amber1142

What do you guys know (not think, not opine ) about the true risks of co-sleeping. I co-slept with all of mine, and Dr. Sears (whom I greatly admire) recommends it, but I never hear anything but bad things about it. When my infant daughter was hos...

I'm having real trouble with blood draws and IV starts. The patients aren't generally very gracious about being used as pin cushions, and I can't say I blame them, though it makes it harder when they say things like, "You don't know what you're doin...

I posted a question a while ago asking for documentation tips for new OB nurses. I've learned a few things that I thought I'd pass on: When someone comes in for triage (we serve as ER for all pregnant women), on the nursing note I usually say someth...

My initial response to SBE was a simple disagreement. Go back and read it. (Edit: In fact, read my first two posts in response to her. I was not rude in any way. She thought I was accusing other people of being not being morally defensible. S...

How about if I agree to work on my style if you agree to work on yours. I'll stop being "rude" if you stop being patronizing; I'll stop tilting at windmills if you stop lecturing.

My post was the equivalent of asking for tips on starting IVs, and you answered with the equivalent of a lecture on infection control. I am aware of legal issues; I was asking for charting tips. This is pompous. I'm sorry, but people who believ...

I don't assume a "lack of morality" on anyone's part, but I refuse to live in fear (and it's not because I'm new; it's because it's what I believe). (Ever wonder why the csection rate in this country is 25%? why people think hospitals are safe? why ...

Believe it or not, I know this. You may not remember what it's like to be starting out, but when people are learning how to chart they start with small steps. As far as "legally defensible", I like my idea better. I practice morally defensible nurs...

Ok, thanks. I wish there was some practical way of practicing on myself. I'm going to run out of patient (not inpatient) volunteers.

I was told *not* to advance the needle at all, rather push the hub and advance the catheter into the vein because that way you won't re-puncture the vein. (Eeek, so many different ways to do it wrong! :rotfl: )

I have four kids, and sometimes I think about having another. I'm appalled by the number of friends (people who would not be impacted in any way) who say, "No, don't; you shouldn't have any more." I can't figure out where they're coming from. What...

ok, i've been practicing. I've managed to get the needle into the vein a few times (progress!). Once the needle is in, how hard or easy should it be to advance the hub and thread the catheter in? It seemed like it didn't want to go in. Should it ...

I dream about checking the fetal heart rate strip! (OMG, it's been 15 minutes!)

Hell, I gave birth at a birth center, and I wore my own damn panties! :rotfl:

I think most schools offering nurse midwife programs require experience in L&D, though I'm not sure that they require it as an R.N. or if experience as a doula might count. A few phone calls to CNM programs would clear up that question. As an ...

Do you see a gynecologist regularly? You should go yearly and ask for reassurance at that time. That said, women have a lot of glands in the vulva; sometimes it looks like goosebumps. Inoffensive, non-odorous discharge is normal at different time...

I loved nursing school (and I miss it). It was difficult but in a very different way than A&P and chemistry. I didn't find the content in nursing school difficult (except maybe when it came to learning about electrolytes and fluid balance which...

Hi there, yup, I'm one. I started on July 18. It's more than a little overwhelming, but I really love it. Good luck on your first day. :)

I would avoid grilling people with a lot of predetermined questions. If you catch people unawares they may stammer and end up looking foolish, and that's unfortunate. I'd say ask one or two open-ended questions like "why do you want to work here?"...

The way I see it, if you invest 2-3 years of your life in becoming a nurse, you will never be out of a job, never not be able to support yourself, and you can spend the rest of your life doing whatever you want with that safety net in place. Decidin...

Someone posted a question in the new nurses forum about guidebooks for charting, but I thought I'd ask here. Knowing what to chart (and where to chart since we have a lot of redundant documentation going on) is an unexpected challenge for me. Does...

Thanks; this is very helpful. Some of the nurses on my unit were debating the other day about whether to call decels as variables or lates, or whether to simply describe what you see (e.g. FHR delines 15 beats from baseline over 10 seconds with grad...

The experienced nurses on my unit encouraged us new nurses to pull up a chair, get comfortable and to take our time. It's less scary for me to be sitting next to the patient than to be looming over. Somehow standing implies efficiency and experienc...

I disagree. My question isn't about the charting system, it's about what makes a good nurse's note and about whar routines are useful for charting. *Of course* I am paying attention to what is required at my facility. Thanks for trying to help.

Say, "Mom, you are you. I am me. You are not me." Then take out a couple of student loans or apply for a pell grant and go to your local community college which is probably dirt cheap and become the nurse that you want to be.