JonRN

I have done it numerous times when the census was low in the SICU, been floated to a ward and worked as a nsg. asst. I didn't really mind, much better than passing meds on a floor where you don't know the pt.s and half of them have no armband. If I didn't know what to do I just asked the other nsg. assts and they helped me. Still got RN pay.

I woulda handed him the syringe and the insulin and said here, you give it, or allow me enough time to get a proper syringe. Then, if he chose to draw it up and give it, I would have documented it on the pt's chart.

Great idea!!! I been preaching this for years, they should concentrate on medics getting out of the military, make them a deal they can't refuse, like giving them credit for experience if they are able to demonstrate competence. What turns a lot of these guys and ladies too off is having to take classes in things they already excel in. They feel it is a waste of time as did I when I was in school.

All patient deaths are tough. When I worked hemodialysis the deaths were the worst because we saw those guys 3 days a week for 6 hrs., and spent more time with them than a lot of their families. I always went to the Funeral Home when one of them passed, we would usually meet there and go as a group. Keep caring Mandi, sometimes we are all the patients have.

We had a haunted bed once in the SICU where I worked, every pt we put in that bed died shortly afterwards no mattter how well they were doing. We had the Catholic Chaplain bless the bed, and the deaths stopped. Then we had a black pigeon that landed on the window sill and looked in at the pts who were on their way out. Every time we saw that pigeon look in, the pt died soon after that. Pappy

What about us male nurses? We need a catchy little ditty about us too. I am suing Pink (whoever the hell she is) for blatant discrimination. I am so far behind the music scene I have heard of Pink but never heard one of her songs. I listen to the moldy oldies, they know me there. Pappy

One time I brought a hunk of longhorn cheese and some crackers to work and put the cheese in the break room fridge. When I went to get it, some idiot had taken a bite out of it and the teeth marks were in it. ARRRRRGGGGGHHHH. This was in the SICU, everyone who worked there was an RN. I was so pissed I went on about a 3 hour rant about it. Nobody ever confessed. What slobs!!! Pappy

What about niacin to lower cholesterol? I tried all the statins and they caused severe muscle cramping in my legs, so my Dr. put me on time release niacin and that seems to be doing the trick. Pappy

A hospital paid for my education, books, tuition, plus a monthly stipend to live on (wasn't much, I had to work part-time ). I signed a contract that I would work for them for 2 years after graduation. After the 2 years I was free to do what I wanted, so since I had a better offer, I left, didn't feel guilty because I fulfilled the terms of my contract. I was already working there as an LPN when they made me the offer. This was in 1975, dunno if any hospitals still do this. This was during N.S. 1 (nursing shortage 1) I would check around, who knows? Maybe someone else on this board has some more recent experience. Good luck. I wouldn't want to taste too many patients though. Pappy

Brownie..........thanks so much for the kind words, you have no idea how much they mean to me. Even though I have a great support system, sometimes I feel like I am hanging out here alone, and that nobody cares. I guess it is natural to feel that way sometimes according to the leukemia/lymphoma board. You are a kind person and much appreciated by me. Jon

I am proud to be a nurse even though I am retired now. As a sr. citizen (kinda) with cancer, I hope every day that the nurses who care for me when I need it are as dedicated to the profession as I was. Well, to be completely honest, maybe even a LITTLE more dedicated LOL.