akulahawkRN ADN, RN, EMT-P

Emergency Department

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All Content by akulahawkRN

  1. akulahawkRN

    Pretty bad at starting IV's

    akulahawkRN replied to NurseJessie2's topic in First Year After Licensure

    My "go to" size is/was an 18. I rarely had to go larger than that. I consider that size more of a mid-size. Small-bore is 22-24 ga, mid-bore is 20 and 18, large bore is 16 and 14 ga. I generally do 20...
  2. akulahawkRN

    Curious about catheters

    akulahawkRN replied to ConstantlyEvolving's topic in General Students

    The first cath attempt I had was on a woman who just had a LOT of tissue to move aside to attempt to find the urethra. I never found it, but I also never contaminated the field either. My first...
  3. akulahawkRN

    Pretty bad at starting IV's

    akulahawkRN replied to NurseJessie2's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Hardest thing about starting IV's is believing you can start the IV. I've had days where I couldn't get a line on my first or second attempt to save my life. It can be difficult to find a good vein. I...
  4. akulahawkRN

    I was the "chosen" one this semester...

    akulahawkRN replied to oklahomagal's topic in General Students

    Feeling like you are under the instructor's thumb all the time is not a good feeling, I can relate. While my patient care is not substandard, there are couple of things that I have found that I need...
  5. akulahawkRN

    Drug Guide??

    akulahawkRN replied to haha341778's topic in General Students

    I use Davis Drug Guide as well. My class was required to only get one book for the program... I got the new edition because it's updated and I get another year of online access along with the book....
  6. akulahawkRN

    Question about Bedside Manner

    akulahawkRN replied to lilemma's topic in General Students

    It is OK to be more reserved. You don't have to be friendly... just don't be cold. You don't have to touch your patients any more than you need to. Being a guy, I have to be especially careful about...
  7. akulahawkRN

    ACLS? Help!

    akulahawkRN replied to gorgenurse's topic in Cardiac

    I have taken ACLS several times in the past... There really are just 10 rhythms that you must know. They're really not all that difficult, and they look completely different on the monitor, when...
  8. akulahawkRN

    When are you too old to start Nursing school?

    akulahawkRN replied to bluedawg's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    My take on this subject is simple: Dead is too old to start Nursing School. Whether or not current NS students will get a job fairly quickly after graduation is an entirely different
  9. akulahawkRN

    Help with this concept map

    akulahawkRN replied to LCinTraining's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Just because there aren't any meds or DM monitoring that needs to be done, that doesn't mean that there's nothing you can do for the patient. Surely you're not going to let the patient lie there and...
  10. akulahawkRN

    IV count?

    akulahawkRN replied to LCinTraining's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Those dial-a-flow devices are OK... but the few times I've ever had to use them, they rarely worked as advertised. Most of the units I had to use either broke or leaked. I just ended up calculating...
  11. akulahawkRN

    ACLS certification

    akulahawkRN replied to Helenkar's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    My understanding is that there are other ACLS certifying organizations... however the AHA course is the one that is most recognized as the ACLS course when the ask for ACLS certification. How you get...
  12. akulahawkRN

    RN with a non-nursing Bachelors?

    akulahawkRN replied to RNing2Health's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    It's most definitely possible for someone to be a Diploma RN and possess a Bachelor's in any other discipline. That, by definition, would make them a "Nurse with a Bachelor's degree in another...
  13. akulahawkRN

    ADN or BSN. Advice.

    akulahawkRN replied to jnette2011's topic in General Students

    Had I been given a choice from the outset of ADN vs BSN, I'd have gone BSN because it would have been equally speedy for me, or even faster (ABSN) as I already have a Bachelor's Degree. I wouldn't...
  14. akulahawkRN

    homework help? gate theory...

    akulahawkRN replied to MedTrans68's topic in LPN, LVN Students

    Gate control theory of pain control is rather interesting stuff, actually, and for the most part, it works. First, find the definition of what gate control theory is, then read about how it is...
  15. akulahawkRN

    help understanding non rebreather masks

    akulahawkRN replied to Whts_Ur_Emergency?'s topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    That bag is a reservoir that fills between breaths. The valves on the side of the mask help prevent room air from entering the mask, thus keeping the concentration of oxygen inside the mask as high as...
  16. akulahawkRN

    Sacramento City college LVN Program

    akulahawkRN replied to sucess2012's topic in California Nursing

    My guess is that you should be getting your acceptance or rejection letters from them very, very shortly. My experience is that they say they will take up to 8 weeks to notify you, but they almost...
  17. akulahawkRN

    Chest Pain and DNR status

    akulahawkRN replied to MissRN7's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It very much completely depends upon the wording of the "no code" or DNR and facility policy. If I were given a DNR patient with chest pain/discomfort consistent with MI, I would follow the MONA...
  18. akulahawkRN

    ADN or BSN. Advice.

    akulahawkRN replied to jnette2011's topic in General Students

    Look at your timeline. If you're considering a BSN or an ADN, you might want to consider applying to both programs simultaneously. If you're accepted into both, choose the one that you're able to...
  19. akulahawkRN

    Sacramento City College LVN

    akulahawkRN replied to sucess2012's topic in California Nursing

    Yes, that is precisely what it means. You made it into the pool but weren't picked for the program this time around. I strongly advise that you re-apply every time you're able to because you'll get...
  20. akulahawkRN

    Should I resign or wait for termination?

    akulahawkRN replied to OnlybyHisgraceRN's topic in Nursing Career

    I would say that the OP should take the transfer to another unit instead of quitting. Being that you're in a CVICU, if you work in Tele, you can use some time there to really get good at what you do,...
  21. akulahawkRN

    The single most important thing you can do as a nursing student

    akulahawkRN replied to Anoetos's topic in General Students

    About the only thing that ambulance work does, especially as an EMT-B, is give you some hands-on time working with patients. Any advantage you'd have for that will disappear as you progress through...
  22. akulahawkRN

    Sacramento City College LVN

    akulahawkRN replied to sucess2012's topic in California Nursing

    They will send an email through iMail to you. That's one BIG reason why they require you to have an iMail account through
  23. akulahawkRN

    NCLEX Pass Rates (CSU, UC, Private)

    akulahawkRN replied to goodguyeddie's topic in California Nursing

    I would broaden that out a little bit to whether or not your clinical rotations occur at a teaching hospital vs. a nonteaching hospital. One of those facilities is going to already have mechanisms in...
  24. akulahawkRN

    NCLEX Pass Rates (CSU, UC, Private)

    akulahawkRN replied to goodguyeddie's topic in California Nursing

    You should look for a school that has a high pass rate, but the pass rate itself is not the only criteria you should have. You might also want to look at the school's reputation for programs that have...
  25. akulahawkRN

    Computer During Nursing School!

    akulahawkRN replied to nhostetler's topic in General Students

    You make a great point. Check out the School store... while you could end up paying MORE for the computer itself, you may save serious $$$ on the software package so that the overall cost is lower...