AbbeyT

It's not a stupid question. On the one hand, I agree that pulling them up in separate syringes is usually best, especially if you're a student. I'm a new nurse and I still pull in separate syringes just because I'm paranoid. However, on our floor there are several drugs that we routinely give that are compatible and can be mixed together & a lot of the seasoned nurses do that to save supplies. Like wolfpack said, there's usually a program like micromedex (which we have too) that allows you to check for compatibility before mixing. :) There's no such thing as a stupid question!

Man my head is so clouded right now.... I've just completed 84 of my 130 hour preceptorship in the CVR (Cardiovascular Recovery Unit) and I feel just as green as ever. Let me back up a bit... First off, I didn't choose this specialty unit for my preceptorship. I asked for CCU (still a specialty unit, I know... but more generalized) because I figured I'd get to see a lot, and if I could handle that, I'd be prepared for anything. My teacher assigned me CVR which I wasn't happy about because it is SO specific that all I see is hearts patients. Onto the next part..... One of the first things my preceptor told me is that she was going to apologize to me straight off because she is not a good teacher... fantastic. Now, I'm sympathetic to this because I wouldn't like teaching someone, but then I wouldn't sign up to precept, would I? I'm screwed into a corner, because I like my preceptor as a person, she's a very experienced, intelligent nurse... but, I haven't gotten to do @#*&T! Put it to you this way- it's my 7th day and I've messed with an IV pump maybe 3 times and still haven't learned how to use these pumps because they are, of course, different from the others I've used during clinicals. I hardly ever get to really do anything and nothing is really explained to me... I'd like to learn more about admissions, discharge, transfers, and interventional nursing more so even than just skills... any monkey can learn about pushing drugs, hanging IV bags, etc... but it's the how you know what to do and when that really matters. I'm just frustrated because I'm about to be out there on my own license and I don't feel prepared... I feel like even though I have all this knowledge and everything, it doesn't matter if I don't know what to do with it..... Hopefully I can address this situation over the next week and get a little more experience in... has anyone else felt this way? Did you feel like you were totally clueless when you started your nursing career? Any encouraging words?