RNbethy

I think you've completely missed the point with your sarcastic exaggerations. Team dynamics ARE important to saving lives. If they weren't important, ACLS courses wouldn't emphasize them so much. It takes as much time to calmly correct someone's c...

I agree with Do-over. In ACLS, team dynamics are very important. We are taught to give instructions clearly and calmly and not to raise our voices. It might seem odd, but basic human courtesies also apply during an emergency because they MAKE THE ...

I was already hired on a stroke unit and went through the interview process about a month ago, which was great. I felt prepared and confident during this interview! At this time, the manager only had part time work available, which I gladly accepted...

I've got a question about preceptorship... I've often heard that a preceptor prefers a preceptee who "does not act like he or she knows everything." But... how do I strike the right balance? Should I ever act like I know nothing about a topic just...

Thank you for all of your comments. This advice was really helpful. I do value the practical experience thing because it is the only way one can actually make the theory useful.... Without practical skill, a nurse would not be a nurse. Thanks for a...

I feel so down about my preceptorship and need some motivation/guidance! How is it possible that I've done so well in all my clinicals, and now I'm told that I am at risk for failure? I'm so confused. When I started my preceptorship, I was motivat...

Have you heard about the street nurse Cathy Crowe? She's a Canadian nurse who has advocated for social justice and who is very inspirational. Check out cathycrowe.ca if interested :)

I feel so down about my preceptorship and need some motivation/guidance! How is it possible that I've done so well in all my clinicals, and now I'm told that I am at risk for failure? I'm so confused. When I started my preceptorship, I was motivat...

How do you manage thirst? I've been swabbing the patient's mouth with ice water and then suctioning. Can you ever swab without suctioning? For example if the mucosal glands are extremely dry and the patient has a CASS tube? How do you balance the...

My patient is supposed to be extubated today, and I was looking for nursing research or review articles on how to best care for the extubated patient (I'm on night shift). I haven't found any info on this topic and was wondering if anyone could give ...

Is this something that I should be able to do? - Go to a critical care conference from 7am to 1630 on a Friday in another city with 3 hours total commute time - Then go to clinical for the night shift on Saturday night from 1930 to Sunday morning at ...

Thanks for the feedback... While I agree that all nurses should work nights, sometimes the short turn arounds are unhealthy. I will have to wake up at 2 am on Friday to make it to the conference on time (due to commitments at home). By the time I...

Hi, I've been looking for some literature on how to reduce anxiety/desats during repositioning. Just wondering... as I have to place the patient in the supine position for several minutes when repositioning, would it be a good idea to preoxygenate th...

Thanks for the advice. This has been helpful, and I will try to look at the bigger picture here. It can be confusing when, in all my other clinicals, I have been responsible for documentation and communicating on some level to the doctor... And no...

I'm concerned about the 2 very different approaches that my preceptors have. By the 2nd day, my first preceptor wanted me to do almost all of the patient care and documentation, as well as multidisciplinary rounds. I was overwhelmed but also very e...

Is this mainly for metablic acidosis? Or also for respiratory acidosis? Or both? My drug guide says metabolic acidosis, which makes sense since bicarb levels are lowered in metabolic acidosis. As for respiratory acidosis, in which bicarb levels...

In school and clinical, I usually can communicate just fine! However, I just started my ICU preceptorship, and my words are not coming out normal.... Everything that I want to say is getting mixed up when it comes out, and I have sounded so stupid ...

What is the best way to position a patient who has CHF and pneumonia, which is more pronounced @ the right lung? To help with the pneumonia, side lying on the patient's left would be optimal to enhance ventilation:perfusion ratio. However, is this p...

My preceptor has used a new term that I am not familair with. "Coarse" lung sounds, which are NOT the same as crackles... Coarse lung sounds indicate secretions whereas crackles indicate pulmonary edema. Why? Can anyone give more info on these s...

Thanks for all your replies; they have been very helpful. This explains why I didn't get her question right when she asked me about the "coarse" breath sounds. Do you think it would sound rude if I sent an email to my preceptor and ask her: Just w...

Thanks for the feedback - yes I am definitely nervous!! I'm also trying hard (probably too hard) to not act like a "know it all" with my preceptor as I heard that preceptors do not like this.... BUT it's hard to find a balance. If I just be myself...

Do I need to be worried about posting questions on here about patient care? Could confidentiality be breached on this site? How should I safeguard??

Thanks for all the replies - I feel much better now about asking questions on this site. As long as everything is generic, I should be ok! :)

Thanks for all the replies. I can see the importance of providing pain meds before turning the patient, but the pt is already getting a fentanyl drip, titrated to the highest ordered level. Also, according to the person who was helping me turn the ...

Totally normal to feel that way! It's also normal to be a little dyslexic and answer the odd question wrong even when we know the right answer! Don't beat yourself up. There's probably lots of other questions that you got right. In the end, IT'S ...