lovingtheunloved

I worked in an LTAC for several years. One thing to consider is the nurse to patient ratio, because these patients are SICK. I frequently had multiple multiple patients on pressors and/or cardiac gtts, trach/vents, HD, PD, lots of wounds, on TF or TPN, most of them are quite debilitated, and very needy. I was fortunate to work for one that staffed appropriately. Many don’t. If you are looking at one with good staffing, I’d go for the LTAC. I saw all kinds of things. Cardiac, GI, neuro, ortho, pulmonary, surgical…it was a great experience and I learned a lot. My two cents! ?

I suspect the OP has returned under a different name...

I wear gloves to pass meds just because like another poster said, if food service workers do...also there are a lot of meds that gloves are recommended due to the drugs potential for harmful effects to the handler, such as if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive.

Maybe I’m the weird one here, but I never ever get a patient on pressors out of the bed...things go awry fast and then you have a coding patient on the commode. Then again, I don’t do pressors all the time, maybe once every couple of months. I realize my experience is limited.

I can’t speak to that. Ours turn themselves around. You fix them, 5 minutes later they’re flipped again. May not have been intentional.

Omnicell is more user friendly to me. Pyxis always had those damn doors that wouldn’t open.

My hospital has different badges for each discipline. Unfortunately these are always turned around and the patients can’t see them anyway.

If you think you genuinely have an anxiety disorder, for the love, get treatment. Been there, and my quality of life is so much better in general, not to mention work.

Hanging blood. I can walk into what looks like a crime scene and I’m fine, but something about the blood in the bag makes me feel like I’m going to pass out.

I’m sorry, how is a “no more sticks list” even a thing? So what, your IV goes bad and you’re on the list so you’re SOL and you just don’t get anymore IV meds? PICC ‘em!

Zosyn and Vanco are compatible, just FYI.

I lived alone and worked 48 hour weeks as a CNA to pay the bills. I have absolutely zero idea how I managed that in retrospect. I know I didn’t sleep, like, ever.

I have a severe anxiety disorder, and I’ve fortunately learned to manage it well, but holy smokes was nursing school hard because of it! What I wish I would have known then: Take good care of yourself, and make sure you keep all your appointments with the doctor managing your meds. Call them if you start to struggle. Eat well, make time for some physical activity, and do something at least once a week that relieves stress. Good luck to you!

I work with a nurse who wears a hijab. It’s never been an issue.

I honestly had a LOT of trouble transitioning from LTC/sub-acute to the hospital. Mostly because our equipment at the SNF was ancient, we had to send everyone to the ER for every little thing so I didn’t get to treat the things I should have, and it was a huge culture shock. I eventually got my groove though! And who knows, it may just be me. I worked SNF for 7 years before coming to the hospital. We’ve had other SNF nurses who have done just fine. Good luck!