lagalanurse

Haha every time I get one of these I just want to say, "mine bleeds once a month too and I survive it every single time. Go home."

I gave 100mg IVP yesterday, so I'm not understanding why this is so bad. Did one dose of Lasix bring a K level down THAT much or did this pt have a low K level already?

I had a lady the other day ask me to feed her husband. I almost asked her if her arms were broken, but found a better way to say it. Her husband could have fed himself for that matter.

I don't think you need a masters to be an ER nurse. I love my job. I have good days and bad days. Bad days consist of very sick patients that need more attention to give them, extremely demented pts with no family at the bedside who keep climbing out of the bed, and patients with no pulse aren't fun either. Good days consist of 3:1 ratios where I can give good care. Pts having an acute heart attack that get to cath lab and then you hear they had 99% blockage, but are now doing well. I once had a pts that was going into vtach and went aststole 3 times until we got amidorone hung on her and she was thanking us for saving her life.

OMG. I had one the other day that I nicknamed *ussy boy. He was 22 and screamed like a little girl when I removed the tegaderm. He was literally in tears. Really????

Another one from yesterday. A pt who opened the cabinet, got a bedpan, put herself on the bedpan, poured the urine into a specimen cup and then called me to say it was ready. I was like, "ma'am, the bathroom is next door. You don't have to use a bedpan. I can help you get to the bathroom." she told me she was too weak and when she has to go, it needs to be quick. I told her that she really needs to try and get to the bathroom instead and there really was no reason to use a bedpan if she was able to actually get up and get it herself. She made me want to bang my head against the wall.

Ok I have another one. I'm beginning to really dread pts with abdominal pain. I can't even tell you the last pt I had with that complaint that actually had something wrong with them. And then they pitch a fit when we tell them nothing is wrong with them. I would like to give them the following discharge instructions--"next time you get a tummy ache, chug a little Pepto and sit on the toilet until it resolves itself". I mean--at least TRY to take a good poop or something before you take an ambulance to the ER. I know I'm beating a dead horse.....

I have two of them (at the moment). When pts have that beloved abdominal pain and report nausea too--and the spend the whole time spitting into a bin. Really? Spitting? It doesn't make me think you are sicker. When the doc won't give you any more pain medication and they get mad at ME and start treating me like I'm keeping it from them. Oh and I guess I have a third too. Pts that do the huffing and puffing--right in my face! Again, it doesn't make me think you are sicker of you blow in my face with your moaning. Ughhhhhhh. It was a long day.

It's so annoying when they are inaccurate! Private Practice had a seizure pt and the doc said "give 10mg of Lorazepam IVP" I was like WOW! I've never given more than 2mg to an actively seizing pt. lol. They were serious about stopping that seizure!

Manage pain Administer meds Assess vitals Assess bowel sounds educate patient on NPO status and additional s/s that may cause additional problems

Ugh! A big pet peeve of mine. I work in the ER and everyone thinks they are dying!! I had a pt the other day that unfortunately an admit hold because we had no beds. I had to put the pills in his mouth and he didn't even put the straw in his mouth, I had to do that too. MADE ME CRAZY. there was NO reason he couldn't do it. But he could function when his meal tray arrived. Ughhhhhhh.

How does everyone deal with radiology when they try and take a patient while you are trying to start a work up or do an assessment? I find myself basically getting pushed out of the room and them I get behind since I have to wait for my patient to get back. Any advice?

They are all crazy until proven otherwise.

I actually prefer it when the doc beats me to the room, if the patient is stable. Then I can go in there and assess and implement orders. Saves me time. When I'm trying to assess and the doc walks in, then it takes foreverrrrr. Most of the time I have to step out and come back.

Much happiness! I get paid every 2 weeks and my first check was $300 less than what I used to make in a full month at my previous job as a marketing coordinator. And I'm not even at my full rate, I get $4 less an hour while in orientation!

The best: teamwork, having a doctor available, never having the same day twice and saving a patients life. The worst: not having help when I really need it, needy and dramatic patients that take me away from the ones who really need me and dead patients. I really like my patients to have a pulse. All in all, I love ER. I didn't originally seek it out, I just kinda landed there. Since I like patients with a pulse, ER doesn't seem like a good fit. But I learned that the only thing I hate more is taking care of the same patient for weeks and then them becoming one of those pulse less patients I don't care for. So it's a good fit:-)

Unless the docs all ban together and refuse, it won't stop. And even then, they will probably continue to come.

New grad here, in my 3rd week of orientation in the ER. I was a tech there for a year and a half and also did my senior level preceptorship in another ER. I LOVE my job. LOVE. I have had some challenges but my preceptor is amazing and the transition has been much smoother than I thought it would be. I'm allowed up to 12 weeks of orientation. It's going we'll so far. Good luck to you, ask for help as you need it!

That's what I would average on my Saunder's tests and ATI. The highest I ever got was 82% with a majority between 65% and 70%. It sounds like you will be fine. Good luck!!

Congratulations!!! I am somewhat struggling with an overwhelming sense of responsibility that I have never felt until now. I second guess myself on every little thing I do. I'm in the ER and did my senior preceptorship in the ER and I was also a tech. So I am familiar with the unit. I was supposed to give Fentanyl the other day and freaked out cause the pt only had a systolic of 102. :-( I know it's a huge responsibility to have the RN behind my name, but I didn't expect to "freak out" this much!! Good luck to you. It's been a long road but I know it's worth it!

Hi all, I'm a new grad and work in the ER I tech'ed in during nursing school. I did my preceptorship during my last semester at a different hospital. That hospital separates the main ER and the quick track area and I was in the quick track area. Yesterday the unit manager called to see if I was interested in a PRN position. I really am, I loved it there and really miss everyone. Question is--do you think it's too much, too soon? I said I wanted to get a second job after I had some experience, mostly because I didn't think anyone would consider a new grad for a PRN position. It's not much of a commitment, just one day a week. Thoughts?

I didn't study all that much. Maybe 4-5 days. I looked over Hurst review book from a friend, did questions from Saunders and ATI. Passed with 80 questions. The test was pretty awful and I didn't think I passed.

I took it Friday and I'm hoping the board posts something today. I thought it was awful! Good luck, hope we both get good news soon!!

I felt like the Hurst review book in itself was amazing. It really put everything in one place and are studying easier. Good luck to you!

Thanks everyone. Hoping to find out official results tomorrow!