FlashGrad

Colace, exelon patches, percocet, ultram, bp meds (beta blockers, acei,etc), digoxin, lipitor, cipro, bactrim, flagyl, lidocaine patches, flomax, detrol, avodart, potassium, milk of magnesia, ativan, oxycodone, ambien. Hope this helps. You'll find that for the most part you will give the same ones over and over. We have four different doctors, they each have their favorites. Good luck at your new job!

Thanks for all the responses. SkyDancer, that list is exactly what I was looking for!

You are not crazy at all, that is a ridiculous assignment and very unsafe. Having just 1 or 2 of those patients would have been very difficult to manage. Was there a manager around that could of helped? Did your coworkers have as difficult of an assignment?

Graduated in May 2008, started my job in the beginning of July. I took NCLEX right after starting my job. Live in Ohio. I feel lucky to have graduated in '08 because I have talked to numerous people around here and found it much more difficult just one year later. There seems to be a shortage (er, complete lack of) new grad positions here in Cleveland area.

Hello all, I am not pregnant yet (but hopefully soon!), but I have been unable to find a list of meds to avoid handling while pregnant.I have done multiple searches online, with no luck. I am working in short term rehab and it seems like I have come across a couple of meds lately that have the warning. I already know about avodart, proscar and chemo drugs. Thanks in advance

18 bed SNF, day shift, ohio, usually 2 nurses split the assignment in half. We only go down to one nurse if census is really low. 2 stna's.

I came from cardiothoracic surg stepdown at the clinic, as a new grad. I got so much valuable experience from that unit. It can be intense, but so interesting, especially if your interested in cardiac. This type of floor included post op care, telemetry, trach/vent experience, exposure to VADs, cardio and even some med surg too. I have never regretted my decision to make this my first nursing job. Once you interview, I believe they suggest shadowing for a few hrs, I would definitely recommend this! Let me know if you have any other questions, I would be happy to help, good luck with your decision.

The last posts hit it on the head! I just came from an open heart floor. A common occurence was pt's going into afib, often high rate. We often gave IV lopressor, mag and/or amiodarone. Also, protocols for epicardial wires getting pulled are important. I would study up on common cardiac meds too (how they work, side effects, etc) . Good luck, working on an open heart unit made me LOVE cardiac! I also gained so much useful experience. It is always helpful to have a cardiac background, wherever you may end up.

Getoverit, just a question, why wouldnt atropine benefit a heart transplant recipient? Just curious, thanks!

I would definitely get the book before class, it would be very helpful. Is this class thru the American heart assoc? They have an AHA acls book and cd, which are very good. The class is quite intense, but you will learn a lot. I recently became acls certified thru my employer, and it was split into 2 days. If you are not able to get the book beforehand, I would recommend using online resources. Good luck!

I did ok (just missing the desired good score) on the tests offered at the kaplan class (was this the "readiness test", cant remember) and did HORRIBLE on the online tests/question trainers. I was so worried about it! I got 75 questions and PASSED the first time, go figure. I don't know how! I thought the kaplan tests were so much harder than nclex. Good luck.

Percocet, tylenol, potassium supp. Cardiothor. surg stepdown.

Hi, I am taking nclex in just less than two weeks. I have always been a last minute kind of studier, and I understand that it's not going to cut it for nclex. I am STILL having problems with establishing a routine. I have taken the kaplan class and am also using the qbank questions (~200) and question trainers (only a few of them). I don't know what is wrong with me. I want to be a nurse more than anything else and really don't want to nclex more than once. I don't know if I am so tired of studying from school that I have an aversion towards it now. :banghead: Currently I am looking for a new house, closing on my current house in 3 1/2 weeks, packing up a house, starting a job in one week, trying to study and helping my sister plan a wedding for december (I am matron of honor)! My head is ready to explode! Before all of this I had an anxiety problem and took xanax prn, but now I am constantly panicked to the point where I frequently feel heaviness in my chest. Any words of advice? Everyone keeps telling me that I will be fine, but I don't know that. :confused: Thanks for listening to my vent!

Actually, I am in your same situation. I just saw a podiatrist and told me not to wear real flat shoes. He said the best thing was a simple pair of cross trainers. I am also getting an orthotic made. I have tried numerous types of inserts, athletic shoes (almost every brand) and birkenstocks, nothing has helped me. New Balance seems to work best for me. He also gave me these plastic heel cups until I get my orthotic. I just received a cortisone shot in my heel , it hurt worse than I can even describe! I think it is helping though. By the way, what are MBTs?

My inlaws always say alztimers instead of alzheimers. It really gets under my skin!

I applied to both CC and UH and found that they both offered me the same, $24/hr. I don't know the shift diff. though. They were both on med surg or cardio floors.

I have accepted a position on a cardiothoracic surg stepdown and the pay is $24/hr. I start in a few weeks and CANNOT WAIT! I really debated between CC and UH for a while. I ended up applying for both and I was really impressed by both as well. Unfortunately, after I shadowed at UH and found that that particular specialty wasn't for me I requested another interview for another floor (something that they had told me previously to do). Well, after that I found it IMPOSSIBLE to get in touch with anybody. No one returned calls and that really turned me off, so I went elsewhere. I am happy with my decision b/c I think this floor will be a better fit for me. The ratios on this floor seemed appropriate also. I have also decided to disregard others opinions on which hospital is better to work for, it is too subjective. My experiences may differ. If the job is that horrible, then I quit and move on.

In regards to the ATT, I graduated from Kent on May 9th and received my ATT just about a month later. Good luck to you!

You can pass or fail regardless of how many questions. Some people are considered controls, and get the entire 265 questions. So yes, you can get all 265 and pass.

We use Epic (hyperspace), and I think it is very easy to use. The downside is that we still do some paper charting. The assessments, treatments, etc are still paper. I have heard eventually everything will be computerized.

That is really cool. But, at least 8 visual signs, wow. Let's just say that I didn't count 8. Did many find eight?

I have been looking at jobs a lot lately because I will be graduating with a BSN in May, and I have found mostly rotating day/night shifts. I am frustrated by this because I really don't like night shift. I live in the Cleveland, OH area and rotating shifts are common here, ugh. I personally don't think my body could handle it. I have heard that a large hospital in the area does 2 wks on days and then switch, 2 wks on nights.... How does that help you develop a routine????? I don't think that is right.

I work on a med surg floor as a nurse tech and I feel it has helped me immensely. You get to see a lot of things, and it will give you a comfort level (it did for me). At times it is absolute insanity, but I think that in the long run it will be beneficial. It will really help you in clinicals and class too. Instead of just reading about certain things, you get to experience them firsthand. Any experience is good though. What areas interest you?

What is the difference between CCU and ICU? Also, is there generally a difference in nurse to patient ratio?

I understand how frustrated you are. I had to wait about 11/2yrs to get into nursing school, and would of waited another year if I didn't transfer to to a regional campus (same university though). The regional campus I am at has only a few nursing instructors/clinical instructors which is problematic if unforseen things arise --which you know they do. Good luck and stay focused if nursing is really what you want to do!