I have a question for all you male nurses out there - and this is just out of pure curiousity. My coworkers and I (mostly women, I admit) were discussing this - WHY do male nurses wear fanny packs? There are probably some fanny-pack-totin' female...
I work on a 31 bed cardiac telemetry unit, but at any given time we do have some respiratory patients and neuro with telemetry. Our unit has recently hired 5 new grads for my 3-11 shift. I am charge nurse. One night last week I had this situation ...
kstockdaleRN replied to UM Review RN's topic in General Nursing
Along these same lines - all you new students out there - When you start nursing, you generally don'thave that "gut" feeling yet - BUT if you patient says "somethings wrong" or "don't let me die" PAY ATTENTION. They are always right.:)
Do not try to apply preparation H in your anus, leave the cap on, subsequently LOSE the cap in said anus and try to fish it out with toenail clippers while balancing on a wet bathroom floor with one foot on the edge of the tub. This is a prescriptio...
kstockdaleRN replied to Fairlythere's topic in General Nursing
Well, I am one of the bad people out there making the phone calls. Yes, I admit it. *smiles* And, I don't like to get calls on my days off, either. I usually know the people who like to work the overtime, and call them first. However, I also know ...
kstockdaleRN replied to EDValerieRN's topic in Emergency
I am not an ER nurse, but I have enjoyed reading this thread. Many of those "society owes me" people end up on the floors for DAYS. :) A lot of this thread applies to many areas of nursing, although we are not dealing with traumas at the same time. ...
kstockdaleRN replied to shearan's topic in Management
I too transitioned to ADON about 1 year ago. What a ride! I am still learning. Discipline is very hard for me. I feel like a babysitter sometimes. I feel overworked, stressed out, underpaid, etc. - but I'm still there. I am floor nurse when peo...
kstockdaleRN replied to EDValerieRN's topic in Emergency
Love this thread! I don't work ER, I work cardiac, but I totally feel for you folks. My additions: If you berate the nurses, scream about needlesticks from phlebotomy, etc. you can bet that your IV will need changing and it will be a 16 or 18. If...
kstockdaleRN replied to kstockdaleRN's topic in Cardiac
I appreciate your response. I guess my problem is - I'm torn between working my butt off trying to make it better, and taking a stand. I feel like, if I DON'T do this - who will? I work a shift where there is only one other part time nurse who is ...
kstockdaleRN replied to FROGERN's topic in Cardiac
I work on cardiac telemetry, we get a lot of post-caths. I saw a weird thing with an angioseal once - this guy got up before his bedrest was over and started bleeding (not a gusher, but more than an ooze). Anyway, the nurse responded, got him back ...
kstockdaleRN replied to Holly27's topic in Cardiac
PT and INR come on the same lab work. They are usually a measure of anticoagulation related to coumadin (warfarin). PTT is a measure of anticoagulation related to heparin (usually). I would say that your unit has coumadin and heparin protocols to ...
kstockdaleRN replied to Guest717236's topic in Cardiac
If he has a component of cardiomyopathy/CHF, it is also a core measure for the patient to be on a beta-blocker. I think many docs do it with any patient with history of coronary artery disease, because it minimizes many risks. My two cents.
Okay, here's the scenario: I had a 39 year old patient with viral cardiomyopathy, new onset CHF, EF of 10% on telemetry floor. He was on dobutamine at 4mcg/kg/min. Fairly stable, but as you know, EF of 10% is pretty touchy. He was already not per...
kstockdaleRN replied to christvs's topic in Infusion
Practice is the key! Have no fear. :) Even if the person is a "hard stick" (and don't always believe that) try once! Look for veins in places that are often overlooked - back of forearms, thumb/wrist area, under watches and name bands, upper arms ...
kstockdaleRN replied to ark-two's topic in Cardiac
We use Cardizem frequently, including boluses and drips with and without parameters. I work on cardiac telemetry. The only instance in which they are transferred to ICU is if the drip needs to be monitored frequently for heartrate AND BP. If the p...
I get so frustrated sometimes at work. I work cardiac telemetry, and we have a lot of high acuity patients and frequent codes sometimes. I consider myself good under pressure, and I like the feeling of using my brain and skills to the max during a ...
kstockdaleRN replied to kristi-lpn2's topic in General Nursing
Same thing happened to me this weekend. I had worked 7 days straight, then one day off, and five more days. FINALLY had my weekend off. Sure enough, Saturday I get a call at noon that 3 night nurses had called in - this left a 9-month pregnant nur...
I have to say, I just don't get it. I work on a 31 bed cardiac stepdown unit, We have 4, sometimes 3 nurses on nights, with 2 NA's. No secretary, no monitor techs. We are all dysrhythmia and code-blue, ACLS trained. We monitor our own rhythms, pa...
kstockdaleRN replied to melissa_rn's topic in Management
Hey, I am in almost the exact same situation! I graduated in dec. 03 also, and accepted a position as assistant director of nursing on my cardiac floor 6 months ago. Has it been rocky! My first week I had to pull a nurse in the office for cussing ...
I am a nurse manager on a cardiac telemetry floor. My hospital implemented a RRT about 6 months ago. I was kind of hesitant about the program, I feel that my nurse;s skills are pretty up to par and didn't want ICU nurses "swooping in and taking ove...