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ilovebirds

ilovebirds

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ilovebirds's Latest Activity

  1. ilovebirds

    Neuro icu to nursery?

    ilovebirds posted a topic in General Specialties

    Neuro ICU to Nursery - interview advice? Hi guys! I’m a neuro icu nurse with about a year and a half experience with a nursery interview lined up next week. I did say something slightly off color on the phone and I think I may have messed up my chances a bit (She wants me there super early after my shift and I said we are often short so I may run a bit behind and will call her and give her a heads up as to my ETA which sounded better in my head). :( I don’t think I’ll have time to change into business casual clothes - the interview is 730 AM after a shift. Should I risk running a bit behind and bring interview friendly clothes or just go in scrubs? Additionally, what nursery specific questions do I need to prep for? I’m so nervous. I hate interviews but I hate the unit I work in so much and working in either the nursery or nicu has been my dream since nursing school :( Thanks in advance ❤️
  2. ilovebirds

    Finding a job in or near SF?

    ilovebirds replied to ilovebirds's topic in Job Hunt

    Thank you both for your input. I'll try applying to a wide range of locations in California to increase the likelihood of working there as to get my foot in the door (but I will go ahead and apply for new grad programs at locations like UCSF and Stanford). If things don't go as planned, then so be it - I understand that I may not get exactly what I want, if I am able to "get" anything at all. Patience is a virtue. :)
  3. ilovebirds

    I struggle w/ studying for Gerontology semi-urgent

    ilovebirds replied to cjprenurse's topic in Student Assist

    I'm a bit surprised y'all are taking gero in 1st semester! For my gero class, I focused on thinking through how the aging process affects the nursing care that is being given. Also important: things like physical assessment changes, medication differences (e.g. Beers criteria), nutrition/hydration needs (some of which will be impacted by said physical changes), chronic conditions and so on. Definitely figure out your learning style as Rose_Queen suggested. That will definitely help you better apply the content you are studying. Good luck! :)
  4. ilovebirds

    Weight-based dosing question

    ilovebirds replied to ilovebirds's topic in Student Assist

    Thank you both for your responses! The patient wasn't fluid overloaded, but was obese. I'll discuss this further with my instructor and nurses at the facility to see if there's a protocol for dosage calculations of obese patients.
  5. ilovebirds

    Weight-based dosing question

    ilovebirds posted a topic in Student Assist

    Hey guys - quick question. Is there ever a reason to use a weight other than the patient's actual weight in weight based dosing? Last week, I was calculating some drips, and I noticed that none of my calculations matched the MAR. After closer examination, I realized the discrepancy was due to the MAR listing using a different recorded weight - as an example, the heparin was dosed for a person weighing 15kg less than my patient. Is there a good reason for this? My initial thought was risk for bleeding, but my patient's aPTT remained non-therapeutically low. Thanks! :)
  6. ilovebirds

    Finding a job in or near SF?

    ilovebirds posted a topic in Job Hunt

    ***very long, whiny post ahead*** Hey, people of allnurses. I'll be graduating in May 2018, and I'm in a bit of a pickle right now. Currently, I am attending school in my home state (TN), and I really want to get a job in San Francisco - only because my significant other lives there, and I will be moving there after graduation (hopefully ... ) However, I've done my research and know it's darn near impossible to get a job in that area, sometimes even for experienced nurses. Are there any areas close to SF (or at least accessible via public transit) where I'm more likely to be hired as a new grad? I also don't know what to do about taking the NCLEX. I don't want to sit for a CA license if I'm not going to get a job there, but on the other hand, processing times for licensure endorsement are awful (or so I've heard). Additionally, is there anything I can do to make myself more likely to be hired? I'm the vice president of my school's SNA, I'm an Honors student (3.8 GPA), working on a thesis (I was told by a professor I would be the first nursing student at my school to do so, too), I tutor on the weekends, participate in student research symposiums, had a brief nursing internship, and I am finishing up my minor in philosophy (with an ethics focus) ... but is there anything else that I could list on my resume that might actually stand out to a potential employer? Is anything of what I listed even relevant? Sorry for the long post (and for being a whiny baby), I'm just kind of stressed and confused as to what I need to be doing. Worst case scenario I stay here for longer to gain experience, but my significant other won't move, so... that's really far from ideal. Honestly, any advice is appreciated.
  7. ilovebirds
    The group I'm graduating with is full of people who are complete, uh, words I can't say on this website. Lots of catty, petty, drama queens (and kings). We learn to take care of our patients, but we're failing to take care of each other.
  8. ilovebirds

    D/C Foley when patient is sitting?

    ilovebirds replied to htg722's topic in General Students

    I've actually d/c'd a Foley when someone was sitting in a chair, but I would generally advise against it (especially if it is against policy!!!). It's a bit messier and more difficult to clean a pt in that position. Also, if you can avoid it, please don't do stuff like that when someone is trying to enjoy their food.
  9. ilovebirds

    How do you deal with the conflict in nursing school?

