jabwrn

Our hospital recently took all on call from pacu and put all postops after 1800 in ICU for recovery. If icu is too busy the OR nurse (no ACLS) is left alone with pt in pacu. This happening anywhere else?

Thank you so much for taking the time to send such helpful advice!

I have been a hospital nurses for over 35 years but have had very little experience and very little success with IV starts.(always worked in an area where I didn't have to do it or could get help from more experienced staff). Now I am afraid to look for a new job due to my poor IV skills. If I miss a vein the patient thinks I am an idiot or writes a poor customer service survey. What can I do to improve?

Thanks for the reply. Already tried a mtg with supervisor. Basically she knows nothing about IR also but ended with "we are doing it and that's that". We have no hospital policy but I will research standards and learn what I can.

Our IR nurse recently resigned and due to budget cuts PACU nurses are pulled to do procedures in xray and also to do pre procedure phone calls to outpatients. Isn't IR a separate specialty? None of us feel comfortable going over to xray "blind" to assist with procedures. We couldn't even find a policy or procedure manual for the department.

Thank you all for your very helpful replies. We are not good friends but I will try to talk to her. I didn't realize that by doing nothing I was also guilty of unprofessional behavior. Joyce

I don't know if I'm in the right area but I have a coworker (RN) who has lost her license twice for narcotic abuse and her behavior is such that I am sure she is relapsing. She is constantly signing out narcotics for patients who are not in pain. (We are in a small PACU so her patients are very visible). I don't want to report her because if I am wrong it could ruin her reputation. How do I approach her on a personal level? We work in an area where lots of IV narcotics are used. No one has followed up on required drug screens due to change of management.

Hang in there. The economy will eventually turn around. (Hopefully when Obama is gone but I digress). In the meantime keep studying and attending seminars. I would also suggest volunteering in a hospital just to get your foot in the door, meet other nurses, and let them know you are available for work. Good luck.