katmarieRN

"Wound irrigated with litters and litters of worm saline" Op note for abdominal washout.

1/2 NS w/ 20KCl. = house wine GBGB = Gastric bypass gone bad

I'm so sorry you are going through this. But I understand it. I do agree you should talk to your manager about it. If anything is being reported about you, your manager should be discussing it with you also. Unfortunately, what you are seeing is a horizontal hostility and seems to be commonplace. I've seen it in two of the ICUs I've worked in, and many of my colleagues from other units have discussed the same thing. Document, document, document.. particularly when your assessments are different than your preceeding shift-- CYA. You standing up for yourself will help... unfortunately it can be very clique-ish. If you can find another ICU/ED job, you may be rewarded. I left my previous job b/c of the cliques and lack of support from management. I love the unit I'm in now, though I've come across the cliques & grapevines, some hostility. I've learned to stand up for myself (and early on) and have seemed found my niche. But I also have a supportive manager. Good luck! I hope it works out for you!

For what it's worth, I was hired in an ICU as a new grad and have been a critical care nurse for a couple years... If you are willing to learn about the pathophysiologies and become more of a critical thinker more than a task orientated nurse, you may do very well. Take advantage of your precepted time to learn, and maybe pick up a CCRN book to get the tidbits. I've known floor nurses that have become great ICU nurses.. and a few that should have stayed on the floor. And...well... I've floated to the floor a few times.... and I make a horrible floor nurse :) Good Luck!!

Heidi, Sounds like you have a good package: extra curriculars, hospital experience, grades. I know they also look at GRE scores. As far as being out of state... I'm a 2010 grad and we a several out-of-staters... I don't think that will play a factor at all. The assistant dean of the nursing school watches these message boards. Hopefully he'll chime in if I am incorrect. Good Luck! Kathleen

Thank you!

I work at a Trauma ICU where often our patients are in C-collars until spines are cleared-- presuming ligament damage when no vertebral damage is seen in CT. I know this is a silly question... but I cannot find it anywhere. Do you hold C-spine when ruling out ligament damage or when ligament damage is suspected? We don't have any guidelines on our unit. Also, when to break the bed vs log roll only... we are getting conflicting orders from our MDs also. Ideally, I would love to find a chart or algorithm that would cover turns and level of spinal injury and make it less ambigious. TIA! Kat

Quick question for those who work for the VA. I know the initial application process takes a while (I was told to expect 6 months), but once in the system, how easy is it to move to different specialties, if I wanted to try different things (i.e. floor nursing to ICU or ED, or vice versa) TIA!

When I'm caring for a prisoner, I usually don't know their crime....nor do I want to know. They are usually accompanied by 2 guards, so I feel relatively safe. I never give information, and if they do inquire, I either give something very general, or state that they don't need to know. I do find that if I'm nice and professional with them, they respect that. I also remind myself that they are serving their time and it is not my place to judge them or compromise their care for their crimes. I've cared for only a few, but have not had any bad experiences with them thus far.

Because you are graduating in May, you'll have more opportunities outside of UVA than we did being August graduates. Most everyone that applied to UVA got a job there (maybe not your choice unit...but somewhere close). Some got jobs out of state. The new graduate jobs are slim nationally. At UVA, I think there were like 400 applicants for 60 positions.... many came from out-of-state b/c there were no jobs. I strongly suggest you ask for a practicum assignment (your last 2 semesters) in the specialty that you are interested in working. Particularly if you are interested in staying at UVA... it helps to know the staff and managers. They can see how you work and how you'll fit into the unit. The CNL program is still new and they are still working out some bugs. The CNL certificate is still a controversy in the field. The MSN will give you an edge over most applicants. If you decide to get CNL certified, that will likely help you in the distant future (when you are a higher level clinician). Some units will reimburse you for it... some won't. As for me....I'm in the STBICU. Love it! It's a hard unit (I didn't pick it b/c it was easy :)) Its been a steep learning curve... but I'm in my happy place Good luck with everything! Look forward to seeing you floating around the hospital :)

RN'ti4uva and Meg11, Really excited to hear you both got in! Congratulations!!!! :yeah: Kathleen

Curious. At my facility, we spike the blood bag with tubing and let the blood prime the tubing.... we never use saline. Anyone else?

WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!! :yeah: :yeah:

YAY!!! The wait is over! I passed! WHEW!

UGGG! Tortorous weekend! Serves me right for taking the @#$% thing on a Friday. Still getting the good pop-up. Aside from a few bald spots on my head.......I'm hanging in there.

Did the PVT.... got the good pop-up.... still nauseous... but now hopeful. (praying)

Does everyone feel like they've been hit by a mack truck after taking the nclex? Took it today... all the statistics say I should pass.... but holy moly--- I'm not feeling that confident! That was a freakin' hard test!!!

I believe the VA hires for the position of CNL. But I know noone at the VA. Calling any CNLs!! What do you all do?!?!?

I'm in a CNL program now, but the hospital I'll be working at does not hire for the position of "Clinical Nurse Leader". I understand I'll be going in as a novice nurse when I graduate..... but wanted to inquire to what "real" CNLs do in the "real" world. Like how is your position different than a staff nurse? Many thanks! kat

I'm in one now. There's something called a Direct Entry MSN (often its the Clinical Nurse Leader-- CNL) track that takes people with degrees from other disciplines. I'm at the University of Virginia, but I think there are a number of these programs around the nation.

Meg11, I've pm'd you also

RN'ti, This week is crazy b/c of the last week before exams. I'll pm you w/ my email addy. For your questions: Are there a lot of students in your class with spouses/children? There is one other in my class with younger children and a few with grown children. In the class below me, I know of another person with young children. What kind of volunteer experiences did you have going in to the program? I volunteered on a surgical floor in NoVA bringing snacks, drinks, and blankets to pts. What hands-on experiences did you wish you had once you started? PCA?CNA skills would be helpful, but you get all that in lab and clinicals. Are you living in Charlottesville proper, or are you commuting? I commute from Palmyra, about 30 mins. HTH for now!

RN'ti, I am a career changer, 36 w/ 2 kids under 4yo. I am in the DE CNL program at UVA, to graduate in August. I had no clinical experience entering but did volunteer in hospitals. I have a BS and MS... not healthcare related. I was a data analyst/statistician before. So the CNL program at UVA works for "real" career changers. Its the best move I've made. I am fortunate that my husband was able to support us and be able to put our children in daycare while I was in school. I treat my school as a job. If I am not in clinicals or class, I am in the library studying. I "work" from 8-5 weekdays (except clinicals). That way I have my evenings and weekends free. That is the only way I could do it. I would totally apply if I were you. Yes I have EMTs and CNAs in my program, but I also have former social workers, salespeople, computer science people, stay-at-home moms and others not with a healthcare background. The CNL program is intense, but also quite good at giving you the skills and experience that will give you an edge in getting into the profession. When I graduate, I will have almost 1000 hours of ONE-TO-ONE preceptorship.... Regular BSN or ADN programs can't give you that experience in school. Let me know if you have any questions!

Mattva, My undergraduate was a 2.89 (or something like that). Like you I had a 4.0 on pre-reqs. In your application I would be upfront about your undergraduate grades and acknowledge that you've grown since then. I would highlight your prereq scores and your healthcare experience. No harm in applying. For what its worth, I was denied my first application. I took some more prereq's, took the GRE (did fairly decent) and resubmitted my application again and got in. Its a really good program..... I'm really happy I decided to go this route. Good Luck!

I was caring for a patient who had c.diff during my first clinical. Its all apart of the grand experience. If you do indeed get one, follow the nurses lead, trust me...they don't want it either, so they'll protect themselves. I'd also take the opportunity to learn about c.diff so you are prepared for it. Good luck!