Well, I've finished my first week of orientation at the ER. It's been mostly computer modules as the Emergency Nurses Association recommends all ERs have the same orientation process. The first day we did a lot of the HR crap and I ended up with a new photo ID, plus a nice red lanyard with the hospital name and Emergency printed across it. This was basically the defining moment for me really. Something I can display in front of everyone saying, "Yes...I work in the ER."
I am ahead on all the modules since I'm missing a week of orientation due to my fantastic trip to New York for my @%th birthday. That way when I come back I can spend more time on the floor.
Which I did for the first time on Friday, in what they call...The Pit. Which is basically the lower acute areas AKA not requiring telemetry, even though all the rooms have monitors. It was great finally getting into things but I always have a hard time adjusting to the process of how things are done when it's so different from a med-surg unit. Also policies can be quite different not only because it's the ER but it's also a different hospital (though it's under the same jurisdiction so they SHOULD be the same). And to complicate things even more, the Pit of this section (there are two main sections both with a telemetry area and a Pit) was designed later on as it was converted from an old OR recovery space. Thus they asked OR nurses to help with the design, so it is a TERRIBLE ER space. It's effectively like two testicles, compact testicles, and patients get hidden behind others so you can't put really sick patients there. I'd also get maddeningly confused as to which testicle I was in. But that will come with time I'm sure.
I am itching to get back, mainly because I want to learn and become great at working there. I should enjoy my weekend though cause it's only two days off before five 8s in a row like most normal people.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
The Night Before
Well this is my last day before I start my new job. Judging from the huge list of modules I think orientation is going to be quite long. Nothing but in class work for a couple weeks...yet I'm pretty excited.
I'm so happy to not have to wash my own scrubs anymore. That in itself is worth it! I am a bit nervous about the job but I think once I get into it more it'll be ok. It's also a new hospital and I don't know my way around it but then again I didn't know half of the old hospital either. I almost got lost trying to find ultrasound on the weekend with half the lights off.
Leaving my old job was a bit sad, and I know the other RN on my team felt a tad hurt. She's been having to be charge a lot since her last RN partner retired a year ago and she's been burning out. They didn't post the job until 6 months later and even then it's been a fiasco. Then here I come along and she's had some relief and then I go and take another job. I'm sure she is ok with it but I know there's a bit where she feels a little down.
On the other hand I'm a bit done with that unit and some of the bureaucracy the medicine units have to deal with. I'm sure there will be just as much of the same crap in the ER but it'll be different similar crap.
Well here's hoping I have more to write about later in the week!
I'm so happy to not have to wash my own scrubs anymore. That in itself is worth it! I am a bit nervous about the job but I think once I get into it more it'll be ok. It's also a new hospital and I don't know my way around it but then again I didn't know half of the old hospital either. I almost got lost trying to find ultrasound on the weekend with half the lights off.
Leaving my old job was a bit sad, and I know the other RN on my team felt a tad hurt. She's been having to be charge a lot since her last RN partner retired a year ago and she's been burning out. They didn't post the job until 6 months later and even then it's been a fiasco. Then here I come along and she's had some relief and then I go and take another job. I'm sure she is ok with it but I know there's a bit where she feels a little down.
On the other hand I'm a bit done with that unit and some of the bureaucracy the medicine units have to deal with. I'm sure there will be just as much of the same crap in the ER but it'll be different similar crap.
Well here's hoping I have more to write about later in the week!
Monday, June 2, 2014
Counting Down the Shifts
Well I did my last run of three twelve hour shifts at my current job over the weekend. I changed the assignment sheet on Friday so that I would get the undergraduate nursing employee who is orientating to the unit. We really didn't have a heavy patient load so I let her do everything. I find my biggest issue with new grads and students is that I don't have the patience when they are slow at doing initial assessments and vital signs. I do let them fall behind as it's important for them to recognize where they have to improve but it's hard for me to stand by and not get things done for them.
One of out patients is a recurrent ETOH cirrhosis guy who has Pickled Brain Syndrome, and unfortunately is MRSA/VRE positive but cannot understand the precautions he needs to take to leave his room. It's a constant source of tension among the staff because some people let him use the phone if he's properly attired and some people think he shouldn't be allowed to come anywhere near us.
This guy also has a history of AMA'ing though the current attending seems to think he becomes encephalopathic and we don't realize it and are way too eager to let him sign the form. So he had the patient sign a letter which his sister witnessed that says he is competent enough right now to know he shouldn't leave and we as staff are not to let him sign the waiver. I'm assuming that if he did try we would just call security and the team to have him formed but I can already see it becoming a huge deal down the road.
Either way this guy is a pain but it's part of the job right? Sadly I know I'll be dealing with many of his like in the ER but at least I won't have to deal with the same patient three days in a row.
Granted I was at the desk for Sat and Sun but his room is right across the hallway so he often brings his problems to me.
Anyway, the staff are all giving me a jokingly hard time for leaving though I know some of them really are a bit hurt about it. But I can't let it get to me, since I have to do what I feel is right for me.
One of out patients is a recurrent ETOH cirrhosis guy who has Pickled Brain Syndrome, and unfortunately is MRSA/VRE positive but cannot understand the precautions he needs to take to leave his room. It's a constant source of tension among the staff because some people let him use the phone if he's properly attired and some people think he shouldn't be allowed to come anywhere near us.
This guy also has a history of AMA'ing though the current attending seems to think he becomes encephalopathic and we don't realize it and are way too eager to let him sign the form. So he had the patient sign a letter which his sister witnessed that says he is competent enough right now to know he shouldn't leave and we as staff are not to let him sign the waiver. I'm assuming that if he did try we would just call security and the team to have him formed but I can already see it becoming a huge deal down the road.
Either way this guy is a pain but it's part of the job right? Sadly I know I'll be dealing with many of his like in the ER but at least I won't have to deal with the same patient three days in a row.
Granted I was at the desk for Sat and Sun but his room is right across the hallway so he often brings his problems to me.
Anyway, the staff are all giving me a jokingly hard time for leaving though I know some of them really are a bit hurt about it. But I can't let it get to me, since I have to do what I feel is right for me.
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