dlhommer

We use 25 only if there is a pca pump running in addition or IV abx. otherwise we would hep. lock the line.

I work on a busy oncology unit we can have 4pts on days and evenings and up to 6 on nights. or less if somone is getting chemo. that's enough for me. Deb

I drink regular coke right before I leave to go home and one for the road too. I also blast the radio with some of my favorite tunes and if I am really tired the windows are down as well. I also always try to take the stairs down to the car so that I also get a little exercise before hopping into my car for my 35 minute drive home, hope that helps. stay awake and stay alive. Deb:nurse:

First congrads on passing NCLEX !! It is hard to give advice but I suggest that what ever unit you chose to start at just give it your all and keep your eyes wide open and your ears open to everything that is going on around you and your going to learn a ton!!! I started in Oncology and love it. I worked for 2 years on the same unit as a nursing assistant and just love the people and the patients that I worked with so I felt it would be a good choice for me and after 4months now I believe it was the right choice. I think it is natural to feel nervous for your first job so don't worry....the fact that you are even pausing to think about it says that your going to be a great nurse. So have fun and learn a lot. Deb:rotfl:

I have been a nurse for 3 months now and I have to say that for the most part I love it. sure there are really bad days that I just want to cry, especially when it is really busy and one of my 5 patients is getting IV morphine every 2 hours and demands it on the clock even when she is sleeping???? but there are the majority of the times that I really enjoy taking care of truley ill patients that makes it all worth while.... I think nursing is like any profession... you take the good with the bad and hope that you have more good than bad, but that is just my 2cents. Deb

wow that is still a lot of patients for a day shift. I guess I won't complain about having 6 on nights. day shift can only have a max of 4. I am sure your time management skills are great to have that many patients. yikes

I always use the one sheet of paper, but I keep it on my clip board. I tried just to fold the sheet up and put it in my pocket, but it was easier to loose than the clip board because I needed to take it out to write vitals etc. on it and I would lay it down and loose it.....so to make a long story short.... I always keep it on my clip board now. but that is my 2cents.

yes, doing everything with someone to ask for guidance is the best way to learn to manage everything. you learn when things need to get done and how to prioritize your time. I have been a nurse since June and that is the way they trained me too.

the video camera sounds like a grand idea, then you wouldn't have to worry about losing your "brain" aka clip board.... what is the patient ratio on your unit during the 7am-7pm shifts???

Hello all..I work at a hospital in Minnesota on nights and we usually have around 4-5 patients at once and can have up to 6 max depending on acuity of the patients but the max is 6 for each nurse. I can't even imagin having more than that....I don't even think it's safe. Deb

that is very good advice. i actually recently called a md in the middle of the night for pain med orders and after i spouted off the name etc he stopped me in my tracks and said "you'll have to help me out with a little history on this patient as i am not familar with their case at all...... from now on i think i will double check to make sure that they are familar with the patient first....it made me scramble a bit because it was the first night i had taken care of the patient too...

I work a .8 nights which in my case means that I work 8 nights on in a row and then have 6 days off; works great for me and my very busy family. when my first night is upon me I try to get up early that morning and then take a nap in the evening right before I go to work ( usually a couple of hours works well) then I am fine to stay up all night. I think the 2nd night is actually worse because of the switch but if you stay busy and for heavens don't try to read a book on break you will probably find out that you'll do fine. I actually really enjoy nights. I work on an Oncology unit and find that it's the nights that I actually get to talk to my patients and when they seem to share things about their life......very rewarding. anyway just my 2cents. Deb

congratulations on being off orientation .your going to be fine especially if you can manage 8 patients. I also work nights and am a recent graduate, but we can only have a max of 6 patients so it is crazy to think that you have a max of 8. so good for you. I think that once you get in to the swing of nights that you will really like it even more than you do now. I like that I have time (most nights) to really actually read my patients charts to find out whats going on in depth rather than relying on the previous nurses report. I work on an oncology floor and find that patients often really like to share their thoughts regarding their process at night when it is quiet and there family members are at home. anyway good luck! Deb

don't second guess yourself because I haven't heard of anyone who came out of that test thinking that they passed. I took NCLEX in June with only 75 questions; I was very sure that I failed, very sure. anyway to make you feel better I passed.......so take a breath and just wait to see how you did because chances are that you really passed and are now a RN. good luck...I hope that helps. Deb

I was an aid on the same unit that I now work as a nurse. I don't find that the nurses can't remember that I am a nurse, but the other aids often forget. It will just take some time. for the most part I found the staff very supportive and excited for me in my new role on the unit. Deb