Luke79AU

Luke79AU has 8 years experience.

Latest Activity

1. Advice for dealing with addicts?

   Luke79AU replied to garnetgirl29's topic in Addictions

   And this: "I'm generally sympathetic but we got a lot of "repeat" patients. So each patient has a different story or a different game they are playing with you and the docs. There are people truly physically suffering from detox who are there for t...

2. Advice for dealing with addicts?

   Luke79AU replied to garnetgirl29's topic in Addictions

   Repeat patients? Like a chronic asthmatic who has sometimes poor adherence to ICS and LABA preventer inhalers?

3. Advice for dealing with addicts?

   Luke79AU replied to garnetgirl29's topic in Addictions

   Nursing is a caring profession. Those comments were made by those who lack the necessary compassion, ethics, and integrity to earn a place at the table.

4. Advice for dealing with addicts?

   Luke79AU replied to garnetgirl29's topic in Addictions

   For those not in Australia, a B52 is this, correct? Are the meds all given orally, including the haloperidol? Why are first generation antihistamines used off label for sedation? There are many risks in this. If serious harm in the patient results...

5. Advice for dealing with addicts?

   Luke79AU replied to garnetgirl29's topic in Addictions

   It's like pain. 7.5mg of slow push IV morphine can depress respiration to a dangerous degree in some patients. Others might need 30mg to settle pain. Observe your patient always Also, diphenhydramine exerts clinically significant serotonergic ef...

6. Observed urine setup?

   Luke79AU replied to ND76's topic in Addictions

   Because they're assumed guilty, until proven innocent. Demand to see a Chain of Custody? They'd just kick the patient out. It's more like parole than healthcare. Also, remember that dipsticks and the like are a drug screen, not a test. Resu...

7. Mispronunciations That Drive You Nuts

   Luke79AU replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

   Any use of product names, not drug names.

8. Observed urine setup?

   Luke79AU replied to ND76's topic in Addictions

   No, but I had to shake my head at being reminded about supervised urine screens. No other patient populace has to prove themselves as worthy of medical care.

9. Should mental health nursing be grouped with addictions nursing?

   Luke79AU replied to hatchit's topic in Addictions

   So well said. I hope you teach and mentor many junior RNs

10. Should mental health nursing be grouped with addictions nursing?

    Luke79AU replied to hatchit's topic in Addictions

    Yes! Definitely here in Australia Why? - The Mental Health Acts afford many protections and rights. AoD operates by it's own rules. This can't continue. It's obscene. Patients held incommunicado, things that you'd never get away with in psych...

11. I turned in my mentor because she was diverting morphine

    Luke79AU replied to InSchool4eva20's topic in Addictions

    That's an unfortunate experience. Remember though, we have to report them, for our own sake, if nothing else.

12. Personal Wellness

    Luke79AU replied to MoLo's topic in Addictions

    Are you sure it's for you? I find Psych and addiction nursing enjoyable, and function far better there than in a medical/surgical environment. My best advice: - Always remember that you're dealing with a complex disease(s), many have significant...

13. Nurse new to detox and wants to learn

    Luke79AU replied to guineapignurse's topic in Addictions

    Don't forget your pharmacology. Without a robust knowledge of drugs of addiction, and the drugs used to treat, any and all other knowledge/experience will be of limited value to you, and your patients.

14. "Addiction" Nursing is an outdated term.

    Luke79AU replied to havenrn's topic in Addictions

    But consider this: A patient has a disorder. The onus is on them. "Addiction" puts the onus also on the drug (or alcohol). It bridges gaps. Nicotine and caffeine addicts are everywhere. SUD is too DSM-V for me.

15. Not sharing EMR notes w patient/family

    Luke79AU replied to ActiveHusky's topic in General Nursing

    Far out. Time to move?