BuffaloLPN

You can work here and live there, you just have to explain that you are going to work everytime you cross the border. My family does it, but they are Canadian citizens and work in the US. The Passport thing won't take effect for another year or so. Hope you live right in Fort Erie! Can I ask (out of curiosity) why? Do we US nurses make that much more?

I have been working as a nurse for ~8 yrs and I just cried the other day (starting a new job)! I was so nervous, felt like I should know everything already- as did the preceptor- and I totally lost it. Cried like a baby! Hope you can picture me crying in front of my new manager and it helps to know other people get nervous too! Not just new grads! And not just RN's!

Yes, we were taken into the back. It's not a problem waiting to be seen by doc, I was just upset that nobody(nurses) ever came back to check on him. I couldn't have gotten a nurses attention unless I went strolling around the department, which I thought would be rude. I didn't realize you had to wait for a nurse to appear if you needed something. As we were leaving I could see them all sitting at desk, which before that I had no clue was there. Could I have asked then for help? Probably. Convince my husband to go back and wait longer- NO WAY. Result- he felt better after 2-3 days of couch, heat, meds. Primary said it was a muscle strain/possible tear. And not to go to that ER again.

Thanks for your response. I struggle with the fact that during resp season, I look at all the people coming into our ER and think- can't these freaks just take some tylenol and stay at home? It was hard to sit and think we were wasting their time and also think he really needed someone to check him out. There is no way he will go back to the ER now- you know how difficult boys can be!

I would love opinions on this one- Yesterday hubby wakes me and tells me he hurt his back. He is lying on the floor and can't move without 10/10 pain. How he got up the stairs I have no idea. This is unusual for my very stoic, it never hurts THAT bad kind of guy. I called his PMD who is away for the weekend. After a busy 12 hr the night before and less than 4 hrs sleep, I made the decision we were going to ther ER. He agreed to go which made me feel like it was warranted. I didn't want to seem silly using the ER for something nonemergent, but I couldn't think rationally seeing him in so much pain, and I wanted something diagnostic to tell me he hadn't broken his back. I admit to losing all common sense when a loved one is injured. So we go, he is triaged(vitals taken, questioned about how injury occured). We waited only 5-10 min and were taken back into pt area. There we sat for 2 hrs. Not a nurse, doc anyone. Hubby had to use bathroom but we couldn't fllag anyone down. I asked someone? who happened to walk by for some hot packs and she asked me what I needed them for. I told her he had injured his back, was in pain and she replied - we don't have those and he needs cold anyway. Now, my restless hubby is trying to convince me he is not staying any longer- we must leave. I am trying to keep him calm and NOT notice that I have never seen him in so much pain and not get mad myself that not a nurse has walked by. This hospital is part of the system I work for. I realize that there is a priority level in Er, but they were not running around tending to other pts. When another pt did come in, they all flocked over and stood attending to her. I'm not saying I think hubby needed red status, but couldn't they have checked in to see how he was doing? I can't IMAGINE even with 10 pts at a time, ignoring a high pain rating. Even if I couldn't get a doc to assess I would offer hot packs etc. I'm sure we looked like we were seeking narcs, coming to the ER with something so silly as back pain, but at least LOOK at him. He could've had a tree limb sticking out of his back for all they knew. So, after a few hours of waiting I let no sleep and grimacing hubby get the best of me, and we left. I feel like trash that I would probably roll my own eyes at, but I just couldn't deal. So now he is staying on the couch/bed until Mon morning when we can talk to PMD. I don't know what else to do. He is certainly not going back to another ER- I suggested we go to another with a better reputation for seeing pts, but he will not go. It is probably just a muscle strain that requires rest but I am freaked out that it is something worse. I just cannot get over the nursing part of this. How can they just ignore a pt completely. Even running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I find time to stop in and see my pts. Sorry if this seems like ER bashing, I used to think highly of what they have to deal with and how they do it. Now I am just another annoyed consumer of health care.

Thanks for the laugh, I needed it today!!

I had the same as a 12 yr old, but it turned out to be stress related ulcers. I was always so nervous, shy, worried (over pretty much nothing) that it caused all the nausea. I took Zantac and Gaviscon for years, but finally grew out of it. I admit though that I still "get all GI" whenever I am nervous or anxious about something, I am just better able to deal with things and Sx subside quickly. Hope your little man gets better soon.

The problem with these guys is they will never change! Their mothers ruined them, and undoubtly they will find some poor, low self esteem woman to take care of them for the rest of their lives! :uhoh21:

We team also, and although we do not split assignments(as is done on other floors), the LPN is responsible for own actions under scope of practice, with RN responsible for 'overseeing' LPN. Ultimately the RN has to be sure the LPN is competently providing care during the shift for the whole pt assignment. This is why most RN's don't want to team. It does work well if you trust each others skills and know that communication is open. My favorite RN's to work with walk room to room while I do vitals and do a quick assessment on each of our pts. Of course, it is my role to report any status change to RN, as I am in pt room providing most bedside care(meds, vitals, site checks etc)

I had titres drawn during post needle stick workup- discovered i needed a booster... and so it continued. After my FOURTH booster, then titre, etc I gave up. The employee health nurse said it is possible that some people can have neg titres, no matter how many boosters, series etc. (hope that made sense)

all pts have a record number. it's what the hospital uses to id, bill etc. it is on every chart, sticker etc. Admission forms, instructions, anything with pt major info is stamped with the number. We have the same problem- some nurses ask for it, some don't. So a family member may call and get info a hundred times, until the one nurse who does follow rules asks for it and gets screamed at by the family

We require a medical record number when someone is callling for info. The pt/parent can give this number to people they will allow to call for info. Many parents have freaked when we won't tell them anything when they call after leaving, but we offer MR# on admission to parent (guardian) and usually not a big deal when you explain WHY we don't just give out info to anyone without that number

just wanted to say hi! and best wishes to another buffalo nurse. all the info is overhelming at first but you will get the hang of it. Best of luck

we have DKAs all the time. qhr bloods drawn and physically taken downstairs to the lab, with a full assignment!

