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Purewick! Granted not everyone goes for them but when they do they're awesome, don't have to do bedpan and don't have to ambulate the pt.

I’ve never worked anywhere but ER. But ER. I would guess that same day, and ppl coming in for outpatient CT scans with contrast all need IV access as well but if you’re talking pure volume of IV sticks per shift I can’t think of a better place than the ER.

We have paramedic/emt STUDENTS that shadow for a shift every now and then. The medic students are generally a huge help, the can do IVs, blood draws , EKGs, vital signs, stuff like that. The emt students are way more limited in what they can do ( really vitals and that’s it) but a extra set of hands is always helpful. I feel like there’s sometimes this weird rivalry/tension between medics and nurses. There is a lot of overlap but also a really big difference between the two roles. Got a bit off topic there, the ED I work I doesn’t have any paramedics or emts that are actually employed there. I could see a EMT fulfilling a tech role (but we already have techs). It would seem to me that a paramedic would be underutilized working in a emergency Department? The reason I say that is because a paramedic has some really advanced skills that I don’t think they would be able to utilize fully working in the hospital. Having said that, I’d love to have a medic working in the department who could start ivs (as much as I like doing it) and maybe give some meds? The more I think/write about it the less sense it’s making to me. Love to hear from people who have experience with this.

I gotta say, this is confusing. The way I would interpret this order is that they can have 1 OR 2 Tylenol 3 ONCE a day. Having said that I think it’s a poorly written order and I think all the different interpretations of said order by different people here backs that up. I think you’re right to speak to the prescriber to clarify regardless of whether the patient and/or the pt’s family is “managing” their RX. If that were the case, you wouldn’t have a order and the meds wouldn’t be locked up. You should do what YOU think is right, both for you and the pt, if the MD/PA/NP gives you *** about calling to clarify they can stick it, and then clarify their poorly written order. If/when management/admin gives you ***, that’s just par for the course. Good luck to you and keep looking out for your patients and yourself.

Maybe she meant that you shouldn’t push it undiluted? I work in the ED and we push Ativan all the time. You’re supposed to dilute it before giving it straight push (if you’re giving at the y-site with a NS bolus running it’s diluted already) point being, you can give Ativan IVP, don’t beat yourself up.

I could be wrong. But this doesn’t feel like it was written by someone who has actually worked in a emergency Department, lots of generic job advice, no actual emergency Department advice, plus everyone knows ER nurse hate “organization”

Nothing wrong with a 24 if that all you can get. Problem I have with them is theyre too flexible/soft. Sometimes it’s all you can do just to get through someone’s skin, anyone else have this problem?

Late to the party, what actually happened? I would say definitely no to going to jail. Almost certainly no to getting fired, maybe a write up or verbal “counseling”. This kind of thing happens. I have been in similar situations during a code, doctor says “give xmL of whatever drug IVP!” Someone runs and gets said drug either from the crash cart or from then Pyxis and gives it. Sometimes the doc remembers to put it in later sometimes the nurse has to remind him/her, sometimes no one remembers. Point being, during a code a lot of the rules are while not altogether “out the window” they are bent, like a lot, if this happened to me I would go to my director/charge nurse and tell them what happened and also to the doctor that ordered the morphine, if the doc is any kind of decent person they should back you up. I know I already asked at the beginning but I’m super curious as to what happened with this situation?

Hi all, little late to the party as per usual. This is an interesting question I think. I did some research (and by research I mean googling) as I had a similar issue when registering for school, doing the drug screen, background check and so on, one medication I take is controlled and the other can cause false positives on urine tests, after speaking with my doctor we (myself and my doctor) decided I would list one and leave the other off, why? Because it’s no one’s business but mine and my MD what meds I’m taking as long as I’m not impaired while working/schooling. It was never a issue while in school and has yet to be a issue for the (almost) 2 years I have been working. Ultimately it’s up to you, you have to decide what you’re comfortable disclosing and what you aren’t. Side note. I’m curious as to the legality of taking certain (controlled and or psychiatric) medicines while practicing. I’ve heard and read conflicting accounts. This may be more a state to state thing but I’m genuinely curious.

@Undercat had a pt tell me he would “see me outside” the other day. Unfortunately he was gone by the time I got off.

I wish pt’s understood that “Emergency Department” does mean “Super fast medical care place”. If you come in with a non-emergent problem be ready to wait a looooong a** time. And “threatening” to walk out will not make your care go faster or get the doc to run to your room. It may, in fact, cause me to ignore you until you “elope”(unless of course you’re actually sick but these people are usually either in no condition to leave or the easiest going patients I have, go figure). Love the southwestern omelette post. I’m still chuckling about that.

Getting fired for cursing once seems pretty harsh. I’d be out of a job if that were the rule where I am. I’ve been “counseled” a couple times about using “inappropriate language in front of/within earshot of pt’s” but def not fired. Like a previous poster said maybe some other stuff on top of that? If I were you I would keep on looking. Maybe look into research? I know nothing about it but I have to think it’s much less stress and prob not a lot of patient interaction. What don’t you like about nursing so far? Is there anything you DO like?

I think I would start another line. Preferably on the opposite arm. Or is this not a option?

I’m not sure what state you’re in but where I work you cannot legally work “below” your license. For example I worked as a tech while I was in nursing school, I graduated in may and took the NCLEX in June I got hired as a RN at the same hospital/unit and started orientation in August but if I had not, I would only have been allowed to work as a tech for 90 days after taking/passing the NCLEX. Anyway, you might want to look into what the rules are where you practice. (Def days I miss being a tech too)

We generally have a designated “breaker”. Sometimes that’s not possible and we end up having to cover each other. Sometimes the charge will watch a persons people while they go eat. It all depends how busy we are and how much staff we have. Having a dedicated breaker works best but I get that’s not always possible. What’s a “power break”?