fergus51

fergus51

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  1. One stop wages shopping....

    All right Californians, I am wondering if anyone can tell me the wages in San Diego (from new grad on up). A friend and I are considering it, because I can't seem to save any money here.... I know Karen works down there and so did premnrs right? If y...
  2. A friend of mine wants to complete her BSN through the university here because our hospital will pay for a lot of it. She's here on a TN visa. Anyone know if she needs to change her visa or anything to do it?
  3. Fountain Valley?

    Anyone work for the Tenet hospital in Fountain Valley? I was thinking of taking a per diem position there and would appreciate any insider info.
  4. Sleeping

    Is there no one else on such a large unit that can go and get them? There has rarely been a time I've worked in a large unit that absolutely no one could step off the unit for 3 minutes to grab someone from the break room. Or offer them your cell pho...
  5. Sleeping

    I work with a lot of people who nap on their break time, but they take one hour just like the rest of us. It always surprises me that people complain about sleepers. It doesn't matter what they do on their break as long as they come back on time. And...
  6. Is working in the NICU physically stressful?

    It does often involve a lot of standing like any nursing job, but I'd say it's less physically demanding than a lot of specialties because our patients are light.
  7. It's a 24 hour job:) I have heard a lot of people say nights is easier, slower, quieter, whatever. I always tell them if it sounds like such a great shift to work, they should sign up to do it. Few do. I'm looking forward to starting a day shift job ...
  8. How do you count HR in the DR

    Palpate cord, 6 seconds times 10. But, I also tap out the heart beat with my other hand on the bed so the other team members have an idea. Some nurses tap it with their feet too. Then even if you don't calculate quickly they still know what's going o...
  9. What's the Difference?

    I'd go with the first hospital. Children's hospitals that do all the wierd stuff are a great place to learn and all that, but they don't give you as much of the general experience. If you want to move around to other units and other hospitals, you're...
  10. 1 year experience

    Please listen to the others. There is nothing worse than working with a traveller who doesn't know her stuff yet because she doesn't have enough experience. The reason they pay travellers what they do is because you're supposed to be able to function...
  11. NICUs in Dallas?

    A friend of mine worked in Baylor's NICU for years and really liked it. She also speaks highly of Presbyterian in Plano (the Texas girls all seem to just call it PresbyPlano).
  12. I'm never primarying again, y'all

    I'm glad you asked for a bit of a breather:) The sad truth is, if you couldn't find the strength to do that, then changing specialties won't help you. You'll wind up quitting nursing altogether because you'll get burned out anywhere you go unless you...
  13. I'm never primarying again, y'all

    I'm so sorry for you. I know what it's like to look after a baby like that. I think the other posters have given you some excellent advice. Get the ethics team involved and step back a bit from that family. If you think the other nurses you work wit...
  14. New Mexico for me?

    Hi all, I am seriously thinking about moving out to New Mexico. I like living in a big city as I do now, but I am sick of the INSANELY cold weather and the cost of living is not accounted for in our pay. I am looking to move to a medium sized city wh...
  15. Humiliating IV questions

    It really depends on the type of catheter you're using. We use those safety clicking angiocaths (not the kind with the button). I used to have trouble advancing those. The key for me was to go in VERY slowly. Then after I felt the pop I would advance...
  16. Circumcision

    Work nights. It isn't an issue then cause OBs don't want to do them during the night. I don't participate in circs and don't feel guilty about it. My coworkers know me well enough to know that it isn't me trying to get out of work and I do more than...
  17. UAB Pre-employment physical??????

    It sounds like the physicals I've done for my jobs down here in California. Except I also have to pee in a cup so they can check for drug use:)
  18. Family visits

    Or they just aren't listening at all. I can't tell you how many times I've been giving report and while I'm telling them about family involvement or something else they are writing down their med times, planning what time to go to break, looking at l...
  19. I think B was wrong. If you know the kid hasn't been on the med for over a week, you shouldn't have a problem. A, I would leave up to the individual though I don't see any real reason to refuse. Standard precautions still apply. JMHO.
  20. Liablity question..

    JCAHO does NOT look kindly on nurses leaving a written report and taking off. Not cool at all.
  21. I do not believe they should unless like you say they are contraindicated for pregnancy. I am personally sick of people going to work and being unwilling to work.
  22. NICU nurses should take PALS...IMO

    Of course we do codes:lol2:. I work in a LARGE unit. We covered all those scenarios in NRP and that was specific to neonates as was STABLE. I suspect it was your teacher. I think SVT is pretty obvious, I recognized that in babies long before I took P...
  23. Youngest preemies

    Just wanted to add: they never will. No one gets it until it happens to them. If you want to discuss NICU with non-NICU people you'll be in for trouble. They just don't get it. It's the same reason you often can't convince people about viability. Te...
  24. Youngest preemies

    Unfortunately you have no way of knowing if your child has problems until they are much older. You just have to wait and watch. It's not until they get older and start missing milestones that you'll know anything is wrong. Your pediatrician will be c...
  25. NICU nurses should take PALS...IMO

    I've got my pals as well and think it is completely useless for a NICU nurse (I took it because I float to PICUs). I didn't find the mock code scenarios or the ECG interpretation useful. Frankly, I don't believe you can stay competent in that sort of...