Elizabeth, RN

Latest Activity

1. Need advice on how to respond to a manager after interview

   Elizabeth, RN replied to Nadz02RN's topic in New York

   Absolutely, that sounds like a job you DON't want. But everyone is right to tell you to expect nothing. I have over 30 years experience as an RN, including several years at the management level. I have been out of work for a long time and am luck...

2. The Type of Nurse I Don't Want to Become

   Elizabeth, RN replied to Bloop23's topic in General Nursing

   I must say I agree about the scrubs. It's been years since I wore them but even then most of the prints available were juvenile. I refused to be a middle-aged nurse wearing cartoon scrubs in an ED so I got to work and sewed my own tops--in nice flo...

3. Running 2 Article Contests

   Elizabeth, RN replied to Brian's topic in Announcements

   Hi Brian, I didn't see a "contact us" link, so I'll ask here. I submitted an article in the non-nursing catergory. It is on the website. A relative who read it really wants me to try to publish it. I didn't see anything in the guidelines about gi...

4. The Great Emergency Prank War

   Elizabeth, RN replied to murphyle's topic in Humor

   I was never the type to engage in practical jokes but I observed a number of them. Back when I was working my first hospital job decades ago, there was usually an orderly on duty for heavy lifting, male caths, etc. Another task was taking a body to...

5. What is the worst thing a patient has ever said to you?

   Elizabeth, RN replied to NurseStephRN's topic in General Nursing

   re the butt-wiper comments-- This brought back a funny memory. A nurse I worked with had no problem referring to herself as a butt-wiper. But one day she was at the pool and a guy who was admiring her asked her 3-y-o daughter what her mother did fo...

6. Nurses Say the Darnedest Things!

   Elizabeth, RN replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

   People do get offended when referred to as SOB. Two of the cutest patient word mixups I've heard were "I take Digoxin and Latex" and "I had to have a barbarian enema". As for amusing charting, I can still remember a LPN charting "Patient puked. Eme...

7. ALC solo nurse starting on the bottom floor

   Elizabeth, RN replied to ch232's topic in Geriatric

   I've done AL management for several years but it's always been a (more than) full time job. What is the capacity for the unit? Who administers meds? What kind of med management system is used? Med errors are the biggest problem in facilities with...

8. Does god make mistakes?

   Elizabeth, RN replied to Julie Reyes's topic in Pediatric

   This was beautifully written. But I am more concerned about the mistakes people and committees make. I once saw an unresponsive 90 year old with all four limbs amputated due to gangrene. Surgery was "required" to deal with a decub or something (t...

9. I do not care anymore

   Elizabeth, RN replied to JB2007's topic in General Nursing

   My first thought on reading your post is, "she is depressed". And I read through 2 pages of responses (many disturbing) before I came across one mentioning depression. I have been depressed so I often recognize it in others. Apathy is a response to...

10. There's a Mousetrap In My Med Cart

    Elizabeth, RN replied to 99percentangel's topic in Geriatric

    In my state, NO nurses are required to be on staff in assisted living facilities. Some of the better chains have LVN meds nurses but the majority do not. Caregivers (not even CNA's) are allowed to pass meds after an 8-hour training class; that's th...

11. Can't get a job :(

    Elizabeth, RN replied to cheesecake89's topic in Massachusetts

    I know for a fact that the care in our local hospitals is not what it used to be. I worked ER for almost 25 years and was a patient in the same ER recently. I had fallen and had severe hip pain (not fractured, fortunately). I was offered a pain p...

12. Can't get a job :(

    Elizabeth, RN replied to cheesecake89's topic in Massachusetts

    I feel for all of you fresh young grads looking for your first jobs. When I got out of school (and for two decades after that) I got pretty much any job I applied for with little effort. But now that I am nearing 60, have been out of hospital nursi...

13. Charge nurse with less than a year RN experience???!!

    Elizabeth, RN replied to RNpandoraRN's topic in Management

    This brings back memories of the "good old days" when I began my nursing career in 1972. I was flattered to be actively recruited by my small hometown hospital prior to graduation. When I was asked what areas interested me, I said med-surg to start...

14. Nursing shortages, Baby boomers and the immigrant nurse

    Elizabeth, RN replied to madwife2002's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks for your reply. I have fibromyalgia so physical exertion and stamina are important considerations. My fibro has improved immensely over the years (if interested, ask me how) but is still a factor. I went from 12-hour shifts in a busy ER to...

15. Nursing shortages, Baby boomers and the immigrant nurse

    Elizabeth, RN replied to madwife2002's topic in General Nursing

    If hospitals want more nurses, and they say they do, they should make positions more appealing to baby boomer nurses. Offer 8 or 10 hour shifts instead of just 12's. Be willing to provide a little extra training to nurses who have been in a differe...