chris10lsuRN

Ochsner Medical Center. ochsner.org

My hospital is hiring if you want a Telemetry job.

I don't know anything about corrections nursing, but would like to welcome you to BR. :)

justashooter, I think you read me a bit too literally. :) I know I cannot hold the guy here..I just meant I can stop him by sending him home AMA..My hospital is a smoke free campus. Nobody can smoke. In addition, tele monitored patients are not allowed to leave the floor. I caught the man smoking 3 times last night and guess who got sent home AMA?? However, he was able to obtain his pain medicine scripts before he left (which is why he later admitted to us he came into the hospital in the first place).

and guess who I just caught smoking in his room...sighhhhh

Bortaz, I am only judgmental b/c the guy is here seeking treatment for his cigarette induced exacerbation..and says he is awaiting a lung transplant. As far as letting the old guy smoke..I cant let the guy smoke. smoke free hospital, smoke free campus, and the guy is on a tele monitor..cannot leave the floor or we cannot pick up his rhythm. What's the point of treating his illness if everything we do will be undone by his cigarettes?

you are absolutely right!

not particularly tolerant of COPD smokers period..and I have the face sheet which shows how they are paying. Wasn't trying to be ugly. I was just annoyed that situations such as these (along with non-compliant diabetics, CHF-ers, hypertensives, etc..) are covered under government funds. It seems that insurance can deny you for certain things, yet tax dollars can pay for non-compliant patients.

oh yes..we have all of that. He just got to the unit..has not been here 10 minutes. I understand that it is a highly powerful addiction. I was basically venting about the fact that he is here for COPD and his stay is paid for by medicaid and he is adamant about smoking.

Just want to vent. Does anyone else have a major problem with this?? Patient admitted for COPD exacerbation. Patient is on home nebulizer treatments, inhalers, etc.. for the treatment of his COPD. Patient admitted tonight and told the nurse he would be leaving to go smoke and there is no way we can stop him (I know we can). Patient is a medicaid patient which basically means I (along with the rest of tax-paying America) is paying for his hospital admission and medications for his respiratory disease..and he is insisting he is going to smoke. makes me soooo mad!!:mad: