limaRN

Don't do 3 days in a row. This sounds exactly like the unit I just worked in for the last 3 yrs.

Agreed. After taking it I realized I went a little overboard with the studying but I thought it would be a good review and learned some new info.

You did the right thing. I feel that it's inappropriate to take money from pts or family. If you happen to run into her just say that you appreciate the gesture but its against company policy. I've been offered money before as well but have adamantly declined. If people feel they should give something say that we always appreciate cards, a note to our managers, and always food to the entire unit as a gift if they feel the need! But I wouldn't stress about it. If somebody had found out and you didn't tell it could've gotten messy.

Just got asked to float to the peds unit tonight. I'm an adult ICU nurse. I know nothing about peds!!! I said no way!

I believe you need to have your CCRN or other clinical nursing specialty (such as PCCN, etc) in order to get a subspecialty certification such as the CSC or CMC. I think that is what you're asking anyway. Your post is a little unclear. If you go on the AACN website it will state the requirements to be able to sit for the CCRN and CMC exams.

Take a deep breath. I have made a pretty bad error as well and I know how you're feeling. It's a lonely, guilty, sick to your stomach kind of a feeling. The pt was eventually ok and that is what matters. You were honest and owned up to it which is very difficult. You are not a bad nurse, you are human. It will get better with time. Just keep your head high!

To be clear I gave the 20 meq of k over about 1/2 hour and was surprised that nothing happened. Yes you are correct the pt would not have pvc's I was wrong about that. I was surprised that their heart did not stop/ they did not have rhythm changes from getting kcl too fast. I always make an RN go and double check my drips now and if they don't really look at it I get someone else. It's easy to make a mistake when things are moving fast.

So I feel like mine are so much worse than these! But here goes: I had a post-op CABG pt and have 20 meq of kcl via the central line. I got distracted and programmed the iv pump as an antibiotic and have the kcl at 100 ml/ hr when it was supposed to be given at 50ml/ hr. I realized it when the bag was almost empty. I did ask another nurse to double check it but they apparently missed it too. The pt was fine however. Not even a PVC worth if ectopy! The next one is a little more embarrassing. I had a pt that had a sternal wound infection being irrigated. I was trying to change the dressing around the tiny irrigation catheter and accidentally slit the catheter. The surgeon was ****** and yelled at me in front of everyone. The pt had to go back to the OR and have the catheter replaced. I felt like such a loser that day.

These are awful! I had a dream that my pt stood and ripped his IABP out and started exsanguinating everywhere!!

I've done CPR many times; I work in the ICU. It really depends on why the person is coding as to whether they'll make it or not. For example the numerous septic, MODS patients on high dose pressors who've been declining for days/ weeks usually don't make it. The lady I coded who had a AAA rupture.. Did not make it. However, I have seen several that have. A therapeutic hypothermia pt who got stents in the cath lab coded in the ICU and made it. He did fine neurologically which was extremely rewarding. I remember because he came back the the ICU briefly but ended up doing fine and transferring out. It was nice to see him walking/ talking. The lady that I had who was talking to me and needed to go to the cath lab coded- we shocked her once and she came out of the vtach. I must say it was an extremely unique experience to explain to a pt that they just coded and have them awake and talking again. She ended up doing fine and transferring out.

Shouldn't you be using sterile saline to clean wounds? This would not be possible to make at home. I don't work home health but this policy doesn't seem to make any sense.

I don't get it either.

Ehh.. A lot can happen in 15 mins. I'm not sure of the legality or not though. I work at a hospital where all patients who are suicidal have a 1:1 sitter. I'd be extremely nervous without one. My mom is also a nurse and had been for years. In the 90's at the hospital where she worked they were not required to have sitters just q15 min checks on patients. She had one patient where she came back to check on after 15 mins and found him rocking up and down in bed. She asked what he was doing and he didn't answer just kept rocking so she came in and pulled back the covers. He had found razor blades somewhere and was scratching his legs with them. He then took the razor blade and slit his throat before she could stop him... Needless to say that hospital now has 1:1 sitters for suicidal patients. I would just hate to see something bad happen before the policy is changed there.

You need at least one of ICU experience as a registered nurse as a requirement to get accepted to any CRNA program. So you need to become a nurse first. I would also strongly suggest shadowing a CRNA to see if you would like the career- some programs even require it. I would research some programs in your area to see what their specific requirements are to apply it should be on their website.

I just hate it when I tell people outside of healthcare about my job/ day and get rude comments about my coworkers. I work with a lot of male nurses and if it comes up in conversation I always seem to get asked if they are gay (which none of them are as far as I know). I think people outside of healthcare can have more stereotypes about male nurses than people that work in healthcare and know what the job is like.

Ugh I had the norovirus several years ago...got it from a pt. Lost about 10lbs in 3 days. It was awful and I got my boyfriend sick too. I felt so bad! I almost went to the hospital because I couldn't keep and liquid down for 3 days and wasn't urinating a whole lot :/.

Thank you! In going to University of New England in Portland, ME.

I felt like this at about 1 yr as well. When I was really new I wasn't as afraid to ask questions because I could give myself more of a break...( ie I've only been doing this for a month it's ok I don't know it yet!!). But when I got to around 1 yr I started to get frustrated with myself. Like I SHOULD know how to do something since I've been at it for a whole year!! I am sure people talked about me too. However, I stuck it out because at the end of the day I more liked my job than hated it. I was so scared of making a mistake and had pretty bad anxiety too. But at the end of 3 yrs now in the same specialty I'm so much more comfortable and feel that I could handle most anything. I absolutely still ask for advice from more experienced nurses but have developed more of a thicker skin because I know I'm a good nurse and am more confident in my knowledge. So, I guess what I'm saying is stick it out!! You're at an awkward time and, yes, you're still a new nurse. Look back at all the progress you've made over the last year. Look at all the things you didn't know a year ago that you do now! Think about all the progress you'll continue to make over the next year. Give it more time.. I didn't start to feel really comfortable until about 2-2.5 yrs. Now that I'm more comfortable I have less anxiety and can actually enjoy the job like I hoped I was going to. :)

Oh gotcha! I must've misread. Congrats!! I start in may and am starting to get really nervous..

Yes. We do it and ask that visitors/ families leave from 6:30-8 to give us a change to talk and assess pts. We also do report at a table right outside the door so it's not technically right next to the bed which makes it a little easier and cuts down on the questions during that time. I really like it though because we do go in the room and trace lines an check gtts etc to make sure everything's ok.

Congrats!! You will already be done in 2014??