Emperess

Emperess has 7 years experience and specializes in General/Trauma/Neuro ICU.

Latest Activity

1. A reminder to ALWAYS listen to your patients.

   Emperess replied to VizslaMom's topic in General Nursing

   When it became clear that my great-grandfather was in his last days, my family kept vigil at his bedside for days, not wanting him to be alone when he died. They talked to him, reminisced, and sang songs while my music therapist aunt played guitar. ...

2. revised coma description

   Emperess replied to kloget's topic in Neuro

   It's strangely exciting - I must be weird - to have a non-nurse get so into these seemingly mundane details of our lives... Picture a cross between a turban and a beanie - made of gauze. Basically they just wrap a long white gauze bandage around the...

3. Best x-mas gift from your Manager

   Emperess replied to Guardian Angels's topic in General Nursing

   If doing the food tray, be sure to have separate trays for day and night shifts (and evenings, too, if 8 hr shifts). Trust me, you wouldn't believe how grateful night shift workers are for this consideration, and how often it's never thought of. Or...

4. Blood cultures

   Emperess replied to zacarias's topic in General Nursing

   I've always wiped the stopper underneath the bottle cap with alcohol. I thought I learned not to use betadine because it reacts with the rubber or something? Anyone?

5. Why can't I be a nurse?

   Emperess replied to Cali's topic in General Nursing

   I'm 24 and get the same thing frequently working in ICU - "You don't seem old enough to be an RN" "Were you a very young high school graduate?" "You can't have been doing this very long" I usually win them over with my professionalism and detailed e...

6. first grader in NICU?

   Emperess replied to kloget's topic in Neuro

   This would be largely dependent on the hospital, ICU, charge RN, and RN caring for the patient. In general, allowing small children into ICU's is limited for several reasons. They may expose susceptible patients to potentially devastating bugs, such...

7. revised coma description

   Emperess replied to kloget's topic in Neuro

   Wow, I am sure I speak for many of us in saying I am impressed! From my experience in neuro, I would have expected an incision closed by a line of staples in addition to sutures, and probably more on the top/side of the head as opposed to the forehea...

8. what is the rule about who can give flu shots at your facility

   Emperess replied to oramar's topic in General Nursing

   I had no idea. I wonder how many other states allow LPN/LVN's to push IV meds? Does the list of allowable meds include narcotics? Just curious - I know most LPNs are perfectly capable of recognizing and reacting to s/s of narcotic OD. (So sorry to...

9. what is the rule about who can give flu shots at your facility

   Emperess replied to oramar's topic in General Nursing

   WHAT???? Did you say LPN's can push IV meds at your hospital??? Now I may be grossly misinformed of the differences between states' scope of practice variations, but I didn't think LPN's/LVN's in ANY state were allowed to give IV push medications. ...

10. What field of nursing would you NEVER consider working?

    Emperess replied to PMHNP10's topic in General Nursing

    I couldn't do peds (babies, maybe; teens, no prob) but not those toddler/early school-age kids, ever since this experience in nursing school.... Clinicals, county hospital, peds ED - spanish-speaking only 7 yo girl brought in by mom, grandma w/ c/o b...

11. the quickest and affordable way

    Emperess replied to guru's topic in General Nursing

    I did my ADN in a program that allowed you to take LPN boards after the 1st year of a 2 year RN program. All together it took me 4 years, but it can be done in 3 (depending on how many prereqs and how many classes you are able to take at once). I w...

12. Nursing in Arizona

    Emperess replied to Rocknurse's topic in Arizona

    Hi Rocknurse! I was born and raised in the Phoenix area, and happy to tell you what I can. What I have always loved about Arizona is how much variety there really is close by. So many people think the whole state is just a huge desert, but there's ...

13. Are you one permenant nights?

    Emperess replied to BritishStudent's topic in General Nursing

    No Kidding!!! As much as we all know how hard we work regardless of what some day-shifters persist in thinking (I don't know why they don't understand that if someone is sick during the day, they ARE STILL SICK AT NIGHT), after a while it gets so di...

14. Are you one permenant nights?

    Emperess replied to BritishStudent's topic in General Nursing

    In our hospital it's a "transfer to the 5th floor" (we only have four floors) or "eternal care unit" I agree, more admissions on nights than days, generally, and we DEFINITELY have better teamwork and better senses of humor on nights, too.

15. East Coast Winter Storm

    Emperess replied to Chiaramonte's topic in General Nursing

    I know people here in Flagstaff AZ who would kill for any amount of snow right now - as much as you all are hating it, the ski resort here has been closed for weeks and everyone gets depressed hearing about all the snow in the east! Sledding sure so...