Sailingshoes

I don't think you are stupid! That's a crazy night and you are a new nurse. I am a 12 year nurse and I wouldn't want that night and I am so glad to not work med-surg anymore. For me, even with experience, med surg can get too crazy and you multi-task exponentially. Learn from your mistakes, ask for support if you need it. Also, remember there are many differents types of nursing if this is not "your thing". Good luck!

I vote PACU...reasons I like it and have found it to be the best department in a hospital: -patients are sedated yet at some point you do interact with them. -you get to ship them out in a relatively short amount of time. -the work is very team oriented with fellow nurses. -stimulating/interesting work. I will never again go back to med-surg!

update on my struggles.... so i have been sticking with it, precepting with someone more patient (regardless of age), and it's finally starting to click (or i am)! it's not that i am or was a total luddite lol, as i have used computers in my daily life for years, but i think the combo of needing to learn even more, a new facility, new focus of nursing and a challenged teacher made for a seemingly hopeless outcome. advice for others in my shoes - stick with it, better to move slowly than not at all......oops, i think that was confucious! thanks!!!

Thanks for your replies, except for Stanley-RN2B. I have been using computers for years but learning a new program while also performing pt care presents challenges. I grew up surfing and find it to be second nature but tried to learn to snowboard @ 40 and it's takes a lot longer. I know I will get it with enough repitition and yes, doing the driving. Thanks for the support.

Is it just me or has anyone else had trouble during orientation with a younger nurse? I am over 40, been a nurse for 15yrs, just moved to a new area and starting a new job on a med-surg floor. The nursing care I am comfortable with but the computer program is taking time for me to learn. The nurse I am orienting with seems like a very good nurse but when it comes to teaching me the program, her patience is being tested. I feel like an idiot!!!! She clicks away so fast and thinks I should be able to follow. Is there something unique about brains that grow up with computers? I sware there is a direct link between her fingers on the mouse and her brain! I have explained ot her that I need to actually do it and have her walk me through it to retain it but that doesn't seem to be happening. I would like to orient with someone on the same wave lenghth..........help!

I liked my job until one very controlling nurse came onboard. It's amazing how one person can create such havoc on everyone else (not just me). I like the pt work but not the dominator. Guess I should start a thread on how to deal with controlling co-workers! It's draining just to think about it and takes away from what is important. kindness is not a weakness..........

I was a FA for 12 yrs and am also an RN of 10 yrs so I have a little insight. While I think that my 2 professions are uncannily alike (patients/passengers, doctors/pilots, hospitals/airports), I think you will find nursing to be vastly different than being a pilot. Being a nurse is much harder physically and psychologically, much harder than being a FA or pilot. Also, being a pilot is at the top of the totem pole and being a nurse the bottom. I think the problems in nursing stem from the field being predominately female hence the repression and all the issues going along with that. I wish there were many many more males in the field! You would have a reliable job and you could bring a lot to it with your leadership skills and probably be more respected just because you are male. And yes, you would be helping people which is what it is really all about. Also, there are many different types of nursing to chose from so hopefully you could find a good fit somewhere. It sounds as if you have already thought of these very same negative and positives that I have mentioned. As far as some of your other concerns, most doctors are nice, other nurses - what you make of it, I've never caught any disease or even the flu, just don't compromise safety (work at a decent facility), be sure to counter balance your stressful workdays with quality off days, and being a male is a plus. I'm curious what you will decide...pilot gone nurse!

I don't know if we all find our niche. For me, it seems my niche changes every few years as I get bored with routine. The nice thing about nursing is that you can change your area of nursing easily. I have worked in different departments of the same hospital and changed employers entirely too. Sometimes I think the ol' "finding your bliss" (cousin to the niche), can be a path of disappointment, at least for me. Perhaps contentment and even fulfilment is made of many small things in our lives.....hmmmm

You're correct that the Rituxan didn't need to be started at 4p. It could have waited until the next day without changing results. Reaction to Rituxan can be fatal as you may already know. I work in an outpatient oncology center and would definitely have that pt within our view during infusion. ONS may have guidelines regarding nursing ratio in the hospital setting - check ons.org At our facility we don't have more than 5:1 When we give Rituxan the first time the pharmacist mixes the dose in 2 separate bags so that if there is a reaction with the first bag, the pt can come back the next day for the second (assuming the reaction is not severe) and of course both doses are titrated but not over 12 hrs since we are a day facility. Sounds to me like it was handled poorly and you have justified reason for concern.

ONS (Oncology Nursing Society) does have guidelines you may want to check. ons.org

We give Benedryl and Decadron IV in one bag routinely with chemo. Seems like it would be ok to mix in a syringe but I say ask the Pharm.

CYA is a great policy in itself And of course making sure that we as nurses are safe is top priority. Since I have input on making and changing policies as needed, I am wondering what other facilities do. Thanks for your replies.

Wondering what others wear for taking down empty chemo bags and tubing at the end of treatment, after saline bag has flushed and you are getting ready to dc. I am especially interested in RNs that also use Phas-seal (contained locking system preventing chemo spills/aerosols). Do you fully gown, eye shields and gloves? Just gloves?

I have not seen 12 weeks. Can't you ask your Dr. and or Pharmacist? I hope that you have that kind of open communication as it is paramount for patient safety. The question needs to be asked for your own education not necessarily a doubt in orders. Questioning is a good thing!

Thanks for the replies! I forgot to mention we do prescribe Emla Cream as well but for some pts it's too much too remember therefore the question of spray vs. stick.