    ilovebirds replied to mzsuccess's topic in General Students

    I feel your pain! I graduate in May and I'm surrounded by those types of people. I also have dealt with actual nurses like her in the hospital setting - some were rude to the point I wanted to run and hide in the linen closet whenever they were present! The best advice has been shared already - ignore her, focus on graduating, passing NCLEX, and getting a job. People like her usually get what's coming to them... eventually. :) Good luck - you're almost at the finish line!
  10. ilovebirds

    Girl in my cohort is cheating

    ilovebirds replied to KitKat2019's topic in Student Assist

    Oh gosh. First - set boundaries. If she's asking personal questions, tell her you don't feel comfortable sharing that much information. Also, since when is it a thing for strangers to try to control other stranger's lives (RE: the permit) like that? Creepy. That's a red flag. Now, with regard to the cheating thing ... I would advise that you avoid studying with her or with students that cheat - it's possible for you to also get in trouble. Reporting it is your call to make, but know that you *could* get in trouble as well (depending on your school's policy).
  11. ilovebirds

    Is this a fair way to fail a student?

    ilovebirds replied to duroch1's topic in General Students

    As others have said, you're at the mercy of your school. Are there other students in the same situation? Forward your school e-mail to your phone so you don't miss anything - so even if you are caught off guard, you have a better chance to do something about it. I know a lot of my classmates don't have their e-mail connected to their phone, and well ... they miss a LOT of important notices and deadline changes.
  12. ilovebirds

    Clinical instructor feels I'm not competent?

    ilovebirds replied to Holopugs's topic in General Students

    I'm a fellow nursing student and I know how nerve-wracking it can be - especially if you feel intimidated and anxious. I *personally* do not feel that your instructor's comments were tactful at all. That being said, you will need to work on (at least) appearing confident. Patients can and will get scared if you look and sound like you don't know what you're doing (I had that happen once during my med-surg clinical). Practice these tasks in your head - not just the administration of the shot itself, but what you will say to the patient and how you will say it. Prepare for questions - including questions you may not immediately be able to answer. Additionally, talk to your instructor and ask specifically what they expect from you and how you can meet those expectations throughout the duration of your clinical. Good luck! :)
  13. ilovebirds
    Hello! I'm a nursing student who about a year away from graduation. I strongly believe NICU is my passion. This semester, I've had the opportunity to care for babies and even get to assess and feed a baby in the NICU. I've never been happier during clinicals (half was labor and delivery, half postpartum care + babies). I didn't think I'd ever want to work with babies, but this semester has seriously changed my perspectives! I'm moving out of state upon passing the NCLEX so I'm a bit worried it will negatively impact my ability to secure a NICU job. I'm trying to gain relevant experience but there aren't many opportunities available to me. I'm interning at a step-down unit during the summer, which isn't exactly what I wanted (but I'm still immensely grateful for the opportunity and wouldn't consider refusing such an offer). I'm also planning on doing my Honors thesis on NICU babies... I also wanted to generally ask here if there are any glaring research gaps that I might consider looking into. How could I go about seeking opportunities and getting involved? I've heard that getting your NRP/ACLS certification prior to graduation makes you look more serious about the career path (?) Academically, I'm in the Honors program and also recently was elected the vice president of my school's SNA... dunno if that will help with a job though. Sorry for the long post!!!
  14. ilovebirds
    If all you guys are in nursing school and sharing clinical together, surely there's something you have in common to talk about! We're humans, not some weird aliens that just talk about "girl" stuff (whatever that means, anyway...) Good luck, OP :)
  15. ilovebirds

    Anxiety during clinicals - advice?

    ilovebirds replied to ilovebirds's topic in Student Assist

    Thank you for your input. It definitely helps knowing there are other introverts that share similar experiences. I definitely try to be as prepared as possible - when possible, that is! The two clinicals I have this semester don't have pre-lab the night before, which I think is triggering my anxiety more than usual. However, the real world doesn't let you pre-lab, so I guess it's a good thing to just suck it up, go with the flow, and get used to it! :) Definitely working on my communication skills more and discussing ways to improve with my instructor and nurses on the respective units. Thanks again!!!
  16. ilovebirds

    Anxiety during clinicals - advice?

    ilovebirds posted a topic in Student Assist

    Hey guys. I'm in my 3rd semester of nursing school and started clinicals last semester. I struggled with anxiety (and depression, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms) the whole time and while it was pretty darn awful, I pulled through. This semester I'm feeling the same way all over again - I thought I was over it. Other students just comment that I'm quiet (I barely talk to other students - also exceptionally introverted), need to work on my nerves, and I *do* get that. However, I'm pretty good with patients, despite me being quiet and shy (my evaluations last semester reflected this). Instructors, other nurses on the unit, etc. all tend to see me as a good student. I also volunteer to do stuff whenever the opportunity pops up, even if it makes me temporarily more anxious. Advice? I just feel like I'll never get past the anxiety and that I'll be a bad nurse, and that scares me (sorry for sounding dramatic, but I genuinely feel this way).