Orca ADN, ASN, RN

Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC

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All Content by Orca

  1. Orca

    Prison versus jail? Differences?

    Orca replied to turtle2953's topic in Correctional

    One of the main differences is transience. Jails keep their inmates for a much shorter period of time, and there is a lot of turnover. You don't have a significant static population. There are also a...
  2. Orca

    Just a vent... medical vs psych

    Orca replied to Mandychelle79's topic in Psychiatric

    I have run into dumps from both ER and other floors. First, the ER dump: A patient was admitted to our floor (adult/CD unit) with suicidal ideation. He had deliberately driven his car into a tree....
  3. Orca

    New Student this fall, I want to do psych!

    Orca replied to Doc_Holliday's topic in Psychiatric

    A piece of advice, from one who has been there and done it: Don't go directly from nursing school into mental health. It closes a lot of doors, as many employers assume that if you work in mental...
  4. Orca

    help - psych tech position for rn

    Orca replied to edie1's topic in Psychiatric

    It wasn't intended as an accusation, just didn't understand. I stand corrected, and I
  5. Orca

    Where do I start?

    Orca replied to MathewsRN205's topic in Correctional

    I just think of it as the corrections version of universal
  6. Orca

    Male Nurse Hair Styles

    Orca replied to Benners's topic in Men in Nursing

    I'm just glad that mine is still
  7. Orca

    Which Job to take?

    Orca replied to icu__rn's topic in Nurse Management

    I'm glad that you found something you like. However, if your eye is already on your next move, you won't get as much out of this position as you should. Ambition is a good thing, but if it is...
  8. Orca

    TN BON decides tomorrow

    Orca replied to Abbsy's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    During my last semester in nursing school, we attended a BON meeting. It was sobering to watch the board discipline, suspend and revoke licenses (which, I suppose, was the point). During that same...
  9. Orca

    help - psych tech position for rn

    Orca replied to edie1's topic in Psychiatric

    I carried an RN,C in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing for five years. I had the same thought. I don't know how the OP even got to take the exam unless she lied about her prior
  10. Orca

    How to climb up the ladder

    Orca replied to AllAngelsRN's topic in Nurse Management

    Very well put. I have known nurses who are great at delivering care, but couldn't organize a trip to the cafeteria. Then there are others who are perhaps not as skilled technically, but they just have...
  11. Orca

    Am I the only one who hates 12 hour shifts?

    Orca replied to jdubs99's topic in General Nursing

    The first time I worked 12s I thought they were going to do me in. I was working rehab nursing, which was physically demanding. I would leave the facility literally numb after my shift. In another...
  12. Orca

    Making sure a patient is medically cleared

    Orca replied to Umberlee's topic in Psychiatric

    I worked in a freestanding mental health facility (geropsych unit) in which treatment staff on call screened patients for admission. This led to the only patient I have ever had die in my care. It was...
  13. Orca

    Which Job to take?

    Orca replied to icu__rn's topic in Nurse Management

    This makes perfect sense to me. I have worked with some wonderful house supervisors, but it seems that most of their responsibilities revolve around acute crisis management. Not that this kind of...
  14. Orca

    History and Physical

    Orca replied to OfficerRNBSN's topic in Correctional

    This is sound advice. If you are following NCCHC standards you know that you are on firm footing in whatever policies you develop. I'm not familiar with the jail-specific publication, but I keep...
  15. Orca

    What's the funniest most unusual baby name?

    Orca replied to nirvana1's topic in Nursing Humor

    I once had a coworker who named her son Lemon (pronounced le-MON). Working in the prison system you see some weird names too. I have seen a Precious, a Master, a Lawyer and a Senator. Also a Jairus...
  16. Orca

    41 yr old male wanting to start a 2nd career in nursing?

    Orca replied to simonJ's topic in Men in Nursing

    I turned 40 about three weeks after I finished school. It can definitely be done. Good
  17. Orca

    Reinforcing a Perception of Reality

    Orca replied to Davey Do's topic in Psychiatric

    In the exchange detailed in the opening post, depending upon the patient I might have chosen not to respond at all. By responding, even with a degree of sarcasm, you may be reinforcing the verbally...
  18. Orca

    How do I segue into psyche/mental/behavioral health?

    Orca replied to sugarmagnolia3's topic in Psychiatric

    I encourage you to get experience. Alzheimer's and dementia bear little resemblance to what I call "real" mental health. I have worked with adolescent, adult and geriatric populations, and quite...
  19. Orca

    Want to get into correctional nursing

    Orca replied to lauriepat's topic in Correctional

    The odd thing is that I originally went into nursing to get out of corrections. I had worked in and around corrections in various capacities, including correctional officer, for over 15 years. In late...
  20. Orca

    Corrections and background checks

    Orca replied to Nursespace's topic in Correctional

    It's more of a concern if you work in an area where you have direct access to, or control, over, agency funds. Even as an upper level manager I don't have such access. I couldn't put my hands on cash...
  21. Orca

    Hey is anyones life as a nurse like greys amatomy?

    Orca replied to francoml's topic in Men in Nursing

    Nurses on Grey's are only incidental bit part players. Only the doctors
  22. Orca

    Antagonizing patients--just a vent

    Orca replied to Isitpossible's topic in Psychiatric

    Even if they are aware, report it. The more reports they get, the more likely they are to do something. If they do just dismiss your complaint, then you are in a truly dysfunctional work environment....
  23. Orca

    Antagonizing patients--just a vent

    Orca replied to Isitpossible's topic in Psychiatric

    I have worked with mental health nurses who are heavily into the control aspect. On a geropsych unit where I once worked, I could sense my patients beginning to tense up in the last hour of my shift -...
  24. Orca

    crushing meds

    Orca replied to PsychNurseBoyMom's topic in Correctional

    We stopped crushing altogether. It is impossible to detect medication errors and it greatly alters the absorption rate and time of action of medications. It essentially gives an inmate a bolus of...
  25. Orca

    How do you feel about CEO pay vs. Nursing conditions

    Orca replied to sneeds's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    I saw a news article about a group of doctors who have started their own surgery center and they post their prices online for various procedures. They are far below what hospitals charge. The report...