mjamesRN

Latest Activity

1. Gay labeling, is it just plain mean? Or sexual harrassment?

   mjamesRN replied to CaLLaCoDe's topic in Men

   Had to comment here as a GAY male nurse -- never had a problem until I tried to re-enter the job market..."Faith-based" organizations immediately rejected me (no, I have no proof, but I know); any hard up recruiter, gay/ man-hating, resentful women a...

2. Do you get "pain med seekers" in hospice?

   mjamesRN replied to JacelRN's topic in Hospice

   Drug-seekers on a Med-Surg floor can be a difficult endeavor -- one you really shouldn't have to manage alone. Most hospitals have a Pain Management team that can help. Hospice is an entirely different animal. I had a guy with endstage pancreatic...

3. Is Hospice a higher calling?

   mjamesRN replied to rosemadder's topic in Hospice

   I've been doing hospice nursing for over a year now and have found it very gratifying EXCEPT the fact that everyday I am facing my own mortality and somedays it freaks me out. Thankfully, my office is very supportive and if there is ever a time I ne...

4. What's with the pro-Bush advertising on this site???

   mjamesRN posted a topic in General Nursing

   I did a double take to see that there are actual ads promoting the Bush Agenda and selling pro-Bush novelty items. This is really quite inappropriate for a forum that is supposed to be unbiased and nonpartisan. MODERATORS??

5. Dealing with ALS Patients

   mjamesRN posted a topic in Hospice

   I've been in Hospice nursing for just under a year now and find the most difficult patients, physically and emotionally, are ALS (Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrigs Disease or Motor Neuron Degeneration) patients. The common prognosis from ...

6. What clinical skills for hospice? What do hospice nurses do?

   mjamesRN replied to MargRN's topic in Hospice

   Let's not forget the stages of dying which affect the family members often moreso than the patient. Depression and Denial seem to be most prevalent. I spend alot of time talking family members off of emotional ledges; they of course, are an importa...

7. Do you get "pain med seekers" in hospice?

   mjamesRN replied to JacelRN's topic in Hospice

   If I may echo a previous post: Give them WHATEVER they WANT. If you have a problem with drug-seeking patients, hospice isn't where you should be. If you were dying of a terminal painful illness, I think you would want to be as stoned as possible....

8. HIV positive graduate

   mjamesRN replied to Harrison's topic in New Nurse

   If being HIV+ required disclosure, we would all be tested for it as a mandatory requirement to employment. It's nobody's business. And if you do disclose it, say, to your employer and there are negative repercussions, they would be in violation of ...

9. Advice for a New Grad

   mjamesRN replied to ManEnough's topic in Hospice

   One our newly-appointed Clinical Directors stepped out of school into hospice 7 years ago. She never worked the floor. I guess if you want to jump right in, go for it and learn as you go -- however, I agree with some of the other nurses' posts here,...

10. Should I be mad at Hospice? My mother...

    mjamesRN replied to Roland's topic in Hospice

    I agree with Canoehead on this one. Haldol is for violent agitation (if it occurs) in the active dying stage. Any nurse who has given it knows that Haldol will zonk someone for long periods of time and many elderly patients are senstivie to it: hall...

11. Are there any hospice nurses out there?

    mjamesRN replied to dlscott's topic in Hospice

    Been hospice nursing for four months now and it really is a special field. I love the flexibility of it job-wise. In the nursing end of it (no pun intended), teaching and encouraging and reassuring families and patients, and dispelling the misconce...

12. Why is it... (nurses constantly throw jabs at physicans)

    mjamesRN replied to NP2BE's topic in General Nursing

    I've never felt subordinate to doctors. I give them the respect they deserve and expect the same from them, and usually get that respect without asking for it. Healthcare today is a "Corroboration" -- nobody is above anybody. Nurses who suggest do...

13. ratio of home hospice patients to nurse

    mjamesRN replied to Pat the nurse's topic in Hospice

    I'm in hospice training right now and for full time case managers, they "believe" that 16 is adequate. HA! I'm amazed at the paperwork. There are like 40 different documents I'm responsible for! Why is it that every nursing job seems like I'm just...

14. transgender nurse (transvestite)

    mjamesRN replied to nursecathy's topic in Safety

    Diversity isn't JUST cultural. Sexual diversity is included. And gay and transgender are two completely different diversities.

15. transgender nurse (transvestite)

    mjamesRN replied to nursecathy's topic in Safety

    More judgement among us. Talk about physical limitations: I suppose being pregnant is different?? or being so fat you can't get out of your chair?? Ladies, C'mon!