Float
Today at work I was floated to another floor. It is a world of difference from mine. On my floor (PCU- Telemetry/Stepdown), I would have had 12 patients. Most of them would have been at least partial-assist, if not total-care. Instead I was on the Med-Surg floor, where I had 8 patients, most of them ambulatory.
I didn't know what to do with myself.
Fortunately, I got my password straightened out so I could sign into the intranet. Found out I had a buttload of Continuing Education courses to complete. I did them all. Still, it was kind of a boring day. I did get to sit a lot though, which was a nice change from running my ass off.
Towards the end of the shift, I asked one of the nurses, B, if I could start the IV on her new admit. I got a blood return, but when I flushed it I could tell the vein was blown. He had to be stuck 5 more times before they got a patent line, so I didn't feel so bad.
While I was doing that, another nurse, S, stuck her head in and asked me to start an IV on one of her patients. I had to do it by feel because it was a black female so I couldn't see any veins. None of them stuck up that much. Again, I hit the vein, got the blood return, but it wouldn't flush. Straightened the catheter, and tried again. Yep, blown. Shitty. She was another one that took multiple sticks, so again, I didn't feel as bad.
Then, another nurse, T, asked if I wanted to start a Foley catheter. I said, "Male or female?" "Female." I said, "Listen, I just started two IVs and blew two veins. I don't want to blow anything else today!" But I went in with her and the urethra was very visible, so I gave it a go. My first Foley insertion, and on a female no less (a bit trickier than on a male, you know?)
I did it perfectly. Woohoo!
I really like the nurses on that floor and the slower pace, but it's so slow it would really drive me nuts after awhile. So, I guess I'll stick with PCU.
I didn't know what to do with myself.
Fortunately, I got my password straightened out so I could sign into the intranet. Found out I had a buttload of Continuing Education courses to complete. I did them all. Still, it was kind of a boring day. I did get to sit a lot though, which was a nice change from running my ass off.
Towards the end of the shift, I asked one of the nurses, B, if I could start the IV on her new admit. I got a blood return, but when I flushed it I could tell the vein was blown. He had to be stuck 5 more times before they got a patent line, so I didn't feel so bad.
While I was doing that, another nurse, S, stuck her head in and asked me to start an IV on one of her patients. I had to do it by feel because it was a black female so I couldn't see any veins. None of them stuck up that much. Again, I hit the vein, got the blood return, but it wouldn't flush. Straightened the catheter, and tried again. Yep, blown. Shitty. She was another one that took multiple sticks, so again, I didn't feel as bad.
Then, another nurse, T, asked if I wanted to start a Foley catheter. I said, "Male or female?" "Female." I said, "Listen, I just started two IVs and blew two veins. I don't want to blow anything else today!" But I went in with her and the urethra was very visible, so I gave it a go. My first Foley insertion, and on a female no less (a bit trickier than on a male, you know?)
I did it perfectly. Woohoo!
I really like the nurses on that floor and the slower pace, but it's so slow it would really drive me nuts after awhile. So, I guess I'll stick with PCU.