TMPaul

I do read the EKG's on my patient but I always have my supervising MD (I am a Nurse Practitioner) review and I NEVER base my treatment solely on a EKG; look at your patient. :)

Hello. I'm a former Schenectady resident and a nurse. I now live in TN but I was working at the VA hospital in Albany. Check them out. YOu can e-PM me if you need additional info. Tina

Their website is http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov. I did a Google search and found it. It's a good site and easy to navigate. Tina

As an NP student we had to do both breast and gyn exams on one another as well as Pap's. :) Tina Nurse Practitioner

Yes. It's called PANDAS- Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep. Tina Paul Nurse Practitioner

ACNP, I agree 110% with you. I have also prosecuted for abuse of my name and prescriptive privileges. Worked too long na hard not to. Tina, APRN-BC

I've already given the IV/IVP meds and am awaiting results from them so I chose po Benadryl because it would take a bit longer to work and I would also wait about 30 minutes or so to give it. By the time the effects of the Benadryl kick in, I have had sufficient time to evaluate the effects of my other meds. I've found that Benadryl IVP can be very sedating (not that I won't use it if necessary) and most of my patients fall to sleep from it. I've also used liquid Zyrtec (has both antihistamine and antipuretic properties). :) Tina

I'd order Epi, Tagamet IV, Decadron IVP, Benadryl (po), O2 and observation until Sxs abated. Tina, MSN, APRN-BC Nurse Practitioner

I'm a DMAT Nurse Practitioner. Been with my team 3 years now and won team member of the year for 2004. DMAT is Disaster Medical Assistance Team. I've been deployed 7 times thus far (3 of them this Hurricane season). DMAT's go into the most austere environment (I slept on the ground at Keesler Air Force Base the day after Katrina went through!) and set up tent hospitals. We're self-sustainable (equipment, food, water, lodging) for 36 hours on our own before our basic load arrives. I've done everything from a clinic in a mall in FL (treated a cardiac arrest there) to immunizations in New Orleans, to augmenting medical care to the morgue workers in LA to operating a Mobile Medical Unit (MMU).

Hi Simon, Nurses with an Advance Practice degree (Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Anesthetists, etc) take advanced courses (A & P, pharmacology, diagnostic classes, etc) and sit for a national certification test. Each state differs as to what (if any drugs) advanced practice nurses can prescribe. I live in Tennessee and can prescribe any medication. I hold a DEA license that allows me to prescribe controlled substances. :)

I'm an instructor for the on-line BSN program and I've had students who have taken breaks between classes without problems. :)

I'm an OH NP. Fell free to ask me anything. :) Tina, RN, APRN-BC

You cam PM me.... I'm a NP working in a local Knoxville hospital. :)

Vanderbilt University has such a program.

I teach for them. PM me and I'll try and answer your questions. Tina, MSN,APRN-BC Nurse Practitioner :)

I use it daily and love it! :) Tina Paul, APRN,BC Nurse Practitioner

Consider TB, Mycoplasma. And..... see a practitioner ASAP. :) Congrats on your marriage and hope you're feeling better soon. Tina, APRN,BC, RN

Check your facility's policies - our health system does not allow it. Tina

I am a Nurse Practitioner (for 12 years now :) )and would be glad to answer your questions. You can PM me if you want. I have a Masters in Community Health Nursing- Clinical Specialist and a post masters NP certificate as an Adult NP. Specialities vary from adult, pediatric, OB/Gyn, psyche/mental health and then there are even more subspecialities within (Critical Care, Neuro, etc.). The prescription rights of the NP depend upon the laws of the state in which you practice (I hold licenses in both NY & TN and have prescriptive priviledges (including DEA) in both states) as does the narrow or broad scope of practice. I work off site from my collaborating physician (he is available via phone if needed) and I do just about everything his office does- physical exams, diagnose, treat, and prescribe for a variety of ailments, simple casting, suturing, skin biopsies, foreign body removal, nail removal, etc. Order and interpret x-rays, EKG's, lab tests, etc. Please remember that I am still a nurse - I just practice in an advanced practice role. :)

Most schools (and hospitals) require Hepatitis B x 3 or proof of a positive titer, Tetorifice, MMR x 2 or proof of a positive titer, varicella or proof of a positive titer OR history of disease, and a current PPD (TB skin test). I do alot of Nursing school & med school, & college physicals and that's what is required. :) Tina

I know here in Tennessee it is both a violation of hospital policy, the TN Nurse Practice Act, AND a federal offense to divert drugs. We are obligated to report to the BON, local and/or state law officials, AND the ferderal DEA. YOW, makes most of us think before we act :uhoh21: Tina, MSN,RN,APRN-BC

It's not unusual for some people to experience flu-like sxs (better than HEp B though!). The series is 3: 1st one, 2nd one 1 month later, 3rd 6months after the first with a titer following at 8 weeks after the last dose. :) Tina, MSN,RN,APRN-BC Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner

I agree with the suggestion - awesome book !! :)

A urine alcohol test is not valid in a Federal Court. That's why most agencies (including the Dept. of Transportation) use Breathylizer testing. Too many factors (IDDM, kidney problems, etc.) can influence a urine alcohol test. :) Tina, MSN,RN,APRN-BC Occupational Nurse Practitioner

Per CDC, greater than 5mm induration if you are a healthcare worker or immunocompromised. Tina, MSN,APRN-BC Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner