jaquelynne

THank you!!!

I have a patient with both traumatic head injury and valium overdose. His blood gasses show respiratory acidosis. What exactly is causing this? Does an overdose of valium supress respirations? If so, how exactly?? I know head injury can supresses respirations, but is it because of pressure on the pons? (wouldn't that be a pretty late sign?) or disrupting CO2 sensors? Any help is appreciated!

thanks kmoonshine! :)

float RN, glad you like the website...I know its a little busy, but it's a big topic!!! Northern Rose you my be my evil twin (I, of course being the good one!) because I'm the same at work. Of course at home hubby & I are both green minded....at work others aren't so much. The call me the Granola Nurse! Retired RN-always a good thought, especially when we think about the huge environmental impact of medications once they're excreted (especially antiobiotics and hormones-viagra, BCP, PMU)! Why not stay healthy & not take em?! PawashRN-not sure what you mean about nuked? I'm with you on saving supplies! Thanks for the thoughts everyone! More ideas: -NEVER EVER put meds down sinks/drains -return unused/expired meds to pharmacy & manufacturers NEVER flush! -collect recycling -recycle shredded chart paper -recycle supplies for 3rd world contries (human and veterinary) -Go easy on the soap when you wash your hands-most of it just runs down the drain (same for all Personal Care Products) -unplug anything that doesn't need to be run/charged -advocate for a healthier work environment (get rid of that asbestos!) -get some plants on your unit -wear scrubs made of natural fibers -plan in advance so you don't waste supplies (dressing changes, etc) -empty your pockets before you go home...you'll eventuall get fed up "collecting" things and throw em out anyways! -turn the lougne tv off if no ones in there -turn out lights if not necessary -bike or transit to work -Walk to Timmy's for your coffee runs (isn't there one across from every hospital?). It's a nice break! Anything else???

Thanks everyone....I vaguley know what they are, but I confuse them right now because I've done the theory but not yet used them a lot in practice. I'm sure once I use them and see more cardiac patients it will be clearer. What can't they call them "speeditupitus", "slowerdowner", etc!? :) Luvkitties, I like that one!

Has anyone thought about how bad the effects of health care can be in terms of public health and sustainability for the environment? It seems everthing we do as nurses has a cost and impact further on down the road! I have done a bit of research on the impact of nursing on public health and the environment, and there are some very significant impacts. I have focussed on medications and the environment, and health care waste. I'm not sure if this is allowed here, but I have also built a website regarding these issues.....please feel free to take a look and tell me what you think. (This is just a hobby trying to improve practice, not a business or anything) http://www.environmentalnursing.bravehost.com/ The best part: I have been invited to help change practice in my health authority! What about you guys...... Does anyone at your workplace advocate for changes that are more environmentally friendly? Do you have a "granola nurse" like me on your unit? What do they/you do? Is anyone still wasting meds down the sink? Do you keep reducing waste in mind when performing proceedures? When assisting with patient care, are you mindful of trying to help reduce the amounts of personal care products used? Has your workplace done anything to conserve energy? Create a healthier work environment? How much do you do at home to make things "greener"? Thanks for your thoughts!

I only looked quickly at you links, and did not see SBAR spelled out anywhere...forgive me if this is a repeat.... This is what the floors at my hospital use…it’s a pre-printed form. I don’t use it in emerg, so not sure of positive & negatives of it, but it looks like it could help to keep you organized, I would not read it word for word, but to have in front of you to focus your thoughts. S-situation State who you are (name/position/location) I am calling about____ (pt name/location) The pt’s code status is__________ I am calling about____ (new onset chest pain, etc) My assessment is as follows: Vital signs_____________ I am concerned about _____________ (symptoms/abnormal values, etc) B-background (have chart with you) Admitting diagnosis: ________ Admit date:_____ Proceedures performed________________IVT_________ Meds_______________Allergies_______________ Treatments pre & post onset of this problem________________ O2 ___L/min___________ Previous VS ________________ Lab results___________________________ Report also by system: NVS: LOC, GCS Resp: BS, Air entry, cough, secretions, chest tube CVS: pedal pulses, skin colour, edema, diaphoresis GI/GU: abd soft/firm, BS, N/V, urine amont A-assessment (what do you think?) I think the problem is_________________ OR I am not sure what the problem is, but I am concened. OR…. The pt is unstable and we need to do something. R-recommendation (what do you want from the physician?) I recommend ____________________ (come see pt, talk to family about code status, etc). Do you need and tests ordered? You may need to ask the following: When are you coming to see the patient? What parameters do you want me to continue monitoring? What changed should I expect to indicate improvement? If you are not coming in, when should I call you again? **Remember to repeat all orders back to physician**

"Trouble Me" Natalie Merchant/10,000 maniacs...beautiful song....

Gross analogy, but works for me.... Thing about flushing a toilet...... you flush, and then flush again right away......nothing happens right? THis is because the tank doesn't have time to fill....PRELOAD is decreased in the tank. What if the toilet is plugged up? When you flush, it backs up....this is too much afterload.

I'm taking my ER certification now.....and kep getting my "A" drugs mixed up" Atropine, Amiodarone & Adenosine. Anyone have any good ways to remember these drugs/when they were used, or to tell them apart? Thanks!

A glass and mercury thermometer inserted into the member.....where it broke.

Thanks for the info Dinith88! I have surfed around quite a bit & there is a ton of great info out there. Are the two conditions related or do they occur in abscence of each other? I know Right & Left heart faliure can be related as each side of the pump fails, but what about systolic & diastolic? Will one lead to the other? Many thanks!

I'm spinning my tires a little bit on the subject of heart failure and can't find a decent description in my patho text. I was hoping someone on here could help out a bit. What is the difference between diastolic heart failure and systolic? Can one lead to another? Many thanks