Loo17

Thank you for the info. My specialty is emergency nursing however.

Anyone else have any info on this hospital?

Most common patients I see are chest pain, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, and AMS. An altered and uncooperative patient would be a challenging IV start that I see daily ( altered from a UTI, ETOH, dementia, etc) IV drug users can typically tell you which vein to use, the underside of their dominate arm is always a good place to look. A patient in severe respiratory distress can also be a challenging IV start if they are having a tough time staying still. Obtaining access during a code with CPR in progress also is no picnic. Sometimes the patient just has a fear of needles and despite having pipes for veins they wont stay still. Honestly though I think on average I might need to ask another nurse to start an IV for me less than once per month. I work in a busy ED that sees 120,000 patients a year. Do you work in a hospital where the ED has a high instance of not being able to obtain IV access? The question regarding how many patient seen per year lists fairly low numbers, just curious if maybe its that the nurses don't have the opportunity to start enough lines? I would estimate I start 10-20 per 12 hours shift. Good luck in your survey :)

Thank you! Anything else you can offer regarding benefits? Im specifically curious about tuition reimbursement and shift differentials. Thanks again :)

Can anyone tell me the hourly pay range one could expect at St Francis for an RN with 6 years experience? Thank you in advance!

I have gotten mine through pro cpr, I believe that AHA's website actually directed me to them as a good online option. Its employer specific, my employer doesn't care where I get re-certified, others do. Best to check before spending the money.

Why not apply in the dept you have been working as a medic?

I often wonder the same thing. I work 7a-7p and have a plan for days I work but no back up plan. Before school care starts at 6:30am but I would need to drop off the youngest at 6a to get to work on time. I am single and don't have neighbors I could ask. Its a tough spot to be in, I can relate!

Its been crazy where I work for the past several months too. There has been so much acuity. We've been holding ICU patients a minimum of 4 hours after admission requests are placed, intermediate care even longer. Our assignment consists of 4 rooms and its not uncommon to also be given 2 hall patients. A few weeks ago one nurse had back to back cardiac arrests placed in her rooms. The first one didn't make it but the second one did and she had to juggle keeping them alive along with managing the rest of her assignment. Everyone keeps saying somethings gotta give but has yet to see it happen. The ratios we have been running are not safe for the nurse and do a disservice to the patients. Many nurses and techs have given their notice or are looking for another job. Im hanging in there, for now. If your days are anything like where I work, I am sure that you did the best you could. Give yourself a little break. Good luck!

What part of the country are you from? Where I live the starting pay for an RN is higher than what most medics make.

The hospital where I work no longer considers one a new grad after a year, the new grads are promoted to RN-1 at this time.

I would agree. Clean out your nose lol. The odor seems to linger there!

My ED has several, some docs like them others not so much.

Per diem is "as needed" but that does not mean you need to feel obligated to accepted to say yes every time they call and offer you a shift. You can not get in trouble for saying no. That would be silly. How could you live your life if you were virtually on call every day. I am sure they will make you feel bad if you say no, that is very common.

Your floors always have available beds/nurses? Usually my department holds patients in the ED because there are no available beds or inadequate staffing not because the floor nurse wont take report.

I have always used tap water

As far as I am aware, nationally the right IJ is still the preferred site. I would have to check with the docs for a definitive answer. I have been told a number of things...placing a temp catheter in the ED, the femoral is an easier access point in an emergent situation and doesn't require xray confirmation to use. We most often place them in patients with pulmonary edema or hyperkalemia and I have been told the femoral is preferred in those patients. I will have to ask one of the ultrasound fellows for the real rationale next time I see them.

I believe you have to do a hands on portion with the online. I would imagine as long as the online certification you chose includes the hands on portion that your employer would not have an issue with it. Im not sure a completely online certification would be beneficial for you as an initial certification.

You are correct. I was not even considering a temporary dialysis catheter. Where I work they use the groin for temporary catheters which is maybe why I had a lapse in brain function. My intent was not to confuse the OP, sorry for that!

Only 4 patients?!? Jealous! We've been running 6 on average as of late. 4 patients per nurse is the department "goal" but I rarely see that for more than a couple hours of my 12-hr shift. When I say 6 patients it could be any combo of acuity. Congrats on your new job!

Same here. Its horrible. I worked a short shift this morning, 48 boarders in the department. 8 were Intermediate care, 3 ICU. The longest boarder has been in the department 1 day 18 hours on a stretcher that is now in the hallway with a portable monitor on the counter since they are tele. There were 28 patients in the waiting room when I left.

Its sad but true. I try to look at it this way, most of the people we give the bus passes to have state funded health insurance. This insurance will pay for ambulance and chair van rides home. I have had to book transportation for people for the most ridiculous reasons. If the person can step on to a bus its going to cost tax payers less money than an ambulance would. I know its not right but I have to tell myself something lol.

Our department funds the bus passes directly out of our budget unfortunately. They have some sort of deal with the bus company for a discounted rate. Im sure one day it will be a thing of the past, like all good things!

Does your sat monitor also show the pleth? The monitor my hospital uses shows the O2 sat in blue with the pleth waveform below it.

When police do this, the patient is not yet under arrest. They are looking to arrest/book the patient after discharge because they could not do so prior due to the person needing medical attention first. At least that is what I am assuming the OP means.