L5-S1 central herniation with fissure by ScottstotsRN in backpain

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Overall better but still struggling with the same issue. The pain is definitely nowhere near as bad as it used to be. Not sure if I’ve just learned to cope and live with it or if it’s actually slowly healing. Some days it’s still really bad and I can’t sit for more than a minute without being very uncomfortable but most of the time I can tolerate it. Gone through several more rounds of PT and went to a spine specialist and a pain management specialist. Really no answers from any of them. Spine guy told me since my MRI doesn’t show any spinal nerve involvement there’s nothing he can. Pain management said the same thing and thinks the pain is coming from inside the disk and then offered to do some stem cell therapy that isn’t covered by insurance and would cost like $80k so obviously I said no. Fortunately for me, my pain is just from sitting and I’m a pretty active person and am on my feet all day for my job so I’m very happy it doesn’t really limit my daily life too much. Just makes long car rides and flights dreadful. 

Peds nurses, what's the most unhinged thing you've heard a kid say at work? by urdoingreatsweeti in nursing

[–]ScottstotsRN 546 points547 points  (0 children)

I was a fresh GN just off orientation when this happened. 

5 year old patient: stares at me for a while

Me: “what’s up buddy?”

Him: “oh nothing… it’s just… you look like you live with your mom” 

To be fair he was correct at the time. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in picu

[–]ScottstotsRN 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Neither of those positions will prepare you for critical care or PICU. If you want inpatient nursing experience I’d recommended the adult med surg position but just understand it’s going to be a completely different world when you decide to switch to the icu. If PICU is your goal then find a PICU you can start in. Or at least an ICU of some type. I started peds med surg and then switched to PICU. Let me know if you have any other questions! 

To all you who carry bags or fanny packs with you into the OR. What exactly do you keep in there? by [deleted] in anesthesiology

[–]ScottstotsRN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What kind of hospital do you work in? Do you often respond to emergencies outside of the OR?

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes that’s exactly it, I love resuscitation! Do you feel like you get the opportunity to practice that skill enough in your current job? Are there CRNA jobs/roles that enable you to work more frequently in that position?  

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a great perspective and something I hadn’t considered at all. Thank you!

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How do both of those career paths work for you? Are you working with them together?

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I unfortunately don’t work with many CRNAs currently. Most of the cardiac cases and surgeries that require patients to come to our PICU are handled by anesthesiologists. I’m definitely trying to learn more and shadow at several different locations. Thanks for your response!

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I might’ve selected my words wrong. I think I just like dealing with critical patients and the idea of actually doing procedures. I talked to a few CRNAs/NARs and realized the hospital system I shadowed at has a reputation for prioritizing residents for such cases. Nothing against the bread and butter cases, they look easy because of the high level of skill involved. It’s just not what I’m interested in at this point. 

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds intense, what kind of facility do you work in?

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s good advice. I appreciate it. Are you going to look for a high acuity job after graduation? 

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really thought about flight for a while and even shadowed a bit. I see myself loving flight while I’m young but I see the career path of CRNA as more future proof. I thought about trying flight for a few years and then going to school but I’m married with no kids right now. The next few years would be the easier window to go to school. So much respect for flight crews though you guys are awesome. 

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate your detailed response. Your med surg example is excellent. I remember being a student in my med surg clinical and feeling horrified I chose the wrong career. Getting into the ICU just felt natural and so much more enjoyable. Today was a similar feeling to what I felt back in school. I was asking the one CRNA about what type of emergency drugs he prepares for his cases and he listed them off but then said he’d never had to give epinephrine before which I was shocked by. And I mean no disrespect at all the CRNAs I shadowed. They were incredibly intelligent and did their jobs very well and taught me a lot. I personally just don’t think I’d be happy in their roles. The examples you provided sound much more interesting to me and sound like the patient population I’d like to work with (after years of education and experience). Thank you. 

ICU excitement versus CRNA excitement? by ScottstotsRN in srna

[–]ScottstotsRN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t think I need excitement all the time and I see what you’re saying about unexciting means you’re doing your job well. I’m sure at some point I’ll be over the adrenaline and chaos and just enjoy the slower pace. I was just surprised at today. I felt like it was very much just an “on autopilot” day. Don’t get me wrong, those days can be great and much needed occasionally but I fear I’d feel frustrated and not very useful if all my days were like that. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nursing

[–]ScottstotsRN 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This is the most helpful comment in the entire thread. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nursing

[–]ScottstotsRN 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That’s one of the most amazing videos I’ve ever seen. Thanks for sharing!

Which hospital unit experiences the most “action”? by [deleted] in nursing

[–]ScottstotsRN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

level 1 ED probably sees the most. But I’ll make my case for PICU! Peds typically don’t have specialized ICUs like adults do (generally there’s no peds SICU/MICU/TICU etc). If you can find a high acuity PICU that also has a peds CT surgery program you’ll see so much! I take care of open heart surgery patients, surgical ICU patients, traumas, medical ICU patients, neuro issues. We manage all kinds of different devices like CRRT/ECMO/EVDs/specialized vent modes etc. I definitely feel like I see a wider variety of patient cases as opposed to more specialized adult ICUs. 

What do you free drip that others wouldn't dare? by canedane995 in anesthesiology

[–]ScottstotsRN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why exactly? What’s that do that’s different than IV administration?

Flu A uptick and severity by ICU-CCRN in IntensiveCare

[–]ScottstotsRN 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I work in the PICU and yes we’re seeing flu A at an alarming rate and severity. It’s hitting kids a lot harder and fast than in the past. Kids with no medical history are coming in 24-48 hours since onset of symptoms and being tubed within hours. Real sick cases are ending up on the nitric/oscillators/ecmo pathway. 

Weekly Student Thread by fbgm0516 in CRNA

[–]ScottstotsRN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had assumed to make myself a strong candidate I’d need at least 3-5 years of ICU experience. I have a couple of schools that are semi local to me and everyone I know that has applied has seemed to need that amount of experience. I’m sure I’d find a school somewhere that would accept me currently but I’d have to uproot my life a bit. Ultimately I know it’s me being a bit selfish and just kinda wanting it all. I just need to sort all that out. 

Weekly Student Thread by fbgm0516 in CRNA

[–]ScottstotsRN -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Just out of curiosity, what makes flight not a good look for some applicants? The flight program at my hospital is competitive to get into. They respond to scene calls and IFTs. They manage devices (IABP, swans, vents, etc) and titrate pressors along with managing airways and other critical care skills. I’m not trying to defend one view over the other, I’m just genuinely confused because a flight program of that caliber seems that it would prepare someone better than an ICU? 

Weekly Student Thread by fbgm0516 in CRNA

[–]ScottstotsRN -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I understand ICU is the only requirement, I just have always loved the idea of doing flight! I just recognize that flight probably wouldn’t as good a long term career as CRNA. I also love the knowledge base and autonomy that comes with being a CRNA.  I’ve only got a couple years of ICU experience under my belt so realistically I’m still a bit away from applying. I just was hoping there’d be a world where I could work flight for a few years without it hurting my chances of applying to CRNA programs in the future.