w8liftinglady

Latest Activity

1. Supid Question-when do you stay home?

   w8liftinglady posted a topic in General Nursing

   I am always overcome with guilt when I call in-but I have been running a fever for 2 days now..I have called in today-but I just don't see making a 12 hour shift on a surgical telemetry unit...what would you do?(just picking brains..I know what I'm g...

2. We need a Nursing TV show

   w8liftinglady replied to jbeck817's topic in General Nursing

   While I like the crusty "House" character,I never see nurses portrayed as more than runners.The doctors draw blood,start IVs,titrate drips,take vital signs,hook patients up to O2 and monitors,etc,etc,etc....so UNLIKE real life,where the nurses tell(o...

3. Worst nursing experience

   w8liftinglady replied to Alpha13's topic in General Nursing

   Around 15 years ago,the inner city MSICU I worked in had 5 pregnant or newly delivered women,all on vents,with ARDS from a variety of causes.This was in late december,and i remember losing 2 moms,with the bonus of fetal demise and miscarriage on Chri...

4. Why are doctors so rude?

   w8liftinglady replied to TheCommuter's topic in Relations

   I think a lot of it is regional,too-from what I gather on this board.I became a nurse in West Texas,where doctors were God,and we were to cater to them(it was even in the mission statement of one of our hospitals)They would throw charts,scream and ba...

5. Ok, so there's this obese patient...

   w8liftinglady replied to gwlillith's topic in MICU

   I know someone mentioned a hoyer lift,but let me elaborate a little...we also deal a lot with Sizewise,and they have this huge hydrolic lift that works with a sling placed under the patient..the lift slides over the patient's bed,and is controlled by...

6. Best shift to work with teens at home

   w8liftinglady replied to RodeoLP's topic in General Nursing

   If you have the option,you might consider doing a weekend plan.I have done weekends only for about 10 years.My two sons still at home are 14 and 8.My mom lives nearby,and drops in on them.I have given the 14 year-old a cell phone on the "friends and ...

7. Rotator Cuff Question

   w8liftinglady replied to DebsZoo's topic in General Nursing

   I tore my rotator cuff about 4 years ago,and surgery to repair it.My best advice would be to do it and get i over with,before you lose any more function.Unfortnately muscles atrophy quickly with disuse.The rehab is rough,but if you grit your teeth,yo...

8. Nursing burnout and what to do?

   w8liftinglady replied to AmyRN1227's topic in General Nursing

   You may try what I did.After 15 years as an ICU nurse,and then a house sup,I got tired of all the BS,families,death,working short,never hearing a kind word,and went into invasive radiology(and I love it).I largely place PICC lines,assist with proced...

9. Who's good at IVs?

   w8liftinglady replied to rachel h's topic in General Nursing

   with the veins that are particularly "rolly",I usually use my hand as the tourniquet.It seems the extra pressure built up by the tourniquet seems to both make the veins roll worse,and make them blow more easily,too.Also,especially with elderly,frail...

10. Different pay and responsibility for 2 year RN's VS 4 year RN's

    w8liftinglady replied to kasey14546's topic in General Nursing

    Personally,I would welcome the requirement of a BSN for management-I have been a head nurse of a busy ICU for 5 years,then a house supervisor for the last 10 years,and now a staff nurse in ICU,all with an ADN.Let me tell you, BSN grads can have the m...

11. What smells?? ER!

    w8liftinglady replied to canoehead's topic in General Nursing

    It's funny you should mention that-because we were taught that,too(along with standing in the doc's presence and making HIM coffee). I have a rule for the guys who work with me...no more"I'm sorry""I'm sorry to bother you,doctor""I'm sorry the lab i...

12. Are you afraid to approach minority staff members? WHY?

    w8liftinglady replied to LasVegasRN's topic in General Nursing

    I agree 100%.Recently,we had a situation where I work(Texas).A patient was complaining to her family about staff abusing her,hurting her,and the family was understandably livid.Upon investigation,there appeared a trend...all the complaints were agai...