I just saw a great thread over in the ER forum by traumaintheslot.

When you learn something new or have great tips or tricks, post them here.

I am a new medsurg nurse and I would really enjoy hearing your responses. :)

For example, the other day we were cleaning up after a pt and the nurse I was helping started to feel sick from the smell (lower GI bleed). She opened an alcohol wipe and put it under her nose to keep from vomiting, she said it works every time.

Anyone know about Morphine and the Sphincter of Oddi? Some of our physicians say yes, some no...

As a student in the middle of med-surg clinicals ... oh, I'll eat this thread up!!! Hope to pick up more tips from all of you wise ones! :)

The alcohol wipe under the nose for nausea works with pts, too!

I read a study about it and tried it for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

It worked.

Does it work with the elderly?

Here's another one: Mucomyst really smells bad! When preparing it, draw it up in a syringe, and inject it through the foil into some juice, so you & your pt aren't accosted with the odor. Don't open up the juice container- push a straw through the foil as well. This is a fairly common trick, but boy, we all know when someone hasn't been told about it- smells up the whole floor...lol.

I just saw a great thread over in the ER forum by traumaintheslot.

When you learn something new or have great tips or tricks, post them here.

I am a new medsurg nurse and I would really enjoy hearing your responses. :)

For example, the other day we were cleaning up after a pt and the nurse I was helping started to feel sick from the smell (lower GI bleed). She opened an alcohol wipe and put it under her nose to keep from vomiting, she said it works every time.

Anyone know about Morphine and the Sphincter of Oddi? Some of our physicians say yes, some no...

Does morphine close the sphinter of odie increasing amylase? Not sure about this but that would be my guess.

Does morphine close the sphinter of odie increasing amylase? Not sure about this but that would be my guess.

Some studies say that morphine causes spasms in the spincter of oddi, so many of our physicians won't give it to pt's /c pancreatitis, etc, and they say it also increases biliary pressure. They give demerol instead. But still others say it makes no difference. I just wondered if anyone had heard any concrete proof?

The other night we accessed a port and I learned to turn the patient from side to side and raise their arm if you can't get blood return. (Probably old hat for most but that was the first time I had heard that.)

Its amazing what they don't tell you in school...

Our latest trick for relief from the aroma of a code brown is to open a package of coffee and put in a filter in the area of the source of the smell. At first I didn't know why I kept finding unused ground coffee on window sills in patients rooms. Now I know why.

I just saw a great thread over in the ER forum by traumaintheslot.

When you learn something new or have great tips or tricks, post them here.

I am a new medsurg nurse and I would really enjoy hearing your responses. :)

For example, the other day we were cleaning up after a pt and the nurse I was helping started to feel sick from the smell (lower GI bleed). She opened an alcohol wipe and put it under her nose to keep from vomiting, she said it works every time.

Anyone know about Morphine and the Sphincter of Oddi? Some of our physicians say yes, some no...

Our latest trick for relief from the aroma of a code brown is to open a package of coffee and put in a filter in the area of the source of the smell. At first I didn't know why I kept finding unused ground coffee on window sills in patients rooms. Now I know why.

What a great idea! I'll have to remember that the next time ER calls and says, "we have a GIFT for youuuuu......." (Sometimes I'd kill for a can of Oust.)

Come on, keep 'em comin....

Ok, here's something I learned the other night from a veteran nurse. When you go into your pt's room and introduce yourself, shake their hand. Not only does this establish a connection /c the pt, but it allows you to assess their extremity temp, color, diaphoretic/clammy/dry limp/firm hand.

Ok, I know that there are tons of medsurg nurses chock full of tips/new information floating around out there....any takers? :)

Some older ladies have a problem giving a urine specimen, if you break a amonia capsule into a bedpan, cover with the sheet and give them a few minutes, it usually works to allow urine to flow. If they c/o of burning sensation, take in away immediately. We use this plenty in older females who cannot give a specimen.

apply a thin layer of talc before applying TED hose, this makes the hose slip on easier and quicker, without needing so much tugging from the nurse. Remove these at night and check for circulation, wash feet and stockings, reapply new pair. TEDS should be applied with the patient legs in resting position no sitting position.

Another trick withe TED hose is to first place the plastic package over the end of the foot - the hose will slip right on... just pull the package out through the hole in the toe and use on the the other foot.

I had been struggling to get those darn things on for years and the nurse getting my dad ready for surgery showed me this trick.... WONDERFUL!