misti_z

Dang 4 bucks an hour and just as wonderful is the recognition for a job well done, that's awesome man. Good Job!!!!! Congrats!!

Although I would never consider a nipple piercing, it is a freedom of expression. And I agree it's not a smart decision for a diabetic, but not necessarily a "dumb" one for a 18 year old women. It was probably a decision she made to "fit in" or break the rules that as a young women she has always had to follow (don't do this, don't do that). Very unfortunate though that she had such complications.

At my facility oxygen tanks must be stored upright in a carrier. If we do not have a carrier the tank must be sent to the resp dept or they may bring us a carrier. There are some units with cabinets that the tanks can be stored in, the cabinets have velcro straps to hold the tanks. Oxygen tanks should never be stored lying down. If you keep a regulator or flow meter attached it has to be in the off/0 positon. As long as the tanks are stored so that they do not fall over they do not have to be locked up.

I work on a renal unit with patients who have chronic anemia. Just two week ago we had a JW pt admitted with a H & H of 6.7 & 19.1. He took epo without hesitation even after in depth explanation. He got outrageous doses of epo.....20000 units qod. Other traatment included IV ferrlicit daily and po Fe. On discharge he was 9.2 & 27.6 just tenths below his baseline.

It would be great to stick our notebooks side by side. On the inside of the front cover I've got dept #s, MD #s, etc. I have a pocket also (first thing when you open it up) that contains blank forms, protocols, care plan. Great minds what.....????

OMG :stone That picture is absolutely haunting to me. How difficult a process to have to deal with for the family. What will that child deal with once it becomes old enough to understand and see that pic? As for the staff, during surgery, that would have been so hard (I imagine) to seperate your personal feeling (i.e. this being a baby's head) from your job at hand. That image is really hard to shake..........

I carry a 3 ring binder with dividers. Behind each divider I put my PCAR that I take report and notes on, along with my MAR and Nurse's Notes behind that. I would not be able to function without it. My favorite part of it all is the plastic cover to my notebook where I keep pictures of my daughter--my drive to get through the day.

I gained the best experience while in school working as a 'nurse technician'. The position is available at my hospital when you are within 1 year of graduation. You do procedures, pass meds (under RN supervision), and chart. Check your local hospitals and clinics, esp ones you would be interested in working at once you graduate because it is a great way to 'get your foot in the door' and transition on into your RN/LPN position.

I agree, CALL IN. I had a similar Friday 2 weeks ago. On Friday's one of the staff nurses work as charge nurse without a pt load. The nurse that was to be in charge that day had been up all night pucking and still drags herself into work. One hour into shift she is laying on a stretcher sick as a dog. The unit manager is standing over her saying "don't do this to me", I looked at him knowing for sure that this would have no affect on him what so ever. The sick nurse goes home, I take charge and care for my 6 patients also. I see the manager once during the day, and that was when he was telling me bye. I pulled a 15 hour day..........it was hell. Not only stay home so a replacement can be found for you, but also-esp my unit with immunosupp transplant pts-for the safety of your patients who are sick enough already. 3rdShift--you are lucky to have a supportive team. Things do happen beyond our control like getting sick mid shift or too late to call in, and that is a different story.

We are in the early stages of computer charting. Admission & discharges are done on the computer now. I am very excited about it and also in the minority on my unit. It is frustrating being in the early stages of it because there are somethings that have to be charted on paper and on computer-like home medication list, and working on a renal unit it is not unsual to have patients on 15 medications--, so that is VERY time consuming. I wish we would go completely into computer charting all at once. It would be hard at first and frustrating for some, but let's just get 'the show on the road'.

I usually bring a banana to work everyday for breakfast on the go. I have to put my name on it to keep it from being eaten by others. By the end of the day--yes it is still there, breakfast is mostly a figment of our imaginations--but the banana ends up looking like a bulliten bourd. Imagine all the comments that end up all over my banana. :rotfl:

I can't imagine that actually being considered by the doctors as an option. If the pt is receiving their daily nutritional requirements per PO intake I don't think insurance would even approve payment for such a procedure. I could, however, hear that being mentioned on a lunch break between the nurses/techs as a way of expressing our often sick sence of humor or venting frustrations. Smaller more frequent meals and family involvement sounds like the key.

We run it as slow as possible and also try for the larger vein. But I find adding the 'neut'/bicarb very interesting and am curious how much is added per bag. Our IV K+ replacements are premixed 10 mEq per 100cc, so does anyone know the standard amount of bicarb that would be added to this mix? Thanks!!

Our incarcerated patients receive a '#' beside their name in the system. We do not acknowledge that there is a person by that name in our hospital if someone calls looking for them. A guard (sometimes a County or City officer depending on the facility the person come from) is with them 24/7. No smoke breaks no lunch. They usually pick up food when come in or bring it from home. They document everything--when someone enters the room, how long they stayed, and what they did. The patient is cuffed to the bed usually 4 point. Depending on the guard, the TV/lights are turned off at 10 pm. The prisoners are usually polite, glad to get a change of scenery I guess.

I agree!! If you are competent I don't care--I welcome you to the profession.

yes...........green!!!

I totally agree with that. :) I use Mr and Mrs/Ms most all of the time, and feel that it is most appropriate. I am uncomfortable using such endearing terms since 99.9% of my pts are older than me. When I do use terms such as sweetie I find that it is with unresponsive pts--the DNR type--even then I try to avoid it........especially with family at bedside.

My grandparents are both recently retired CNAs for hospice. They would frequently attend funerals, along with the nurses. They always wore all white to the funerals, as did the nurses. They received many 'Thank you' notes from families for there caring behavioar and 'going above and beyond'.

:rotfl: That is freakin hilarious, Thanks!!! I like #20!!!!!!!

Mine pays too.....CPR and ACLS. We also get a $200 educational allowance each year for symposiums, books, magazines, etc. Not sure about license renewal though, it would be great if they did.

Great advice as always!! I love the comparsion to a cat's chest when it purrs!! I have to remember that with my new nurses and students. I remember "you feel a trill", too!! :chuckle

I believe, Dayray, that you are corrected. It doesn't really sound like torsades because I think that if torsades is not treated with Mg it terminates into vfib then asystole. But I am not completely sure myself. And the patient should not be on an Amniodarone gtt d/t amniodarone prolonging the QT interval.

I agree it is not a lack of caring. I do get caught in the adrenaline trap--sometimes. Like if we have a code a 6:45am it is hard for me to go to sleep at 8:00 when I am home. But I have learned to control my excitedness during the 'crisis' because I have found that it actually slows me down! Peeps at work are always asking me "How do you say sooooo calm?", if I get myself tied in a knot running in 5 different directions I slow myself down. I've learned to focus and prioritize to get the job done quickly!

I am so glad we do not have to deal with these situations. We have hospital employeed "floaters" in the "float pool", who go to where they are needed. Sometimes when they get to a floor they maybe called somewhere else, I don't think they really mind--unless they get called to the 9th floor, from what I've heard its hell--they are just happy not to be called off.

They is very small compared to something that we are talking about, but I gag when I have a pt who chews their pills. Especially tylenol. That has to taste soooooooooooo nasty.