ParisAntonel

What are the duties of a high risk OB nurse and the duties of L&D nurse? They are separate units, and I am trying to figure out for which unit I should apply. Some People have said L&D is more fast paced, and in OB you have more time to talk with the patient. Thank you :)

I am a new nurse with less than 2 years experience. I have a different problem " I know that I know nothing" just enough to provide safe care but not even close to expert level! God knew he couldn't be with me at all times so he created Google , I google a lot of meds, dx, etc!

Was Lauren reported to BON? Could she be charged and go to jail for killing a patient( even though it was not intentional)?! I am very surprised she didn't get sued! People sue for anything nowadays!

I am so so so happy I got to read this article!!

I wouldn't hold metformin for a BG of 149. If the pt is NPO ( no TPN or TF) for a procedure , or did not eat lunch , or was hypoglycemic and you had to give D50 , and now BG is high, I would hold metformin, insulin if BG 149 or even higher than that and notify MD.

At our hospital we cover all ports with caps ( they are like alcohol wipes), everytime I give meds, I remove cap, I still scrub with alcohol pad, and place a new cap.

I hold BP meds all the time when I don't feel safe , meaning SBP lower than 110 and pt has multiple BP meds. However, you cannot hold meds without MD's order, so I always call MD within an hour. I ask for parameters , and make them aware of VS and BP meds that were held. If I know the MD and the BP is not very low and pt is not having s/s of hypotension I wait for MD to make rounds. In your case, with that low BP and if pt is symptomatic , I would definitely call MD.

There are good people out there:) I am so happy for you.

I do this when I have the time . If you are standing and looking down to talk to pts, it makes them feel inferior,anxious, uncomfortable. I've noticed they feel comfortable and they open up more when you're sitting down ! :)

This is so helpful, I love it, thank you! Time for me to improve my charting skills.

