AlabamaRN(ER)

We're expecting JCAHO to visit some time next month. Has anyone had a visit from them recently? If so, what was it like? This is my first survey as a department manager, and I'm a little nervous.

What I love? The fact that I see the people at their best and at their worst every day that I work. The fact that I've held slippery new babies and the withered hands of the old and dying within days of each other. The fact that I am blessed to work with a group of educated professionals that can, with God's help, heal, save lives, change lives, and touch lives on a daily basis. The fact that my life will count for something. I will not have just taken up space on this planet for X number of years. I will have done something for the greater good.

Hi! Tell me a little bit about your ER. How many beds do you have? How many nurses do you staff? Our ER is implementing a new program--it's still in its infancy, but is working quite well. Our LWOTs have been reduced to 1%. We have 19 beds. Each nurse is assigned three beds. We have one "critical room" assignment, and that nurse has only two beds. We are staffing an MD in triage on our busiest days (Friday through Monday). The triage MD sees every pt who comes through and decides whether the pt is a "fast track" pt or should go "to the back", where the other MD will see and treat them. The MD "in the back" has 10 rooms. Many times some of these rooms are empty, because so many of our patients are "fast track" type patients. Some patients are actually discharged from triage--they only need a prescription for a minor ailment, and the triage MD does the T-sheet and writes the prescription in triage. It's amazing how many patients we can see on a busy day. Our triage MD handles all non-critical patients, and patients who will not require a big work-up. Time-consuming procedures, like sutures, will go to the back, because they would tie up the triage MD. If you're interested in knowing more about this system, please PM me. If my email address isn't accessible, write me on this forum and I will send it to you. Good luck!

My daughter (20yo) has recently been diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis. She has been using the Rowasa enema treatment for six weeks now with no relief in her symptoms. I feel that stress may play a part in her problems, because her symptoms began when she moved away from home and started college. Do you have any suggestions? Are anti-anxiety medications ever used for this diagnosis? I've read that fish oil is beneficial, and some people have had relief once they quit eating dairy. I would appreciate any suggestions.

My daughter has recently been diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis. She has been using the Rowasa enema treatment for six weeks with no relief. Symptoms actually appear worse than before. We in central Alabama always "look North" for more specialized treatment. Do any of you know of an excellent gastroenterologist in Birmingham who may could help her? I know there is no cure, but surely there is something that can help control symptoms better than this. She and I are stressed and worried! She is 20 years old. Any help or suggestions you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Hey ER4Life! I work in the ER at Baptist East! How long have you worked at South? I've considered going over there PRN, but I'm worried that I can't handle all that TRAUMA they get! What is it like over there?

Does anyone have an idea of Prison Health Service's RN pay rates in Alabama (or Southeastern states)? Any PHS nurses out there with advice? I have an interview Wednesday. It's for an HSA position. --Thanks