srknurse

What pocket resources do you carry with you at all times? Is there any all-in-one nursing reference that you like that you refer to while at work? I'm also curious as to know what you carry with you. For me, it's my stethoscope, scissors (on a badge retractor), pens, tape, and some flushes. Oh, and yes, my report sheet (which I made, which allows for 6 pts with areas for labs, meds, new orders, etc.). Thanks in advance!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was CRAZY, but you are right, these questions are way too advanced for many nursing students! I am an RN and didn't touch on these questions while in nursing school....THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was losing my mind!!!!!

I am an RN that is tutoring a nursing student presently in advanced med-surg. I am not a practicing OR/ICU nurse, and so she had the following questions...that I had difficulty answering. Can someone help me? Thanks! Why is hemodilution so important for heart bypass if the blood is already being heparinized? Why is it important to dilute and bring the Hct down so low? In cardiopulmonary bypass, blood is still circulating to the body but not the coronary arteries/heart? The machine moves the oxygenated blood back into the aorta for circulation, but isn't the aorta clamped off to keep blood out of the heart? Why would a pacemaker have a 1st letter identification 0 for "no chamber paced", or 2nd ) for "no chamber where intrinsic activity is sensed", or 3rd ) for "no response after sensing intrinsic rate"? How does nursing management differ between patients with temporary and permanent pacemakers?[/i]

I would be happy to be your mentor! Sonya

I would be happy to mentor you; I am an RN/BSN that is presently working on my MSN.... Sonya

I start my MSN in nursing education from Indiana Wesleyan next month...would love to hear from other MSN or even RN/BSN students! My email is [email protected] Sonya

Hi, everyone.....I am starting my MSN in Nursing Education next month at Indiana Wesleyan University....all online. It's $9,000 per year. I can't wait! srknurse

I am a Public Health Nurse in Champaign County and also a Patient Advisory Nurse at Carle Hospital. HELLO!!!!!!!!! I have my RN/BSN, and am starting my MSN next month. SRKnurse

I keep thinking of more things...what is awesome is an all-in-one care plan book and also the book Diseases by Springhouse. Invaluable for care plans!

Okay, here are my suggestions (I am an RN/BSN that graduated in 2004 - at the top of my class!) :-) 1. Pens 2. Datebook/organizer - either electronic (PDA - I used Palm Tungsten C) or just a datebook - at the beginning of each semester/quarter, write in the due dates of all of your assignments 3. A plastic clipboard that you can open up and hold papers in - it's 8.5 X 11" - you can get them at WalMart 4. Highlighters 5. Comfortable shoes! I recommend Birkenstocks all the way! 6. A rolling backpack 7. NCLEX prep books - even if you are not even close to graduating, I'd HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX, as it breaks down all topics into 2-3 pages. So, if you're in Med-Surg, and you are learning about CHF, take the time to read in the Saunders book, too. Your test scores will reflect this, and you will have a greater chance of passing the NCLEX! I passed with 75 questions and was the highest scorer in our class for the pre-NCLEX test. 7a. I'd highly recommend Kaplan's NCLEX prep book, because all of the other question and answer books don't have the level of difficulty that Kaplan has. 8. Nursing2006 journal/magazine. It's easy to read, and it is a wonderful starting point! 9. A nursing mentor. You should consider having an upperclassman or someone that has recently graduated mentor you...guide you...and support you! I am happy to mentor anyone on this board, so email me at [email protected] if you are interested. 10. Support of your family and also belief in yourself! You CAN do this!

Hello...anyone out there? srknurse

I would recommend getting a "nursing care plan" book - there are TONS out there than can list specific diseases, nursing interventions, outcomes, and rationales. Please email me if you'd like more info. [email protected]

I am starting my MSN in Nursing Education from Indiana Wesleyan University in August - it's all online. srknurse

Hi, everyone- Can someone please tell me what the most current standard of practice is for IM injections? Specifically, I want to know, are we supposed to remove all air from the syringe before injecting the med or do we leave residual air so that the medication does not leak into the subcutaneous space? Also, what about aspirating the syringe back before pushing the med? Lastly, is "Z-Track" the current method? I have learned various ways, and it is interesting to see that every nurse I work with does a little something different. Thanks, srknurse

I am an RN (with my BSN) that will be starting my MSN in Nursing Education (online) this fall (2006). I think the administrative graduate degrees are equivalent to those that are at a "brick and mortar" school, and believe that ANY accredited school offering didactic graduate degrees (i.e., nurse practitioner, etc.) require that you have a preceptor with a large number of clinical hours. It took me a long time to weed out a decent online school ...and mine is attached to a "brick and mortar school" - as there are some out there that are thought of "degree factories" moreso than anything else. SRKNurse

That is not true about the BSN to be a PHN. I have my BSN, and I am the only nurse in my division at our health department that has one. It's "preferred", but if you are flexible and have a true love and calling for public health, that goes a long way, too. I am a public health nurse in Illinois. SRKnurse

I'd shy away from Walden as although it is accredited, it's kind of like University of Phoenix - touted as a "degree factory" of sorts (or so I've heard)....there are MSN programs in Nursing Education online all over the place. Email me if you'd like the list that I complied before I narrowed it down geographically. SRKnurse

You definitely have a point....it would be a legal liability nightmare if you dispensed to someone without knowing their allergic history. Furthermore, yes, you are right again...we have no definitive way of knowing if their partners did take the medicine or not. It's really an ethical dilemma all around, with no clear way of ensuring that everyone receives proper treatment. However, some larger health departments in parts of this country are doing just this. My health department isn't that progressive, I guess :) We are now asking clients to list their email address, as well as their physical address, so we have another means of attempting contact in case their test results are positive. SRKnurse

I am a current Public Health Nurse (soon to be an ER nurse...in 1 month!), and I wish we could give medicines to go for our patients in the STD clinic....what I mean is, dispense additional medicines for the partners of the patients that have STD's. I feel that if you are only treating one person, then you are not fully rectifying the situation...and there is no way to know if their partner will be tested and/or treated....as partner notification is not mandatory. I am all for medicines to go...not only in this context, but others as well. Interesting thread! SRKnurse

As a new ER nurse, I am curious to know...what do you experienced ER nurses carry with you in your pockets or fanny packs? Any and all information greatly appreciated... I carry...my PDA, alcohol swabs, bandaids, tape, etc., etc.... SRKnurse

Hi there! I, too, will be starting in an ER in August with a 5-6 week orientation. I have 1 year experience as a public health nurse and 4 years experience as an ER tech....and so feel somewhat familiar, but am SCARED to death..... Know I'm here for you and I love reading all of everyone's replies! Keep the good thoughts coming! SRKNurse

Hi, everyone! I am a public health nurse that may be making a change to become an ER nurse. Aside from, of course, extensive on the job training, does anyone recommend anything? Any books (I've been on Amazon.com and searched for "emergency nursing"), but is there anything else all of you would recommend? Either in terms of book learning or didactic (clinical) learning? If this has been previously discussed, I apologize. I am eager to learn from everyone's wisdom on this board. Respectfully, SRKnurse

Hi, ER nurses- Just a question for you....what does your hospital do if a patient needs an IV start and also needs blood drawn? Do you initiate an IV and then draw blood from another vein? Or how does this work, exactly? How have you found works best? I am not certain how to do this. Thanks! SRKnurse