Bound&DeterminedRN

This is bad...insulin pens, metoprolol, colase, and work phone. Hey it could have been worse some people have been known to keep the narc/pca keys and live 2 hours from the hospital and have to come right back! That ususally happens on a bad day when you dont think about checking your pockets and you are just trying to get the hell out of there!

10 patients??!! I currently work at a >500 bed hospital, a level 1 trauma center. Im actually a med surg nurse, i have just taken a grand tour and have done several interviews with the er and icu. I think our hospital is bad but jeeze, to hear this story makes me thankful. We have a policy in our hospital where each level of care has a limit on how many patients a nurse can take. Med surg limit is 6. ER limit is 4. Tele units 4. ICU 2. To many people reading this I'm sure it does look like we have it made. But why then when I have 6 patients I cant catch a break, I dont even pee in 12 hours,and I damn sure dont ever leave on time. It's not just me with these problems either. I wonder if it has something to do with the difference in acuity of the pts or maybe a difference in charting or other requirement. Maybe you should go to a different hospital with a lower nurse to pt ratio.

Holy crap the bag is moving:eek:

mmm cdiff, hahaha like that name:D

Yeah, that one comment seemed a little harsh considering the topic. I am a 25 yo who has grown up in a computer/gaming world. I do not own a i phone or use the internet on my phone vs people 20 years older than me who may use it all day at work. In my opinion its okay to use your phone was long as it in no way interferes with you taking care of your patient. I text periodically during the day when I'm not busy if I need to. I do have co workers though that sit out in the hall even and mess with their phones all day long...and they wonder why they forgot to hang that bag of K+. I actually work with a nurse that brings her lap top in to work and plays cafe world on facebook!! While im busting my ass all day long shes over there complaining about getting another admission and only 2 seconds ago she was playing that game! Now that's something to ***** about on here. Bottom line...use common sense. A nurse knows when he/she is abusing the right to have a phone at work, some people are simply good at not getting caught or they just dont care. But, I dont see anything wrong with what you are doing:)

I think I am in the same boat as you! I have been a nurse now for 3 years on a med surg/neuroscience floor. I just recently accepted a offer in the MICU afer trying for 2 months. I feel like I am ready to take on a challenge and actually take care of people that really do need to be in the hospital! I've always been good at noticing a change in a pts condition and have been willing and ready to help out in codes. From how you described yourself I think that you will have a good transition from med surg to ICU. You already have a great foundation and you can go anywhere from the ICU. I should be starting sometimes in late September. I am scared, excited, and worried about doing "swing shifts" but Im not gonna let that stop me:) Just Do It