BLCaldwell

I've been following this thread for awhile now and thought that I would try some "research". I have degenerative arthritis. I take Celebrex 200mg bid. I work full time 3rd shift on a psych unit in a cold (read well air conditioned unit). There are mornings that I am so stiff that it's got to be funny watching me leave the hospital and walk to the parking lot. WEELLLL, I started taking x1 extra strength Tylenol about an hour prior to end of shift and saving the Celebrex until just before I went to bed.... Voila!!! I will suggest to MD's and to anyone else that will listen...IT WORKS with the stiffness and if I have errands planned- I take the Celerex before shift change and take x2 Tylenol extra strength before bed...naturally with something in my stomach so I don't have to worry about GI side effects.

One that I liked was "Lorenzo's Gold", sort of like alternative medicine. Another was "Snake Pit", psych has sure come a long way. Can't think of that WW II movie where there were all these dedicated nurses on an island in the Pacific. It used to play on the late late show a lot. Especially around 7 Dec. I really love "One flew over the cuckoo's nest", have watched it many times. Used to bring it in every time we got a new nurse so they could watch it. Good luck on your paper....

Have been a dedicated night person for the past 10 years. When the slump hits...wash my face and get a glass of ice water. Force myself to THINK-- exercise the gray matter. I'll do care plans. Working on psych it's a little different, we have to be checking them at least q30 minutes, so walking doesn't wake one up. Sometimes when I work 12 hour shifts, I'll take a damp cloth with a glove full of ice. Alternate between the two all the way home. NEVER NEVER EVER put your car on cruise control when you're tired....

I've seen an infected nipple ring. The MD never had.... he split the 36DD breast from nipple down and packed it. Didn't even try warm moist compresses. Took several regimens of antibiotics- both aerobics and anaerobic. The military get pierced and tattooed ---so long as it doesn't show. I have seen so many barcodes on the back of the neck and been advised of "Prince Albert's". NOTE: I was informed that they cannot be removed except by cutting them off.

I got the thread back, re-read all of the messages and decided that I needed to add some more.... Have been a nurse since the 2 year program RN / college based feasibility studies were done back in the 60's. I have been active in nursing as a volunteer as well as for salary. I threatened at one point to wallpaper the bathroom with my licenses from the various places my military husband was stationed and I attempted to keep my finger in nursing. All of the experiences, were just that, opportunities to grow. I still have not decided what I want to be when I grow up...but I do know what I did not like and/or never want to do ever again. One thing is for sure, there are a lot of people with dual diagnosis out in the world... Heard this a long time ago---Everyone is neurotic, it's when they get psychotic that you worry about them... and get to treat them!

I have laughed so hard... reading the comments to the different perspectives of poop. It has brought back so many memories of why I now work in psych. While working as a visiting nurse.....had a private MD who use to have his little old southern ladies that would get constipated and would go to his office for him to resolve their "little problem". Well, he was a gallant soul, really felt bad for those dear sweet old ladies who would get relief but had to bring a change of clothes in with them. EUREKA--- he discovered home health.... private pay of course. He would call with a diagnosis of brown eyes, and the dear, sweet little old ladies would have a house call to resolve their severe constipation....had standing orders. A regular protocol to follow to resolve their "little problem". Nobody ever said Nursing was dull that's for sure.....

For all the RN's out in the "trenches"-- do not re-invent the wheel. As an RN, you can become an Advance Practice Clinical Specialist in Psych-Mental Health. There are programs that are a result of a MSN. There still might be a few that do the Cetificate training that allows you to sit the exam. Where I work, an LPC makes less than an RN, Certified in Psych-Mental Health with a BSN.