maggie0 replied to Nancynurse1983's topic in Psychiatric
A lot of this is what some colleagues call "safety theater.” It does keep staff on our toes, but I think it also sets up challenges for the patients: You think I'm going kill myself with a hair tie? Watch me do it with my underwear! My unit allows ha...
I didn't think she should have been criminally charged, and I believe the hospital is to blame for a system that allowed the errors to happen, but her mistakes were so egregious and downright stupid I don't think nursing is the right field for her. I...
maggie0 replied to CityofAngelsRN's topic in Psychiatric
I don't know the specifics about that hospital, but I think it's typical to have to take a physical agility test. Mine involved bending over, squatting, walking, etc. Nothing too difficult! I think they just want to make sure you're ready for the job...
I'm going to see how it goes. I went into nursing after a nasty divorce in my 40s. Due to my late start, I'm going to have to work as long as possible; luckily, I love my work. Hope I stay physically up to it!
maggie0 replied to Queen Tiye's topic in Psychiatric
The doctor should tell you how to deal with these patients. It's not really our role to decide if they're malingering or not. That said, I just make sure I don't give them more attention than the other patients. The other patients shouldn't be neglec...
I was bullied a lot up through high school. However, it would not be possible to bully me now, for some reason. No one dares to mess with me ! ? Wish I could go back in time and teach my younger self how to deal with people better.
Pointing out the difference is not necessarily bullying, but excluding someone because of it, publicly mocking and humiliating them for it, and doing this repeatedly is.
Personally, I love psych. Working long-term care I'd probably run for the hills--I get floated to other floors and don't know how those nurses do it. I love our patients and my coworkers, love the stories and the dark humor, love the chance to spend ...
maggie0 replied to AmandaBeaverhausen's topic in General Students
It's okay to fail a skill or two or three. I failed my very first skills--BP and Foley. Like you, I was nervous and sweating and basically psyched myself out, dropping stuff etc. Disaster! But I repeated it, did fine, fast-forward 3 years and now I h...
Thanks for this reminder. I've finally gained the confidence to handle this kind of situation on my own floor, but when I'm floated to a new specialty floor I suddenly feel like an inept student again--but you're right, I'm not.
At my facility, we normally have 3-4 nurses for up to 20 patients, and 2 or 3 (on a lucky day!) techs. This is during the day/eve. One nurse is the med nurse and doesn't usually take patients. At night it drops to 1 or 2 nurses and one tech. But ther...
I pulled meds for another nurse when she was extremely pressed for time, but I didn't feel good about it and probably won't do it again, if I can help it.
On the other hand, when I'm floated I don't have access to the other floor's med room, so ...
maggie0 replied to Sophie H's topic in Psychiatric
It's much safer to have two nurses in this situation--one on each side. On our unit we give Benadryl in one arm simultaneously with Haldol and Ativan in the other. I know lots of other places mix all three and as long as it's given quickly it's proba...