Vinniesguy

Vinniesguy has 23 years experience.

Latest Activity

1. Students who get As are bad bedside nurses

   Vinniesguy replied to konstantine's topic in General Students

   Are you sure you didn't misunderstand? They might mean that great grades doesn't necessarily mean a great nurse - and they would be right. getting great grades doesn't mean you'll make a bad nurse either! Theory is one thing - being able to apply it ...

2. Working on the wards

   Vinniesguy replied to StuartKarl's topic in Australia

   I moved to Australia from England (via germany) in 2003 and have never regretted it. 12 hour shifts are not usual - in my hospital only ICU do them and even then it's not mandatory. Living in Aus you won't want to be locked away for that long anyway!...

3. Nurses can eat properly if they manage their time

   Vinniesguy replied to Brian's topic in General Nursing

   I have to say that most of the time, certainly on our ward, most nurses get a meal break most of the time. Sure - sometimes they might have to take a short one but they get a break all the same I always bring my own food in so I can make sure I eat ...

4. Chest hair

   Vinniesguy replied to Ninjateagan's topic in Men

   As a dude with a hairy chest I'm glad our hospital doesnt impose such ridculous dress codes on us - especially in our climate! I'm not going to wear an extra shirt just because I'm hairy! Not my fault I was blessed lol Having said that - where I wor...

5. What's Your Best Nursing Ghost Story?

   Vinniesguy replied to steffck's topic in General Nursing

   I've posted in this thread before but I just remembered another story This is way back when I was a student nurse in London - this was in the days of hospital based training and I was working at the Royal London Hospital in the east end of London. A ...

6. Your first time with a student

   Vinniesguy replied to PeepnBiscuitsRN's topic in Relations

   Quite like having students but some of them seem to forget that just because they aced their anatomy exam, or have memorized the renal system, that basic nursing care is no longer their concern. We have nursing assistants on our ward but the RN's sti...

7. Culture Change in a Secured Dementia Unit

   Vinniesguy replied to ClearBlueOctoberSky's topic in LTC Directors

   It's a great idea. I've worked at places where people are dragged out of bed at 6.30 am and back in bed by 1.30 pm so the evening shift wouldn't get mad. I can see it becoming a problem if someone does shift their pattern, sleeps all day and is awake...

8. Post Fall Neuro Checks

   Vinniesguy replied to psalazar's topic in LTC Directors

   Wouldn't send them out immediately unless there was a clear head injury, a change in GCS, were on anti-coags or the family insisted. I think nurses are quite capable of clinical judgement without passing the buck unless its the policy of the facility...

9. Doesn't It Want To Make You Scream, part 3

   Vinniesguy replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in LTC Directors

   You may understand inches but some of us only understand centimetres. If you told me a wound was 40 inches I would look at you blankly then have to find a converter on the Internet!

10. Addressing staff complaints against peers

    Vinniesguy replied to DPRN's topic in LTC Directors

    I've just been interviewed for a management post and was told settling staff disputes is part of my job. I would say you need to talk to the complainants one at a time and get specifics before talking to the nurse in question. Then say it is somethin...

11. What does a patient sitter/safety attendant do exactly?

    Vinniesguy replied to swtchariot's topic in Pre-Nursing

    We call them 'specials'in Australia and at our hospital we have nursing assistants on the casual pool who only special. It's for patients who are likely to climb over the bed-rails, are intrusive wanderers, exit seekers or very high falls risk. They ...

12. How long did it take you to get into your dream nursing Job?

    Vinniesguy replied to nursejess12's topic in General Nursing

    I've enjoyed most jobs I've had and learned something from all of them but have yet to be in a job where I have thought 'This is it - this what I've been waiting for'!

13. Foods you have discovered as a Nurse

    Vinniesguy replied to FlorenceNtheMachine's topic in General Nursing

    I was horrified at an LTC I worked at to see Monkey Gland Steak on the menu! Turned out to be just regular beef steak with some kind of onion gravy. Not a monkey in sight - nor any of the glands. The kitchen staff had no idea of the origins of the na...

14. Salary for assistant nurse manager/clinical supervisor

    Vinniesguy replied to misswoosie's topic in Management

    Ive just applied for an assistant manager post in an LTC (in Australia) - the pay equates to USD44

15. How do we suction respiratory secretions from a patient with an NG tube?

    Vinniesguy replied to Imnewnurse111's topic in General Nursing

    As far as I'm aware you can perform nasopharyngeal suction on a pt with an ngt tube as long as afterwards you check the ng tube is still where it supposed to be and hasnt moved during suctioning.