lxpatterson

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1. Identifying and differentiating smells

   lxpatterson replied to Martial's topic in General Nursing

   melena stool is pretty bad, that and fresh clotting blood....maybe it's because those smells are always associated with very stressful situations.

2. Pt selling drugs out of room

   lxpatterson replied to sistrmoon's topic in Relations

   Very sad! I had an injection drug user being treated for recurrent endocarditis that he gave himself...man, you're 35 with a prosthetic valve, don't you get it? He would disappear for half a day and miss a bunch of his ABX drips because of "errands...

3. Name one of your favorite things about being a male nurse.

   lxpatterson replied to DatMurse's topic in Men

   You use the public bathrooms? I've been indoctrinated by colleagues to use only staff bathroom, which is unisex (but essentially a women's bathroom with a supply of feminine products, face cream, etc).

4. UNDERWEAR (Yes, underwear)

   lxpatterson replied to nycnurse92's topic in Relations

   Male RN here. Didn't realize underwear would cause discomfort. Will remember to wear pants under my gown the next time I'm a patient! Oh, and funny story about gowns. I was in a bicycle accident on my way to work and I didn't have any clothes on ...

5. Critical Access Hospitals

   lxpatterson replied to alswjdzla's topic in General Nursing

   I started my career in a rural acute care hospital, rotating between inpatient acute medicine and ER. I think it's a great first job because medical staff and senior nurses are usually fairly invested in getting you, a new grad, up to speed. Compar...

6. Nursing School Oopsies

   lxpatterson replied to Music in My Heart's topic in General Students

   "Several lessons to be taken away: (1) Don't hand over controlled meds to students, even mature ones whom you trust, (2) Don't carry controlled meds around in your pocket, and (3) Treat your classmates well... you never know when or how they might...

7. Drug Testing for Newly Graduated RN

   lxpatterson replied to ManNurse7's topic in New Nurse

   I'm glad to be Canadian! I've never had to submit to the indignity of a drug test, nor am I aware of any clinicians at hospitals here being required to do so routinely (unless reported for a specific drug-related issue). I think if I was registere...

8. All Men Shift

   lxpatterson replied to kalevra's topic in Men

   That's why you always need one female in the headcount. Best ER shift: 1 male RN student, 2 male RN, 1 female MD.

9. Older professional just starting out

   lxpatterson replied to MrKP's topic in Men

   I look at some of the young RNs (1st career, post-BSN, 22 yr old) that started at my current job with me and I think that older grads have maturity and interpersonal finesse that helps avoid a lot of useless BS with patients and staff -you know, the ...

10. Program Admission Advantage?

    lxpatterson replied to igeithner's topic in Men

    I've done enough schooling to realize that you're just a number to the school: you present a prior GPA and a sum of money and they produce grades for you to take on to your next stage in life. By the second month of school I always have my student ...

11. Critically ill pts wanting to go AMA?

    lxpatterson replied to Cuddleswithpuddles's topic in Relations

    Someone mentioned that legally, an AMA signed by a competent patient is sufficient protection for your licence. Personally, I would document as well that I discussed death and morbidity with the patient. To me what is interesting is the discussion o...

12. Describe your 10/10 pain. Piggybacking off of recent pain discussions.

    lxpatterson replied to 0.adamantite's topic in General Nursing

    That's ridiculous. If we are simply dispensing medications because patients want them then we might as well give them a key to the pyxis and let them help themselves. The reason we don't do that is NOT just because of overdose, it's because like al...

13. What setting is best for a new nurse grad?

    lxpatterson replied to vregino36's topic in General Nursing

    Float nursing, if you can find a program that will hire new grads, is a great opportunity. Many of the Toronto area hospitals are putting their new grads through a float program. I declined a float position in the city and chose a rural hospital be...

14. Doctor's attitude towards nurses

    lxpatterson replied to jrsnars2's topic in Relations

    Haha, exactly! I haven't had run ins like that with my medical staff, but that's exactly what I would say to an uppity locum. I stuff order sheets and things like that on a slow night shift as a courtesy, but it's not my job.

15. Working with Chinese Americans

    lxpatterson replied to SKayeS528's topic in Relations

    Of course you have to figure out what the patient's preferences are, without assuming they are ok with stuff because they are from a certain culture. But once you have established that someone is ok with a family member making decisions for them and...