toronto rn

we pronounce it an gi (long i) a here

Just wondering how other units sign out and store multi-dose narcotic syringes. for example mixed morphine 2mg/ml 10 mls or other narcotic. Can a filled syringe be kept at the bed side?, what safety practises are used? What practise is used for storage if syringes are left at the bedside? or must all doses be individually signed out of narcotics storage. I would appreciate any responses

2 attempts here and then either call another or the IV nurse, unfortunately the IV nurse doesn't work nights, in which case all the othere floors call us (MICU) to try. In an emergency the sky is the limit.

Hi Gail, generally pay is every 2 weeks although your first check may take 3 weeks to come through. The tax rate seems about the same as you have stated with pension deductions, employment insurance and health benefits. Likely your take home pay after deductions will be in the range of $1400.00- 1700.00 canadian dollars every two weeks. Working weekends and night shift can add a hundred or so to the total. You may not start contributing to the HOOPP pension until you have been employed for several months, also extended health coverage - dental, drugs, etc can run in the neighbour of $70.00- deducted once a month, union dues are mandatory as well deducted the first pay of the month-$55.25. Parking is a problem downtown with lots close to the hospital charging up to $18.00 a day. I believe St Michaels hospital gives a travel/parking allowance to staff of $85.00/month. Good luck with budgeting! rents can be a little steep.

I am just in the midst of taking a theory course as part of a BN degree. Origionally in college Orem was the theorist which we studied, learned all the jargon and them never used it in practise. This time around the course is a little more applicable in that it doesn't force a specific theory down my throat but gives me the opportunity to critique how the theories give value to nursing practise. The premise behind a theory is to give substance to our way of thought and practise. Theory is supposed to be a scientifically based practise in that the proposed approaches can be reproduced with simular results. Assumptions about behavior and feelings of the patient lead to an impulsive response from the nurse. Whereas disciplined thought leads to insight and critical thinking. Like most degree courses I have taken, the value seems to come in the thought processes it stimulates rather than the ability to put the knowledge into practise.

I am just in the midst of taking a theory course as part of a BN degree. Origionally in college Orem was the theorist which we studied, learned all the jargon and them never used it in practise. This time around the course is a little more applicable in that it doesn't force a specific theory down my throat but gives me the opportunity to critique how the theories give value to nursing practise. The premise behind a theory is to give substance to our way of thought and practise. Theory is supposed to be a scientifically based practise in that the proposed approaches can be reproduced with simular results. Assumptions about behavior and feelings of the patient lead to an impulsive response from the nurse. Whereas disciplined thought leads to insight and critical thinking. Like most degree courses I have taken, the value seems to come in the thought processes it stimulates rather than the ability to put the knowledge into practise.

Taking off socks is always a risky undertaking with street people, but my worst experience was taking off a homeless diabetic's socks and having his toes come off with the socks. ahhhgggg

This is such a contraversial area. Currently code status at my hospital is dependant on the particular Dr involved. Some have the gumption to address the issue head on and make a decision based on the pt condition and previous health status. Others allow the family to decide without the family having adequate information to make this decision. Others will override the patients decision to be a no code regardless of the documentation that is on the patient chart. A very frustrating situation. We have had to do CPR on end stage Ca patients who's bones break as you compress them because the family have not had proper counselling and information sharing. Some cultures believe that not to intervene is akin to murder. Several years ago it was only the doctor that made the decisions re code status. Now the public is demanding the right to informed decision making and rightly so, however, with that ability comes a mess of opinions, and options often prolonging time to make decisions. This often result in ICU beds being tied up for extended periods with patients who are not viable. The ethics involved in this type of decision making are not easily addressed. I don't think it would be right to have a standard code policy for all patients. Individual cases must be addressed by the individual desires of the pt/family and the status must be allowed to be flexible to a degree. I may have an opinion about the appropriateness of the patients code status but does my opinion have any place in the decision making of the family? No easy answers here.

going to nursing school is going to give you the tools to be able to be confident and safe in the areas that you are expressing fear of. Most nurses have a some point in their career made med errors or inadvertantly caused harm, The safest way to avoid this is to always use a system of rights, right patient, right dose, right med, right time, and right documentation. Time and experience will overcome fear, good luck

I am looking into several distance education programs to start working towards a BSN. Has anyone tried this method of education and how is it working out. From what I understand you are sent a package at the beginning of the course with required readings, video lectures and are required to submit essays, research and assignments by mail. Local test writing sites are arranged.

Haven't we all had great experiences with code brown's. When I was a nursing student living with 2 other nurses, there was rarely a meal that didn't involve discussions pertaining to bodily functions. We always tried to outgross each other with our experiences, as a result we built up a tolerance for the distaste of the situation and eventually were able to deal with any incontinent patient with compassion. l still have times when especially messy or smelly accidents overwhelm me, in which case I advise to share the wealth. Have a co-worker assist you, The clean up will go much quicker and the smell will then dissipate faster.

Accelerated nursing programs seem like nothing more than a desperate move to rapidly increase the number of people availible to work as RN's, But at what cost? When I entered into nursing 17 years ago there were over 1500 people applying for 190 positions in school, of the 190 that made it in, only 85 graduated. This attrition rate was for a reason, not everyone is mentally, emotionally or even potentially capable of meeting the demands of competently working as a nurse. Competency is the larger issue. If we are to take any and all people interested in the program, design a program which will allow the maximum number of applicants to be accepted into it and pass, then competence in the field will suffer as will the patients. Already the standards of practise are compromised because of the nursing shortage It is frightening to think what will happen in the future if large numbers of RN's are quickly schooled and snuck into the system to avoid the 2004 deadline for BSN. These people will all be grandfathered in their place of work, But their recognition as an RN will be the same as a you or me. Frightening!! passing the certification exams shouldn't be the only criteria for working as an RN, it is the journey through the learning process as well as self motivation for continued learning which developes a good nurse. Passing an exam only means you passed an exam. [This message has been edited by toronto rn (edited March 08, 2001).]

Hi JMP my advice is to immediately start working on a post diploma certificate, especially if you are interested in intensive care. At my hospital in toronto we have been hiring full time and part time, most of the hires have been recent/ new grads but all have had their icu certificate. The clinical component alone will give you a foot in the door. But yes you are right, the trend to only hire part timers has weighed heavily on the ongoing nursing shortage, especially for new grads who usually have major bills to pay,. In fact we have had 2 years now where nurses have taken leaves to work in the states over the winter, where the weather is kinder and the salaries are nicer, several ended up not returning.

I an surprised that grains are still being used as a measurement of drugs. To my knowledge the metric system is used for drug administration, and dose calculations by pharmacies and drug manufacturing companies. Why do Dr's persist in ordering drugs by outmoded ways. If the drug is provided in mg or gms then it should be ordered that way, other conversions only lead to more risk for med errors. Perhaps the Dr's should be the ones studying how to convert the dose and get themselves into the 21st century!

In ontario as of 2004 the BsCN will be the minimum requirement for nursing. I graduated from a three year college based nursing program 14 years ago. If I stay at my current place of employment, I will be grandfathered, however If I wish to at some point change fields I will need to return to school. This means attending between 15-19 courses at a cost of approx 500-900$ each I won't be paid at a higher rate nor will my responsibilies change. I'm looking into starting school in the fall, but not looking forward to the time it will take away from my family, or having to beg time off work in an already short staffed micu.