star77 MSN, RN

star77 has 4 years experience as a MSN, RN and specializes in Emergency, Critical Care Transport.

Latest Activity

1. How You Can Lose 50 Pounds In 90 Days

   star77 replied to Surg-OncRN's topic in General Nursing

   Actually, I've lost 50lbs in about 3-3.5 months and kept it off by doing a ketogenic diet. I eat very low carb (20-50g net per day, rare fruit, no processed foods, lots of protein and veggies). It actually *is* realistic but you have to work at it. I...

2. How do you treat headaches?

   star77 replied to Anagray's topic in Emergency

   1L NS, Toradol 30 mg, Benadryl 25-50 and Compazine 5-10. OR 1L NS, Ativan 1-2mg, Benadryl 25-50 and Compazine 5-10. Either or, depending on how bad the nausea is.

3. Funny Sign In Slips

   star77 replied to TraumaInTheSlot's topic in Emergency

   I am going to quote word for word from a friend I work with: "On the manliness scale today while in triage: a FAT zero goes to the 21 year old with a chief complaint of 'hungover.' Really? Couldn't even state "nausea/vomiting" for us. Huh. And on th...

4. Trauma roon in your ED... who gets it?

   star77 replied to A&OxNone's topic in Emergency

   We rotate each day. Usually there are 3 RNs in there until 3am, and the Charge RN and another float will help scribe if it gets bad. Lesser, blunt-force traumas don't always end up in the trauma bays- our rooms are set up so that anyone can be treate...

5. New Grad Oakland Kaiser

   star77 replied to 13Virgo's topic in Emergency

   Hey 13Virgo, PM me. I didn't start there but I have a good friend who did. He LOVES it. The nurse educators run Project Heartbeat. Josh and Alan are great teachers (I took ACLS/PALS with them years ago). :)

6. Anyone cutting sugar while working nights??

   star77 replied to MassED's topic in Emergency

   PS I couldn't live without caffeine.

7. Anyone cutting sugar while working nights??

   star77 replied to MassED's topic in Emergency

   I've gained 15 lbs from nights. I hate it. And now, I no longer snack on ANYTHING containing carbs in the ED. No chips, no cake, no cookies, no nothing. I never eat that crud at home anyway, and my snacks consist of snap peas (from Trader Joe's) and ...

8. MRSA precautions in the ER?

   star77 replied to AnnieNHRN's topic in Emergency

   Flagged immediately. All patients who are admitted to the hospital are given a nasal swab, regardless of "risk" - patient could be a healthy woman on the L&D floor giving birth or a septic bomb going to the ICU. All of our rooms, aside from the ...

9. What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

   star77 replied to JUSTYSMOM's topic in Emergency

   Two nights ago I was looking through what we had in the waiting room, saw one and immediately thought of this thread. One word: "Hiccups."

10. Explaining circumcision to mom....

    star77 replied to brentster_us's topic in Education

    Yes, WHO is, but ... studies were done specifically in Subsaharan Africa, where barrier methods are not as accessible or prolific as they are in the US. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0805791 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17321311 ^^^...

11. OB RN with ED experience?

    star77 posted a topic in Ob/Gyn

    Just curious if you think it's possible, and have you met anyone who has done so? I'm a CEN, and I LOVE the ED, but I also really love women's health, and have floated up to help out with the L&D floor in the past. Thinking about applying for a ...

12. What are the top 5 medications YOU administer daily?

    star77 replied to northmississippi's topic in Medications

    (Saline/O2) and... Albuterol/Duoneb treatment Zofran Morphine Dilaudid Acetaminophen Followed closely by: ASA, Plavix, Heparin (bolus and drip), Nitro (bid/stat/glycerin... all of the above, depending). Bicarb/D50/Insulin/Calcium/Kayexalate (for wha...

13. Feeling some heat after a nurse aid was fired...

    star77 replied to MassED's topic in Emergency

    Keep all of the patients as utmost importance. If it gets really bad, give a red flag to management that you've had trouble, but keep it short and professional (ie "this person and I just do not get along, and I have tried to make things work; I feel...

14. IV Pumps--have you used Baxter's Sigma Spectrum??

    star77 replied to AKav8trix's topic in Emergency

    Yes- I have used these in two different ERs. I have heard there is a "Level 1 override for boluses" and I have yet to see it. (BS.) I pressure bag or use our Level 1 for severely hypotensive patients. As to pharmacologic safety, yes they're great, bu...

15. What is the nurses priority in a trauma (new to ER)

    star77 replied to Shell5's topic in Emergency

    AcBCD... Etc. (TNCC is really helpful, I'll echo this fact). And honestly, it depends on your hospital's protocol/system and resources (Level 1, Level 2...) and HOW BAD/WHAT KIND of trauma you are receiving. Is it a burn? Is it a penetrating? Blunt? ...