Orca ADN, ASN, RN

Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC

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All Content by Orca

  1. Orca

    How easy is it to lose a license in correctional setting?

    Orca replied to reptilesavvy's topic in Correctional

    It was not something that I enjoyed doing, but it is something that I would do again without hesitation under similar circumstances. I helped to remove an unsafe nurse from practice. The hardest part...
  2. Orca

    How easy is it to lose a license in correctional setting?

    Orca replied to reptilesavvy's topic in Correctional

    This nurse falsified multiple medication records (we're talking 115-200+) on two different occasions - that we know of. In order to save time, she charted all of her meds for the week either at the...
  3. Orca

    A Good Nurse Manager...

    Orca replied to Emergent's topic in Nurse Management

    I might add a few traits that I believe are important: - Openly solicits staff input on operational changes, and implements the good ideas - Openly praises staff who perform above and beyond the call...
  4. Orca

    IV push failure - how I am failing

    Orca replied to Brandazzle1's topic in Patient Medications

    This seems like the safest course. Sure, you might save a syringe and a vial of NS by looking everything up, but flush, push, flush and
  5. Orca

    New-ish charge RN - advice please!

    Orca replied to OneDuckyRN's topic in Nurse Management

    You are being tested because you are a new supervisor. As far as complaints about assignments, I would have shut that discussion down immediately and told the employees that if they have an issue,...
  6. Orca

    Best Sick Call slips

    Orca replied to DawnJ's topic in Correctional

    One inmate at my facility claimed to have not had a bowel movement for three months. "You would have exploded by now", I told her. A couple of kites that came in when I worked the clinic in a male...
  7. Orca

    How easy is it to lose a license in correctional setting?

    Orca replied to reptilesavvy's topic in Correctional

    I have been sued more times than I can count. I am a DON, so I am generally named in any litigation involving the medical department. Since I work for the state, the Attorney General represents me in...
  8. Orca

    Private companies that contract with county jails.. good or bad to work for..

    Orca replied to nd deb's topic in Correctional

    They run the gamut. I am a DON for the Department of Corrections in a western state, and probably two thirds of my staff are people who have left various private companies who run the medical...
  9. Orca

    Women's Prison

    Orca replied to Shuggahs's topic in Correctional

    It should not be an expected or tolerated part of your work
  10. Orca

    Management perspective on applying for jobs in person?

    Orca replied to babydeern's topic in Nurse Management

    I am a manager in a state agency, so in my setting it would be pointless for anyone to show up with resume in hand. I work in a prison, so people are lot allowed in without prior authorization, and I...
  11. Orca

    Need nurse leaders...

    Orca replied to cgwrn's topic in Psychiatric

    Don't be afraid to delegate. I have seen far too many nurse managers run themselves crazy because they feel responsible for everything, so they try to do it all themselves so that it will be done...
  12. Orca

    Is psych nursing usually this eventful?

    Orca replied to golson's topic in Psychiatric

    I was shot in the face with a chemical fire extinguisher once, but that is about the most excitement I have had on a mental health unit. I was reporting off to the oncoming shift and suddenly I heard...
  13. Orca

    working in corrections

    Orca replied to payitforward's topic in Correctional

    I worked the night shift at a medium security men's prison in a western state. Night pill call consisted of roughly 350 inmates spread over a yard that was literally a half mile from one end to the...
  14. Orca

    Rejection is for winners too

    Orca replied to SummerGarden's topic in Nurse Management

    I went into nursing from a line of work famous for passing over deserving, talented people for those who are better connected or more easily controlled by those higher up. It took me a long time to...
  15. Orca

    Prep for house supervisor interview

    Orca replied to Duncan83's topic in Nurse Management

    I would expect hypothetical questions about low staffing, responses to internal and external emergencies and possibly resolving staff/staff or staff/patient, staff/visitor conflicts. If you are in an...
  16. Orca

    sheets being used as restraints

    Orca replied to mistyrivers's topic in Psychiatric

    When my nursing class was getting ready to graduate, we were taken to a Board of Nursing meeting. One case I remember vividly was an LPN having her license suspended for six months for tying a...
  17. Orca

    Women's Prison

    Orca replied to Shuggahs's topic in Correctional

    The Florida Department of Corrections lost a major lawsuit for not taking steps to stop this. If your facility allows this to happen without officer intervention, they are running a major
  18. Orca

    Correctional nurse pay

    Orca replied to Mandycane's topic in Correctional

    Nevada DOC does not hire new grad RNs. You may be able to catch on with a county or city jail, but our RN positions require a minimum of one year of nursing
  19. Orca

    Infirmary 23 hour observation

    Orca replied to military spouse's topic in Correctional

    In our system, 23-hour observation allows an RN to put an inmate in the infirmary for temporary evaluation without a physician order. The nurse can handle acute situations without the formality of...
  20. Orca

    A delicate issue

    Orca replied to Orca's topic in Nurse Management

    It has been more than a year since I posted the original topic. During that time a hospital in California lost a lawsuit regarding their "English-only" policy. It was found to be discriminatory on the...
  21. Orca

    Correctional Nursing: what are job responsibilities, jail setting,issues in providing care

    Orca replied to Rich_'s topic in Correctional

    I have worked with both populations. My current facility houses only women. One population is not better or worse than the other but they require different approaches, and understanding the...
  22. Orca

    Correctional Nursing: what are job responsibilities, jail setting,issues in providing care

    Orca replied to Rich_'s topic in Correctional

    I am a DON in a state prison in the west. As far as pill call goes, it depends upon the unit as to where the distribution takes place. Our intake, segregation and mental health units are door-to-door...
  23. Orca

    L.A. County corrections and Incarcerated Relative

    Orca replied to milzer2012's topic in Correctional

    In our interview process we ask an unscored question at the end regarding whether the applicant has any friends or relatives incarcerated in any correctional system. We have never disqualified anyone...
  24. Orca

    Loan forgiveness options? Help!

    Orca replied to kaimkaim's topic in General Nursing

    If you consider someone being frankly honest with you as being rude, then I don't know what to tell you. You might get a retention bonus or a signing bonus to work in a rural hospital, but I can...
  25. Orca

    I want a social life

    Orca replied to Rexie's topic in General Nursing

    I just came to accept that not everything would be observed on the day when it actually occurred. Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and pretty much everything else might be celebrated early or