V. Nightingale

Latest Activity

1. To aspirate or not to aspirate

   V. Nightingale replied to Inquisitive one's topic in General Nursing

   I aspirate, and what's more, I have gotten blood return! On one patient the needle apparently hit a little vein beneath the surface of the skin; I was glad I checked, because my SQ injection almost became IV.

2. Pregnant and wanting to LEAVE early

   V. Nightingale replied to RNintheER's topic in Emergency

   I'll be the voice of dissent here; I don't necessarily think that you need to go off work just yet. I worked in the ER up to delivery with my first, and worked my last shift there last week (I am scheduled for a c section on Monday). That said, you...

3. I am a nurse, but I dream of....

   V. Nightingale replied to Elisheva's topic in General Nursing

   In my dreams I am a: successful novelist FBI agent stay at home mom

4. Did you make friends in your work place? I mean friends you go out with and stuff

   V. Nightingale replied to Bala Shark's topic in General Nursing

   I've worked in places where none of us got together after work, I've been in places where a group would go out, and one of the nurses at my job now has becomse one of my best friends. We get together every few weeks on a day off and shop or go swimm...

5. Worried that I'm to much of an airhead.....

   V. Nightingale replied to luvmy3kids's topic in General Nursing

   I think a lot of us feel the same way. When I was floor nursing (I'm in the ER now) I carried a clipboard and wrote down everything, much like geekgolightly. The first thing I did each day was make a list of what each pt. needed -- lab result to be...

6. Abandoning babies at Hospitals LEGAL?!?!

   V. Nightingale replied to Antikigirl's topic in General Nursing

   Legal in Alabama, and I'm fine with it. Mothers who, for whatever reason, can't handle caring for a child are provided with a safe place to leave the infant. It's not about punishing or not punishing 'bad' mothers, it's about keeping babies safe.

7. how do you introduce yourself to patients?

   V. Nightingale replied to panamama's topic in General Nursing

   "Hi there, my name is Valerie, and I'm one of the nurses who will be taking care of you today. I understand you've been having some (insert chief complaint here). Tell me a little about that." I also make a point to explain anything I'm doing. "Fi...

8. giving charcoal

   V. Nightingale replied to canoehead's topic in Emergency

   Leave the container of charcoal (pre-mix) in a basin of hot water for a few minutes -- the amount of time it takes to perform a gastric lavage is just about right. Softens the stuff right up.

9. Work and Pregnancy

   V. Nightingale replied to sayitaintso's topic in General Nursing

   My last shift (I work ER) was 2 days before my son's birth. I maintained my regular work schedule throughout the entire pregnancy. I avoided psych patients, fever/rash of unknown origin, and extremely heavy lifting, but other than that had no restri...

10. Any Pregnant ER nurses out there?

    V. Nightingale replied to LeahJet's topic in Emergency

    My baby was born on Feb 1 of this year; I worked a 12 hour shift on Jan 29. It was rough! I found myself getting very tired and extremely cranky during the last 6 weeks or so. My coworkers were great about helping me with things, but it was really...

11. ER violence

    V. Nightingale replied to night fox's topic in Emergency

    In my experience, drunks aren't usually too bad. Irate family members are usually more likely to create a problem, or patients who didn't get what they wanted. Family members pitching tantrums are the worst; they'll shout, swear and threaten violenc...

12. Nurse, There's a Spider in My Throat

    V. Nightingale replied to AngelSpirit's topic in Emergency

    well, she swallowed the spider to catch the fly. . .

13. Your Recommended Watch

    V. Nightingale replied to agent's topic in General Nursing

    My husband bought me a G-Shock watch for Christmas 2 years ago and I love it. It's solar powered, hooked into the atomic clock in Colorado so the time is always right, and it's practically indestructible. Instead of metal or fabric it has a resin b...

14. Restraints for patients' safety or nurses' safety?

    V. Nightingale replied to Lawnurse's topic in General Nursing

    A surgical mask or non rebreather applied to the patient's face works wonderfully to discourage this behavior I work in ED and we use restraints for both patient and caregiver safety. Mostly they're applied to keep the pt. from falling out of bed ( ...

15. CPR and Cracked Sternums

    V. Nightingale replied to Rush's topic in General Nursing

    CPR is brutal, for both the patient and the caregiver. The first few times I did chest compressions my arms were very sore the next day! Frankly, if you aren't breaking a few ribs (on the patient!) you probably aren't doing it right. It's very tou...