Four robots are working overtime at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, MD, and their hard work is speeding up medication deliveries. The robots don’t complain, get tired, or need a break no matter how many hours they work. The mobile TUG robots-dubbed Rigby, Herbie the love TUG, Jake, and Elwood-simply coast the facility’s hallways 24 hours a day, seven days a week, delivering medications to the nursing stations. Thanks to all their...  Read More »

So, you’ve been hired as a CNA in the hospital. Either you’re new to the field or you’ve been working in long-term care for years. So, how do you feel? Nervous? Confident? Scared? It’s normal. Relax. I’m going to share a few tips in this article that may help you ease into your transition. First, realize that you have had some training. Your education may bring something new to the floor, but don’t be...  Read More »

Before an experienced nurse makes a phone call to a physician, he or she usually has an idea of the order that he or she expects to receive. As a new nurse, you are not expected to know everything. Here’s a tip to give you some help: Review your recommendation with a senior nurse by saying, “I have a situation that I would like to run by you for your advice.” Asking for this type of mentorship builds confidence and skill....  Read More »

Tip #2 “IV line First” In most instances you receive your new admissions from the Emergency Department or as a transfer from another unit in your facility. The patient arrives on your unit with IV fluids running through a patent IV. What about those patients that are known as “Direct Admissions” that come directly from the physician’s office and bypass the ED? The patient arrives on your floor with a diagnosis...  Read More »

“Dear Deanna: My Nurse Manager is so unapproachable that she scares me. We never know what she is thinking or if she even likes the nurses that work our unit. What can we do?” Being a Nurse Manager is not the easiest position in our profession. You must first remember that your Nurse Manager is trying to make two groups of individuals happy. First there is the staff that she manages and then there are the administrators to which...  Read More »

So work is going really well! I’m actually starting to feel comfortable taking care of pateints by myself. I still have two more months of orientation which is good but I am already handling a full patient load and trying my best to troubleshoot areas myself before asking for help. A couple of weeks ago a group of Junior nursing students from a near by University started on my floor.  It was really awesome being the person that they...  Read More »

“Dear Deanna: I am a newer nurse, and from time to time I have questions about procedures and other areas. I have asked a few questions but at times I get the eye rolling that makes me feel as if I am ignorant. What should I do?” Asking questions shows that you truly want to know the correct answer. If we all knew everything that there is to know related to healthcare and nursing, there would not be references available. Think...  Read More »

“Dear Deanna: I haven’t had a lot of experience with removing transparent dressings on IV sites. Everytime that I do, I pull out the IV catheter. What can I do?” First of all, relax. This is a technique that is only accomplished with practice. Here are a few tips that will  help you remove that bio-occlusive (transparent) dressing without losing that IV catheter. It will also minimize any discomfort to the patient. 1....  Read More »

Networking happens every day–at work, at church, at your child’s school, at sporting events, and even when visiting your relatives. People learn you are a nurse and will ask your medical opinion, or ask your advice/direction. You never know whether a chance encounter at the grocery store or a casual conversation at a get-together will lead to an opportunity on the horizon. Watch Out! Even with the best intentions, you must be...  Read More »

“That patient in 310 is soooo needy! He won’t eat, complains about everything, and refuses to ask for help to get around! ARRGGHHH!” How many of us are guilty of saying something like this about our patients? We say it to co-workers, ourselves, and doctors. We even say it loud enough to be overheard at the nurses’ station. Then we wonder why the family seems distant to us. We all have the things that make us come...  Read More »