disher

Positive changes that have occurred are: -greater diversity in the workplace and a greater acceptance of peoples differences -increased diagnositic technology and improved ability to detect problems while they are still manageable - nursing has become more research based (less anecdotal) and this has improved our professional image and our effectiveness on interdisciplinary teams

Most Canadian nurses are unionized, salaries vary from province to province, the Canadian federation of nurses unions (CFNU) website lists the salaries. I don't see Saskatchewan nurses making $30 hour at (CFNU) website but I think the salaries listed are from the first contract year. http://www.nursesunions.ca/cb/index.shtml If, in four years you will make $30 /hr in Saskatchewan that is a decent income. I hope Saskatchewan nurses are being offered good salaries. Maybe future nurses who train in Saskatchewan won't leave after they graduate to earn more pay in the US or other provinces.

Who else but nurses can discuss the smell of burning body parts and skunk? Having smelled both, I think skunk has a strong tangy smell and creamating body parts, have a smell similar to burning leather. Both smell equally unpleasant, but if I had my choice I'd rather smell skunk. I was surprised that your hospital still incinerates body parts onsite. Some cities have bylaws that require a creamatorium be located outside of a populated area. I think that there is public health concern that particles from the burning flesh can become airborn and transmit infection when diseased limbs and body fluids are burned. Anyways, I hope it is skunk (not incinerating body parts) you are smelling on the night shift.

Who else but nurses can discuss the smell of burning body parts and skunk? Having smelled both, I think skunk has a strong tangy smell and creamating body parts, have a smell similar to burning leather. Both smell equally unpleasant, but if I had my choice I'd rather smell skunk. I was surprised that your hospital still incinerates body parts onsite. Some cities have bylaws that require a creamatorium be located outside of a populated area. I think that there is public health concern that particles from the burning flesh can become airborn and transmit infection when diseased limbs and body fluids are burned. Anyways, I hope it is skunk (not incinerating body parts) you are smelling on the night shift.

I saved this nurses survival kit idea from last year. I cannot recall who originally posted it, but the original poster said each nurse at the hospital she/he worked at received a lunch bag with the following items and note inside. A survival kit in honour of nurses week Lifesavers--to remind you of the many times you've helped others Snickers--to remind you that laughter is the best medicine Candle--a remembrance of Florence and all your long hours Tissues--to dry those tears--yours & patients Starburst--for that burst of energy you need at the end of the day Button--to remind you sometimes you must button your lip Lollipop--to help you lick everyone's problems Marbles--to replace the ones you lost during accreditation Hand lotion--to remind you that you too need a little TLC and to wash your hands Bandaid--to remind you of the hands on care you give Hugs & kisses--take one qid because your deserve them Playing cards -to help you read doctor's minds and decipher orders Mounds -a reminder of all the charting to do before the shift ends Thank you for giving your time, kindness and comfort to all of our patients

I wrote the CRRN in 1994 and haven't had a problem earning credits for renewal, I earn enough credits through BScN courses and conferences. The conferences are worth 21credits so most of my CRRN colleagues choose to earn credits this way. As for the exam, it was only offered once a year ( in Canada) at the time I wrote it, don't know how it's offered now.

What is the title used on the nurses name badges, Unregulated worker? If so, that is the level of responsibility they are accountable to. They are employees, not students and should not be doing procedures outside their scope of practice. Your employer has to find a safer way to endear potential new nurses to ICU.

Natilieboo, the HR department of a hospital is not likely to be helpful(HR personal don't really know where nurses train). The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) lists approved nursing programs for RNs and RPNS in Ontario, look under approved nursing programs in the link above.

Natalieboo, I am not really sure what American CNAs are equivilant to compared to Ontario healthcare providers but hopefully you can figure where CNAs fit from the description below. Ontario has RNs and RPNs(registered practical nurses) and unregulated healthcare workers (aides SOME who have a certificate). RNs and RPNs have college education, have completed an exam and are registered with the college of nurses of Ontario. See website for registration information http://www.cno.org/index_index.html Unregulated worker's are often employed as personal attendants in the community and can do basic physical care. As far as I can see there is work for all types of healthcare providers.

What is the NM more concerned about specific documentation or your assessments? If the NM's major concern is that your assessments are perceived as medical rather than nursing than maybe you could ask the medical staff how they want it adressed when you notice abnormal values.

Like JT and sb22 we have first and last names on our name tags. But since it always flips over the patients mostly see the back of the badge, which contains a list of the hospitals code colours. After awhile a patient learns the code colors and some patients quiz staff to see if they know them. Guess it's better that they can laugh at staffs answers than laugh the ridiculous staff pictures.

