BriGuyRN

I've only seen integrilin gtt once, and yeah it's quite costly. It's made from snake venom, which I thought was pretty neat

Allergic reactions to contrast dye typically involve inflammation (such as anaphylaxis), so prednisone could be given to prevent or decrease the amount of inflammation. Unfortunately there aren't many alternatives to an angiogram when it comes to diagnosing CAD

You did the right thing. Remember, you are the patients advocate, you're there for the patient, not the doctor. My facility uses computer order entry and a lot of doctors have order sets that include narcan

Is this "narrow complex tachy" the same as supraventricular tachy (SVT)?

You're venturing into a professional career, your appearance and demeanor should represent that.

Talk to your preceptor, manager and/or clinical educator. You are inexperienced, just like every new grad is. If you are overwhelmed then maybe your preceptor needs to slow down with the orientation. You should enjoy your work, not dread it.

So since posting this, I had a pt with a right forearm 20g that I started 4/2. After a week I got him as an assignment and when I assessed his IV, to no surprise, was the same IV I started - only redressed and reinforced with tape. The site looked good but the idea that the catheter has been in place over 80 hours was disturbing. I pretended it malfunctioned and started another. I'm going to find the policy and post it in verbatim, and question the rationale behind it.

Throughout nursing school, I was learned that IV sites were rotated q72h. Recently, my hospital has a new policy that they do not need to be rotated based on time, but condition instead. Field starts do not get changed unless the site is bad. If the site is clean, patent, non reddened, and not infiltrated, it stays. The dressings aren't even dated anymore. Does anyone else have this sort of policy in action at their facility? I understand that pt comfort is at stake, and less vein punctures lowers chance of bloodstream infection, but so does aseptic technique.

At my facility physicians start peripherals in jugular and feet. To OP: nothing wrong with the AC, just harder to maintain.

Irregular, without a distinguishable P wave. Don't trick yourself into "seeing a possible P wave".

I did the same, your clinical time is really a good time to network and show your work ethic. Keep in mind though, you are there to learn...

Sounds like CHF decompensation. The heart can compensate in early heart failure by thickening the myocardium and stretching (increasing preload->increased cardiac output). Eventually, the heart cannot continue compensating because it has stretched too far, and stroke volume is decreased, and fluid cannot circulate, so it moves into other areas (edema). I'd be more concerned with lung function, as fluid frequently backs into the lungs (pulmonary edema).

Use your clinical rotations to your advantages! Take time to meet and introduce yourselves to charge nurses and nurse managers during clinical rotations (when appropriate!). If the unit you are doing clinical rotations on interests you, let them know and show interest, but don't become a brown-noser. Keep in mind that EVERYONE is watching, from CNAs/PCAs, RNs, to housekeeping, patients and volunteers, so maintain a professional composure at all times. You never know, the patient may have a lead to get you hired. Keep in mind that RNs provide nursing care, compassion and, in today's world, customer service. Do what you can to make patients comfortable and happy, from adjusting position to helping with a TV remote. Let yourself be known, it's not the time to blend in with the others...

Although they say, "Equal opportunity", being male is definitely a plus in nursing. First step is landing an interview with a good resume and cover letter. Since your resume/cover letter shouldn't specific gender, they can only base their judgement on the facts at hand. Many names, after all, are unisex in todays society. Once you're in an interview, be respectful and polite and don't think you have any advantage based on gender.

Anyone can preform a sternal rub, it's a part of assessment (think Glascow Coma Scale). If a patient appears to be unresponsive and does not awaken to sound or shaking, illicit a pain response with a sternal rub.