AnonRNC

Arrive early so you can cool off in the AC and stop sweating before your interview. Consider using a public bathroom (off the main lobby/entrance) to change into your clothes if you're SURE you won't be seen in casual attire.

Baby delivered by caesarean section with Father in attendance. Father witnesses any resuscitative efforts and walks to NICU along side baby in transport isolette. On the unit, we slap ECG leads and pulse ox on the baby, maybe grab a stethoscope, and Dad asks: "What's his blood type?" Really?!?

Pardon me, I wasn't clear: 40% is our "somewhat higher" for preterms. Term babies are started at 21%. Yes, if the HR

The NRP book just says "somewhat higher" for premature babies. My facility has decided to start at 40%, but that's arbitrary, not evidence based. In general you titrate to oxygen saturations. The other hard and fast rule is that if you start chest compressions, the O2 goes immediately to 100%.

These are two different things. "I have great plans next Tuesday and will call in sick" is NOT a mental health day. "OMG, I'm so exhausted and depressed by my job that I cannot possibly go to my job today," IS a mental health day.

umcRN is right: the benefits of enteral feeds outweigh the risks. But when the bad outcome hits YOUR patient, it's hard to remember that.

Pens are easy to replace, your license is not.

PMFB-RN, thank you for your service.

NEC is terrible. You did what you could. It's an insidious disease.

I just want to say thanks... Because of this thread, I had yet ANOTHER conversation with my kids about safe sex...and found out that one thought the Pill protected against STIs. I will continue to have these conversations w/my kids.

However, to address what I believe MIGHT be your point. Yes, nursing diagnoses can be a bit awkward, but they serve as our profession's language and lead to NURSING interventions, which promote health along side (or sometime in spite of) medical interventions.

Then articulate your point in plain English or professional nursing language.

Actually..... I like this bit the best:

Why DO you want to be a peds nurse?

This is a nice opportunity to practice your firm, assertive voice. "No, I'm sorry. I cannot. I have another commitment at that time." Hopefully, you won't need to stay on at that facility for long - it sounds like a mess!

When we get a new attending, I say, "Hi, I'm Anon. I'm concered about Patient Smith who has...blah, blah, blah." The best attendings respond, "Hi Anon! I'm Joe. Let's do these things for Patient Smith: etc."

If you want it for YOU, get it!!! (Mine reimbursed the test fee after verification of "pass" result, and pays an extra $1.25/hr.)

Everything I've ever read has said that sanitizer is okay UNLESS HANDS ARE VISIBLY SOILED. Then you need soap-and-water.

Marydc, I have the utmost respect for psych nurses. On my heirarchy, they are at the top. I mean, really!? I work NICU - I can't even handle patients that can talk! More seriously: you are right; we all have our niche. And I hope that the newbies can find theirs soon.

For any sort of malpractice judgement to be awarded, there must have been harm, so there is no legal issue in the situation you describe. Regarding discipline of an employee: policies vary among facilities. One med error is not usually grounds for termination. A good facility will look at two things: was the system set up in such a way that it perpetuated the error? is there a pattern of problems with this nurse?

Most babies go home and are perfectly healthy and normal. The few who die... are ready for it, and it is usually a relief to me when they do. I cry at home. Once in a while at work. When I cry, it's not for the baby (I believe they are in a better place), but for the parents' grief. I'd hate to lose one of my children.

This is such a personal decision. I can only give you my thoughts. I was very pregnant with my first child when I finished nursing school. The faculty was helpful in placing me in clinicals that finished early in the term so that if I did have complications, I would only need to complete my academic work. Then, in less than six months, I graduated, became a mother, passed the NCLEX, started a new job in a new career, and bought a house. It was a rough year. I wouldn't recommend it to others. Neither would I change it, if I could. You list 2 options: being very pregnant at graduation and waiting until after graduation to get pregnant. What about being "just a little pregnant" at graduation? If you're early and don't show much, the hiring authorities at your future place of employment don't need to know about it.

I think it started when they stopped keeping score at kids' soccer games and gave ALL the kids a trophy!

When I worked inpatient Peds, we used to say that when they had seizures.Inappropriate humor (in the right place: never around patients or families) has the wonderful effect of helping us process the horror we see in our jobs. It lets us blow off steam. It lets us laugh when else we'd cry.

Once the patient is discharged, the onus is on THEM to manage their healthcare and prescriptions. You handed the stuff to the charge nurse. I think you've done what you could.