Allison S.

I made myself a sheet in a word processing program. It has five rows, one for each patient, and four columns. In the first column, I write the patient's name and aid's name, and sometimes the docs name (but that's usually in my head). I also put gene...

Oooh. One more thing. I did go to school with some RTs who sere getting out of the field because they were bored with it. I think they were both working in LTC.

Some of our RTs are wonderful, and moreover, eager to share their expertise with a novice nurse like me. On the other hand, I have repeatedly gone into a room after and RT and found things like a dry mist bottle. Once, I entered a room as the RT was ...

I work with PTs, OTs, and SLPs in a rehab setting. All are professionals, polite, team players, and respected by the other staff. I have found the PTs to be especially knowledgeable. My only complaint about any of them is that they don't always kee...

Some days at our unit, it really feels like the docs work for the nurses. I frequently hear the question "What do you want me to order?" from the docs. They are very respectful, and also very generous with us, especially on the weekends, they bring...

I have the Littman Cardiology III. It has heads for pedi and for adult. (Even if you focus on pedi, remember that they can grow to be quite large-- we have two 200 pounders now. Each head funcions as both diaphragm and bell. You have to press dow...

Hi Mandi, It sounds like everyone else has good, reasonable suggestions. The only thing that occurred to me that may have been left out is alcohol. I don't want to cast aspersions, but people who drink can have withdrawal effects. I'm not talking ...

I work in pediatric rehab in Massachusetts. Our ratio is 4-5 patients per nurse during the day and 7-8 at night. Our acuity is relatively high for a rehab because of our location. At our adult facility, I think the ratios are worse. I can't imagi...

Check out the esperiences of the Massachusetts NA. They recently severed ties with the ANA, because the ANA was not representing them. It is my understainding that the ANA does not support collective bargaining.

This sounds familiar. My RN diploma was recalled by the Dean of Nursing, because something was wrong with them. (Don't know what?) It was still valid. Doesn't affect my license. They still haven't replace it as promised. It's been a year -- perh...

We use Quadramed, but I don't think it is being used to predict staffing on a regular basis. On occasions when we have high acuity, it seems to take demand from the staff nurses to our unit management to increase staffing. Not sure if they then use...

Took mine in MA in Jan 02. For some reason, a chunk of numbers was not posted on the web until weeks after all of the surrounding numbers were. I watched classmate after classmate come up on the list while still awaiting my results. Finally got wi...

Here's one we found at our pedi rehab, where we have recreational outings for the kids: "Enjoys boweling" (i.e bowling)

We use acidophilus capsules and tablets. I wonder how the bacteria fare as they travel through the entire GI tract, though. Is there anyone who has ever heard of acidophilus PR?

I find the Lexi-Comp guides thorough yet easy to navigate. They also have a pedi guide a geri guide--more specialized than most, if you need.

I find the Lexi-Comp guides thorough yet easy to navigate. They also have a pedi guide a geri guide--more specialized than most, if you need.

We practice primary nursing in a slightly different way than what I am seeing described here. I work in a rehab hospital where average length of stay is 3-4 weeks, and some patients are with us for months. In our version of primary nursing, each p...

We practice primary nursing in a slightly different way than what I am seeing described here. I work in a rehab hospital where average length of stay is 3-4 weeks, and some patients are with us for months. In our version of primary nursing, each p...

Hi Kook, I have Bachelor's Degrees in English and Biochemistry. Nursing school was certainly demanding, but I think that if you got through a major science degree, that you won't find the material of nursing that difficult. The hours are another th...

One of our patients was profiled in the newspaper and about the nurses, she said some were nice and some were rude. When you are dealing with certain issues and certain people, nice doesn't cut it, and people may find certain unpleasant news to be ...

The Ultimate JCAHO answer is, "I don't know, but I know who does, how I can find out, to look in our P&P manual, etc. We are by far the best unit in our rehab hospital. We got dinged for having dust on our defibrillator. That could be considere...

One of the reasons that I went into nursing in my thirthies after two other Bachelor's degrees and lots of work experience in a variety of environments, is the VARIETY of nursing positions available. Granted, I live in a big city, but even smaller p...

Hmm. Let's see. My favorite clumsy move at work has to be taking the spike out of a partially filled IV bag, and then leaving it hanging. If I'm really clumsy, it spills all over me! Haven't dumped it on a patient yet. Personally, I'm torn betwee...

I find that twelves can be more efficient. I feel that I have better continuity in carrying out care plans. Working days, I can see almost the entirety of a pediatric day, and most of the spectrum of a child's activitites. Also, a two thirds as mu...