Tom RN, NRC

Tom RN, NRC has 5 years experience and specializes in Mental Health and Substance Use.

Latest Activity

1. Should mental health nursing be grouped with addictions nursing?

   Tom RN, NRC replied to hatchit's topic in Addictions

   First I'd suggest that we look at our language. Referring to individuals by their diagnosis perpetuates forms of othering such as stereotyping, stigmatizing, discrimination. This type of depersonalizing is usually a symptom of a systemic issue, so I...

2. Nurse -Patient Staffing Ratio

   Tom RN, NRC replied to fawnsternurse's topic in Addictions

   I work in Nova Scotia. Canada and our ratio is 3:10 with the three being 1-2 RN and 1-2 CA. That is during weekdays then we drop to 2:10 weeknights and weekends. Tom

3. CIWA and COWS Scale?

   Tom RN, NRC replied to JerseyBSN's topic in Addictions

   I also agree with Tom7044, but I do my CIWA every two hours for the 6 hours and then increase the time depending on what I'm seeing. The assessments are as much art as science. You will develop a sense for what is actual withdrawal over time. In the ...

4. Alcoholism: disease or choice?

   Tom RN, NRC replied to HonestRN's topic in Addictions

   The questioned posed is is alcoholism a disease or choice not if alcoholics are responsible for their actions. Alcoholism fits the disease model, is recognized as a disease internationally, and can be treated. captainmeowbot if you have any credi...

5. Alcoholism: disease or choice?

   Tom RN, NRC replied to HonestRN's topic in Addictions

   I think that saying alcoholism is a disease you choose is a bit off. Alcoholism like all addiction is a disease of choice. What I mean when I say this is that addiction is a disease of the very areas of the brain we use to make our choices (specific...

6. Pain Control for Patient with Addiction Past

   Tom RN, NRC replied to dinah77's topic in Addictions

   I had almost forgotten about this post, but cannot resist posts with big words such as sanctimonious. I will assume you mean it as obsolete rather than a pios hypocrite. Let me start by saying that I would not suggest either of a nurse who is fresh o...

7. RN interested in job in detox

   Tom RN, NRC replied to dekagirlsRN's topic in Addictions

   In all honesty I think the ideal would be if you could split your time between the two. I think psychosocially speaking you are building on many of the same skills needed to work in a detox, and I think your experience there will serve you and your p...

8. RN interested in job in detox

   Tom RN, NRC replied to dekagirlsRN's topic in Addictions

   That was completely my bad. I missed a key word. Oh well no harm done other than my ego, and it has seen worse. Other than the rhetoric about LTC I think my answer is about the same. I really think that some time on a medical unit would be both acces...

9. RN interested in job in detox

   Tom RN, NRC replied to dekagirlsRN's topic in Addictions

   First of all I agree with MentahealthRN that experience in the areas that she mentioned would help, but I think your next question would be how do you transition to them with little to no acute experience? A bit of a catch-22. So instead of focussing...

10. question for addictions nurses

    Tom RN, NRC replied to jk6805's topic in Addictions

    To who it concerns, First I would like to apologize for the delayed response. In looking back at my post I believe it reads "The assumption" rather than "your assumption", but if you took that personally then again I apologize for not being clearer i...

11. Anyone an addictions nurse?

    Tom RN, NRC replied to Mo_RN's topic in Addictions

    LOL. I was finishing my degree with six months of remote ER nursing in on the North end of Vancouver Island which had a large First Nations population. It was totally by accident that I started working with patients with addictions. The lack of knowl...

12. question for addictions nurses

    Tom RN, NRC replied to jk6805's topic in Addictions

    The question you ask is enormously complex. Further just the way it is posed makes me worry for both you and the patients. The assumption that a recovering addict can safely relate to someone with active addiction better than someone who is not recov...

13. What does a chemical dependency RN do?

    Tom RN, NRC replied to LocalGal's topic in Addictions

    there is no denying that our healthcare systems are different, and likely many of the laws. i can't speak to all the different drug laws, but benzo's are a targeted substance in canada. that means a prescription should be needed. this is a link to a...

14. What does a chemical dependency RN do?

    Tom RN, NRC replied to LocalGal's topic in Addictions

    sorry for the confusion. i am a canadian nurse rehabilitation counsellor which means i have a four year degree (bsn) and then further education and certifications specifically in the area of addictions. much of what i do medically is covered under de...

15. Pain Control for Patient with Addiction Past

    Tom RN, NRC replied to dinah77's topic in Addictions

    it's impossible to give a real answer here regarding pain control for lack of information (i.e. pain scale, amount and frequency of meds given prior to your assessment, ect). for that reason i will look at the part of your post that deals with your p...