BonewaxRN

C-diff and pseudomonas have distinctive odors to me. But I think that is because of familiarity; a long time ago, I knew rotavirus by the smell as soon as I walked in the room. I doubt I would recognize it now. C-diff isn't an immediately overwhelming smell, like a GI bleed. To me, it is just a whiff that is different, along with the basic odor.

I had chicken pox as a child, have scars on my face and chest that still show. And I caught HiB from a little boy at the first school I worked at, got so sick I should have been hospitalized. I would gladly have been vaccinated for both, if either had been available at the time. These aren't harmless little diseases. If we can wipe them out, we should. And if they can't be eliminated, then we should at least give everyone, especially children, all the protection we can.

Hey, thank you all for replying! Jacksonville did not come through, but I did find a position a few hours south of there. You are not kidding about the pay rate, I had to take a 4.00/hr cut! We are working on finding a place to stay for now, rental properties are fiercely competitive in this area! I think I will like it here. I'm used to tropical weather, and it seems like everyone is from somewhere else, so I am in good company. I appreciate the advice from everyone!

I've been in critical care for over a decade, and I'm just finishing up a year in a burn intensive care unit. We want to move to Florida, and I've gotten my Florida license by endorsement. My brother will be moving to Jacksonville soon, but as long as there are decent roads, it doesn't really matter how far apart we are, so I'm not limited to any one area. I'm burning up the websites of several major hospitals, but I can't get a feel for the places. Please, Florida nurses, tell me of your home and what is good/bad about it. I am flying blind, and I would really like to land soft. I have no connections in Florida, but I want to make some! I am in the middle of my nursing journey now, in my 40's and experienced, but still with enough energy and enthusiasm to try a few new things. I've done Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi over the past 25 years, and I'm hoping that this will be the last big move. I am looking to get another 20 years out of these knees, and I love working with freshly-minted new nurses and learning from the veterans who have been at it longer than I have. If you have any advice or suggestions, I am open to hearing about it!

It doesn't seem to follow individuals on our unit, it's more like everything happens to everyone at once. We call it a "Bad Moon" without regard to what the actual lunar cycle is, lol!

I wear a plain silver circular fob on my left chest. It's oriented so that all I have to do is look down and read it. Keeps my hands free and I don't have to worry about it getting dirty. I used to wear a wristwatch, but then I got hibiclens under the band once and didn't realize it until my wrist was blistered. Took about 3 weeks for it to heal and itched horribly! I also don't wear my wedding band or any other rings, for that reason. A fob is clean, stays clean, and is convenient. The only thing I wish I had was one that had a nightlight/glowed in the dark. As for looking feminine, there are some nice uni-sex styles on Amazon for not a lot of money Amazon.com: nurse fob watch

Respectful question, is there a reason you spelled klonopin and adderall in that fashion?

"Smoked, snorted, came and went." Referring to a pt who had used drugs and had a cerebral event at the critical juncture of intercourse.

My wish is that 8-12 nurses would be hired for our unit. Not going to happen, but it would be such a blessing.

How absolutely awesome, to be remembered that way, for those kinds of things. Thank you for sharing your remembrance with us, I feel privileged to know her name.

There is this one doctor where I work who is absolutely the most caring physician I've ever met. From previous jobs, I had developed a bad impression of doctors from the Middle East, and expected him to be no different. I was so very wrong! His attitude towards the nurses is one of colleague to colleague, and when we had a wildly combative patient, he was right there to help us. Not only did he contribute his physical strength, he actually did his best to soothe the patient and talk him down. I wish I could name him here. As a doctor he is thorough and competent. He interacts personally with all his patients. If you could be that kind of doctor, I would tell you to go for it! Just be prepared to give up a lot of your youth to school and working to pay off your schooling debts. I'm biased in favor of nursing, because it is what I do and what I love. It is possible to be a proud nurse without being secondary to a physician. It is possible to be a physician who values the work nurses do. Go with what your heart desires. We need both doctors and nurses. Just be the best one you can be.

Thanks for doing it, though. Your story may be what gives others hope in a scary situation. And in some small way, by posting updates in this thread, you are not going through it completely alone, because there are a lot of people who care and want to follow through with you. I am so glad that your tests have all been negative! Keep hope alive, and know that people care about you.

So sorry that it happened to you, too, chocolateheals. The statistics are in your favor, the odds of transmission are lower than you might fear. There's a link to an article that breaks it down, I will try to find it for you. Demylinated linked to it on the first page, here it is again: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/disea..._injuries.html)

If you are sensitive to the sodium laurel sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate in commercial shampoos, you might want to consider something like the shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley. They are made without chemicals, and I love them. I don't have to use conditioner any more and they are kind to my sensitive skin. https://www.chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com/shambar.htm

The power of ordinary salt and hot water as a gargle or a soak has always amazed me.