4XNURSE

If you are taking narcotic pain relievers you are altered. I went back to work on Tylenol # 3. I didn't feel altered, just didn't feel as much pain. I did not perform to "standard of care". I had to go off work again for two months, till I was OFF the narcotics. In my opinion, you should be off the prescription pain killers, before you are doing patient care. ken

Curious, I'll shorten the story some. I had been a firefighter and a EMT. I owned my own business, and I decided I wanted to go back to school and become a ER physician. The counselor that I spoke with recommended that I get my bachelors degree in nursing, and try that field, on my way to a medical degree. She was so right on! I liked nursing, and decided I didn't need/want the added years of school, and residency. ken

AllSmiles, You asked if you can be a nurse. - The simple answer is yes, you can be a nurse. There are some questions that are more difficult to answer, but that you should answer for yourself. First of all, What do you want to do as a nurse? How far do you plan on going from an educational standpoint, and can you get there, from where you are, with your disability? There is hard work in nursing. There are ways to make most of it easier, but there is hard work. Will your disability put additional work on your fellow students, and then your fellow nurses when you graduate? -If there is lifting, pushing, pulling, to do and you can't do your own, your fellow students and fellow nurses will have to do it for you. Meaning they have to do their own work and yours, too. Will your patients safety be compromised? If there is some sort of emergency in your area, you need to be able to provide whatever it takes to get your patients to safety. Without compromising your own. Is your condition one that will deteriorate? How long will you be able to function at your current level? I am asking hard questions, because I had to answer them myself. I became disabled after I was already a RN. I was able to work for an additional 14 years. My condition deteriorated over those years, and I retired on disability, when I got to the point where my patients and my co-workers safety was compromised. Is your condition going to allow you to spend a reasonable amount of time in your field, without adversely affecting others? I think in the end, only you can answer these questions. For me, early retirement was not what I wanted, but it was the right choice. I am looking at possible ways to get back into my field, but I can never go back to where I was. Can you get where you want to be, and do it safely, for you? For your patients? For your fellow team members? ken

First let me admit to being old and retired. (or is it retarded?) Let me pose a couple questions. What are the "standard of care" protocols? When I was working, meds were supposed to given within a framework of "one hour before to one hour after" the times they are due. Who's name/license is on the record? I doubt your "preceptor" is going to step up to the plate if the state comes in and starts reviewing those records. If I was you, (I'm not) and knowing what I know now, (you have no idea) I'd be flooding the risk management department with incident reports. Making sure somebody knows I tried to get my work done on time, but was told not to by this "preceptor". Just my $0.02 4XNURSE retired, with lots of time and no money.

If you are using a firewall and or a virus protection software program, you may need to adjust your settings. I've had similar problems. I went into my Norton Internet security program, set up some new rules, and have been able to do what I wanted to do since. Just a suggestion. ken

One of the LVNs I used to work with had one She had hysterectomy and had a deal with the OB/GYN. He had a Plastics guy that he worked with and they did them that way a lot. Insurance coverage was better for the Hysterectomy than for the tummy tuck, so they worked them both into one package. When she came in later she said it felt like she had bungie cords from her hips to her chest for a little while but she said it wasn't really that bad. Take it from a wicked MCP, She looked NICE. I didn't think she needed it before, but it wasn't wasted. She really did look nice after. One MCP opinion. ken I can't help it, I was born with that crazy "Y"

Renee, I gotta agree with Babs on the charting at the bedside thing. I also wanted to comment about how I solved some of the problems with being under stocked with supplies. - I made myself a stash. I got to where I would get all my supplies at the beginning of the shift, and put them in the patients rooms. Then they would be there later when I needed them. I actually found a place to hide some of the most critical items. I had a friend ask me about some things a few months after my accident took me out of one of the places I worked. I went down there and showed him where my supply was. - It was still there and still usable. - he took over my spot. I figured if central supply was going to short stock us, I would be the advocate for "MY" patients, and make sure I had the stuff "THEY" needed. It didn't solve all the problems, but having the things I needed to give the care my patients needed sure helped my delivery. Just my $0.02. ken

I've seen acuities used to send nurses home, but I have yet to see a house supervisor who will bring in extra staff either before or during a shift, because of high acuities. But then I've only been a nurse for 15 years, and never worked outside of California. Just another $0.02 while I switch feet. ken

First the disclaimer: I was born with XY chromozomes, It ain't my fault. I like looking at pretty women, pretty cars, cool trucks, pretty flowers, lighthouses, ....... Now: Why the big deal about underware? If you have a nice looking back side, it is going to be looked at, and appreciated. Male or female, it doesn't matter. If you have a not so nice looking back side, it is going to be looked at, and most likely dismissed. (or flamed) It really won't make a difference what is covering it, or not covering it, as the case may be. Those who are into that sort of thing are going to mentally undress you anyway, and those that aren't into it are going to go about their lives and leave it alone. If you are wearing white pants, with red lips on your underware, you may get noticed, and laughed at, but if you are just a little careful, there should be little worry about what underware you have on. Think about it. It's undreware, for crying out loud. If you are worried about it, make sure you buy clothes (pants, dresses, and skirts) that it definately won't be seen under. I got it this time, - left out, right in. ...hot aire balloons, pastoral farms, my wife, my grand kids......... ken

As one of the nurses at the hospital ER who has recieved a lot of those patients, I have to believe it is both. there are a lot of you at the LTCs that do a great job, and work at or above the "standard of care." Unfortunately there are a few who don't know what they are doing, and furthermore, are just too lazy to care. :( Just another $0.02 from the peanut gallery. ken

Can we order these by the case? PLEASE!! ken

CNAs, LPNs, or? Then theres BLS, (for healthcare providers and for the public at large. - huge market!) ACLS, PALS, NRP, 12 leads, ..... It's amazing how much there is to share. I know you have a lot of knowledge and skills that many need. Everyone of us needs certifications, and recerts, every 2 years. You've got it! Flaunt it! Market it! There are churches, schools, clinics, social services,....all of these need a little of the vast knowledge that you take for granted. - SHARE IT! For a price or as a volunteer. Since most of us need an income to eat, I asume you would need to turn it into a job or a business, but you do have the right stuff. It's now a matter of finding the right avenue for you, to dispense it. Good luck! You can get there from here! ken

Forgive me pebbles. You gotta remember, I haven't been on the "floor" in a fair number of years. Where I come from we're into that instant gratification thing. Fix it if it's broken, and get em on their way. - Home or off to the "floor". just my $ .02 ken

You betcha! I haven't seen any of what I'd consider critical meds PBed like that in the recent past, though we still do abx that way in the ERs I've worked in. Those we mostly just use the S.W.A.G. method, and they run just slow enough not to hurt, and fast enough to clear the bed so we can get someone else in it. just my $ .02 ken

In the dark ages we didn't have those. Had to piggyback meds into the primary IV, and count the drips/min., then adjust with the roller clamp to control amount of medication given over prescribed amount of time. ken