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Just how important is it to receive a BSN accredited by one of those two bodies? I'm seriously looking at South University. They are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Thanks in advance!

Excellent! Thank you.

Nice! I appreciate the explanation. Please explain triple H therapy! Or does this have nothing to do w/ increased ICP?

i think that you and i worked at the same hospital! please, read a book. yes, cardiac surgery essentials is an excellent resource. be the rn who knows how & why!

Greetings, I apologize for my late reply. I appreciate the recommendations. Sleep has already been covered. Thanks Mary. Aaron, that's a swell idea. I'll start there. As much as we, the staff, complain about our work environment. There are plenty of opportunities for improvement in our SICU. I look forward to getting back to you all in the future! Thanks!

Yes, there are two sides to every story. My nursing home story: share, I must. I discharged a patient from the telemetry unit that I was floated to, back to his nursing home. The monitor tech. informed me, at 1900, that I forgot to remove the telemetry monitor from said patient. They, the monitor techs, go on about how expensive the monitor is. The nursing home is not far from the hospital, and even closer to my apt. After my shift, I went to the nursing home to retrieve the monitor. I explain to someone who I am, and the situation. I presumed that someone has been waiting for someone to retrieve the monitor. I presumed that the monitor would be waiting for me at a desk, safely tucked away. Nope! Said someone told me to go to the patient's room. No escort, nothing. I found the telemetry monitor. To my dismay, still attached to the man's chest! I can't say that the patient had not been assessed. However, I thought to myself: how many times have I assessed a patient and "found" an unaccessed infusaport, that I was not told about in report? How do you not see a telemetry monitor? Are there nursing homes that monitor cardiac rhythms? I'm not being judgmental. I do not know of the conditions in homes. However, that was a wow moment!

Greetings, Does anyone care to share a project that you or someone else has completed in your ICU. I'm on the Central Line Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) team. However, I'd like to come up with something original. I continue to think of ways to improve the efficiency in the ICU. However, nothing doing. Thanks.

My response to this is: education! If you do not have ACLS, get the certification. It doesn't matter that your unit does not require it. Study for CCRN. It doesn't matter that you are not in the ICU. No, I'm not suggesting that you take the test. Just study! You will be much more confident in your ability to care for people. Take a telemetry course. It doesn't matter that your unit does not use monitors. If your hospital does grand rounds: attend! I certainly recall being a new nurse. I began in telemetry, then ICU. I recall that the majority of my anxiety was secondary to (2/2) a lack of knowledge. The more I filled in the knowledge gaps, I rendered better care, I understood why, and subsequently, I slept better.

i appreciate the reply. you have a fan in me!

indeed!

I appreciate the comments. I use to work in an obscure hospital. The only people who have heard of said hospital are those people in the region. It is a teaching facility, a level one trauma center, and holds Magnet status. Patients who met the criteria, were indeed ambulated. I started working at this facility in 2008. Talk about progressive! I now work at a hospital with a well known national name and reputation. A vented patient was ambulated for the first time in this facility last week: Feb. of 2012! I guess that I am more amazed by the fact that an obscure hospital in the North is more progressive, in this regard and others, than a very well known hospital in the South. I am not down on this hospital as much as they are believers of their reputation. By the way, this facility is a teaching hospital, performs all solid and hollow organ transplants, including hands, and does not hold Magnet status. Just in case you all were curious.

Does your ICU do this?

BINGO! Could not agree more.

there is a right way and a wrong way to do anything. if she truly wanted to make him a better nurse, she could and should, tactfully point out his deficiency. she could at the very least, offer a rationale for her questions. however, more info. is needed. for sure, i know a nurturer from a bully. i am the former. most of us know when we are being bullied. i've been bullied. i have never walked away from a nurturing moment feeling bad. i've never walked away from a bully feeling good. the op clearly feels bad. the op clearly states that she is the only one who has a problem with him. brokenroads27, if you are worried about a write up, talk to the nurse. if a talk does not help, escalate.

I've worked at a hospital with an excellent turn team. As already stated, two trained personnel come q2h to assist with turns. However, unlike the "team" that your unit trialling, this team is independent of the units they serve. I work at a hospital that is going to begin trialling the aides as a turn team. Perhaps it has already begun. However, I don't see it working well. Someone must continue to help w/ various tasks: clean ups, help w/ transfers, stocking linen, etc. Contact OSF ST. Francis Medical Ctr. in Peoria, IL. This is the hospital w/ an excellent turn team: tried and tested.