janine3&5

Okay, long story short: Had a pt today with DKA in the ER, and our ER doc ordered a 2 L bolus of IV fluids (NS, then changed to d5ns after blood glucose was less than 250) along with insulin drip. Keep in mind that I'm a brand new nurse, but to me t...

I've just started in the ER right out of school and absolutely love it! I can't imagine ever wanting to do anything else! But I've noticed that in general, we have a young staff aside from our charge nurses and supervisors, who have been there forev...

Essarge, My orientation was only 3-4 weeks (1/2 on the floor, 1/2 doing education) No, that's not very long, but I was lucky enough to have a wonderful preceptor. We really have a great team of nurses, everyone helps each other and I know that I ...

Do what you love- you have to like what you do, if med-surg isn't your interest, then don't go there. I just got my RN in July, and went right to ER. I love my job and can't imagine doing anything else. Yeah, it's stressful-but you learn so much. ...

We have one full time social worker in the ER and she is wonderful- she doesn't get involved in our detox/mental health pts. She does ALL of the dealing with families when a pt dies, is critical, or a trauma pt. She does all of the contacting funer...

I use the HL to draw labs whenever I can in the ER. When we first put in the IV, I attach the HL to a vacutainer to draw blood. After the HL's been used for meds, fluids, whatever, then I use a syringe for any blood draws ( waste the first 5 ccs) H...

Caroline, Yes, the 4 ibuprofen (200 mg ea) is a safe dose. You can even take the ibuprofen along with some tylenol at the same time for really bad pain. DRINK lots and lots of water! Hope you'll feel better soon!

I also had the chance to remove one as a nursing student. I was in clinicals on a surgical floor, the nurse I was working with talked me through it. I was under the impression that this is a nursing skill.

We have a few paramedics working in our ER; they function in the same position as nurses with their own pt assignments. However, they can't give any meds! I'm not sure of the rationale behind that. Our ER rooms are staffed by acuity levels, i.e. ...

hey gabby, I would practice with a book or two, use a CD with a lot of questions, and leave it at that! I just passed boards this past July. In addition to the above, I took a week long review course (because the hospital paid me to attend), which I...

I work in a very busy ER: 100,000 visits/year. Once a pt is seen by the doc, it takes another 1-3 hrs for labs and so forth to come back. They're usually admitted after 2-3 hrs. And that's when the real wait starts. Pts are usually with us AT LEA...

Made me think of this little old lady, 90's, I was taking care of. She was so sweet, completely with it. We were just chattiing, and then she asked me for something to eat, and I explained to her why she was NPO and couldn't have anything. She pau...

BP cuffs are a great tip, esp with the older pts. They never told us this in school, but if you get a good flashback, but can't advance the catheter, try floating it in with your saline. Sometimes the catheter will get stuck up against a valve, and ...

You've looked at uniform stores? We had to wear white nursing dresses for our pinning ceremony, and while there wasn't much of a selection, all that I saw were very traditional and conservative. Another idea if you can't find one you like is to we...

In the ER, we do have protocols stating that certain things can be done before the pt is seen, i.e. EKGs, monitor for CP, extremity Xrays for injuries, very basic stuff. However, most nurses, including myself, do go a little further. For example, pt...

I have to jump back in here and disagree- I'm a new nurse and working weekdays. I don't believe I need to pay my dues to anyone; if there are problems staffing certain shifts, then the manager needs to solve that problem with more hires, better ince...

It depends on your hospital; each unit has different staffing needs. I'm a new grad, and found many openings for weekdays on med-surg floors, less to none in the more specialized units. My hospital has job postings on bulletin boards throughout th...

Definitely comes with practice! My first few, I would see the flashback and know I was in the vein, then get so excited that my hands would start shaking uncontrollably. I had quite a few pts ask me if it was my first time starting an IV! Then I g...

I'd have to disagree; because there's such a shortage, you can pretty much go where you want as a new grad. (Of course, there may be differences af far as what part of the country you're in too?) I just graduated in May, and went right to ER. Alm...

I was surprised too with the Dx with that BS. I asked another nurse about it, who said it was DKA because of the ketones and ABGs. The patient was oriented, but lethargic, sleeping most of the time and slow with responses. As far as the dehydratio...

I'm so glad to hear these replies; I got the same response from a nurse at work today that I talked it over with. My understanding of the pathophys was a little off, but glad to hear I didn't screw up. The pt was a 36 yr old F, Hx of DM (admittedly ...

First thread I read when I logged on!

I just graduated this may. Our class started out with 60-65, and only 29 members of the original group graduated on time. Some dropped out, some were repeating semesters, and we lost quite a few in the last semester. However, we did keep picking...

In fundamentals, you will learn the very basics of nursing; how to take vital signs, handwashing, give baths, make beds, how to safely give meds (probably just po at first), therapeutic communication, and basic nursing skills ( in the first semester ...

All the intensive care units, SICU, MICU, CCU, etc. Some include ER- I personally consider ER critical care, others may say its technically not.