bjs54321

Thank You Siri for encorporating a diabetes forum........a much needed thing... Love ya, Shelly

Oh Hairstylingnurse....how nice of you....I might have fallen in love with you also....so nice to have a supporter.....thank you from the bottom of my heart...hang tough...we are all there for you and all those who have to deal with the many twists and turns of this chronic disease.....this is for real....I do care that any person with diabetes get the support they need to care for themselves....such a devastating dx... but remember...a very manageable disease.....and listen to grannynurse...such wisdom in learning the facts....

Hi Cindy, Well this may not be words of wisdom....but hopefully some inspiration. I wonder what your HgbA1c is?...and if diabetes is the diagnosis in your future...it is not a death sentence..... Diabetes is very manageable.....Type 2 is the hardest to deal with in my opinion...but still...after the grief period...you will find strength that others are in the same situations you and we are here to help you get on with a fulfilling and a continued successful life...and if bad things happen...you can count on me...and others to support you Type 1 for over 14 years and a mom of a type 1...looks grim but it's not! Shelly

I had a an evaluation about 16 yrs ago....the administrator gave me high marks and gave me a 50 cent raise...that was good for me. Oh, then he couldn't give it to me after 4 weeks of not seeing the raise......I asked him what happen....he said...Oh, didn't I tell you?...I couldn't give you your raise because of budget contraints....kiss my butt dude..and quit. It's what you want and what you are willing to accept for the work you do. It's your decision to accept or decline.......I have accepted and declined in the past. Unions are helpful, but it is your decision to accept or decline. You control your destiny...if an employer doesn't appreciate your high performance, you are free to fly. Where am I now? One of the highest paid, lower management nurses in the area. Don't settle for less unless you have too. A high performer and getting every buck I am worth! And as an opportunist...I'm always looking. Never been fired or written up...gotten every job I have ever interviewed for....just waiting for the day when I am satisfied with an employer offers me the $$$ and environment that is worthy of the effort I give. If nursing was more united...think of the results...whew

Good Luck. You will be fine. Nclex is a great prep for the real test. The greatest challenge is yet to come....being a nurse. I'm thinking....looking at my crystal ball...You're gonna master this!:monkeydance: The monkey is cute!

Well Said! I have to get a dictionary...lol Done it all! LTC nurses don't get the credit they deserve.

I need more information kitkat. It all depends on the history and circumstances on how I decide what to use for low blood sugar. Is the pt symptomatic? Can they swallow? Are they alert...disoriented? What is the blood sugar? Go for simple carbs if able to swallow. Any juice or liquid glucose sublingually. No need to add sugar. Then offer a protein snack if on long acting insulin or oral antihyperglycemic meds. If unable to swallow...glucagon IM.

How did you get such a nice Cobra quote? Back in 1998, our Cobra quote was over $900/mo! Of course this was for family coverage. I am finding that many travel companies do not offer the health benefits like regular employers do. It seems they make enough $$$$ to be able to offer a better deal. The non-profit I work for does a much better job on the benefits.

I have been traveling with Aureus for about 3 months now. I only work every other weekend, so my exposure to the travel nurse industry is very limited. I have everything I need at my regular job. I was not impressed at all by their benefit package but they found a contract that works for me and I like my recruiter. I have no real complaints. If I were to do travel nursing as a fulltime job....I would look into the zillion of companies that I have packets from and negotiate the best deal. I don't have alot of confidence that my ultimate choice would be Aureus but I am pleased with what I have with them now.

We have an alcohol withdrawl protocol at our hospital. The range of the BP dictates the amount of ativan the pt is given. It can be po or IV. Most patients receive it IV. Valium is not included in the protocol. It seems to work well for alcohol withdrawl patients. I was nervous the first time I followed it since the doses of ativan seemed so enormous. But, due to a large population of who abuses alcohol, I got lots of experience with it. I think it works well.

Our CDEs still recommend 70-120. I need to treat myself for hypoglycemia at 90 sometimes. Of course, I have been as low as 22...per blood draw and still conscious and functioning....I was inpt at the time. I sometimes am symptomatic at 90 and other times I can be as low as 40. 50 and lower is a monster.....

I was on my travel assignment this past weekend and while reminiscing with other nurses....an ER nurse told me about an insulin diabetic who injected 300 units of Humalog insulin as a suicide attempt. This pt lived and had no adverse side affects.....unbelievable. I am surprised that this pt didn't end up with brain damage..... Has anyone encountered this before....I know of a pt who injected 100 units of Humalog and also had the same outcome. Wow....we are awesome to have situations like this happen and people to be saved intact. I wonder what the stats are for diabetics who become or are being treated for depression and how that correlates to attempted suicides?

Abbott Rules. I unfortunately moved out of state in 2002 and had to leave Abbott. I have worked many hospitals. After weighing all the facts....I like Abbott. My friend works at North Memorial and likes it there. I was a pt at North and it was a good stay. The main reasons why Abbott rules....fairness created by a strong and bonded union. The hospital seems to work hard with keeping employees happy, provides great educational opportunities, has a great atmosphere to work in and works with the community on it's rehabilitation. The neighborhood has a bad reputation but it has improved significantly. I was only scared a few times but nothing happened. You can have safety issues anywhere anytime...just be aware of your own personal safety and follow safe practices and you will be fine...in any environment. I am currently doing a travel assignment at Regency Hospital of Minneapolis. The staff enjoy working there and I have found it to be a very nice place to work.

I have looked into that...I wondered if that could happen. I have never fessed up to my medical condition, unless asked directly or had a physical, until I have the job. I'm not sure if the ADA protects me or not. The scarey thing for my employer is that I work alone for the most part. And, even though I have never been in a situation where I became unconscious or needing emergency medical care....I worry that it will happen. I try my best to keep everything under control. But what if I am alone and have lost control...for whatever reason and I loose consciousness? My patients, My responsiblitities...this would be a crisis. I am the only RN in the building....but my employer knows the situation. And I feel it is the risk they are taking. If it should ever happen....I would have to re-evaluate my effectiveness as effective and reliable nurse. Oh and that reminds me, I have to get to my MD to pick up the paperwork okaying my clearance to drive....thanks for the reminder.

EXACTLY! It's no handicap. You'd never know it unless I told you. When my co-workers find out (cause I spilled da beans or had to pump up a bolus for that yummy candy) they feel sorry for me....Oh forget your sympathy...I can run circles around your sorry......bootie. Oh and the last time I was sick....over a year ago. How many times have my co-workers called off sick??????Many...They have no chronic challenge(it's a challenge, not an illness...the power of the mind)....And I pick up the slack...huh.