rlev

No stethoscopes? This place doesn't even sound like it's in America.

My take on DNR is if you were to walk in on a pt who has clearly stopped breathing and has no heartbeat then you would let it be and call the family. Otherwise, treat, treat, treat. A lot of our medical treatment relieves symptoms and alleviates suffering, not necessarily life saving. Err on the side of caution. I once had a nurse tell me we made a mistake putting a patient who was having very difficult time breathing on bipap because she was a DNR. I said she didn't code and she didn't stop breathing, she had severe dyspnea and we eased it with the bipap. She and the family were able to make a better decision about what she wanted and needed if this were to happen again.

Don't be discouraged. Like the others said, you really are developing skills without realising it. I have been working in LTC for about 9 years now. I pretty much do everything I did on acute except read tele strips and push IV meds that require monitoring. I love getting to know my patients and what their "normal" is.

I understand you completely. I already worked my butt off in acute care. Now it's time for less stress.