Orca ADN, ASN, RN

Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC

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All Content by Orca

  1. Orca

    How Can I Get Acclimated to the Midnight Shift?

    Orca replied to iluvdetroit's topic in General Nursing

    When I worked nights we used to call this "hitting the wall". Usually for me it hit between 3 and 4 AM. I used to go outside and walk a bit in the fresh air for a few minutes (I worked in an area...
  2. Orca

    How do you do it?

    Orca replied to dudette10's topic in General Nursing

    Judging from your patient load, you are early in your program. Cases will gradually be added as you progress. By my last semester I was pulling a full load for an eight-hour shift on an oncology unit...
  3. Orca

    Leaving work at work.

    Orca replied to Eirene's topic in Correctional

    I completely agree. This is one reason I never ask what an inmate is serving time for, because I don't want my personal feelings about what the person has done to affect the care I deliver. In terms...
  4. Orca

    Letter of Recommendation, signed or not?

    Orca replied to rainingwoman's topic in General Nursing

    An unsigned letter of recommendation isn't worth much, IMO. An unsigned letter could just as easily have been written by the person supposedly being recommended. If I am unwilling to sign a letter of...
  5. Orca

    Bullied by Charge Nurse? Or am I taking things to personally?

    Orca replied to mouseynurse's topic in General Nursing

    Sounds like you have two charge nurses, one of whom is a good manager and another who is not. If the problem continues I would discuss it privately with the problem charge nurse, then your nurse...
  6. Orca

    Patient asks my opinion...what's appropriate???

    Orca replied to jorla9903's topic in General Nursing

    I would say that it is a personal decision, and they should discuss options with their doctor. You could also add "What might be right for me might not be for
  7. Orca

    Do CE's overlap for multiple states?

    Orca replied to TraciBdarn's topic in General Nursing

    I usually use Western Schools and test online. They ask what states you are licensed in and the license numbers, so they can report the credits to each board of
  8. Orca

    What a difference a year makes!

    Orca replied to rnrainy's topic in Psychiatric

    I went into mental health directly out of nursing school, and I found myself in a charge position on an adult/CD unit. My unit was new. I literally opened it, taking in the first admission we ever...
  9. Orca

    Going to start corrections soon

    Orca replied to Junior Thoby LPN's topic in Correctional

    Be pleasant but not overly friendly. Be careful about too much "hands-on" nursing. Don't share personal information with inmates (I don't even keep photos in my office). Stick to policy to guide your...
  10. Orca

    Insurer targeted breast cancer patients to cancel

    Orca replied to netglow's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Yet another reason we need to wrest control of our health care system from the insurance
  11. Orca

    A question about CE's

    Orca replied to nursesaurus's topic in General Nursing

    You should wait until you get ready to take your CE courses. Test materials sometimes change from year to year, and what you get now may not prepare you for a course offered next
  12. Orca

    leading group

    Orca replied to Nenja's topic in Psychiatric

    If you have the luxury, check to see what the diagnosis mix is on the unit you will be leading group on. That way, you can tailor your choice to do the most good for the most people. For example, if...
  13. Orca

    Signing out meds you do NOT administer yourself?

    Orca replied to celticwoman61's topic in General Nursing

    I see huge potential liability issues with passing meds poured by someone else. I wouldn't do
  14. Orca

    NCLEX practice book

    Orca replied to sprintin08's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    Mosby's came closest to the questions I saw on the board
  15. Orca

    behavior managment or not???? HELP

    Orca replied to Shell5's topic in Psychiatric

    Sounds like someone's ego might be getting in the way. One thing I discovered very early in psychiatry is that just because I was the charge nurse didn't mean that I was always the best person to take...
  16. Orca

    Resignation Letter Review

    Orca replied to nlhnurse1982's topic in General Nursing

    The prudent thing to do, IMO (if practical) is to submit your letter of resignation after the point you must work in order to get tuition reimbursement. That way your current employer cannot get out...
  17. Orca

    Psych Techs

    Orca replied to RN4life74's topic in Psychiatric

    I can see how this would be an issue. I didn't have any techs in nursing school, so I didn't experience this. I know how some nursing students are, though - they see something that isn't being done in...
  18. Orca

    Psych Techs

    Orca replied to RN4life74's topic in Psychiatric

    Ours were expected to perform CNA duties as well as interacting with the patients in a therapeutic environment. There was one who believed that because she had a bachelor's degree in psychology she...
  19. Orca

    Kentucky Prison LPN

    Orca replied to nursesarah10's topic in Correctional

    One question we ask is whether the applicant believes that he/she will have to alter the way they practice nursing as a result of working in a correctional facility, and if so, how. What we are...
  20. Orca

    My husband is in a Calif Prison! I have an interview ~HELP~

    Orca replied to nightnurseLVN2300's topic in Correctional

    One of our standard interview questions is whether the applicant has a friend or relative incarcerated in our system. A "yes" answer does not exclude that person from employment, but the inmate would...
  21. Orca

    Resignation Letter Review

    Orca replied to nlhnurse1982's topic in General Nursing

    By submitting it this early, you are opening the door to them replacing you before that, IMO. They would have great financial incentive to do so, because they could get out of paying the reimbursement...
  22. Orca

    How do you wear your hair for work?

    Orca replied to ChasingRain's topic in General Nursing

    Just glad mine hasn't gone away.
  23. Orca

    What is the med pass like at your DOC

    Orca replied to newtress's topic in Correctional

    I used to do HS pill pass in a state facility of about 2,500 inmates. I would prepare my meds before I went out, and I went unit to unit. The yard was approximately a half mile from end to end. About...
  24. Orca

    still a good idea to get med/surg experience first?

    Orca replied to HowserDoogie's topic in Psychiatric

    I went straight from nursing school into mental health. Five years later I found myself out of work and unable to get a job because my employer closed my facility and there were almost no mental...
  25. Orca

    blood sugar checks and insulin

    Orca replied to makes needs known's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Glucometers tend to be much more inaccurate at the upper and lower limits of their ranges. A lab draw gives an accurate picture of what you are dealing with. It is impossible to know how much insulin...