Orca ADN, ASN, RN

Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC

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All Content by Orca

  1. Orca

    Tired of managing children

    Orca replied to xoemmylouox's topic in Nurse Management

    My first upper administrative job was one in which I followed a dictatorial leader whose idea of communication was to yell at people - often as they walked past her office door. I noticed that for...
  2. Orca

    Tired of managing children

    Orca replied to xoemmylouox's topic in Nurse Management

    I disagree, to a point. Thinking of them as children may be the key to the whole solution. Your strategy for solving a problem might require an approach in the same way that you would with children....
  3. Orca

    Would you find this annoying?

    Orca replied to AnnieOaklyRN's topic in Nurse Management

    One contact is fine, multiple makes me less likely to consider someone. It would be irritating unless it is someone who I already know and with whose work I am already familiar. I work for a state...
  4. Orca

    Lower Tier Management Jobs

    Orca replied to jlambirt's topic in Nurse Management

    I have a friend (former subordinate, my first level nursing supervisor) who just landed a major management job at a hospital in northern California that pays him over $250K per year plus benefits and...
  5. Orca

    New to Correctional Nursing, any tips?

    Orca replied to ckbreathing's topic in Correctional

    If you are dealing with experienced officers, this normally won't be necessary. It usually goes the other way. The custody officer will inform you, "This guy is a total PITA". I would cultivate a good...
  6. Orca

    As seen on TV

    Orca replied to JBMmom's topic in General Nursing

    In most any soap opera, the same doctors treat everyone in the hospital, regardless of what floor they are on or what they are being treated for. The same hospitals also seem to get by with very few...
  7. Orca

    Responding to psych patient requests/comments

    Orca replied to elizabethgrad09's topic in Psychiatric

    My take on it the way that it was presented to you was that it was a clear attempt at manipulation. Your clarification that there was no apparent distress in the patient and that his tone was...
  8. Orca

    "He just wanted to know..."

    Orca replied to KatieMI's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I ran into this situation in my work environment. My circumstances were different from the OPs, but I also kept my personal information private (and still do). At the time, I was the DON at a women's...
  9. Orca

    I'm a CNA, will I lose my license?

    Orca replied to Websterwiki's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    As a manager, my main issue with the situation as reported is that the OP notified nobody, just left the facility during her break. When she said that she called the DON assistant (I'm not sure...
  10. Orca

    Tired of managing children

    Orca replied to xoemmylouox's topic in Nurse Management

    I have followed some dictatorial managers who maintained order through fear and intimidation. In those circumstances, people can develop some very pathological coping mechanisms, and those habits can...
  11. Orca

    Pill line

    Orca replied to guest974915's topic in Correctional

    It definitely takes some work to make it all come together. Pill pass at my facility includes more than 400 inmates at a time. Staff has to be diligent at transcribing any medication changes to the...
  12. Orca

    Pain control

    Orca replied to Matt8700's topic in Correctional

    According to a study cited at a correctional medical conference that I attended, long term ibuprofen and acetaminophen use can also carry the risk of cardiac issues (naproxen does not). If an inmate...
  13. Orca

    Tired of managing children

    Orca replied to xoemmylouox's topic in Nurse Management

    The joys of management. Some of the conflicts that you have to resolve boggle the mind. You would believe that people who are intelligent enough to complete a nursing curriculum and pass the licensing...
  14. Orca

    RN, ADN being obsolete

    Orca replied to lovewaves's topic in General Students

    I have an associate degree, and I have held every position from line staff to DON (my current position, which I have held for over 11 years). The lack of a BSN doesn't seem to have damaged my career...
  15. Orca

    Medically necessary care

    Orca replied to Matt8700's topic in Correctional

    I would simply have stated that the medical department no longer orders dandruff shampoo and let it go at that. We got away from most of what I call "convenience ordering". Inmates would claim that...
  16. Orca

    Why do you do it?

    Orca replied to KendraLipscombPoole's topic in Correctional

    The ironic thing is that I went into nursing to get out of corrections. I had worked in the correctional field in non-medical capacities for the better part of 20 years. I answered an ad from my...
  17. Orca

    Death at Work

    Orca replied to Davey Do's topic in Nursing Humor

    In Nevada, yes. I had to do it once when the doctor didn't want to come in on a Sunday morning just for
  18. Orca

    New to Correctional Nursing, any tips?

    Orca replied to ckbreathing's topic in Correctional

    Inmates can, and do, file complaints with the board of nursing. I have been on the receiving end several times, mainly for saying "no". I have never had anything come of an investigation. I have also...
  19. Orca

    Pain control

    Orca replied to Matt8700's topic in Correctional

    Far too often, inmates who say that OTC pain meds are "not working" are hoping to get narcotics, which we don't use except for fresh post-ops in the infirmary. We also had a near rebellion when we...
  20. Orca

    PMHNP's: How long after graduation until you can sit for boards?

    Orca replied to NurseNinja1990's topic in Psychiatric

    (posted in
  21. Orca

    Correctional nursing

    Orca replied to uwalfra's topic in Correctional

    I work in a state where state employees do not pay into Social Security. I will still get SS because I have enough qualifying quarters prior to my employment here to get it, but it will be reduced...
  22. Orca

    Job stability

    Orca replied to Matt8700's topic in Correctional

    If you are concerned about the prison population dropping to the point that there will be far fewer jobs, we will probably both be retired long before anything close to that happens. There are too...
  23. Orca

    Employment question

    Orca replied to Gonefishing's topic in Correctional

    Having done a ton of interviews for correctional nursing positions (both LPN and RN), you must consider that each interview is a separate event. I have sat on interviews when we didn't find anyone...
  24. Orca

    Coworker violated HIPPA

    Orca replied to AsanRN's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    HIPAA is a federal law. Violating it is not a trifling matter. You should also consider the possible implications for yourself if it is discovered that you knew about a violation and did not report...
  25. Orca

    Music in your office?

    Orca replied to MHDNURSE's topic in School

    My employer doesn't allow it, because streaming media eats up a ton of bandwidth. Occasionally there are exceptions around the Christmas