Email4KH replied to PsychNurseWannaBe's topic in Geriatric
The article is a great resource for BP info. The pause you're talking about, the auscultory gap, is discussed close to the end. One way to be sure you're not being fooled by it is to inflate the cuff to the point that you occlude the radial pulse, ...
Here's a funny one: A family brought in their pre-teen daughter after a copperhead bite and refused to allow us to treat her, saying that God would take care of it. Why didn't you just let God take care of it at home?
I think the law actually says that you can't refuse to evaluate in the ED. I don't think an ED is required to treat. The idea about the separate waiting areas would be great for avoiding waiting patients' perception that less-acute patients are bei...
Here's an idea: Why not guarantee payment to primary care providers for all patients, and reserve the right to refuse ED treatment for non-emergent cases; referring them to their primary care providers instead? It seems that it'd be much cheaper th...
I thought it was interesting that women often got very uptight about having a male OB nurse in the same room, but a male doctor could go in up to his elbow and the same patients wouldn't give his gender a second thought.
Email4KH replied to Fiesta Red's topic in Emergency
CPI here, too. As with others, our facility only approves reacting to assaultive behavior with CPI-designed techniques. My children, on the other hand, have no interest in seeing Daddy get hurt. I vote with them. Sure, I'll try the goofy CPI. But...
I like a variation of the question that is a favorite of one of our ED docs when the patient starts on their laundry list of symptoms: "Wait, wait, wait. What is the ONE THING that finally made you decide to come to the ER tonight?" PressGaney c...
Our management wants ease of access. Our management wants fast turnaround. In one breath, our management complains about patient load. In the next, they're telling us about how they're trying to make the ED a better place to come for non-emergent hea...
Email4KH replied to SWFlorida's topic in Emergency
I just triaged a Medicaid frequent flier who rode the 911 express because he has a runny nose. $400 ambulance service. $500 ED visit. I'm working my ass off; spending time away from my family to support this bullshit. I just sent an email to my c...
Email4KH replied to HM2VikingRN's topic in Activism
Here's the real sin in this issue: Multi-billion dollar, multi-national companies are allowed to pay poverty wages and offer absolutely no healthcare benefits.
Email4KH replied to HM2VikingRN's topic in Activism
We HAVE universal healthcare. Walk into any ED and be treated for any complaint, whether you have resources (or intention) to pay or not. We already have universal healthcare. It's just being delivered in the least efficient way you could possibly c...
This is a pet peeve for me. Our ED docs call admitting docs who then either come in and write or call in orders. Calling in orders isn't bad from the RN standpoint, but the ones who come in and then take over an hour to write floor orders create a...