended up taking a position in a medical ICU, which I started to regret after my first month there. I took a sign-on bonus for the health system that required 2 years of service, so I waited for the 6 month probation period was over and bid on a position for a short stay unit at another hospital within the system. It was a diverse unit - outpatient invasive procedures, oncology/chemotherapy, IV therapy, and observation patients. That is were I found my love for oncology!!! Never thought I would love working with cancer patients so much. Currently, I work for the VA Healthcare System on a medical/surgical/oncology unit. Sometimes, you end up where you would never expect to!