SK-222

try asking this same question at http://mtgab.com. I don't know the answer for you, but maybe someone there would.

I really don't have the answers for you, so until other posters have some insight, be sure to search the threads for keywords such as "interview" since the topic of what to wear and questions that may be asked have been discussed many MANY times and may offer some good advice none of us thought of this time around. Best wishes to you on your interview and getting answers you're looking for.

I had 4 thoracic vertebral fractures before and thank God I didn't have devastating consequences after seeing the x-rays. In fact, I had driven myself in (lonnng story in archives of this msg board). Anyways, without the cord inpinged on at that immediate time, I was a walking wounded myself. Now what used to (still does) frustrate me; when I worked EMS and now ski patrol, on pt.'s w/spinal precautions we put the collar on, etc. Why is it the minute they get to the ER, time and time again I've watched the ER doc palpate "ok, does that hurt here? No, good, here? No, ok, I'm taking the collar off, just lay still"

With so many posters, regulars, etc., it's probably hard to remember or tell who's who, so a brief recap- I've suffered from severe intractable back pain after multiple vertebral fractures a few years ago. The most effective modality has been hydrocodone, but still, even sitting upright in an admin. type position for hours on end was painful for more than 30 minutes, causing me to shift positions ever few seconds-minutes just to try and get relief. Last week my agony finally ended after a little experiment. My PMD was talking about my particular issues over lunch with a neurologist, when he suggested Lyrica. I've never had post-herpetic neuralgia or DM/ peripheral neuropathy. After exceeding otc meds many times over in addition to the Rx narcs at prescribed dosages, and a failed attempt at an injection two weeks ago, I had hit my point of desperation and was ready to try ANYTHING. Skeptically, I took the Lyrica. By the next day I was not only feeling the best I've felt pre-accident several years back, but feel like I have my life back again! Where this was an old injury w/ongoing pain, it was felt to have been neuropathic pain in etiology. In fact, since starting the med, I have needing NO pain meds. Cold turkey on otc's & rx pain meds with no side effects for nearly a week now. I have some discomfort that I'm toughing out, but it's nothing compared to what I've dealt with for so long. Since topics dealing with chronic pain, both when it comes to patient care, but for many of us who have chronic pain or issues as well, I would hope maybe my situation and sharing this might benefit someone else. The Lyrica is expensive, but worth it to me.

For starters; the side of effect of many of the opioid narcs will have the side of being irritable and some patient's ending up nasty and angry. It does burn me to see many patients who IMHO are over-treated, then others being undertreated. Surely an ORIF of the knee isn't going to feel too good and the meds were very necessary in her case.

employers are limited in what they can legally say. It's any references you include that will be followed up on, details asked and so forth. Usually the calling an old employer more or less verifies you were there and not lying on the app about having worked there in the first place. In the past I was in your same situation... had worked somewhere that I did not care to have contacted. When it asked for who my supervisor was in a space, I wrote ("is no longer w/company") which actually was the truth in my case.

In skimming through this thread, something I have not seen that I had a thought on are long term effects. By altering hormones a bit, what will the long term risks/effects be as relates to Osteoporosis?

usually the instructions which come from the pharmacy on meds such as vicodin will include something that says "may upset stomach, take this medicine with food." Not remembering things and dizziness while on this type of med is a commonly reported side effect. One last thing - be sure to not drive or get out the forklift while taking it. Best of luck to you on your recovery.

hand sanitizer is good quick between activities or rooms solution, but the problem I have run into occasionally is the skin on my hands becoming excessively dry from using it. Traditional hand washing gets my vote as being better, but doubled up and using both certainly helps prevent germ spread.

A great idea you've thought of... just several years too late. The only thing I can think of is if you are referring the already existing pump, but also having the unit automatically check the BS and doing everything without any intervention except for the obvious of refilling the insulin. Where diet, exercise and many factors influence sugars, it almost seems a computer chip of sorts would have to be created. Sounds like the theory of an artificial heart, except here an artificial pancreas.

Everyone deals with death in the their own way. My view of attending a funeral or memorial service is *not* for the deceased, but a way of showing support for the immediate family and those who knew the deceased best. Even then, just seeing pictures and hearing people talk about a person I may have not know so well will cause my eyes to leak. IMO, I would rather a person throw a big get together for me while I'm alive to enjoy, not spend a fortune when I'm gone and not meaningful to me. I have mixed feelings about funerals/memorials. I think the funeral homes charge way too much. It seems rather crass to buy a casket with beautiful finished wood, silky pretty this and that when a pinebox would do. I'd rather have a big fancy comfortable bed to enjoy while I'm alive and appreciating it. Once passing from this life, my body is mere useless flesh (though I have made my intentions of organ donation clear to family). Expectations? Did you know the family at all? If not, they may not notice whether you are there are not, though just being there as a moral supporter if you had a few hours of time on the day of the service would be the kosher thing to do, but certainly not a necessary expectation.