I am also wondering under what circumstances besides eye examination a patient would have mydriatics and miotics ordered. I am just guessing but wouldn't the NCLEX be more likely to have questions related to glaucoma medications? Nurses encounter patients with glaucoma more often then assist with eye tests. If there is a question regarding giving more than one type of eye drop to the patient with glaucoma it is important to space them at least 15 minutes apart.

Tried microlax but haven't seen it used routinely. Occasionally use "magic bullet" water soluble supository, works faster than regular dulcolax. H H H stands for high hot and a h*ll of alot refers to enema (usually soap suds).

The bowel routine for most of our in-patients is MOM 3xs wk at HS, Duloclax suppository 3xs wk in am following the MOM. Some patients get rid of this routine when they go home and have had sucess with the bran, applesauce, prune juice concoction that Nurse Ratched posted. The recipe is ½ cup prune juice 1 cup of applesauce 2 cups all bran cereal Place ingredients in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.Mix ingredients together.Store in airtight container in the refrigerator for up 2 weeks.

Another comprehensive text is Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. I don't have a copy of this, I usually borrow it from on of the physiatrists, it is a required text for physiatry medicine and has alot of info. on rehab. diagnosis, treatment and management.

I used the text Rehabilitation Nursing, Process and Applications by Shirley Hoeman to study for the rehab nursing exam seven years ago. I still use it because it is so comprehensive. It is available through the American Rehab Nursing website. http://www.rehabnurse.org/index2.htm

deespoohbear, Hospital policy should treat the personal information of their patients with the same respect that they, as individuals, would like their own personal information to be treated. Ask your DON if she would have a problem with visitors knowing she had a large formed bowel movement?

Worked one day on a floor where every nurse completely ignored me. While I was helping an occupational therapist apply new hand splints to one of my patients I complimented here on the good job she did of making the splints. She replied, Your not from here are you? I said, No how did you know? She said Because your the first person who has spoken to me in the 6 months..... 6 months of being ignored...what an unhealthy working envirnoment!! I went to human resources right after the shift and told I thought the moral problem was the lowest I'd ever seen and would wait tables before I ever worked in that environment again.

After working for 20 years my husband became sick and couldn't work. He has been a stay at home Dad for the 2 years. There are both pros and cons. Pros -although my son liked daycare he did not like spending long hours there. If I was delayed at work he used to complain "you made me have a long day" ... the guilt was hard to live with. Now that we aren't all rushing around all the time we are all happier. Another pro is I don't do laundry or make meals anymore :) Cons- sole income is a disappointment because we want to do other things besides have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food in our bellies. We are thankful to have all of these things, but its easy to feel burnt out if you cannot enjoy the benefits of hard work. -Had to get used to my husbands cooking which is somewhat worse then mine and mine was pretty poor :). Also we have different standards of house cleanliness but I have learned to ignore this otherwise I would have gone crazy. And then we'd have zero income :) Anyways I'm not sure you can prepare yourself for this type of transition (I was just thrown into it) but you do get used to it. And remember it could be worse. I tell myself that every day when I see my patients and their families struggling with the crisis fate has thrown at them.

A colleague had disimpacted a patient when she called me to check the patient's stool. (She thought she saw a tape worm). Went and looked asked the patient did you have Chinese food for supper last night? Patient said "yes why?" I replied "Looks like one of the noodles came out whole." Both my colleague and patient say "Yuck". I shrug "Well it's better then a tapeworm".

I complete incident reports for both physical and verbally abusive behavior. If the patient had slapped another patient you would you hesitate to fill out the incident report? You happened to the target that she doesn't remember hitting, whose next? The team needs to know about her potential for violance and make a treatment plan that addresses it. In my workplace an incident report ensures management and the physician are aware of the patient problems (since they have to sign under the follow-up section). Charting doesn't mean all staff concerned are informed.

This is a moving thread, there is a book that has a similar collection of nursing stories called "Touched by a Nurse" by Kane & Warner http://www.touchedbyanurse.com

Lesley and Blitz A RN collegue moved from Toronto to Saskatoon a few years ago. She took a big drop in hourly pay but says it was worth it. The cost of living in Saskatoon made it possible for her to own a home raise a family and have a social life! She says this combination wasn't feasible in Toronto because housing is soo expensive.

Steve RN pay at sick kids ranges from $21.01/hour to $31.43/hour The website is http://www.sickkids.on.ca It is expected there will continue to be a worldwide shortage of nurses for the next 15yrs. So chances are, there will be all kinds of job offers when you graduate. Good luck with your studies!

Well it's great to know there are other happy Canadian nurses out there. hmm...I wonder what the ratio of disgruntled Canadian nurse to satisfied Canadain nurse is? 10:1, 100:1? If I were to guess the ratio at my workplace I would say there are 10 disgruntled to every 1 happy nurse.