eifan115

This is for naptimeRN. Just an update on working at the eye surgery center. I've been there about a month and a half doing just one or two days a week. There is a lot to learn and being per diem makes it a little difficult but so far so good. They have been great about answering my questions and not leaving me alone in any one area. I have done postop and preop and today worked a little in the laser area. I have many new drugs to research and lots of new terminology to learn. Alot of it is mostly very repetitive but each doctor does things a little differently. 35 MD's on staff with 4-5 operating each day so switching eye drop regimens and postop instructions happens a lot. It is very busy but not rushed if that makes sense. Most of the patients are elderly so sometimes the admission part is more difficult due to diabetics needing blood sugars or allergies requiring drop substitutions or listing all the meds taken that morning. Hope you get to see this. Whatever happened with your call from the eye center near you? I hope you find something you like!

We were told when this all started that we would only do it if we were able to staff according to the guidelines ie: no more than 3 couplets per nurse. Now that promise is going out the window. We get more than the occasional gyn also...sometimes as many as 4 or 5 in a day. Plus we have a level II NICU that needs to be staffed out of the same core of nurses. We are being stretched way too thin. Thanks for your replies.

What is your average couplet assignment? My hospital has been trying to switch us over to this model of care for the last year and it has been chaos. Our new manager is now saying that hospitals in our area assign 6-8 couplets per nurse. Is this true? In what universe is caring for 12-16 patients safe? Apparently 2 patients now equal only one! My unit also gets postop gyn surgicals, breast cases (mastectomies and TRAM reconstructions), antenatals for hyperemesis and observation, readmits for postop complications (infection,ileus etc) and day surgery patients not ready to go home when the unit closes at 4pm. We have lost many of our experienced staff over the last year and truly are in crisis mode at this point. Often we do not even have a tech or secretary to help us out. So what is the concensus? Is this the new norm? If it is, then I am going to have to bail too!

naptimern... I will start orientation in about a week. I'll let you know how it goes but I did enjoy the shadowing day. Fast paced but it seemed very organized and ran smoothly. I'm excited to start!

Thanks for all the advice. I finally did just call and ask. They told me I would change into scrubs there. Went yesterday for the morning and was offered the per diem position I'd hoped for! So excited to learn something new and start a new venture!

This may be a dumb question but here goes. I had an interview at an eye surgery center and am scheduled to go in next week to job shadow. I neglected to ask how I should dress for that. I went business casual for the interview but don't know if that's appropriate for shadowing. Anyone have any experience with this? I've been a floor nurse in postpartum for a LONG time so all this interviewing stuff is new to me! Thanks!

Does anyone here work in a facility that still does traditional postpartum care where mom and baby are cared for by nursery and postpartum nurses separately? I know that couplet nursing is becoming more the way to go but I am interested in hearing from those that still use the traditional model. Thanks!