Freedom42

Freedom42

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All Content by Freedom42

  1. ANCC gerontology exam

    Freedom42 posted a topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Has anyone sat for the certification exam in gerontological nursing? If so, how did you prepare for it, and over what period of time? Do you recommend a particular review course or study guide? I...

  2. Do you humidify high-flow oxygen with a nonrebreather?

    Freedom42 posted a topic in Pulmonary

    New nurse here. Last night I was caring for a patient in CHF whose 02 sat plummeted into the seventies while she was on a cannula and receiving 5 litres/minute. The on-call physician ordered a...

  3. NP working as RN?

    Freedom42 replied to APei's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    I'm about to start my first job as an FNP. I did an accelerated BSN to enter nursing as a second career and worked as an ER nurse for four years while pursuing my master's degree. Some thoughts as I...

  4. Psychiatric Institutions

    Freedom42 replied to doegirl's topic in General Nursing

    The largest private psych hospital in Maine is at St. Mary's in Lewiston. It's a unit of the larger hospital, but it's around 88 beds plus a psychiatric ED. They hire

  5. Professionals or "workers"

    Freedom42 replied to blackribbon's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    I don't have the option of belonging to a union at my hospital. I haven't had a raise since 2009. I have no guarantee of health insurance, retirement benefits or paid time off. I can be fired at any...

  6. Have you ever witnessed this situation?

    Freedom42 replied to RNewbie's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    This isn't rocket science. I pick up my meds at a supermarket. The pharmacy has a sign posted that asks other customers to respect others' privacy by coming to the counter only when called. There's a...

  7. "I'm an uncertified medical assistant"

    Freedom42 posted a topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    I had a curious encounter at the doctor's office today. When I went in for my physical, a woman in scrubs came in ahead of the doc. She was wearing scrubs but no name tag. We hadn't met before, so I...

  8. Frequent Flyers

    Freedom42 replied to RustyMedic's topic in Emergency

    Room them somewhere north of Siberia, without a phone or a TV. When they ask for a meal tray, tell them that you only serve meals at designated times. Period. The doc will more than likely recognize...

  9. All Those NPs with No Bedside Experience

    Freedom42 replied to Ruby Vee's topic in General Nursing

    No, I don't see any incongruity. As I've indicated in my posts, I consider my BSN education valuable, but not all of it is relevant to the education I am now pursuing to become an NP. Much of it is;...

  10. All Those NPs with No Bedside Experience

    Freedom42 replied to Ruby Vee's topic in General Nursing

    I presume you're referring to my post. As an RN entering my fourth year at the bedside -- including two in the ED -- yes, I do count my BSN education toward my clinical hours. The PA student has not...

  11. All Those NPs with No Bedside Experience

    Freedom42 replied to Ruby Vee's topic in General Nursing

    As an NP student, I will have completed 1350 clinical hours, including BSN clinicals, by the time I graduate. Classmates who are in the three-year entry-to-practice program will have accumulated the...

  12. All Those NPs with No Bedside Experience

    Freedom42 replied to Ruby Vee's topic in General Nursing

    People who think they know everything -- or who are not secure enough to admit that they don't -- are a problem in any setting or profession, regardless of the initials they have after their name or...

  13. Vodka tampons?!?

    Freedom42 replied to Christy1019's topic in Emergency

    Again, the issue was not the quote from a 14-year-old. It was the praising of the quote by an adult. And I'm quite confident that neither the teenager nor the adult considered "retarded" anything but...

  14. Vodka tampons?!?

    Freedom42 replied to Christy1019's topic in Emergency

    Thank you. I understand why kids use the word that way; after all, they hear adults use it that way, unfortunately. What bothered me was the poster's "well said" response to the

  15. Vodka tampons?!?

    Freedom42 replied to Christy1019's topic in Emergency

    I don't mean to digress from the topic of this thread. Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer my booze in a glass. This quote, however, is troubling. It's offensive. Can we please stop using the...

  16. Obstructive vs. restrictive lung disease

    Freedom42 posted a topic in Post Graduate Students

    Do I have this right? Obstructive lung disease: FEV1 is low, FEV1/FVC is low. Restrictive lung disease: FEV1 is low (?), FEV1/FVC is high (latter ratio may be normal or high, actually). I can't find...

  17. Need some advice on how to start an IV on pt with severe edema

    Freedom42 replied to heparinized's topic in Infusion, Intravenous

    It's true, some people are nearly impossible. But I'll say this, as one of my patients recently pointed out: My charge nurse could start an IV on a dead man. She's that good. I have never seen her...

  18. Need some advice on how to start an IV on pt with severe edema

    Freedom42 replied to heparinized's topic in Infusion, Intravenous

    The lower the albumin level, the tougher the stick. My supervisor gave me a good tip: Use two tourniquets, one in the usual place, the other about three inches above that. Works well with hands to...

  19. Retired, now what?

    Freedom42 replied to sueff's topic in Retired Nurses

    I admire your perseverance. It takes a lot to fight your way back from what you've suffered. It's a shame that we don't take better care of our nurses after they've spent so many years giving care to...

  20. Confused about new grad salaries!

    Freedom42 replied to mom2girls's topic in General Students

    I would check the website for the department of labor of a particular state. They do frequent wage and salary surveys, although they don't necessarily break them down by level of experience. I do...

  21. What does "defense verdict was returned" mean?

    Freedom42 replied to seneyka's topic in General Nursing

    It means that the people who sued lost. A defense verdict is returned in favor of the defense, the people being

  22. Collaborative problem for CHF

    Freedom42 replied to TheOnlyJoe's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    You need to look beyond your scenario to understand the complications. You're almost there. If the blood cannot meet the body's metabolic demands, what happens? What happens if organs are not...

  23. Collaborative problem for CHF

    Freedom42 replied to TheOnlyJoe's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    What does your pathophysiology text tell

  24. Horrible CNA's

    Freedom42 replied to tojal1989's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I read nothing in the OP's post that suggests s/he thinks CNAs are beneath her or that she is unwilling to do what she asks of aides herself. What I read was that she expects professional conduct. I...

  25. Denied admission for BSN program

    Freedom42 replied to Simply Complicated's topic in Online Distance Learning

    A course in statistics enables the nurse to read and appraise research in order to make informed practice decisions. It is crucial to evidence-based practice. If you think chemistry is...