myschuler

Advice noted everyone. I did ask about the policy and apparently it is not as clear as it is in some other facilities. I am sure this will be changed. I just wish I had had more experienced nurses I could have asked during the crisis. I just wish I didn't have to make such bad mistakes to learn from them. I'm scared to go back to work. Bad things can happen even in an SNF. I'm rethinking my desire to work in acute care. If I can do this in a rehab facility what other worse mistakes could I make in a hospital?????

I am a fairly new nurse (graduated in June, started working at the end of August) in a rehab facility. I had a recently admitted resident 10 day s/p CABG x 4 who was found dead in his room during my NOC shift. He was full code but I did not initiate CPR because it was clear that he had been dead for more than a few minutes (he was mottling, the blood was pooling under his head, no respirations or detectable apical pulse. I've had a few days to think about what happened and I'm starting to wonder if I should have started CPR anyway. When is it too late to start CPR? If a resident is full code, should I have started compressions regardless of how cold or blue he was? He was last seen breathing an hour or 1.5 hours before he was found. So he wasn't left alone all night but we don't have one-on-one with a resident unless they have other indications that they are having issues, which he did not. I would like to know what other, more experienced nurses think about this issue.

Hi. I just graduate with my ADN as a second career. Before that, I was full time mom and before that I was an attorney (yeah, weird, I know). So, I'm hearing here and there that if I want even a chance at a hospital residency position (I want to be in the ICU one day), I need a BSN. But I keep thinking, "really? I already have a B.A. and a J.D.!" My original plan was to work, gain experience, and then go for a masters in a clinical specialty. But now, I'm now sure. I just can't believe that all my other experience and education doesn't count, especially when the BSN program really doesn't have any clinical component -- it's just more research and writing. I'm working in a really well run SNF, so I'm not really unhappy, but my dream has been to be in the ICU. I'll do what it takes but I'd like to know what other people have heard before I jump back into school. Thanks!