Natural510

I started in ICU, but I was also a nursing assistant for 2 years in the same unit beforehand. Other new grads from my class who got hired there included an ED NA, a step-down NA, and someone with no medical experience at all. The latter has taken the...

Hospitals & critical care educators are trying to move away from propofol and the heavier sedatives because "research shows" patients undergo withdrawal from it upon extubation. Of course these are the same who will tell you an intubated patient ...

I've only seen gravity used with a G-tube, but it's basically the same thing. No reason it can't be done either way.

Many new nurses who can't get into ICU right away will start in an ICU or Cardiac Stepdown unit. It's a step up from med/surg or telemetry in that you'll be dealing with things like chest tubes, sheaths, bi-paps, chronic vents etc to help prepare you...

I work in a smaller regional hospital in Ohio, and our charge nurses do not take patients, if for no other reason than they have to respond to codes and rapid-responses on other units and could be gone for an hour or more at a time. We're also 1:1 wi...

Our facility also has a policy allowing us to chart on a patient within 24 hours, so we can come back the next night to add anything we may have forgotten. Not sure if that is an option for you. As a new nurse in a MICU, I can sympathize, and it does...

A lot of good suggestions here; I will add to not pretend you are in control of a situation when you aren't (don't let your ego overrule the needs of the patients) and don't try to be bossy or think you know more than your experienced preceptor. The ...

It sounds like you've prepared about well as you can. I am also beginning my ICU orientation as a new grad (I worked there as a CNA during school), and picked up that Kathy Taylor critical care manual to help guide me. ALCS & all that is started ...

I've had similar experiences to blackvans, though not quite 1/5. If they want a female CNA for toileting, etc, they just have to wait that much longer to be assited, so it's their loss. It does get irritating, either way. As a nursing student it has ...

Hospitals will also lose reimbursements for revolving-door visits, so in this case it will probably be addition by subtraction if it cuts down on their overall visits.

Man, I used to go there as a patient and told myself if I moved back to the Bay Area and couldn't get in at Kaiser, Sutter would be a solid second option. I guess I'd better stay back East where there are more choices and companies to work with.

There is good and bad in having union representation; the good is obvious, but one of the downsides is the laziest & complainingest employees are usually those who want to use the the union to take on every single grudge they carry...also as an e...

If you are given instructions by your charge nurse, those are what should be carried out. Explain to the other CNAs that you must do a, b & c before you help them out with their tasks for the evening. Likely what is happening is the other CNAs be...

Yeah, like Brandon the idea of pharmacy hours kinda threw me (as did the old-school concepts of paper charting, smoke breaks, and no hospitalist on site). The advice is great for this (hopefully) future ICU nurse. Keep it coming!

Yea, this is how I'm doing it too. I worked FT as a CNA up until this final semester while doing the RN program, the second year with a little guy at home. Basically it's time management and mind-over-matter, though you will sacrifice sleep along the...

There's a guy in my RN classes who is an LPN at Children's Hospital in Columbus OH; he's a brawny-lookin dude and has never mentioned catching flack for his appearance or gender. He started in the burn unit there (said he couldn't take what he saw, p...

Hey, I'm 37 years old and just finishing my Associate's after working as a CNA these past four years in acute care. It's a long road, but trust me it is worth it. Like yourself, I slacked off my 20s working job after unfulfilling job. I have to disag...

I would recommend against this, since you're already an STNA and have a feel for the health care setting (best if you're in acute care). If you know for certain you want to be an RN, just go for the RN program. Otherwise you could be wasting time and...

Which are some of the better hospitals & health systems in North Jersey to work as an RN? I'm planning to move to the area in a couple years after I get out of school and get some nursing experience and am doing some early research. How are the B...

Try to get a nursing assistant position at a local hospital while you're in school. I've been a CNA for three years now, in three different units, and after making a good impression on each manager I'd probably be able to work as a new grad on any of...

CSCC=Clark State, I'm assuming. I'm there now, Spring Quarter of the first year. Don't be intimidated by the waiting list; as long as you finish up your pre-req's, specifically A&P, you shouldn't wait more than two years. It may even be sooner th...

So far I'm obsessed with paying off my debts, but I think I'll splurge on a vacation once those checks start rolling in.

I work full-time and am in nursing school. Luckily I work nights as a nursing assistant, in the ICU, where sometimes we have down time and I can study (including sitting with suicide/OD patients which is a piece of cake and perfect for schoolwork). I...

Springfield OH, $9.80 to start.

I plan to do this program after I get my associates & RN next year. Several RNs I work with are currently in the OU BSN program, and one is even going to use them for her Masters. It also doesn't hurt our hospital has a deal with OU to give a dis...