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Also Norco/Vicodin and Lortab

I just got my first subpoena! It's for a patient who was brought in by law enforcement for a blood draw. I'm kind of nervous. Any advice?

Well, the defendant pled guilty -- on the first day of the trial. So I'm home free this time. Thanks again for all your help!

BillEDRN, Thank you so much for such a helpful response. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will benefit from it. I have reviewed the chart, and I think I will call the prosecuting attorney's office to get a bit more information. I appreciate you ta...

Thanks to everyone that has given me advice so far. I am disappointed that an argument has developed in this thread. That is certainly not what I expected. I just wanted a little support and advice... I hope people will continue to respond and share ...

The main issue for me is not that they are addicts or that they just want drugs or that they don't really look like they are in pain. What gets to me is how they behave and how they treat us. Someone who is behaving inappropriately (coming up to the...

Wow. That is really good advice, thanks. I would never have thought of that. Like even my regular purse items, wallet, etc? Thank you, that is very good advice too. You're right about it being their job. I just hope it doesn't really make me feel ...

That's what one of my coworkers told me. Have you ever ended up actually having to testify?

Actually, since I am a witness in a case of The People vs the patient, the hospital is not involved and I don't have representation. So when my risk manager found out she didn't really have anything to say about it. Yes, I think that is the situat...

The worst and most uncomfortable call I've gotten was a man that asked if there was a way that he could find out if his daughter is still a virgin. I guess the answer I gave him wasn't acceptable, because he then clarified that what he meant was cou...

The only book that stands out in my mind is Carpenito. I don't know if that would be good for the UK though.

Don't worry -- I remember saying that I learned more during my first few months on the job, than I did during all of nursing school! Once you start working, that's when things start to "click." We've all been there -- stick with it and you will do gr...

I was hoping for some advice from my fellow ED nurses... In my ER the policy is that nurses do not give out medical advice over the phone. However, we get a lot of calls from people who claim to be asking for medical information, not advice. Sometime...

Actually our staff are supposed to refer the "advice" calls to a nurse, which is a waste of time but occasionally we have gotten calls in which the person did need actual basic emergency advice -- such as "my friend swallowed a whole bunch of pills ...

I just realized something based on your helpful replies - something small and obvious but might make a difference: We are told to tell callers that we can't give medical advice over the phone. But if I change it and say that we can't give medical inf...

Thanks so much for your replies. They are helpful. Those are the ones I'm asking about. I have no trouble telling people that we can't give advice, I just lately have gotten stuck in some conversations that last way too long w/ people badgering me ...

You're welcome! It's good to know you can always put it on your resume, right?

I worked with a nurse a couple of times, who used to work as a nurse at San Quentin. I never got to talk to her about it, but let me just say she was one of those people that look like they're really tough and they won't take crap from anyone. I woul...

I think a smile, or a caring expression (or lack thereof) is the most important part of any nurse's appearance. It goes a lot further to affect a patient's comfort level than any hair color, piercing, or tattoo.

Hi there and congratulations! From the STT website: "How long will I be considered a member of Sigma Theta Tau International? You are a member for life after you have been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International. You must pay annual membership fe...

I think it's the same for us. I know we are allowed to give take-home meds because our hospital has a written policy for it. This must be the explanation.

food critic travel writer art restorer/conservationist microbiologist tv host mathematician back-up singer nutritionist fashion designer don't you wish life had a rewind button? then we could go back and try some of these things out. if we didn't li...

Even if we send them home with a couple of percs, don't we still need to put them in a bag/container, labeled w/ instructions? And either way there needs to be appropriate patient teaching, right? I don't really see the difference in the example betw...

There are not any 24 hour pharmacies in my city, and my hospital pharmacy is not staffed at night. The closest 24 hour pharmacy is over 30 minutes away by car. We dispense meds when it is too late for the patient to get a Rx filled. I think we techni...

Kits vary. The straight cath kit we use for males has a red rubber cath that is attached to a bag, along w/ betadine swabs, lube, and sterile gloves.