kmblue39

You know I never thought about it like that. I never knew the restrictions. And yes, I still feel violated. Sweating bloody tears was just a figure of speech for how hard nurses work today what with the patient loads and the fact that patients are sicker now and Press Gainey scores, etc. We all work hard to function at the highest level possible and still try to accommodate everyone's needs. Earlier, thinking about having to supervise a recovering nurse on top of all the other responsibilities felt like just too much to ask. A busy Ortho/Surg floor is already filled to capacity with work. Everyone wants everything at the exact same time and they just added a new piece of paperwork, the DVT screening tool, lol.

Funny how words can be twisted around. I never said drug addicted nurses aren't worthy. I said get help, get in recovery, and then get a nursing job where there isn't a need to be exposed to narcotics. Of course all those things are true. No one ever knows everything that is going on is someones life. Of course deliberately negligent or abusive nurses should be reported and take the consequences. Everyone should no matter what the situation. Why would someone want to go back to work where there are narcotics readily available all the time? To prove they are more worthy because they are having to fight the temptation to keep from falling off the wagon? I'm sure the drunk driver never meant to become an alcololic and end up killing the little kid at the bus stop. I'm sweating bloody tears trying to keep my license under the load of responsibility I have. Does that make me less worthy than the nurse who has abused the trust placed in them by their patients, coworkers, families, administration, america?

As a nurse who worked with a nurse last year who was diverting narcotics I can tell you that I greatly resented being put in that postion of working with that nurse, depending on them at night as integral part of the healthcare team, and not knowing how they put all of their coworkers and patients at risk. I don't care if they are functioning 'normally'. And I would have a hard time ever trusting them again. Of course they didn't mean to do it, and never meant to cause any harm. Just like the drunk driver who injures or kills someone didn't mean to harm anyone. You shouldn't be working under the influence or driving under the influence. My two cents worth being said, I can tell you from personal experience some of the symptoms: -pink pad/towel on the floor of the shower in the staff bathroom. -very helpful to the point of doing things for you, without even being asked. -Wearing long sleeved shirts under the scrub top and NEVER rolling the sleeves up, evem during the messiest of tasks. -Signing the MAR for nartotics not supposed to give (LVN=no IV narcs.) -Stable pts. not on pain meds for days then all of a sudden getting them as often as ordered. -Narcotics taken out on your patients that you don't know about/didn't give. -Taking PCA syringes out on patients already discharged. (Profile stays in the machine for a while after D/C). -Frequent trips 'downstairs' or frequently disappearing for any length of time. -taking the 'wrong' narcotic out, 'putting it back' and then the next person to take the 'wrong' one out creats a discrepancy. -VERY hyperactive behavior. I reported it and would do so again if necessary to protect my patients and coworkers. I'm all for recovery, etc., etc., but why should I now have to cover a recovering addict for all narcotics admin. on his/her patients when I have my own patients to cover, any LVN's, on the floor, and agency nurses (who aren't allowed to access the nacotics). Seems to me better for everyone concerned to get help, get in recovery, and then return to work in a setting free of all narcotics. Sorry this is so long. Still traumatized over last years events.

Yes it can get worse. But I am so proud of you for not whining or saying you are thinking of quitting. And I'm also proud that you had him for a patient. Most of the students I have had seem to always take all the walkie-talkies. What's the learning experience from that? The best advise my senior buddy gave me in school was to take all the sickest patients. That way I would learn more and I can honestly say that when I graduated I had done, many times, all of the basic stuff and some of the advanced stuff. When I started my first job as a RN I felt like I was ahead of the game with such good clinical nursing experience. Soooooo, hang in there because it really does get BETTER!

LOL, these are all just too funny! BTW, don't go running around in the baked potato patch at night You might trip and fall on a baked potato and have to have it surgically removed.

Information being disseminated in the staff bathrooms! That is consistently my #1 pet peeve. Can't there be just ONE place on the floor where we are not innundated with all the 'need to know info.'? "Is there anything else I can get you; I have the time"? The other night the new DVT core measure laminated, spiral bound information booklet was sitting on the toilet paper dispenser next to the toilet in the staff bathroom in the breakroom. I still haven't been able to figure out if someone was using it for reading material on day shift or it was put there on purpose so we would be sure to see it (see=read). I hope we don't have a pop quiz on it.

Hilton Healthcare, LOL! I need a nurse NOW!!!......would you raise my head up a little. No, that's too much! Down a little. No, up a little. No, down a little. Down a little more.......there. Now, would you pull my blanket over a little more, and tuck it in on that side. Oh and would you put my water, glasses, phone, tissues, chapstick, etc., etc., etc. over there. No, over a little more, there. And would you turn the lights down. No, up a little. No, down a little more. X however many patients in your assignment that night.

hmmmmm, stay at the old place with a wealth of seasoned nurses (so good that no one will leave) or go to the new place with 90% agency nurses (so bad that they can't get anyone to work there as full-time staff).

LOL, there used to be an Aussie nurse working in our ER and I always loved to get report from her. One time when I asked her how it was going down there she said she was mucking around ------(can't for the life of me remember the word but I think it meant looking) for a bed.

Nurses eat their young.

First of all remember that knowledge is power, then comes the self confidence. Focus on doing the best job, no matter what your job is, and you will be amazed at the changes in your self confidence. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. Katzy5 said it best. Just that fact that you are thinking about all of this shows critical thinking skills. Good luck and best wishes for a safe and successful career.

I wonder if the patient satisfaction scores would apply to the hallway patients? I don't see how we could get a five from a patient in the hallway no matter how hard we tried. But I do know that whatever the problem/solution, fighting between the ER/floors is not going to solve anything and the rude remarks are neither fair or deserved.

Hey, isn't the pain score one of the 2007 (2006) National Patient Safety Initiatives?:)

Besides the fact that I believe this to be totally wrong/unsafe, the only response to this thread I can think of is: So are they going to be staffing the nurses to take care of these hall patients or will they be add-on's for the floor nurses? And will the care start when they get to the hallway or when the room gets cleaned and they are moved in. On my Ortho/Surg floor pain medicine, food, and/or water are frequently first requests/demands when patients get to the floor. Are we going to hook up call lights in the hallway with the curtains. I'm laughing so hard right now from the absurdity of the picture that I can hardly finish this. But, it really isn't funny. Hall beds in the ER are a reality and maybe what is next for the floor.

I have been working in ortho/surg. for over six years and have never given vit. k IV. The drug book says that sudden death can occur and I have never had trouble getting the route changed when I call and tell the Dr. that.