I just read this and I find it very helpful, I hope it helps you too! Here are some of the most common types of negative workplace personalities I've encountered — and some ideas on how to effectively deal with them. 1. The Bad News Bears Like Petra, these folks revel in the negative. They can't wait to tell you that the supplier made a mistake, the executive is ticked off, and someone's head is going to roll. But as much as they thrive on sharing this negativity, it's incredibly draining for you. (With good reason: Research shows that workplace negativity creates a toxic environment that has an adverse impact on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.) Solution Deal with the real issue at hand — if in fact there is one — and then walk away. I became a master at this when I was forced to listen to Petra's travails. If there was something I could do to help the situation, I did it (like sucking it up and calling the client she'd ticked off. I also worked on managing my own stress level by simply listening quietly or asking clarifying questions until I could end the conversation). But mostly, her spiels were non-productive venting sessions that certainly didn't deserve much of my time. To exit the conversation gracefully (and quickly), try using quick getaway phrases, like "I have a phone call I need to jump on," or "I need to prep for the meeting this afternoon." 2. The Gossip Mongers In a corporate environment, it can sometimes seem like the rumors never stop. Someone heard there's going to be a layoff, a new manager was hired, half the department's getting fired, or no one's getting a raise. Substantiated or not, these rumors get repeated over and over, usually by the same people, who just love stirring up the worst-case scenario of what's going on. Solution Gossip mongers often have little regard for fact. So, when I hear something outrageous or questionable, I push for real answers. "Oh, wow, that sounds pretty extreme. Is that a fact? Or did you hear that from someone?" You'll quickly set the expectation that you won't engage in frivolous chatter that's not based in fact. In turn, gossips will likely steer clear of you because asking for facts takes all the fun out of it for them. Another strategy is to express helplessness. When a co-worker starts spinning the gossip yarn ("I heard the boss knows that Sam's looking for a new job — what do you think he's going to do?"), shrug and say "I can't help you with that one. Sorry." If the gossiper pushes, don't be afraid to establish your personal boundaries: "Actually, I don't like to talk office politics; it's not really any of my business." Then excuse yourself from the conversation. 3. The Drama Queens (or Kings) These spotlight-lovers have a high need for attention, and they often drain their co-workers' time and energy by the dramatics they employ in search of the spotlight. You know the type: This is the person whose workload is bigger than anyone else's, who has the worst flu symptoms during cold season, and whose clients are the most annoying. They thrive on chaos and will one-up any story you have. "You think that was a bad client? Last week, I had to drive two hours to a client's house just to bring him work samples!" Sure, level-headed you would probably take the situation in stride and let the disruption roll off your back — but the drama queen believes he or she is the only one to ever experience such an event, and it's worthy of a wrath-laden rant. Solution One way you can nip this in the bud is to refuse to bite when the drama starts rolling. You see, since drama queens want to be the center of attention, the more you respond to their drama ("Oh my gosh, that really happened to you?"), the more you feed the beast. Instead, simply ignore the rants, and go on about your business. Your message — "I'm not interested" — will eventually be received. Also, don't be afraid to give some honest feedback. Convey that you understand your colleague's concerns, but there's probably a better way for him or her to deal with them. For example, "Jackson, I know you have a big workload, but if you're feeling overwhelmed and overworked, you should probably talk to your manager." And when you say it, make sure to stay calm and act rationally, so that you're not adding to the drama. 4. The Chicken Littles Just like the children's tale, with these folks, the sky is always falling. If you share a piece of good news with them ("We got the account!"), they'll respond with a pessimistic reaction that you probably didn't expect (or want): "Oh, I've heard that client is a real pain. They'll take so much time that we'll never make money." Solution In this situation, it's best to confront the situation head-on and give your co-worker feedback. Gently explain how his or her behavior affects the rest of the team: "Pat, when you rain on someone's good news with that kind of announcement, the new teammates find it a bit upsetting. Mind toning it down just a bit?" I've found that most chicken littles don't realize how negative they're being and how it's affecting those around them. By gently pointing it out, you can help them make the correction and be supportive of their teammates. 5. The Victims Victims blame others for their circumstances. Have you ever heard someone say the boss was out to get him or her? Victim. How about the person who blamed a missed deadline on the guys in accounting who "didn't get the report to me on time?" Victim. Co-workers with a victim syndrome constantly complain about everything bad that's happening in their lives. What's worse, they don't believe they have any ownership or control of the situation, so in their eyes, everything is being done to them. They often suspect there's some huge universal conspiracy that is firmly rooted against their success. And they love to talk about it. Solution It can be hard to tell someone that he or she is always negative, so try telling him or her what you really need: more positive engagement in your day. Try, "I've noticed that whenever we chat, the conversation tends to focus on the negative. I don't know about you, but I work better when I'm surrounded by positivity. Why don't you tell me about something that's going well for you?" You can also ask what they could have done to avoid the situation, a strategy that works well with your employees. For example, "That's too bad. What could you have done differently to make sure the accounting report was in your hands on time?" The next time you feel yourself getting sucked into a negative workplace vortex, don't let it it drain your dry — try one of these techniques to deal with it, and bring some positivity back into your office.

Congratulations on passing the nclex! Now you can start applying for RN positions. Go to the hospital website and look up career opportunities , read the application requirements. It will tell you if you need letter of recommendations , most hospitals require references. Read and reread the job description , is that what you want to do? You're the only one who would know if the hospital or nursing home would be a good fit for you. Every state is different and and every hospital offers different wages , it depends where you work. Money is not everything, look for a job that interests you, it's important to enjoy it and not dread going into work!

This is a great review! Thanks for sharing, I love reading from you and GrnTea :) my two idols :)

I hope so! Thank you so much for the reassurance, I love learning from people ! :)

I've been a nurse for almost a year now and One of my weaknesses is triple checking everything!!!!It's getting on my nerves.In a 12 hr shift, I spend 1 hour throughout the shift triple checking my charting, meds, doctor's orders. This is due to fear of making mistakes , or not following orders! I hope that one day I change and I hope you do too :)))) hugs