KarenKidsRN

Latest Activity

1. Best Reference Book for PICU Nurses

   KarenKidsRN replied to KailuaNurse's topic in PICU

   Mary Fran Hazinski- Pediatric Critical Care Nursing is the gold standard but it's not cheap. I think there is a smaller lighter soft cover refernce that goes along with that has a lot of the same information. I use my Hazinski all the time and even l...

2. Nursing & Depression

   KarenKidsRN replied to carpe_de_em's topic in Stress 101

   I wonder the same thing about receiving appropriate treatment early. But I think I had my first episode at about 16, I am 48 now. Back in the 60s we didn't have the meds and treatment options we do now so treatment back then might have actually made ...

3. Nursing & Depression

   KarenKidsRN replied to carpe_de_em's topic in Stress 101

   Karen - read over this thread. For some reason, there are lots of psychiatrists who refuse to prescribe meds even though the patient is stable. They insist the patient switch to their med du jour. I think that's malpractice myself. ******************...

4. Nursing & Depression

   KarenKidsRN replied to carpe_de_em's topic in Stress 101

   mattsmom, wow what you've been through is enought to depress anyone! I am currently doing great. Losing the job lead me into trying something I have always wanted to do, travel nursing and so far I am loving it. Plan to travel for the next 2-3 years...

5. Norwood procedure

   KarenKidsRN replied to Bruno Matos's topic in PICU

   I lean heavily towards the opinion that we are just prolonging their suffering with the inevitable outcome being the same. But then where I worked we did a lot of transplants and many of them did very well so that is what I compare it to, and I don't...

6. Nursing & Depression

   KarenKidsRN replied to carpe_de_em's topic in Stress 101

   Hey psychnurse, those symptoms sound awfully familiar to me. The irritability is often an early sign that I am heading for a crash. It sounds like some of it could be menopause related though and the symptoms are similar, Don't know what your take i...

7. Mandatory 12 Hours Shifts or Flexibility?

   KarenKidsRN replied to Tweety's topic in General Nursing

   I actually think some flexibility in shifts is a great idea. Nurses are not one size fits all people. Some really can not do 12s because of child care issues. Few child care places are open early enough or late enough to accommodate what ends up bein...

8. PICU Nurses

   KarenKidsRN replied to biscuit_007's topic in PICU

   I am a PICU traveler, currently in a 17 bed unit in Seattle. Staffing is pretty good here most of the time and I really am enjoying traveling. Thinking I might be back in California for the summer next year ( a bit closer to home) and I am glad to he...

9. Norwood procedure

   KarenKidsRN replied to Bruno Matos's topic in PICU

   I don't believe I have ever seen a Norwood Patient do well in 11 years of Peds CVICU nursing. We practically begged the surgeons to stop doing them because they never survived and it seemed to us to be cruel to give the family false hope. I have hear...

10. Nursing & Depression

    KarenKidsRN replied to carpe_de_em's topic in Stress 101

    i guess you could look on the positive side and say we've come a long way in 30 years, but not far enough in my opinion. and there will always be some who refuse to understand that depression is an actual physically based illness and think that there...

11. CA staffing ratios evoke anger 'tween RNs & LVNs

    KarenKidsRN replied to NMAguiar's topic in Activism

    I totally agree acuity is the ideal way to staff but unfortunately the nurse at the bedside who is most qualified to make the decision on acuity and staffing needs is totally ignored and the decision is made by some pencil pusher staffer or administr...

12. Nursing & Depression

    KarenKidsRN replied to carpe_de_em's topic in Stress 101

    I just discovered this thread this week and am really happy to see it ( Ok I don't come here real often) Just have to share some of my story. I think I have probably had clinical depression in some form or another since childhood, definitely had my f...