Orca ADN, ASN, RN

Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC

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All Content by Orca

  1. Orca

    I got resistance when giving IM injection in deltoid. What does that mean?

    Orca replied to saigelily's topic in General Nursing

    It is also less painful if you dart the needle in quickly rather than slowly pushing it in. That way you are piercing the underlying tissue rather than tearing it as the needle goes
  2. Orca

    Nursing job interview attire

    Orca replied to vnuwish's topic in General Nursing

    In the last batch of nursing interviews I sat in on, one female candidate wore tons of jewelry - really over the top (two or three necklaces, several bracelets and at least four rings). The first...
  3. Orca

    Apple seeds

    Orca replied to Jaila's topic in Correctional

    According to an article I read, peach and apricot pits are far more worrisome. They contain amygdalin, the same sugar and cyanide compound that the apple seeds do, but in much larger amounts....
  4. Orca

    Is it possible to work full time and become a nurse???

    Orca replied to steelersfan39's topic in Men in Nursing

    I worked full-time the whole time I went to school, but particularly the last year it was very difficult. My last year was an exercise in sleep deprivation. On Thursday and Friday of the last year my...
  5. Orca

    Iv help pleeeeeasssssee!!!!

    Orca replied to SDA3694's topic in General Nursing

    I didn't get a lot of practice on IVs in nursing school, and I went straight to a hospital mental health unit upon graduation (probably half a dozen starts in four years, not all of them successful)....
  6. Orca

    Lawsuit Against The College Network

    Orca replied to mdhammons's topic in Online Distance Learning

    Quite simple. You signed a contract to purchase a product - TCN's (apparently pretty useless) study manuals. My wife got roped into this. I wasn't present at the TCN presentation she attended. I...
  7. Orca

    New psych RN as charge nurse?

    Orca replied to PAERRN20's topic in Psychiatric

    I was put in charge of an adult mental health unit on swing shift as a new graduate. Since this was a new unit, none of my colleagues had any more experience with policies and protocols than I did...
  8. Orca

    Psych Interview...any suggestions?

    Orca replied to DMCRN's topic in Psychiatric

    I was hired as a charge nurse on a new adult mental health unit right out of school. I had a BA in psychology before getting my nursing degree, which probably helped me get the job. Meriwhen gave you...
  9. Orca

    GOSSIP/RUMORS

    Orca replied to Aviationurse's topic in Psychiatric

    Someone who has a past history of mental health issues is a far different case than someone who comes to work impaired. The rest of it is sexual harassment, plain and simple. The guy ought to he...
  10. Orca

    Job interview Wed, Sept 23

    Orca replied to stephied's topic in Correctional

    Also - if you are asked a hypothetical situation question, after listing your nursing interventions it never hurts to mention that you would follow agency policy, and that you would consult a...
  11. Orca

    Did anyone consider becoming a psychologist first?

    Orca replied to darthbreezy's topic in Psychiatric

    Pretty much a mixture. My late mother was an RN, and my sister is a nursing supervisor in the ER of a major teaching hospital, so I had a lot of exposure to nursing before deciding on it as a career....
  12. Orca

    Contraband Checks?

    Orca replied to chocokitten's topic in Psychiatric

    We found 60 Lortab inside a prosthetic
  13. Orca

    Personal luxuries permitted within a psychiatric unit.

    Orca replied to safiyarozz's topic in Psychiatric

    On the unit where I worked we didn't allow patients to carry cash. Any cash or valuables they brought in were inventoried and put into the safe by security and returned upon discharge. We allowed soft...
  14. Orca

    New Grad in registry

    Orca replied to xoomper's topic in Psychiatric

    I don't know how you would get experience without working on a unit. Take the time to take everything in, and take advantage of the experience of the people around you. Coworkers can be a tremendous...
  15. Orca

    Did anyone consider becoming a psychologist first?

    Orca replied to darthbreezy's topic in Psychiatric

    I have the same background. However, I quickly learned that all my BA qualified me for was a low-paying dead-end desk job, or a job as an aide on a mental health unit. With no options to get a...
  16. Orca

    Confused about detox

    Orca replied to kfarinato's topic in Psychiatric

    Patients like these are notorious for manufacturing symptoms that they believe will get them narcotics. One inmate currently in our prison infirmary claims severe abdominal pain that isn't relieved by...
  17. Orca

    GOSSIP/RUMORS

    Orca replied to Aviationurse's topic in Psychiatric

    Some of the best mental health employees have at one time or another had some sort of psychiatric difficulty. These people can be a tremendous resource for patients with similar problems, both as...
  18. Orca

    Do you feel that the self defense course offered prepared you for an inmate attack?

    Orca replied to stephied's topic in Correctional

    Our nurses are not given self defense training. However, as a former correctional officer I was (albeit longer ago than I care to talk
  19. Orca

    Question about sick line in maximum security area

    Orca replied to stephied's topic in Correctional

    Routine sick call is conducted in the segregation unit by the nurses. If there is something that requires a physician's attention, the inmate will be scheduled for an appointment with the physician at...
  20. Orca

    Job interview Wed, Sept 23

    Orca replied to stephied's topic in Correctional

    One question we ask each prospective nurse in an interview is what changes, if any, does the nurse see him/herself making in practice as a result of working in a correctional setting. We are looking...
  21. Orca

    Dangers of Labeling Inmates - Stories Sought

    Orca replied to Guest371144's topic in Correctional

    We treat every report as if it is the absolute truth - even in cases in which we are virtually certain that it isn't. You could easily get into trouble by dismissing a complaint as faking or...
  22. Orca

    So Confused! Prison Nursing or Not?

    Orca replied to sallynRN's topic in Correctional

    Correctional nursing isn't an ideal situation for a new grad, but you have to do what is necessary to make a living. One piece of advice I would give you is to forget much of what you have been taught...
  23. Orca

    Which is a better experience prior to working in a Prison, ICU or Emergency Room?

    Orca replied to Cowboy Thug's topic in Correctional

    ER hands down. If an inmate is sick or injured enough to need the skills of an ICU nurse, ICU is exactly where they will be. You will, however, see some trauma (I treated my first gunshot wounds in a...
  24. Orca

    Please Help! Need Advice!! LVN or RN????

    Orca replied to ravenmothermary's topic in General Nursing

    One problem with being an LVNs (or LPNs) is that many employers treat then like glorified CNAs. This is a waste of a license, IMO. I worked for HealthSouth about ten years ago and they wouldn't let an...
  25. Orca

    how to help a struggling student?

    Orca replied to MaraG.'s topic in General Nursing

    Your efforts are very commendable. You did everything you could to support this student. However, if she isn't going to put in any effort, it doesn't matter how much support she gets. Nursing is not a...