a crude or off-color sexual comment is no worse than the same person going on a slew of profanity within earshot of others. It's not professional and does not belong in the workplace, period, despite who the comment(s) may be directed toward. There's always the situational times in life. This new male RN the OP mentioned who made the off-comment from a psychological standpoint may just be trying to fit in, and his method of small chat and trying to incorporate into his new work surrounding is something he lacks tact in. I'm one for a joke and seldom offended (the exception is if someone takes God's name in vain, I will be offended there and say something). The world nowdays gets so politically correct it's ridiculous. Years ago, subjects which were taboo to even mention (such as sexual preference ie. straight, same-sex couples, etc) are expected to be openly accepted, yet someone having a bad day can go a sexual harassment suit?(rhetorical, not really looking for an answer to that subjective comment of mine). I live and work in a "right to work" state; and depending which side of the fence you are sitting on is either to your advantage or disadvantage. An employer could easily let a person go without a 'good' reason simply because they don't like the color of the persons hair, of course those situations are disguised as not meeting standards, etc. In RTW state situations, I speculate that harassment and sexual based consequences actually depend on the person guilty of such - if it was someone they were looking to let go, it makes a convenient termination excuse. I think most of us have seen the injustice in the world where people are in job positions that don't belong there, but due to politics and countless issues, can get away with one thing that the next person cannot. Jokes, gestures, etc. come down to situation, place and timing. I would define true harassment as a form of bullying. We all make mistakes, say things we wish we hadn't, but one needs to be the bigger person, speaking up and let the other party know when they are offended. It's went the offender keeps offending after being asked to stop the inappropriate behavior where I say it would be defined as harassment.

This piece of advice is not only good, but in the position of a patient something similar had occurred. Several months ago, I had been transferred out of ICU to a different floor. Before transferring me I had been given a med. Upon arriving to the new floor, there was a nurse following orders from the chart, but not realizing I had been given a dose already. Luckily I was aware and let him know and he was able to double check the records and discovered indeed I already had my dose. Not sure how often scenario's like mine happen, but just wanted to add my $0.02 on that one.

didn't take me long to copy and paste into a couple emails. Made me laugh outloud! :yelclap:

interesting how there are always studies that no one else ever heard of to participate in. On sticky pad, someone needs to draw a little broom and leave it on her desk :trout:

At my desk, a couple of our lab techs (are contracted through a different company but we all work on the same premises) had not only remembered my birthday last month, but when I came in, they had a special card, cut little stuffed animal and snacks as a gift which they had so thoughfully left at my desk were I normally sit. A very nice feel-good day! :balloons:

Ok, here are a few, some easier than others, and just random ones. Will post answers and/or hints in the next 2-3 days if any are stumpers to anyone... RLQ SLR OSA FSBS PVD IOL DM DTR ASCAD RTC CHF EOMI QD SOCMOB (hint, slang)

whaley FOB Fecal Occult Blood

ERCP -- don't remember w/o looking this one up EGD -Esophagogastroduodenoscopy ASA - aspirin PCN - penicillin RRR (think cardiac) Regular rate and rhtym AST - liver enzyem SGOT - liver enzyeme SPO2 (think respiratory) - Pulse ox reading C/D/I (think dressing) - ??? GERD - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease ETOH - alcohol BID - 2x daily TID - 3x daily QID - 4x daily PO - by mouth NPO - nothing by mouth QHS - once a bedtime/nightly AC - acromioclavicular / ahhhh cr@p!! PRN - as needed EF (cardiac) - ejection fraction CVP SvO2 FiO2 LPM BPM - beats per minute N/V - nausea and vomiting uh oh, looks like I don't remember a couple! adding on to this post (I swear I'm not trying to be a Post-WH**E today). A few pages back saw FUBAR but don't recall seeing the answer... I thought this was universal where "everyone" knew, but in the event someone doesn't, it's 'Farked' Beyond All Recognition

Ohhhh, I know this one! Compulsive pulling out of hair! (this term became a joke in the workplace a few years ago)

Before reading through the rest of the thread and/or seeing answers posted, I'm going to take my guesses...... 1) PAFO - Peed and fell over? 2) PONV - i'm thinking either "oral" or "post op" nausea & vomiting 3) OOHA - something to do with opthalmic headaches? 4) and this is one I accepted without thinking, until I realised I didnt know what it stood for - INR. 5) PND - Postnasal Discharge/drainage 6) FITH'S DISEASE - some type of virus? (been awhile since I saw/heard this one) 7) CAD - Coronary Artery Disease 8) PUIT - purple urine in tube (I totally don't know this one!) 9)TURP - Transurethral Resection of the Prostate now to hit reply and continue reading the thread and see how many I got right

while many of us(myself included) are going "ewwwwww" over this, a thought I just had - while a field or ER intubation is usually a life or death situation, what are the protocols on blades used in the OR when one is under for general anesthesia?

While this thread overall made me giggle, I think this above scenario indigo girl posted would be the most likely?

I haven't left one anyone, but on the other side of the table when as a patient, have been scolded for removing my own before :sofahider

I'd think items such as cost of living, and overall quality of life need to be considered. Additionally, what kind of benefits or other perks? In an area with a low cost of living, $11/hr with full benefits, med, dental, etc., a good 401k program, etc., could make it worth all the while. It would really depend on what other perks there were (such as a low to no stress environment) and factors to make such low pay worth the while. Another poster mentioned scholarships, so the cost of education and those paying off student loans would be another issue. Many variables to think of. Unless the employer were just offering amazing benefits to make $11/hr as an RN worth the while, I would highly question what kind of rat-hole-in-the-wall type of employer they were.