Slowone

Personal Alarms can help if you can get to the pt. quicky enough after hearing it go off. Otherwise, consistant assessments of risk level for falls. Initial assessment done on admit then repeat Q 24hours/PRN. Assessment of amount of narcotics/psycotropics used. Just a few thoughts for ya. Good luck, this will forever be a problem unfortunately. If you come up with 'The answer" let us know! :)

Dart style, quick, count to three but give it on two. Works for me. I don't feel comfortable pinching the skin personally, I prefer to keep myself as far away from the needle as possible as I am a big weeny when it comes to getting poked! Yes I admit it, I actually fainted one time. My first time ever giving an IM injection was awful. We gave flu shots at a LTC facility! My patient was an 80 pound lovely lady, very confused. I will never forget the shiver I got down my spine when I accidentally hit needle to bone. OH MY GOODNESS, makes me cringe even now. She was adorable, looked at me and said "dear, is there a door open somewhere? I think I was just stung by a bee!" Gotta love it!

THONGS? well here is the thing..once it is "gone" it's gone. It's only uncomfortable until it goes as high as it can go, then who cares? it's not like you can just casually "adjust"as you are walking down the hallway, this is an effort! Fortunately, you will have plenty of time to search for it when you get home. What is the point?

I am curious to know if Act As Tol. was correct? How exactly was it used? Just wondering, it will drive me nuts if I don't know! Thanks, S

Code 199+ floor (no room #)

I was hired as a new grad (LPN) and through directly onto the tele floor. They put me through a telemetry certification program as well as EKG interpretation. Obviuosly prior to that I had no specific "cardiac experience", thats what you are supposeed to get when you start working. This sounds a bit fishy to me, perhaps the med/surg staffing wasn't that great and they needed some reason to put you there instead. Why not just ask?! Perhaps you could ask about being put in the float pool to gather experience from all over...? Also, keep in mind, you will get experience with cardiac pts. on the med/surg floor, they will most likely just have unlying heart probs but it is a good way to learn how other diagnosis' work with the cardiac issue as a whole...therefore being a great learning experience for you. Personally though, I liked doing cardiac nursing best, but everyone is different. Good luck :)