akulahawkRN ADN, RN, EMT-P

Emergency Department

Wee bit about me!

Member

  • Content

    3,533

  • Visitors

    32,031

  • Followers

    2

  • Likes

    287

All Content by akulahawkRN

  1. akulahawkRN

    BA in another field. ADN or BSN now?

    akulahawkRN replied to N_u_r_s_e's topic in California Nursing

    I would say that if you have all the prerequisites, the GPA, and good TEAS scores, you might want to consider doing a BSN program. It's about the same length as an ADN program and you'll have a higher...
  2. akulahawkRN

    What's the Best IV Size and Site?

    akulahawkRN replied to Music in My Heart's topic in General Students

    The best size IV is one that works because that will always be far more preferable than one that doesn't. As a paramedic, I usually prefer 20g or 18g catheters because they can flow fluid or...
  3. akulahawkRN

    IV's

    akulahawkRN replied to BabsD's topic in Agency Nurses

    During my last semester, I had a patient that had a painful IV and he chose to keep it in much longer than he really should have. I suppose that for some reason he thought that IV's were supposed to...
  4. akulahawkRN

    Pearson vue trick, Does it still work?

    akulahawkRN replied to ourdistancesucks's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    The change happened in late August and I'd expect they simply changed the billing system part of it, which eliminated the glitch that caused the PVT to exist in the first place. I doubt they made any...
  5. akulahawkRN

    IV's

    akulahawkRN replied to BabsD's topic in Agency Nurses

    I would have to echo the above... more details about the situation, please. I will say that as a general rule, if someone's complaining about a painful IV, I'm going to ask them if they want a new IV...
  6. akulahawkRN

    Pearson vue trick, Does it still work?

    akulahawkRN replied to ourdistancesucks's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    The "old" PVT is gone. The new one essentially requires you to be ready to pay $200 if your status is "fail" and because the exam is scored twice, there's a chance that the first score could be "fail"...
  7. akulahawkRN

    MEN, dont come into nursing

    akulahawkRN replied to DUDERNGUY's topic in Men in Nursing

    Throw in EMS and you've pretty much covered the manly gig
  8. akulahawkRN

    Critical Care Question about Minute Volume (ventilator)

    akulahawkRN replied to Nursing2102's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    It has to do with the mode (AC vs SIMV). Both modes use "10" for something. Both modes have "12" as well. The answer, is actually "hidden" within the math and is easy to figure out once you...
  9. akulahawkRN

    IV Push Medication

    akulahawkRN replied to nursejada001's topic in Infusion, Intravenous

    For IV push medication, I would actually usually prefer to push the med right at the catheter hub. Extension sets with a T connector at the hub allows the shortest fluid distance between the port...
  10. akulahawkRN

    Come in breathing....

    akulahawkRN replied to PerfectlyNumb's topic in Emergency

    Long ago I came to the realization that our job is to give people a nudge (sometimes a good shove even) toward life, but if their body's too sick, too broken, or just too worn out to keep going, we're...
  11. akulahawkRN

    MEN, dont come into nursing

    akulahawkRN replied to DUDERNGUY's topic in Men in Nursing

    I won't... Batter
  12. akulahawkRN

    MEN, dont come into nursing

    akulahawkRN replied to DUDERNGUY's topic in Men in Nursing

    As someone else here has said, perhaps nursing isn't for you or perhaps the placed you've worked aren't a good fit for you. It also almost sounds like you've become either disillusioned or depressed...
  13. akulahawkRN

    Have any of you ever been stuck by a needle and not felt it?

    akulahawkRN replied to ka2rn's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    While there are ways to get stuck without feeling it, you don't do them on yourself. With the exception of dental injections, I have felt every single needle stick I've ever had. There's a technique...
  14. akulahawkRN

    4.0 in nursing school?

    akulahawkRN replied to RubySlippers:)'s topic in General Students

    Yes, it is possible to have and maintain a 4.0 GPA during nursing school. At least one or two of my classmates managed to do it. However, you must understand that it's not always possible (or even...
  15. akulahawkRN

    first year texas nurse looking to move home to california

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

    I second this. Get at least a good, solid year of experience before you start seriously applying. They're going want someone that they can essentially drop into place, do a quick orientation to the...
  16. akulahawkRN

    Pedal pulses

    akulahawkRN replied to shayandkaty's topic in General Nursing

    This is true! Some people just don't have palpable pedal pulses. Heck, some people don't have Dopplerable pedal pulses. The same goes for the posterior tibial pulse. As long as signs of adequate...
  17. akulahawkRN

    Pedal pulses

    akulahawkRN replied to shayandkaty's topic in General Nursing

    Don't forget the anatomy of the ankle/foot. The dorsalis pedis artery is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery. Normally you might be able to start feeling it just lateral to the extensor...
  18. akulahawkRN

    PARAMEDICS IN THE ED...Do you have them????

    akulahawkRN replied to EDtraumaCNS's topic in Emergency

    Not entirely true. It's just that as part of their basic education, nurses are not trained to manage the airway beyond the same skill level that a basic EMT can do. I've met nurses that, following the...
  19. akulahawkRN

    What is supposed to be the hardest year?

    akulahawkRN replied to lampard's topic in General Students

    At the program I attended, historically the 3rd Semester was the hardest of the 4 semesters. It still, for the most part, is. They used to cram m/s, psych, and peds in that one semester. They ended up...
  20. akulahawkRN

    Nursing dx - chest tube

    akulahawkRN replied to takingcare19's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Similar thread...
  21. akulahawkRN

    Guys, this is difficult.

    akulahawkRN replied to Skips's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    SATA's aren't always high-level questions, so don't bank on that as an indicator of how you did. The exam is designed to test your limits and at some point, you'll start getting about 50% right/wrong...
  22. akulahawkRN

    Pearson trick is not 100% Accurate

    akulahawkRN replied to NurseTerin's topic in Tennessee Nursing

    The PVT never has been 100% accurate. Since you apparently have taken the NCLEX very recently, you should know that they have changed the way the PVT works. Everyone gets the credit card screen first...
  23. akulahawkRN

    Nursing dx - chest tube

    akulahawkRN replied to takingcare19's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    I'm not going to answer the question directly... You indicated that she's on her 3rd chest tube because her lung keeps on collapsing. Chest tubes are usually indicated for 2 things: pneumothorax and...
  24. akulahawkRN

    Associates VS Bachelors

    akulahawkRN replied to ThomasBonifacio's topic in General Students

    I'll say this: regardless of which degree path you take, it'll still end up being at least 4 years to complete the degree. It is going to take about 2 years to get through all the prerequisite courses...
  25. akulahawkRN

    Learning sick vs. not sick

    akulahawkRN replied to Eatrealfood's topic in Emergency

    Learning this isn't limited to nurses. Paramedics learn this too. It's very much an experiential thing. Having a good mentor is essential to speeding up the process of learning sick/not sick. I...