SICU Queen

Hi everyone, I know this is long and I'm sorry, but I'm really at the end of my rope and could use some advice. I injured myself last November '07 while working in the SICU (I was a Clinical Supervisor but took patients). I was caring for a very lar...

First, for the mods, let me clarify that I am NOT looking for legal advice. I have an attorney and I've also currently got a request for info in at my BON. My legal advice comes from my attorney. Rather I am looking for personal experiences to comp...

Vicodin has NSAID properties? It contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen - is there some sort of filler that makes it an NSAID? There IS an ibuprofen and hydrocodone version, Vicoprofen, but I don't take that. If Vicodin's an NSAID then that might exp...

So as not to violate TOS, I made a concerted effort to phrase my post in such a manner that I'm not seeking advice (legal or otherwise) as to what *I* should be doing, so I'm not sure why the questions can't be answered? I'm not asking people to int...

So you don't think it negatively affected your ability to care for patients? What do you think management's response would be if they'd known? Thanks for the response, and OMG I remember the pain of gallbladder disease... oy!

Great story! For the record, I would've figured it out without the disclaimer, but maybe that's because I'm an old bat and remember having to wear starched whites while in school. ;-)

Congrats, Lindsey - I can feel your enthusiasm! Two thumbs up... :)

Here's a link to another: http://www.ololcollege.edu/Accelerated_Nursing.html I don't know anything about either of them, other than the OLOL students do clinicals where I work, and I also work with one of their grads - she's awesome.

Oh, it's not her. She's already told me that she will figure it out, that she doesn't want us to worry about it. She's truly a "big" girl in all respects. I just feel like crapola because her father and I talked about what we most wanted to do for h...

WOW, get the heck outta there as fast as possible - and be sure to request an exit interview. No one should have to work in that environment.

Yep, it's been this way for years and years, in every facility I've ever worked. I like to think of it as "potty training" - but it's as effective as sleeping with a book under my pillow, IMO. I've never been one to read while on the toilet at home ...

They don't have a choice BUT to cover it! It happened while you were at work, therefore it's a work-related injury. Period. I suggest you seek legal advice, at least to let you know what your rights are. I was injured on the job in November of 2007, ...

You've gotten some excellent advice so I won't repeat what's already been said, but I do want to tell you that you did a great job - you "get" what it is that nurses do. The deaths don't get any easier (they haven't for me) but I have learned to most...

Leo here I worked SICU for many years and am now working as a heart transplant coordinator. For the record, I don't love nursing anymore and haven't for a long time. (My patients don't know that, however!)

Yep, night shift worked best for me when the kids were little. I got home in time to get them off to school, slept while they were in school, and was up for homework, dinner, etc. There was only a couple of hours between me leaving for work and bedti...

I've come to that point a few times in my career... and I'm there now and have been for a few years. Sad to say, it's the money that keeps me doing it. Don't get me wrong - I still smile and provide excellent patient care (both physical and emotional...

No, it definitely is NOT too challenging for a new grad, but you've got to make a promise to me and every other "old" nurse out there that, if you survive orientation and get a bit of time under your belt, you will NOT think you know it all after a y...

I'm wondering why this is such a big deal for this manager, or any of the facilities at which you're trying to gain employment? Nurses make med errors, and that's a fact of life. I've never heard of one med error tainting a job reference. Is there m...

There's no rule that says you can't bring a laminated index card in with you, one that's got several different formulas on it. I have been an ICU nurse for a long time, and I still use little cheats. Give it a try! It might make you feel better knowi...

What happened to you IS an exposure, and should be handled just like a needle stick, or any other exposure, would be.

That sounds just awful. Sending a nurse "away" for the middle 4 hours of a 12 hour shift is ridiculous. They'd do that to me - ONCE - and I wouldn't be back. How disrespectful and inconsiderate.

Excellent job advocating for the patient. Please keep us posted on your "meeting", and good luck!

I've never done anything illegal, but I've "tortured" patients in the name of medicine, which I have a serious moral and ethical dilemma with to this day. It's challenging, especially in the situation where the patient may or may not have agreed with...

I don't know much about how much money you can make at home, but *I* wouldn't be going to work in Saudi for that amount. I can make much more here in the States. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I completely disagree. It's been my experience that the patients who complain the loudest (and write letters) about their "lack" of care are the same ones who are demanding and unrealistic about the entire hospitalization experience, and what it is t...