Burks21

I can confidently say that Parkinson's does not rule out a cardiac cath, having taken care of those patients in the past.

If I'm working back to back shifts, I'll change them my first night. If I'm only working 1 day in a row, they get changed. It's just included in my assessment really. I'm there, might as well do it. You'd be amazed at the number of false alarms you get with frequent patch changes. It's not uncommon to come across a patch drier than my humor.

We frequently use the Fentanyl and Propofol combination for our intubated patients. Rarely due we used Versed. We will occasionally use Precedex for patients at risk of withdrawl from whatever (often think the med just plain doesn't work). Our docs want us to get Propofol off as soon as possible and continue using Fentanyl gtts and IV pushes to keep patients sedated but easy to arouse. It's a fine line.

Clock in 1854 on average. Clock out 0725 on average. Sometimes report takes fooooorrrrreeeevvvveeerrrr depending on who I'm giving report to. "They have a Right AC salin" "When did they poop last?" Shut it! I'll get there!

We used to have a therapy dog come in on day shift to our hospital. He could count to 10, open doors, navigate the hospital on his own, etc. His owner was quite elderly so I'm not really sure what happened. Haven't seen either the dog or the owner for a year or so. He was such a big baby of a dog. Probably weighed 80-100lbs, German Shepard, but a big baby. He loved to just be touched by anyone. We have allowed personal pets to brought in, provided they are clean and the patient is not infectious (MRSA, VRE, etc).

Jumping back in to this discussion. What would really drive my insane is if we switched to how RT is doing it now. 12 hour shifts, "sort of" self scheduling, and every other weekend! F THAT! I like my known rotation and every 3rd weekend rotation. I couldn't do every other weekend, no way. Literally zero personal life (not that I have one now anyways). Here lately I've been picking up random 4 hour shifts, 7pm-11pm. That's by far our busiest time and they need the extra help. While it is super busy, as I often get an admit right away (because I don't complain), my 4 hours goes by super quick. Aaaaaaand I get that Taco Bell 4th meal after work so.....another positive.

If I was looking at FNP I'd go to UoCin or Ohio State. A friend of mine went there (moved there actually, Cincinnati) for his ACNP. Absolutely loved the program and staff.

I'd like to be loan free by 10 years out of school. If my wife were to quit working, which was the plan, we'd be back living the same way we are now for 10 more years and we'd both be in our mid 40's. Seems way too long to live with such debt, at such an age. We live below our means as it is ($40k house, and I drive a rust bucket $600 Cavalier), so that amount of debt just seems insane. We're basically a one income household, as my wife brings home enough to cover the house payment each month and that's it. Around here the wage for acute care NP's range very widely. $90k-$130k. Knowing my luck, I'd be stuck at $90k. Wife has no idea of ever moving so I'm SOL.

Gay or not, all I care about is if my fellow male nurse will help me with turns and get their hands dirty. What you do outside of work is your own thing. I don't know how most women could find a male nurse attractive because of their job. "Oh so you touch other men's junk and get poop on your hands all day? TAKE ME NOW!" Yeah, not so much.

I did my RN to BSN through OU and they really weren't very helpful with setting up my schedule or helping in that regard at all. I've known a few graduates from that program that say the same thing. But on the other hand they also say the education they received was worth it. If I were doing the FNP route, I would not hesitate to go to OU.

We just started something new at our hospital. Step down patients - They call to say the patient is on the way. No report. Figure it out ourselves now. Often the patients are sent up with patient aides. ICU patients - Sent up with a nurse, often not the primary. They try to give report to us while moving the patient into the ICU bed, untangling the mess of wires, and fixing their drips (seriously....5mcg of Diprivan and they wonder why the patient is fighting?).

I'd love to work a 3p-3a shift. My mom did that 20 some years ago and she said it worked perfectly. Even a 3a-3p would work nicely I guess. Other than those two shifts, I'll stick with 7p-7a as well

I have only worked 12 hour shifts and prefer them. I'd rather work 3 nights a week rather than 5 nights. You are right though, 12 hour shifts leave you enough time to get home, shower, sleep, wake up, eat, shower, and head back to work. That's the negative.

Do you mind me asking if you two got an estimate for the total cost of your program? I'm looking at the ACAGNP program but I'm seeing like $80k for the full thing. I just wanted a realistic idea as to what I may have to pay. Georgetown looks to be my top pick but geez....$80k.....that's bit much.

The accusations of sexual assault and the like are a very big concern. I always, always, always bring a female with me. I also always ask the patient if it's OK if I place the foley, which they rarely say no. I don't even bother with asking the young females in the teens and 20's, I know the answer is no. This not only protects myself from any legal issues, but it also puts the patient as ease. To tell you the truth, I'd rather have another male put my foley in if I ever need one! At least we can each understand the situation and be professional (Ok...I probably couldn't be if I were the patient receiving the foley) about the whole thing. My female co-workers never question me when I ask them to help or if they'd do the foley for me. I get enough requests to cath the "creepy old guy who keeps winking at me" and the like. It's an even trade off. Plus they normally say something like "Yeah I don't want a guy down there either unless it's my husband!". You know, the normal off the wall nurse talk.