nursern20

Thank you! Anybody else care to share their experiences??

But how what was the living situation like as far as food, laundry, etc..

Most importantly you need you document if they are continent or incontinent, and your plan of care. If their BM's are normal and you wanna make a quick bowel note, all you need is consistency and amount. Consistency: loose, soft, formed. Amount: large, moderate, small. Otherwise chart by exception, such as bloody stools, constipation, diarrhea, etc.. (One time I found a couple completely intact and undigested pills in a patients stool!)

Has anyone ever been housed in a simple hotel room, NOT a suite, for any of their assignments less than 13 weeks. If so, how what was the living situation like as far as food, laundry, etc.. Thanks!

This is for the veteran travelers as well as the new travelers. As a traveler, how long does it take until you get used to a new system or routine? I know they say hit the ground running, but in reality everyone has different methods of learning and different lengths of time for someone to learn something new. -And please dont respond with something like..."then you're not cut-out to be a travel nurse." Thanks!

I love and appreciate your honesty. A lot of people wish they had a kickback high paying job, but not many nurses have the balls to say it because nurses have the crap beat out of them at work and they believe they have to put up with it because thats what nursing was, thats what nursing is, and that's what nursing will be. I work nights on a med/surg/tele floor at phoenixville hospital in very poor conditions and rn/pt. ratios, so needless to say my experience has been a negative one. But just because nurses put up with all the ******** that comes with nursing doesnt make them any better than nurses that choose not to deal with it and not to have that unnecessary stress and burnout in their lives. My advice to you is shadow for a few days each of the various areas of nursing that your interested in, and see how you still feel about it. the OR, a correctional facility, dialysis, or an office job might be good fits for you. Just do as much research as u can. take care and have fun just as long as you know not everything will perfectly be the way you want it to be.

I recently saw an ad in one of those nursing magazines advertising IV certification in atlantic city, new jersey at the taj mahal. The course is from 8-5 or something like that for one day then i assume they give u a certificate. My question is, is it really worth the 200 bucks they charge for the class or is it better to just get trained at a hospital that has a iv/picc team and save the 200 bucks? I would really like to work on an iv team one day and am wondering the best way to go about being certified. thanks to all who respond

Jennifer, thank you thank you thank you for adding this post. I couldnt have said this better myself. You truly understand what i meant by my original post and thank you for your input, i agree with you 120%. I wish I worked with more nurses like you

How are the doc and surgeons in HUP's OR? I'm considering applying there but worried about putting up with their arrogance and hostility. Anybody able to give an opinion on this?

thanks so much for the info guys! if anyone has any more info/advice, keep em coming. I've only been working 6 months so far. Im planing on moving after i get a yrs experience then hopefully grad school the following fall.

Does anyone know of any schools or healthcare systems that will pay 100% or at lease a good chunk of school tuition if you are employed with them? I know the university of pennsylvania health care system does. They pay 100% if u decide to go back to school to continue ur education while working for them either full or part time. I desperately want to move to california and at the same time go back to school for my masters for nurse practitioner. i have my bsn already. However, i'm in over my head in debt from the loans i took out for my undergrad degree that im trying to stay away as much from more loans as possible!! If anyone has any idea or suggestions, do tell!!! I really need some help here. Thanks in advance for any replies!!!

Wow, I had one pt on our medsurg floor who was in with a hip fx but was his trip to the OR kept getting delayed d/t other acute problems like resp. problems. So they kept him on toradol round the clock for like over two weeks. At the same time they diagnosed him with multiple DVT's so they also had him on scheduled lovenox as well.

LOLOLOL:lol2: :roll :chuckle :rotfl:

in terms of home health.

Whats the difference between a travel nurse and an agency nurse?? I mean in order to be a travel nurse you have to sign with an agency, so i would assume they mean the same thing, right??

You could try applying to any other community college that has a nursing program, like montco or delco. Other than that, i can only think of Thomas Jefferson University, and Gwynedd-Mercy College, they also have associates programs. Good luck!

First, thanks to everyone for their input whatever it may be, i appreciate it. I just wanted to say that i dont want it to seem like i go into work seeking to socialize and make new friends. Honestly i really am too busy for that. But what i have been hoping to see from my co-workers is KINDNESS! Does it really hurt to be nice to the person you work with? especially the newbie!!! I'm not looking for hour long conversations, a date to the movies after work, or even unit parties, im not the least bit concerned about that. But when i have a question about a procedure, medication calculation, etc... so god forbid i dont kill the pt. it would be nice if i dont get looked down upon for asking these questions or then go talk about me behind my back. Thats what i mean about being nice and stuff. You dont have to be my friend, but common courtesy would be nice since we really are working as a TEAM!

thank you!! this was an issue i was a little confused about, but you just made it a little clearer for me, im understanding more now.

You're right, i really didnt mean to offend anyone. Just venting my frustrations so i apologize if i used the term ocd in the wrong way. Another thing, i should clarify is that not "all" icu nurses have this behavior. Im just experiencing this on my unit. Also, thank you for sharing your story :)

Yeah, pretty much! but instead of the previous shift, its my preceptor that berates me, i guess. I feel like i cant even leave work after the shift ends, cuz i have to then go home and study every little thing i was taught about vents, drains, surgical procedures, medical diagnosis, etc... after my preceptor makes me feel so little for not knowing these things off the bat.

Hmm, well i mostly mean like the nurses have to have it their way or the highway, they are extreeeemly cocky about the fact they work in an icu, they think they know more than you do. As far as ocd is concerned, i'll give u an example. If the previous shift leaves some supplies, equipment, or whatever, on the counter in the pts room, or forgets to discard finished iv bags that are hanging on the pole, the nurse freaks. They go on a cleaning spree of the entire room. I like for things to be neat and tidy too, but not to the point where its obsessive compulsive. These are just my observances on my unit, maybe its just me. im just frazzled at this point, whatever.

i see what u are saying. i know work isnt really a place for socialization, but I'm trying to see the humanity in the ICU. Like helping out another nurse with their pt if they need it. Also whatever happened to the "holistic" care?? I dont see any signs of "caring". The nurses are so rough with the pts. I dont think its healthy for us as caregivers to be like this all the time. It's definitly a source of unhappiness and job unsatisfaction. Granted that maybe if i was a more seasoned, experienced nurse, i wouldnt have a such a problem with this. But since im totally fresh, a little kindness could go a long way from my fellow co-workers.

I feel like this too. Anybody have any thoughts on this??

i love what u said. i completely agree!

Do all ICU nurses have OCD or something??! Cuz it sure seems like it! The people i work with in the SICU are so anal retentive and obsessive compulsive, i hate it. They are not friendly at all, they are a good example of nurses eating their young thing. As a new nurse i am finding it hard to live up to their expectations. Can anybody give me any type of advice/comments/anything about this pleaaasee???