DRBear432

DRBear432 has 20 years experience and specializes in Adult Critical Care and Emergency.

Latest Activity

1. Anyone from the Lehigh Valley area?

   DRBear432 replied to mafiamom's topic in Pennsylvania

   Interesting replies. I traveled quite a bit before accepting a (only my third) staff potition at LVH. Do not let the $/hr rates fool you. Housing, fuel, and benefits in many jobs eat up the extra $/hour. And there is the Philly income tax. All this ...

2. They called the cops!

   DRBear432 replied to UM Review RN's topic in General Nursing

   Wow! I am humbled that in this caring profession so many co-workers consider us valued persons. I am jaded enought to think Miranda's summary is correct from the management POV: they will go to great lengths to assure a warm body is on the shift (but...

3. Does anyone else like working night shift besides me?

   DRBear432 replied to Joyfullme's topic in General Nursing

   I have a deep appreciation fro those who work the day shift, by choice or due to circumstance. Without their selfless sacrifice I would have to rotate shifts, or worse work the day shift. So far I have about 1 year of day-shift work in 30 years of wo...

4. boards need to regulate MA's

   DRBear432 replied to time4meRN's topic in General Nursing

   Woody62: You made an excellent choice and delt with the "problem" immediatly and 1:1 with the MA. But the problem is endemic and your efforts should not be wasted. I like the legislative efforts achieved in SC. The next step is to get the MA instruct...

5. Needle sticks (Question for all nurses, esp those in ER)

   DRBear432 replied to Jedi of Zen's topic in General Nursing

   TazziRN: I did not research this carefully but our Infection Control gang agrees that hepatitis A, B, C are a more likely than HIV transmission. This seems consistent with the CEU stuff I do every year for FL. But it does not mean I want to risk a di...

6. Needle sticks (Question for all nurses, esp those in ER)

   DRBear432 replied to Jedi of Zen's topic in General Nursing

   Jedi: When you are placing or removing a needle from a patient best practice and your full attention to that proceedure need to supercede everything but a pre-code situation. I try to review the proceedure in my head then make sure I have the tools n...

7. boards need to regulate MA's

   DRBear432 replied to time4meRN's topic in General Nursing

   Thanks. I do not have an answer but I observe that in a collegial practice environment where each healthcare team member contributes to the overall patient care goals and who's input is valued by the other team members there appears to be more appro...

8. boards need to regulate MA's

   DRBear432 replied to time4meRN's topic in General Nursing

   I think you are over generalizing the situation. CMA/MA's have a valualble role and contribute to the efficent delivery of health care here but there are a few 'bad apples' that everyone remembers and talks about. This clouds the useful contribution ...

9. boards need to regulate MA's

   DRBear432 replied to time4meRN's topic in General Nursing

   I was helping with the legisative attempts to confine the word 'nurse' to those licensed by the BoN before I moved north in 2002. At that point in time the word 'nurse' in FL could be used by anyone to mean anything when we both know the expectation ...

10. Calling yourself a "nurse"

    DRBear432 replied to Jamie2887's topic in General Nursing

    Woody et al: Keep fighting the good fight. Florida has had two opportunities to pass a law similar to SC's, one did not make it out of committee and the other stalled and was not voted on befor the legislative session ended. Each state needs this cla...

11. Roll Call

    DRBear432 replied to Tweety's topic in Men

    'Wanna couple two tree haddags wich yer Yingling?" Moved back to PA near Allentown 5 years ago. Worked in Scranton and environs in the early 90's Lots of good answers preceeded this but the ICU/ED /Critical Care experience will make CRNA an easie...

12. boards need to regulate MA's

    DRBear432 replied to time4meRN's topic in General Nursing

    I appreciate your concern and support your patient centered activism, but I am, I do, I did, I have (3 times, working on #4), I did (and certification in two specialties), I did, and I do. I was involved in the discussion about 'nurses' being licenc...

13. boards need to regulate MA's

    DRBear432 replied to time4meRN's topic in General Nursing

    No need to quit over this, it is not likely to happen en mass. And I have worked with a couple nursing assistants who are also CMA's. A really neat combination of skills and an invaluable resource if they can be found.

14. boards need to regulate MA's

    DRBear432 replied to time4meRN's topic in General Nursing

    Excellent smmary, DutchgirlRN. May I suggest the Licenced Nurse supervise the patient care and let the medical mess flounder. Patient Safety first. You may find it hard to believe but in some places medical care is in fact consumer (that is patient)...

15. boards need to regulate MA's

    DRBear432 replied to time4meRN's topic in General Nursing

    Sorry to disagree but check the nurse practice act (or Woody's excellent summary) and compare it to the medical assistant's act (or equivalent if your state has one). There is a clear separation of duties, responsibilities, and care as well as a risk...