smartin13

smartin13 has 5 years experience.

Latest Activity

1. New grads in specialties without the basics

   smartin13 replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

   In my facility all of the units are a specialty. Even the med/surg units, for instance we have a Neuro/Neurosurg unit, HemOnc, Ortho/Trauma, Cardiac, General Surgery, GI/Transplant all as individual units. There is no area in my facility where a ne...

2. Why don't you just read the chart?

   smartin13 replied to Guest219794's topic in Relations

   Sometimes I am taking report from the ED in the middle of the hallway, or in a patients room while they are toileting and do not have easy access to a computer to check so I ask. I am sorry if that is inconvenient for you, however I am no longer all...

3. IV catheter changes..

   smartin13 replied to RNnewbie2014's topic in General Nursing

   Any IV not started in my facility has to be changed out within 24 hours. Our IV's expire after 4 days (old policy was 72 hours) and have to be changed unless we have an order from the MD. Some units do not stick to this policy, however our manager ...

4. IV starts in nursing schools

   smartin13 replied to DaynaPierceMorgan's topic in General Nursing

   Yes we had a simulation lab where we "started" IV's on a computer program. After we showed we were competent with that we were able to start IV's in the clinical setting when ever we had a chance. No hospitals in my area have "IV" teams and startin...

5. condom catheters

   smartin13 replied to 84RN's topic in General Nursing

   Working in an acute neuro department and with the recent focus on removing foley's I have extensive experience with condom catheters, and most of the time they stay on and don't leek. Ensure you have the correct size so that it is snug, use your ski...

6. Please stop! Little things that are just bad practice.

   smartin13 replied to JBudd's topic in Professionalism

   At my facility intermittent tubing is changed every 4 days along with continuous tubing, this was recently changed from daily. Nothing in our policy states anything about the amount of times you connect/disconnect the tubing from the patient. Unfor...

7. Outside income

   smartin13 replied to William2's topic in General Nursing

   I have three jobs currently, all part time. My primary job is working two 12 hour night shifts a week and receive benefits there. I then work agency for another hospital where I may get called three times a week to work or not at all. There I make...

8. Lack of basic care--appalling!

   smartin13 replied to kool-aide, RN's topic in General Nursing

   Not a solution to the problem of the lack in care necessarily however when I see that one of my patients needs oral care and isn't receiving it consistently I get an order for nystatin swish and swallow/spit or biotene scheduled. It is amazing to se...

9. Who's for banning rotating shifts?

   smartin13 replied to Lev's topic in General Nursing

   In my facility most new positions are "flex" or rotating as you say. Half of the flex staff like nights (I fall in this category), the other half like days. We self schedule and I haven't had to work a day shift since last year because we switch sh...

10. Maryville University Summer 2014

    smartin13 replied to Tropical_rn1's topic in NP Students

    I currently attend MU and am in the FNP program. Like every program there are problems. My class has a FB page and that has been amazing as the instructors are not allowed to "teach". Some instructors do reviews, others do nothing so the FB page h...

11. Would you deliver your baby at your place of employment?

    smartin13 replied to BSNbeauty's topic in General Nursing

    The insurance provided by my hospital only pays if we deliver in our hospital so there isn't much of a choice. If I had a choice I would not deliver there just because there are better facilities in my area to deliver. I do know that if I were to b...

12. First time PRN while working Full time

    smartin13 replied to itsdebraanne's topic in General Nursing

    At my PRN job they call and ask if I can work, I say yes or no depending on what I want. I have no obligation to holidays, weekends, or the amount of shifts I take. It does not interfere with my full time job as I get to decide when I work.

13. New nurse given day shift over others?

    smartin13 replied to NyLPN067's topic in Relations

    Tell the union reps. If retaliation occurs report it to the union. There really isn't much else that can be done if your co-workers don't want to use the avenue they have available to them.

14. New nurse given day shift over others?

    smartin13 replied to NyLPN067's topic in Relations

    I work in a union facility and this does not happen. There are rules that have to be followed when a position opens up as to how long it has to be posted on the floor, in house, and then to anyone. While posted on the floor or in house the position...

15. Flomax for women

    smartin13 replied to mamadog's topic in Medications

    We use it all the time in our post-op patients who have a hard time going after several days regardless of if they are female or male.