Dobeigh

Is it true that you should have atropine ready while pulling sheaths in case your patient vasovagals?

Awesome! I was kinda thinking of buying that book as well but I wasn't sure how good it was. Thanks!! :)

I really love the Basic Arrhythmias book by Brady. Here is a link: Basic Arrhythmias, 7th Edition: Gail Walraven: 9780135002384: Amazon.com: Books You work your way through the book from easiest to hardest. This is the book they used to teach nurses telemetry where I work.

Hey everyone! So I have worked full time as an RN on a med surg tele unit for 6 months. I also used to be a monitor tech for 1.5 years so I'm pretty good at reading heart monitors. I just took a job offer (part time) on a cardiac step down ICU. Any reading suggestions? I want to prepare as much as possible. I really love cardiac nursing. It is so interesting to me. I can't wait to learn the cardiac drips and how to pull sheaths. So exciting! =)

So, I'm a relatively new nurse. I passed my boards in May 2013. Previously I've had 5.5 years history working as a monitor tech, nursing assistant, and unit clerk (all in one job) with the same company. I was hired, in the same company, as a registered nurse this July 2013 and I've been working there full time ever since. I have a Very good work history with this network. But I've also been working 3 PRN jobs and I'm not sure if I should include them in my resume. One of them, I worked from June 2013 to December 2013 but I quit without a two week notice because the pressure was so intense and it was so demanding I felt I would lose my nursing license if I worked one more day at that nursing home. I know that they will not give me a good reference because of this. Other than not giving a two week notice, I think their opinion of me was so-so. My other two PRN positions (which I'm still working) would have good things to say about me, I believe. I've been working those positions since October 2013. My question is.. should I even include them since I already have an EXCELLENT reputation at the hospital I'm currently working. The job I'm applying for is a cardiac step down ICU position and I'm currently a med surg tele nurse. I don't want to appear like I'm skipping around to jobs but, since I'm a new nurse, I do want to show that I have more experience than just being a med surg tele nurse. I'm not sure what I should do. Any advice would be very helpful.

I'm a newer nurse and I'm so glad I started out on med/surg/tele. I've noticed that my assessment skills are getting better and better. I've been on this floor for 5 months. I feel like my patients are sick but not so sick that I'm overwhelmed. When I have a really sick patient, I learn how to take care of the situation and/or send them to ICU. I'm getting so much good experience on med/surg/tele. It is busy but I love it. I do want to, eventually, be a critical care nurse. But, for now, I'm very happy to be where I am right now.

Our monitor techs get 6 hours of EKG class and then 3-12 hour shifts of orientation. Not enough in my opinion. When I was a monitor tech I got 3-8 hour classes to learn the material and 3-12 hour shifts of orientation. And it was still not enough. But whatever. I don't make the decisions, I just follow the rules.

This is where I got my additional nursing insurance. It was only like $55 and I'm a brand new nurse.

I have ankylosing spondylitis. Yes, it can be difficult especially if you are not on anti-TNF drugs like enbrel or humira. I'm on enbrel injections weekly and it really helps. I don't have many problems anymore but I do have the occasional flare up so I had my rheumatologist approve me to take FMLA breaks during these flare ups. FMLA is a protection provided by the government. It helps protect your job. I was approved to take 2-3 days of leave 3 times per year. If I need more, I have to get it approved by my rheumatologist. I've only ever used it once but it is really nice to have. For the most part, I feel pretty good. I take enbrel 50mg SQ x 1 weekly, effexor 75mg BID (fibromyalgia), zanaflex 2mg QID PRN, naproxen 500mg BID, neurontin 300mg BID, tylenol 500mg QID PRN, and norco 5/325 QID PRN (not while working). Between all these medications I am able to work like any normal person.

Absolutely. Sometimes you just need a break! But if you need a break, you should call in no later than 4 hours before your shift.

You are not guaranteed hours when you are a PRN nurse. They tell you that up front. Get over it. If you want guaranteed hours, don't work PRN.

I would say that a root cause is just a risk factor. For example: obesity has many risk factors: 1. eating more than your calorie BMR 2. hypothyroidism 3. ect But what is the root cause? It can only be one risk factor. They are really similar but that is what I would think!

Tell her to mind her business and that you're on to her. =)