SHAMROCKY

I started in the ICU of a level1 trauma center as a GN 12 years ago and I've never left! I think it's the best place to go as a GN. Everything will come with experience. The only thing that you MUST have are good organizational skills!!!

I have been an ICU nurse for years and can't tell you the number of times I've witnessed this (mostly by the residents). I find myself being a pt advocate on a daily basis. I always say, "What kind of pain/sedation can I give before you start?" 9 times out of 10 they are incapable of starting any procedure w/out the nurse there holding their hand so they won't mind waiting for you to step out to get the drugs! I've also caught many of them starting to put in a central line or art line w/out using any Lidocaine. My hospital also has the lovely rule that anyone who intubates a pt. has to be "deep sedation certified". This is very frustrating especially for the night shift because more often than not the doc sent to tube the pt. isn't "certified" to push the drugs needed prior to intubating. I've seen a couple of pts. intubated with no sedation whatsoever! Makes me furious!!!

I just came back from a conference and they mentioned that one of the topics with the least amount of research done is on the moral distress of health care workers. Also, Palliative Care research tends to be a big trend lately.

I truly feel for you! I have worked in my level 1 ICU for 12 years and the great teamwork is a big part of what has kept me there. I am moving this summer and I'm so scared to work anyplace else for fear people will act exactly like that! Good luck and remember that you will be an asset wherever you work!

Please fill out your health care proxy form!!

Wait! 1 more! Having a coworker ask you to help turn their pt and they're not even ready when you get there!

1. Taking care of a pt who ended up an organ donor only to come in to work the next day to have the post op kidney transplant. Of course he's old with a million medical conditions and noncompliant. Not to mention whining about how much pain he's in! I'm thinking, "someone just died and you ended up with a gift of life from them. Shut up!" 2. Docs in the ICU who order a propofol gtt but no pain meds! 3. Docs who refuse to let us titrate mso4 gtts on pts who are made comfort care only. Are they afraid we might let them die peacefully? 4. Paging the priest on call, only to have him return your call 3 hours later and give you attitude. " Do they really need me to come in?" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? 5. When the offgoing nurse tells you, "Oh, this pt is soooo cute! You're gonna love her!" 2hrs later she's pulling out her IVs and swearing at you! 6. Mothers of teenage trauma pts. Perhaps if you smothered your baby with this much affection at home little Johnny wouldn't have gotten behind the wheel after leaving the keg party!! 7. The dreaded , yet anticipated phone call stating, "I'm his baby's mama. Tell me how he is!". Only to receive the same call 30 min later from a different baby's mama! 8. If the pt has been sh_ _ _ ing all night long, please hold the am colace! 9. Nasty ETT tapes 10. Just returning from CT scan of the abd ordered by surgeons only to find Neurosurgery at your bedside ordering a head CT! UGH!!! Don't worry, it's no big deal to bring the vented pt and his 8 iv pumps back downstairs! 11. Drawing a CBC after 3 sticks only to have the Dr. write, "please add pt/ptt". Ok I guess that's enough for now!!

I'm Irish and my favorite holiday is of course, St. Patty's Day! I have a shamrock tattoo also! My dream is to go to Ireland someday!

I work in an 8 bed med/surg ICU at a 350 bed level 1 trauma center (a university teaching hospital). Our Neuro ICU is 8 beds also. The charge nurse on each of these units NEVER has more than 1 patient. More often than not they don't take a pt. assignment. They are usually busy dealing with staffing issues, rounding with the teams, going to committee meetings, writing staff evaluations,etc.

My husband is an engineer. (Systems analyst,primary consultant) Who knows? I just say he does stuff with computers!!

I work in an 8 bed med/surg ICU. We have 9 male RNs and 2 male aides. Let me tell you, it's a beautiful thing when i happen to be the only female on a given day! None of that moody crap to deal with! Although, I must say that I have learned that men gossip more than any group of women I know! Anytime I want the latest scoop I go to one of the guys!