Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Meriwhen

    nurse-pt ratio

    Meriwhen replied to lynnpsychrn's topic in Psychiatric

    So basically 1:15 or so. For acute care or detox, it's too high. Depending on the acuity level, 1:6-1:10 is a good ratio. Sadly, such crazy ratios are all too common, especially if there are no...
  2. Meriwhen

    Is this crossing boundaries?

    Meriwhen replied to SNurse15's topic in General Nursing

    Keep in mind that as a nurse, you're not always going to have the opportunities for closure that you'd like to have. Patients are going to discharge/transfer/die whenever fate decrees, and you can't...
  3. Meriwhen

    Childcare for 7-3 shift

    Meriwhen replied to sippee's topic in General Nursing

    When I worked that shift (actually, 0645-1515), I had to find a provider that opened at 0630. Like in your area, most providers opened at 0700. It took a lot of searching--and figuring out the best...
  4. Meriwhen

    New grad psych nurses

    Meriwhen replied to nursingfornurses's topic in Psychiatric

    I thought I would regret it, but as time went on and I gained more experience, I fell in love. And psych turns out to be one of the easier specialties to get work in, because many nurses don't want...
  5. Meriwhen

    A would be patient

    Meriwhen replied to vintagemother's topic in Psychiatric

    Always put your and your family's safety first, and never feel bad for doing that. NEVER. If you are ever concerned about someone you see in public and don't feel safe in approaching them, don't...
  6. Meriwhen

    Fall risk assessment and transgender pts?

    Meriwhen replied to StayOrthostatic's topic in LPN, LVN Students

    None of the fall risk tools that I've used have ever assigned someone points strictly because of their gender. But clearly they do exist. If I'm going to go by a tool that does use gender...I would...
  7. Meriwhen

    What advice would you give your 19 year old self?

    Meriwhen replied to depalma.amada's topic in General Nursing

    More attention to school, less attention to partying. and Don't get into
  8. Meriwhen

    5 Ways Night Shifters Can Sleep Better Now!

    Meriwhen replied to Surg-OncRN's topic in General Nursing

    I use a white noise app on my Kindle or iPhone (whichever one I grab first) to mask the household noises--I set it to a timer so after half an hour it fades off. I have also recently discovered the...
  9. Meriwhen

    You are NOT allergic to...

    Meriwhen replied to BuckyBadgerRN's topic in General Nursing

    My favorite are the psych patients who come in with a laundry list of all the psych meds that they are supposedly allergic to. Yet I never see a benzo on that
  10. Meriwhen

    Are you Facebook friends with your coworkers?

    Meriwhen replied to BlueDawnRN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I am friends with some of them. But as my account is private and I really don't post more than pictures of the little ones, funny cat videos and the occasional humor meme, I'm not too worried. If I...
  11. Meriwhen

    Drug Testing

    Meriwhen replied to level1's topic in General Students

    I live in California. CA nurses caught with a positive UDS for THC can and do face disciplinary action from both employers AND the BRN, even if they're holding a medical marijuana card in hand. I...
  12. Meriwhen

    Help! To stay? Or not to stay?

    Meriwhen replied to ajanilom's topic in Psychiatric

    Look at it this way: One position is a definite job offer. The other position is a "maybe"...and a "maybe" often has a way of panning out into a "no." Plus that job is PRN, which means that hours...
  13. Meriwhen

    New grad in Psych nursing and your experiences?

    Meriwhen replied to denicola.c's topic in Psychiatric

    Since you say "visiting a patient," I'm going to guess that this is home health. New grads should NOT work home health...and this is doubly true for psych home health. You need to have an established...
  14. Meriwhen

    Patient Population?

    Meriwhen replied to smoup's topic in Psychiatric

    Adults (18+), mostly those with chronic psychosis of varying degrees. Every now and then I work
  15. Meriwhen

    Two job offers but no official offer letters yet....

    Meriwhen replied to Nursing2102's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    It doesn't matter who verbally promises you what: unless you hold in hand an official job offer from HR in writing, you don't have a job. Hope your letters come soon and good
  16. Meriwhen

    Is it just me, or is this rude, sexist, and condescending?

    Meriwhen replied to RNdynamic's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Rude? Yes. Condescending? Yes. Sexist? Sorry, but No. IMO, as long as you leave the bathroom in a neat condition (i.e., clean up after yourself), who cares if the toilet seat is up or down? All it...
  17. Meriwhen

    What to do when u find an unresponsive patient

    Meriwhen replied to LucasNewGrad's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I also have to wonder how frequently the patient's nurse and the CNA were rounding...I mean, if the patient was found cool, mottled and stiff, that patient hadn't been visited by one of them in a long...
  18. Meriwhen

    What to do when u find an unresponsive patient

    Meriwhen replied to LucasNewGrad's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    What to do if finding an unresponsive patient... 1. Call the code (and/or 911) 2. Start BLS until either the code team/paramedics arrive and takes over, or you learn that the patient is a DNR. 3....
  19. Meriwhen

    Sexual Comment from Boss???

    Meriwhen replied to headtotoewounds's topic in General Nursing

    That's how I interpreted it as well. Mind you, I wasn't present at the conversation so I don't know what else was said, or how (paraverbals, body language) it was said, or what he exactly was...
  20. Meriwhen

    Can a Muslim wear a headscarf and long dress while working as a nurse?

    Meriwhen replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Career Advice Column

    Be aware that the rules are different in psych when it comes to the headgear. Your headscarf may end up being used by a patient as a weapon, either against you, towards themselves, or towards someone...
  21. Meriwhen

    Denied R.N. License after NCLEX

    Meriwhen replied to Erational's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Contact the BON of the state you are interested in working in, and see what they suggest. 99.9% certain that you will not need to retake the NCLEX. It's good that you were upfront with the BON...
  22. Meriwhen

    Accused of narcotic/ alcohol abuse... No clue what this is about!

    Meriwhen replied to Purplegiraffe's topic in General Nursing

    Keep in mind that the BON looks into any and every complaint and allegation they receive. Not all of these will result in an investigation, but if the BON does decide to investigate, then there's...
  23. Meriwhen

    7:30 meds? Who is responsible for giving?

    Meriwhen replied to Manda92's topic in Patient Medications

    When I work NOCs, 0730 meds would belong to the AM shift. NOC may decide to give the med if things are slow and they're able to, but technically AM is responsible. But it's also very rare for a...
  24. Meriwhen

    To medicate or not to medicate

    Meriwhen replied to SuperMomBob's topic in Patient Medications

    If you didn't see any clinical need for a PRN, then you were right in not giving it and night shift just has to deal with it. That being said, when it comes to PRN sleep aids: you may want to start...
  25. Meriwhen

    How to get used to/deal with the inconsistencies of per diem work

    Meriwhen replied to BertG77's topic in Agency Nurses

    Your agency should also have info about "show up pay" in your employment agreement with them. Every agency I've worked for would give at least 2 hours' pay if you are not cancelled within a certain...