Maybe Medical
Sam B. - ER RN, BSN (Emergency Room Registered Nurse, Bachelor of Nursing)
When chatting with Sam it reminded me how much I missed the ER. She gave us a wonderful perspective on how it is to work in the ER and what traits would make an ideal ER RN. We discussed the various routes to become a nurse and she shared her personal pros and cons with us about nursing in the emergency setting.
Thank you Sam!
Registered Nurses*
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.
2017 Median Pay: $70,000 per year ($33/hour)
Educational Degree: Initially Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree
Number of US jobs in 2016: 2,955,200
10 Year Job Outlook: 15% growth, much faster then avg.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (visited November 16, 2018).
Terms Covered in Episode
American Nurses Association
CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) - Takes care of patients under the supervision of Licensed Practicing Nurses and Registered Nurses in a facility.
Microbiology - The study of microorganisms, encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, parasitology, mycology and bacteriology.
Satellite clinic - A facility owned by a hospital, but operated at a distant site.
Urgent care - Walk-in clinics focused on the delivery of acute care in a dedicated medical facility outside of a traditional emergency room. Urgent care centers treat injuries and illnesses that are not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.
Pediatrics Medicine - A branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents.
BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing, more schooling then Associate's. Usually four to five years.
ASN/ADN - Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Usually around two years.
NP (Nurse Practitioner) - A nurse practitioner is trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose illness and disease, prescribe medication and formulate treatment plans. They may work in a solo practice independently or they may work within part of a hospital system. They graduate from a Master's or Doctorate level medical program.
Med/Surg/Floor Nursing - Refers to what you would think of "general hospital patients." Those with pneumonia, new cardiac issues, skin infections, etc that do not require focal subspecialty involvement (cardiac, neuro, ortho, etc) or critical care support.
Drug Reps - Pharmaceutical Representatives are professionals that work for the companies that manufacture, market, and sell medications that work with clinics, hospitals, and other health care facilities to educate about new products and continue to support current products.
PureWick External Female Catheter <---- You know you want to click that link!
IV (Intravenous) - Delivering medications through the skin into blood vessels.
Orthopedics - Branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system.
Blood Culture - A critical lab that checks for blood infection from bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms. Having a blood infection is a condition known as bacteremia.
Bed Sores (Decubitus Ulcers) - A break down of skin/tissue developed by pressure caused by lying in bed in one position in an immobile patient. Can lead to serious infections and subsequent issues.
Telemetry - Staff review data from special equipment to track a patient's heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and other vitals from a remote location that may be near or removed from the actual patient's location.
NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) - A standardized exam that each state board of nursing uses to determine whether or not a candidate is prepared for practice.
Prerequisites - Classes you may need to take before further applying to a program. Usually a focus on science/math for the medical flied.
ICU (Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care Unit, or Intensive Therapy/Treatment Unit) - Part of the hospital with the sickest patients requiring the most intervention from both staff and equipment. May consist of intubated, sedated, and ventilated patients.
O.R. (Operating Room) - Where surgeries take place.
Patient Advocate - Caring for the entire well being of the patient, not just the focal issue. Making the best choices for the patient in their care.
Charge Nurse - Head nurse for the unit during that shift.
"Coding" - What we casually use to describe a cardiopulmonary arrest in which there is a sudden loss of function of the heart or loss of respiratory function that requires immediate intervention in a life or death situation.
Sepsis - A potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection.
EKG (Electrocardiogram) – Graph representing the electrical conduction of the heart to determine cardiac disease or injury.
Lactic Acid - An organic compound produced as a by product from metabolism. Used as a lab value during times of stress from infection/trauma or to assess the response to treatment.
X-ray - A type of radiation called electromagnetic waves that creates pictures of the inside of your body.
Triage - To assess the urgency of wounds or illnesses, to decide the order of treatment of a number of patients or casualties.
NG Tube (Nasogastic Tube) - A tube inserted through the nose, into the back of the mouth, down the throat, and into the stomach. Used for removal of stomach contents (bowel obstruction, overdose) or sometimes used for feedings.
Foley Catheter - A tube that is inserted through the urethra to the bladder to empty urine. May be left in place and a bag attached to it.
Dobhoff - A special type of nasogastric tube with a smaller-bore and more flexible so it is more comfortable to the patient. It's inserted by the use of a guide wire called the stylet, which is removed after the tubes correct placement is confirmed using a x-ray.
Trauma Certified Registered Nurse
Physician Assistant Specialty Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQ)
GI (Gastroenterology) - The branch of medicine focused on the digestive system
Dialysis - The process of removing excess water, solutes, and toxins from the blood in people whose kidneys can no longer perform these functions naturally.
French Toast - Should not have too much egg crust.
Each and every episode of Maybe Medical is for educational purposes only, not to be taken as medical advice. The opinions of those involved are of their own and not representative of their employer.
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