chickie

I only got 2 weeks 10 years ago, but things have really changed since then. We are giving new grads in the hospital 3 months entry-into-practise orientation. Wish we had this program when I was a new nurse

Hi, I was 40 when I graduated from nursing school. The more you use your brain the better you feel. I also have had no problem getting a job and after moving to another state. I work three 12 hour shifts and I am tired but the young girls in their 20's are just as tired as I am. Your right, your as young as you feel!!! I still think I'm 29. Good Luck

The nare swab goes into one culture tube, the groin swab goes into another culture tube and the rectal culture goes into another culture tube. It is treated with antibiotics:specs:

Although most of the doctors are finally starting to look up their labs, etc. on the computer, there are always a few who ask. Once we became computerized and the doc persisted to ask us for previously documented information, we complained to our Nurse Mgr who took our complaints to the Medical Staff director who directed to docs and also provided them with training to look up this information. We still have a doc who writes an order to call with lab values, however, our Nurse mgr. states "do not call with normal labs" as they have the ability to look up this information. We are very busy nurses looking after several patient's needs at the same time, however, the Docs see one patient at a time. One Doc pulled a phone out of the wall because the dictation was not working correctly, scaring many people who were in the vacinity at the time. He was sent a bill for the phone and I hope disciplined, but why do these doctors keep getting away with this type of behavior?

We have also started doing rectal swab, groin swabs and nare swabs as our protocol. We were told that all hospitals throughout the US were now doing this procedure to help stop the spread of MRSA and VRE. We do our swabs every Monday until or unless the patient tests positive.

Using a code number instead of the last name, where it is required, is a great idea. I work in Maine. There was an incident in my hospital where one of the nurses who has a very friendly personality was stocked by a patient's son. It was pretty scarey. After that episode many of us had our last name removed from our badge. I previously worked in Massachusetts at a hospital where our last name was not required.:chair:

Sorry, I can't answer your questions about AZ but what is your opinion on correctional nursing. There is a facility in my area advertising for a nurse, I was wondering what a job there would entail? :)

I'm making under $22 in a rural hospital in maine

I'm making under $22 in a rural hospital in maine

You flush each port with heparin to keep them patent. The lovenox administered sc in the abdominal area is used as a blood thinner to prevent blood clots, don't put the lovenox into the central line. Out central line policy is to flush each port with 5cc of normal saline followed by 2.5cc of heparin in each port and always use a 10cc syringe in the central lines.

You flush each port with heparin to keep them patent. The lovenox administered sc in the abdominal area is used as a blood thinner to prevent blood clots, don't put the lovenox into the central line. Out central line policy is to flush each port with 5cc of normal saline followed by 2.5cc of heparin in each port and always use a 10cc syringe in the central lines.

Yes, I also find the pulse oximeter reading frustrating. I have called a respiratory therapist for assistance when my patient appears to be in respiratory distress - wheezing, using accessory muscles, complaining of increasing shortness of breath and in almost every instance their reply has been "well, the oximeter reading is 96%"

I'm getting working on my ADN to BSN at University of Maine Fort Kent on line. I think they also have an LPN to BSN program.

Hi, I work in a hospital in rural Maine. Our patient load on Med/Surg is 5-6 for the day shift. This ratio has improved over the last year after an addition to the hospital and our complaints of high patient/nurse ratio, which at that time was 7-8 per nurse with full census, finally won us an increase in the budge to hire another nurse. We still have heavy assignments as most of them are postop and/or elderly needing total assistance but I can't complain after reading the ratios at your hospitals.