shari_rn

I will be starting my program in August and have had a Blackberry curve for about a year. My phone does not have wi fi,but has the edge which is slower. I downloaded several anesthesia programs from skyscape.com and they work great. Some of the math applications like archimedes do not work , but I hope this gets cleared up with the new os rumored to be released soon. I too am curious about the ability to use phones( wireless internet, not to talk) in the OR. People say the phones can interfere with pacemakers. In the hospital I work at we are not allowed to use phones in the ICU, however once a patient is on a regular medical/surgical floor they can be used. I have friends that are travel nurses in ICUs around the country and use their cell phones in the ICU. Does anyone have knowledge of this? Why the inconsistencies? I have never seen a phone cause any interference. Is this just a way to keep people from annoyingly talking on their phones? I am curious because the internet on my phone is a very useful tool for looking things up sometimes.

Hi all, I have an interview the end of October and I have to bring a financial statement with me. I have no idea what to write down because I do not know what I will be receiving as financial aid. I have been reading the financial aid threads. When is the soonest I can apply for loans? I am not even accepted at this point, is it too early to apply for money now? This makes me very nervous, but somehow I just think it will work out. Please offer advice. Thank you

CCRN, Thank you for your response. I have no background in anesthesia,but I hope to apply to school next year. I have been working in my current SICU for 8 years.I do not really have knowledge of phases of anesthesia I hope to learn soon. For my paper I am supposed to find support/discussion groups for my chosen condition which is patients that have experienced anesthesia awareness. I am supposed to go into these discussion groups and learn of the value of this type of cyber-support for patients without violating confidentiality. My big problem is that I have been unable to find any discussion groups. I have even joined post-traumatic stress sites and posted in them. The fact that I am unable to find these sites is a good thing for patients because it tells me it must be extremely rare. At the same time it is a bad thing for me because I have put so much time into looking for these discussion groups and I have come up with zero. I guess that is what I need to make the point of my paper. The companies that make the monitors want to scare the public into thinking that anesthesia awareness is common and their equiptment will prevent it. Thank you for your help

Hello everyone, I am a SICU RN currently taking my last class in a BSN completion program.I hope to someday be a CRNA. I am writing a paper on Cyber support available to professsionals and patients regarding anesthesia awareness. I did purchase the book Silelnced Screams.I am wondering if anyone can share any situations they have or have learned from related to anesthesia recall. The part of the paper I am having a really hard time with is finding discussion groups for patients that have had anesthesia awareness to share their experiences? The fact that I am having a very difficult time finding discussion groups leads me to believe that the numbers and percentages of anesthesia awareness are grossly overexaggerated. How do you go about interviewing patients to see if they have recall? Have you had a patient say they remembered everything, but could not back it up? I thank you and appreciate any help or advice you can provide.

Hi all, I am a mere wanna-be SRNA. I am still taking some prereqs. I know you must be in a program for a student membership, however a friend of mine mentioned that she is able to get the subscription to the journal. Does anyone know about this?

Thank-you Angie, All great advice and an excellent perspective. I do need to remember that I always did love being a bedside nurse. Being a charge nurse, manager and stafff nurse is a lot more hectic. I did not mention that I will be taking a significant pay cut and I was asked to take a position of permanent charge nurse(A buck an hour). When given that option, I replied that i would like to just be in the pool of staff and rotate charge like everyrone else when the manager is not present.I was told we will have to think about that. It is like being asked to do the same job, work twice as hard, and have no compensation.I know this is how many nurses feel all of the time;however this is to a much higher degree because it is specifically to me ( I do not know about any other Assistant Managers). Does anyone have any ideas how to approach this? I do not want to be angry or bitter if I accept this permanent charge position.The idea of just taking care of my patients is appealing. I do not want to upset my boss this is not her fault, it is a decision from TPTB. Please help! Thank you

Thank you all for responding. It makes me feel better knowing it does happen. It just feels awful right now.Meghan- thanks the fact that you would respect a manager for coming to work as staff is great. I think many people would feel the same;however I feel very uncomfortable going in to work tomorrow with everybody knowing.SKT686 you should try the big people it may be fun. I have actually toyed with going to Neonatal ICU but I heard there is no autonomy even after you are a knowledgable and safe nurse. anyone else have advice for how to approach this without breaking down into tears tomorrow? Thank you all for your help!

Hi all, I got news on Friday afternoon to come in in the am (on my day off) to talk about the new changes. I had a feeling it was coming. I came in on Monday and was told that the hospital was eliminating 1 assistant manager from all of the units and no other management positions were available. I was offered a job as a staff nurse on my unit that I have been an assistant manager on for 3 years. I am very sad about the change in status because I loved my job and felt I did a pretty good job. The trouble is I feel sort of humiliated and embarassed to go back to work. I believe the staff will be understanding and supportive.I want to be positive however I feel used and worthless, like my work was not important. Has anyone had a similar situation, or have advice on how to handle this. Any advice or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

EDVALERIERN, Thank you for your defense, that is what I meant.

RN 29306, I am sorry by no means whatsoever was I being sarcastic. STOP was just a mnemonic I heard the resident say when teaching a new resident to intubate. I had never heard of it and I thought I would share it. I have the highest respect and regard for CRNA's, and I am acutely aware that I am in a CRNA forum and do not have much to add. I am very aware that CRNA's do not need orders for drugs and do not take orders from residents or nurses.I know that CRNA's know their drugs much better than most residents and actually give what is necessary, unlike what I have seen from residents. If I had my pick I would choose a CRNA over a resident anyday to intubate me or my loved ones. Again I am sorry if you took it that I was being sarcastic, this was absolutely not my intention.

Why none other than DRUGS.

I am just a wannabe, but I have heard residents say STOP which stands for-Suction, Tube,Oxygen, and Prescription. Do not proceed without these.

Thank you so much for your kind and helpful reply. Good advice I will use. Have you applied yet? I still have to retake sciences because it has been 20 years for me--I just do not think I am that old! Come on everyone please share your experiences and what you have learned. Anything you would have done differently?I will post my experience after I have one hopefully in March. Thank-You

Hi all, I have been and ICU nurse for 14 years and will be completing my BSN this April.I have always wanted to shadow a CRNA in the OR but have felt it is pointless without my BSN.I am prepating to shadow as part of a project for my BSN. I have wanted to be a CRNA for a long time. I have searched past posts on this subject. Will you guys that have shadowed please share your experiences? Did you feel welcome? What types of questions did you ask? How did the experience make you feel? How many times did you shadow? What did you learn? Were the hospitals receptive to you shadowing? Any tips or experiences would greatly be appreciated. Please reply. Thank You