kimberle

Well, I've been on both ends. I'm an RN who has to deal daily with pts. who c/o "I'm going to sue if they don't get my dinner right this time." "Why does Susie have sores on her butt?" (Well, it's probably because she refuses to turn/follow protocol for pressure relief even though it's all been explained to her. (I work on a long term care ventilator unit.) But I have also been the mother bringing her child in for a fever of 105 and I've refused the spinal tap. I understand the rationale for and the consequences of. It was just my choice. And I understand the rationale of using selective antibiotics based on cultures, but at that time it didn't feel right to do and I told them I chose for them to treat him the most appropriately based on other info (lab draws, VS, O2 sats, etc.) He ended up getting Rocephin shots. Everything turned out OK. Maybe we were just lucky, but sometimes you just have a strong gut feeling about whether or not to do something, then I agree with the others. All you can do is educate (including making sure they understand the information) and document response to and do the best you can do from there. (Of course, always keep a heads up about pt. competency!)

We're spoiled - pharmacy prepares it for us so that it's liquid when it gets to us (I think he did mention something about sodium bicarb. or something too...).

I've worked on a ventilator unit for 10 years. Get kind of spoiled 'cause you've already got an airway for a code if needed :) As we tell all new employees, "When in doubt, bag and shout!" Good luck! Ventilators are becoming a chosen way of life for many people now. (Definately not for me though!) I'm gonna check out "The ICU Book" too.

Hi! We have a Dr. Smiley in town (a dentist). And a husband of one of our pt's. was Harry Richard. (He always introduced himself as Harry Dick). :)

Hi! I know just recently at the hospital I work at, they're discouraging abbreviations. Especially with procedures, they want the entire words written out, esophageal-gastro-duodenoscopy, not EGD. I don't know if it's an insurance thing, or initiated r/t high frequency of medical lawsuits anymore or what... Just an aside. I had to laugh when a doctor wrote for "Accurate I&O". I told him we could only do inaccurate I&O. (All of our patients are on I&O on our unit.)