leesonlpn

Of course every situation is different. Some doctors refuse to make their patient a no code - feeling it would be a personal failure no doubt, unless a family member requests it. Here in my hospital a lot of doctors absolutely hate addressing the code status issue. They are there for just minutes usually, while we have the 98% the rest of the time. If a patient is going sour, depending on his age, secondary diagnosis etc, I will bring it up with the family. I encourage them to get together to discuss the situation, and whatever they decide, to let thier doctor know, or I will write it on the doctors board to be addressed. I think there should be a trainex film entitled "CPR. LIVE!" Then these family members who want everything done for their 96 year old father who has a history of everything and is dying of everything, can see dad's ribs cracking, and being zapped and the beauty of being intubated. By all means, save the ones you can, but be realistic. I believe in death with dignity. Some family members have even chosen to ignore their parent's living will for heavens sakes. As for discussing it with the patient, I can usually take clues from a conversation. Sometimes the patient will say, I've had a good life, or I'm tired of being sick, I hope I sleep and never wake up. Those are usually good clues, to perhaps expand on.

That's what it's all about. Every response from the nurses has been truthfull and wise. It is obvious in JHUnurse's response she still doesn't get it She wants to marry for money. What happens if a few years down the road, the money disappears? Does she? Still on the endless trek to find a doctor smuck to open his wallet for her. Like I said before, such a request as hers on tips to land a doctor, is an embarrassment for nurses everywhere. There are Mr. Rights out there who aren't rich. I have one. We don't have much but we love each other dearly. I know he is always there for me, and I am for him. Money can't buy you love, sweetheart. Pursue nursing because you have the heart for it, and you want to be the best for your patients and make a difference; not because you're down to your last quarter.

Excellent response! You turned the tables around beautifully. JHUNurse- you must not have experienced life much to even consider marrying for money. Your thread is an embarrassment to other nurses. Rustyhammer is so correct, - if you can't manage on your salary- never mind, - it's a pathetic search on your part. Keep this thread near you, and twenty years from now you'll see how shallow it is. ps/we had a "christian" doctor who worked emerg- a strong member of his congregation etc etc. Starting sleeping with my neighbour (emerg switchboard operator) also a strong member of the congregation. Guess they both wanted to strengthen their own congregation. He is married and has three cute little girls. She is divorced and has two teenagers.(She is known to be on the search for a doctor). Sickening.

Mario I hope your term re-tred doesn't refer to someone remarried, or there will be tread on your forehead.

a defense lawyer walks up to a farmhouse to serve some papers.As he walks up to the porch he steps in a cowpie. He looks down at his foot and cries out ..."I"M MELTING!!!!!":devil:

Hi rusty hammer - I presume it's celebrated the same world wide.Starts May 8th Florence's birthday.

In British Columbia, Canada, there are only three licensed bodies allowed to LEGALLY call themselves nurses. Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Psychiatric nurses. Care aides do not belong to a licensed governing body, and though are part of the nursing team in some hospitals and facilities, they cannot legally call themselves nurses. They usually call themselves caregivers.This is the law here.

Way to go Night Owl - I read your thread and I wanted to start retching!!!!!It would almost seem like your shift was a Saturday Night Live skit! How about a million mg's of Maxeran all round? It's a russian roulette if you get sick. I had the flu -woke up feeling like I was beaten with a baseball bat during the night. Even when I farted it hurt all over.( And of course my farts are ever so tiny) We get alot of flack at work over sick time. It's that time of year for heavens sake. Patients cough in your face, hork on your hands, poop on your shoes, unless you wear a body condom you're exposed. You know how uncomfortable those things are. What we do of course is bring in a stool sample (beef barley soup if your diarrhea is over)and a container of our emesis ( cream corn and chili mixed together is effective)for our clinical co-ordinator (fancy name for head nurse) plus a note from our mother, even if she is deceased. I wish I could do projectile vomiting on command. That would show her wouldn't it?They want it? hey we'll give it. heeeheeeheee;)

melena stool, and suspension bridge sputum specs, the pstachio green ones. farts in your face when you are pushing a pt over to do the tidy bowl cleanup. colostomies. This one patient wanted tme to wash it out and put it back. Not. Hospital supplies yes. coffee ground emesis it's amazing how much we deal with, and how much it turns our tummies, but boy can we chat about it over lunch and not blink an eye. You can sure tell when going out, who the non-nursing guest is. Nurses are a fine breed.

Get evil - scratch her name off your christmas card list, with a dirty nail. No one can make you feel inferior without your permission

It always goes back to the fact of where you live doesn't it. In BC licensed practical nurses are responsible for their own scope of practice. We do not need RN's to co-sign.

this could be a prickly subject.I'll try to keep it warm and fuzzy. I was involved in our hospitals skills task force group. This group was created to address the under-utilization of licensed practical nurses, and whether or not nurses' aides have a roll in acute care.The pros and cons of primary vs team nursing were addressed. On our task force were new rn's, seasoned rn's new lpn's and seasoned lpn's (that would be me). Also on board was our nursing officer and two unit managers from surgery, medical, and two nearby hospitals. After much research it has been decided to upgrade all LPN's( that require it) in our hospital (100), and to utilize them to their full scope of practice.Nurse's aides in BC have a 2 month course, are not taught to do vital signs or care for the acutely ill patient. They work mostly as caregivers in private homes, or extended care facilities. I realize nurses aides in other parts of the country are trained and competant to do more than ours, but I am referring to the situation in British Columbia.Also in British Columbia, only Rn's and Lpn's and psychiatric nurses are legally allowed to use the term "nurse". We are from a professional licensed body. Nurses aides are not part of any profession licensing body in BC. Having said that.... We have documentation that shows skills between RN's and LPN's are 70% combined (overlapping)knowledge. I realize that there is a wide range of skills and scopes of practice between Canadian and American LPN's. It varies greatly even between province to province. The results clearly indicated Rn's and Lpn's are a preferred team in the health care system. LPN's in British columbia are throughly trained and compentant in their dispensing of meds, monitoring IV's, dressings and wound management, head to toe assessments, patient teaching, family support etc. etc. etc. I agree the team is only as good as the workers. A patient can only benefit from an RN and LPN dedicated to care for their patients the best way they can, and dedicated to work together as a team, the best way that they can. Primary nursing is no longer functional in todays health care crisis. As for the increase in mortality rates, when a patient isn't cared for by and RN, when would that happen, if Rn's and LPN's work together?. Your statement would not sit well with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of BC. I believe they would have documentation to disprove your information. Hope no toes were stepped on, you have to be totally informed before you make a decision. If patient care is our primary focus, why can't RN's and LPN's work side by side in a nursing partnership. It does work, believe me. It certainly won't work if you don't let it.

Up north we had a chiropractor named Dr. Mangle. My sister who is a physiotherapist said, he probably did.

let's see 10 tinkles,......how much are sprinkles??.

I graduated in 1980. I am an LPN. I wear a cap - it is white with a green and gold stripe horizontal across the top. These are the college colors as well as the green representing licensed practical nursing. I wear white uniforms, white hose and white duty shoes. I am not as old a florence nightengale, - I am 43. I receive daily comments from my patients, and family members, how nice it is to see nurse that looks like a nurse. It is a personal choice, and I choose to wear what I wear.I work a medical floor and have no trouble with my cap. It stays very secure on my head. I shall be buried in it.