Latest Comments by girlpolice

I have a simple rule: I do not discuss politics or religion in the workplace. I think that to do so leads to confusion and destruction

I am a person of faith, but my religion is very outside the mainstream and would be misunderstood by the majority of people, so I don't talk about it in the workplace. I've met many atheists who are dear and kind people and quite a number of Christians or other religious people who were, frankly, douches.

When I worked in hospice, we were taught that spirituality was "a search for meaning". I like that definition way better than any religious doctrine.

-girlpolice

There is nothing wrong with you. I think all of us go through something like you're going through in their first year. I cried at least every other day, sometimes in front of the other staff!

If you're naturally anxious and know this about yourself, I'd go see a therapist and especially one who works with cognitive behavioral techniques. If things are really bad, ask your MD for some anti anxiety meds, but I'd combine that with some talk therapy. You have to make sure you're continually mentally healthy so you can give your best to your patients.

Finally, every job will have *******s. Do your best and be gentle with yourself and then the *******s won't get to you as much

-girlpolice

When I worked with surgeons, most of them were residents and thus learning themselves. Most of the time they were cool and I could talk to them like human beings. Some of them (gasp!) asked me to call them by their first names! We even went out to karaoke!

I have a big mouth and am usually not afraid to use it, but if that's not your personality I wouldn't try to force a "tough" attitude.
I picked my battles with surgeons who were being asshats. The one time I yelled at one personally was when he dropped a chart and scattered the papers all over the floor. He shoved everything back in the binder and WROTE AN ORDER saying "Please put chart back in chronological order."

I called him up and schooled him about not writing stupid stuff in the chart since it's a LEGAL document, and that if he ever pulled that crap again I'd report him to the trauma chair so fast his head would spin.

He behaved after that. Like I said, though, I picked my battle.

-girlpolice

We used to use a lot of sitters when I worked in trauma step down. Most of the sitters were CNAs and did all the cna-type work for that one patient.

My only complaint was that some sitters would fall asleep on the job, which is Not A Good Thing. If you're the type of person who can nod off, even during the day, I wouldn't be a sitter.

-girlpolice

Is the patient on any anticoags? It could be that even that small "bump" around the prostate would have been enough to cause some hematuria.

-girlpolice

I was a new nurse on a med surg/cystic fibrosis floor. I had to give a blood transfusion to a mildly confused lady. I did all the things you're supposed to do: time outs, all the equipment set up, etc. And then I spiked the blood, and turned the bag over to prime the tubing:

And SPLOOSH. Blood all over me. I had pierced the narrow neck of the tube at the bottom of the bag.

The second worst part of this was I had to wear paper scrubs for the rest of the shift, and I looked like the Michelin Man.

The WORST part was having to call the blood bank and tell them I wasted a unit of blood. I thought they'd reach through the phone and throttle me.

Good thing was, I used it as a teaching point for EVERY student I precepted. And boy was I careful spiking blood bags from then on

-girlpolice

I'm going to guess that this new grad is hiding his insecurity behind a mask of bravado.

I'm not a manager, but I'd give this advice; document specific incidents where his tone/behavior was less than professional, and then meet with him and show him the notes. If your hospital has a policy about professional behavior, pull that out and discuss it with him.

Good luck,
girlpolice

The first unit I worked on as a new nurse was practically all African- or Carribean-American staffed (lots of nurses from Haiti, Trinidad and the like). I was usually the only white nurse on the floor during the day, but whatever; we all worked our butts off

girlpolice

When I was an aide working in a hospice inpatient unit, we could often hear a child giggling in one of the rooms. This happened to be the room where most kids and teenagers would stay when admitted. The room was often empty.

I had a patient hallucinate that there was "a tall blonde man" in his room. He was very Southern Baptist and this vision upset him and so I talked him down from that.

-girlpolice

Hello:
I go by girlpolice. Ten points if you get the reference

I'm in my mid thirties and have had a variety of nursing experiences: med surg, trauma/surgical step down, and home health case management. Currently I'm doing a desk job in the referral center of my home health company. It's good to be here!

cheers,
girlpolice

You want to make sure that you're with a good agency that *supports* its' nurses and auxillary staff. Most places have computer-based charting nowadays in the field; if you're adept with technology, it's easier for you.

Do NOT put your bag down in a home with bugs. Bring wax paper with you (better than paper towels, which absorb fluids).

Make sure you check all the meds a patient is on, especially what's in the medicine cabinet. There are people who hold onto medications and ointments from so many years ago that you swear they're growling at you.

Communicate with your staff, HHA and others working with you, especially if there's a large dog, a mean dog, or a mean in-law in the house.

good luck!

-girlpolice

"Thank you for volunteering to work on Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, you're going to be paid in corn."