dexm

dexm

ICU, ED

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All Content by dexm

  1. Needing some serious advice

    dexm replied to RogueMidazo59's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    First of all, Kaplan is fantastic. Second of all, give yourself a break. You're goal in nursing school might have been to get good grades, but you've got to let that go. You aren't trying to get a...

  2. Specialties for New Grads

    dexm replied to lisianthus93's topic in General Students

    I was told that over and over in nursing school, and I think it's bologna. If you want to do med surg, start in medsurg, but if you are interested in ICU, ER, L&D, etc. then apply for those jobs....

  3. Help? I have ADD while in Nursing School

    dexm replied to Audry_Heparin's topic in General Students

    Are you taking any meds for ADD? If you've tried alternative therapies or strategies and those aren't helping, I would definitely talk to your doctor about medication options. I had undiagnosed ADD...

  4. Would it be a bad idea to take General Chemistry, A&P2, and pathophysiology?

    dexm replied to rmc2962's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Absolutely. You could maybe take chemistry and A&P 2 together, maybe, but I would be hesitant to even suggest that. I especially wouldn't take pathophysiology without finishing A&P

  5. How to study questions using kaplan?

    dexm replied to carrotcake's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    What are you writing down? If you are writing down the entire rationale of the questions you got wrong you are making you're life way to difficult. When I went through the rationales I would make a...

  6. "the 3rd degree" with report and other rude behavior

    dexm replied to amzyRN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Completely agree! The unit I work on gives a systems report in a very specific order, and there are certain things that are expected to be mentioned within each section. When I first started I would...

  7. ICU pay differential?

    dexm replied to Mr. Murse's topic in Critical Care

    ICU nurses (as well as RNs in the ED and L&D) get paid a couple dollars more than floor nurses where I work. The evening/night/weekend differentials are the same

  8. What is the correct procedure for flushing a PICC line that has TPN running?

    dexm replied to ccrunner72000's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Since there are 2 other ports available, you don't need to disconnect/flush the line unless you absolutely have to draw blood from the port with the TPN infusing. But you do need to pause the TPN when...

  9. Sodium Bicarbonate IV Administration

    dexm replied to Mseenurse's topic in Patient Medications

    I'm not an expert, but I don't think I've ever heard of an MD being required to administer sodium bicarb instead of an RN. It might depend on the facility's policy. But sodium bicarb is also an ACLS...

  10. Thomas Eric Duncan and Hipaa

    dexm replied to smartnurse1982's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    From the CDC website: What about sharing protected health information (PHI) with public health authorities? The Privacy Rule allows for the existing practice of sharing PHI with public health...

  11. Fluid bolus by gravity or pump?

    dexm replied to delphine22's topic in MICU, SICU

    On my unit we usually give a fluid bolus via gravity with a pressure

  12. Serious poop discussion

    dexm replied to Trenia's topic in General Students

    Hahaha I've actually experienced the same thing and was just talking about this the other day with some coworkers. No idea what the deal is, but you are not

  13. Feeling overwhelmed - not getting it

    dexm replied to brit.pz's topic in General Students

    It's your third week of nursing school, take a chill pill. Even though taking a manual BP seems like a basic thing, you aren't expected to be a pro at it yet. So relax. Just practice, practice,...

  14. NG tube feeding/giving meds

    dexm replied to gingerstarRN's topic in General Nursing

    We attach a lopez valve that connects the end of the NGT/DHT/PEG tube/whatever to the formula tubing and allows you to administer meds through the port at the top. Most of my pts have continuous TFs,...

  15. checking residuals for tube feeds

    dexm replied to ViolinTreble's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Get a 60 cc syringe, aspirate the gastric contents, and then reinstill any aspirate obtained 60 mls. Residuals >250 mls, especially after a second residual check, usually indicate delayed gastric...

  16. Regular schedule

    dexm replied to TXcatcher's topic in Nursing Career

    I was also told that hospitals don't hire new grads into the ICU when I was in nursing school, but that was absolutely false. MANY people I graduated with, including myself, started in the ICU as new...

  17. Your Specialty & Why

    dexm replied to AspiringNurseMW's topic in General Nursing

    When I started nursing school I didn't want anything to do with the adult population and was interested in either L&D, NICU, or peds. I ended up hating all three of those areas and falling in love...

  18. the emotional aspect of ICU- just venting?

    dexm replied to emilyewrn's topic in MICU, SICU

    I think that some patients are just going to affect you differently than others. Even if you've taken care of 1000 patients who were declared brain dead after an MCC and handled it like a champ, for...

  19. Is it me? Or is it everybody else?

    dexm replied to remotefuse's topic in General Students

    That's probably super annoying, and definitely inappropriate and disrespectful. However, I DO NOT think confronting them would be worth it though - especially if it's a majority of your class behaving...

  20. Should I just bite the bullet?

    dexm replied to kcsunshine's topic in Patient Care Technician, Assistants

    Pretty much half of my nursing school class had PCA/PCT jobs with no CNA license or experience in the field. I think a lot of hospitals hire nursing students with the hopes they will stay within their...

  21. is kaplan q bank all passing level question?

    dexm replied to clawregis's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    Yes, the Qbank is all passing level questions. If I remember correctly, the goal average for the Qbank was 68% (please correct me if I'm wrong!). The goal average for the question trainers varied...

  22. New ICU Nurse- Preceptor Problems

    dexm replied to lordizzy626's topic in Critical Care

    If they can't guarantee that you will have a preceptor who will be able to give you their full attention, I might think about switching units. There's no way you are going to be able to progress like...

  23. Poll: Do you wear your wedding band to work...?

    dexm replied to Nola009's topic in General Nursing

    I used to not wear it, but after getting hit on at work a couple of times I bought a simple, thin, white gold band to wear to avoid those awkward conversations. Also, the thought of wearing my...

  24. self extubation

    dexm replied to lmarti10's topic in MICU, SICU

    Agree with the pp! Some patients just houdini out of their restraints, don't beat yourself

  25. Spinoff thread-A or pass

    dexm replied to Gottawanna's topic in General Students

    Once I got to nursing school a lot of people were about the "C = RN" or "C = degree" life, but having never made a C in a class before I personally wasn't ok with that. I always aimed for an A, but my...