Just as so many people say to me "when you have kids" ...it doesn't make you better nurse/doctor if you have kids. What about the ones who can't but love kids so much they choose to work with them as a full time job? Also brings the argument of having kids/being a good parent. Just because you created life doesn't make you a great person/parent. I think it has to do with personality, and understanding. Good peds people are open minded, easy going and empathetic. Fertility has nothing to do with it. I don't mean to sound rude, but I have a hard time being a 'childless' nurse. The GREAT docs/nurses I work with are in both situations. It's their personality that makes them excellent, not their tax claim status

I got my LPN in NYS and didn't learn how to start/use IV's, only monitor site. Actually in my old textbook from way back in 1995, it states LPN's do not start them, or give meds through them! :chuckle My hospital policy allows LPN's to start IV, give meds, use PICCs etc, so I was trained to do so during precepting. Since it is per facility, it would depend on which hospital you work at what you can do. I don't know anybody working in the Syracuse area, here in Buffalo Kaleida allows LPN's to do IV.

Having a bad day -perfect thread for me... - Patients who LIE, FAKERS. Am I the only kid who read "The boy who cried wolf"? - Healthcare workers who give in for fear of a confrontation or worse - People who must think their illness is an accomplishment and tell anyone who will listen the in's and outs (just walk past my stepmother and I'm sure she'll show you her pump! -I am surrounded by these people!!!)

{{{hugs}}}kathygirl8 for me, adjusting to the effexor was worse at the beginning. did feel nervous after going off, but I didn't take it long. I felt the way you described the whole time I was on it, so going off wasn't any different! I was put on it for depression that left me lying around the house unable to function. I think it's uppity side effects are why my NP chose it. I'm sorry you have to go throught this! Worked for me- chamomile tea, quiet nights at home, supportive husband.

The problem with overflow pts is not MRSA, VRE etc. Not every pt on the med/surg floor is MRSA + either, and we have CF, immunosuppresed right in the next room anyway. There is no unit only for the contagious. I just don't like the idea of having PP/OB and med/surg mixed. I am peds med/surg and I FREAK if we get a pregnant whatever. I don't know enough about birthin babies or complications to be comfortable taking care of them. Heck, I work on the adolescent floor because I don't feel comfortable taking care of sick babies, so I also get nervous about taking a 5 mo old as admit. Some tell me that nursing is nursing, but I disagree. Yes, they all have the same kind of vitals, and we all know CPR, ABC but it's not enough. Remember the phrase "don't use it and you lose it"? I can't even remember what a fundus is-it's been too many years. :imbar Are we really expected to know EVERYTHING? Nobody else does, why should we? Thought... we can't float into OB/GYN or critical care, how should we take care of their pts, just because they are put on our unit?

We team- RN alone has up to 6 pts, RN/LPN has up to 10 pts. No aide on nights(well not after 11pm). Lpn's can do Iv meds (no push) and blood draws. Basically RN assesses, charts and helps with meds if needed, and LPN does vitals, meds etc. We truely work as a team, not uncommon to go room by room together. Lpn can do charting as long as RN does first assessment of 12 hr shift. Unfortunately on some floors, they call it 'delegating responsibility' where RN charts that first assessment and they split the 10 in half and each do everything for 'their 5'. I hate working that way but some like it. This is peds med/surg floor

Well, as it turns out, she wasn't mad at me just ticked off in general. I'm glad I brought it up, I HATE when people are mad and don't discuss it. I think people would get along better if we talked it out instead of holding grudges. Lots of suppressed animosity on my unit and you can feel it in the air. Maybe if we all stopped wispering about what so and so did we could better understand their actions and have a healthy work place. Kind of PUNNY for a hospital setting isn't it? :chuckle

I feel so terrible about this, DH says I should just forget about it... Towards the end of one of those 12 hr shifts where you never sat down, admissions til unit was full, VERY 'demanding' pts etc., I was charting for the whole shift and getting ready to leave when yet another iv starts beeping. I tapped her on the arm to let her know it was hers(she has some hearing deficit), and she stomped away all huffy puffy. It's not like I was just lounging, I had been answering iv's all night and honestly just needed to go home before losing it! She is a very sweet person, great nurse, who was having a bad day at the start of the shift, and had just gotten a pretty complicated admission. I always try to help out and don't do the "it's your pt, you do it" thing, but my back was killing me and I just wanted to go home. She had time left in her shift so I figured it wasn't a big deal. Was I wrong to not do it for her? She is someone I consider a friend, so I feel horrible about upsetting her. Please tell me what you guys think..

Never storm into the lobby of a Children's Hosp with a cigarette in your mouth demanding that security light it for you so you can go up to NICU to visit your "baby on crack, but don't worry... I was released from jail I didn't escape" At least wipe the stool from your fingertips and the clave of the central line before denying that you put it there

It is still used in the US for veterinary use only. Many dogs use it for incontinence.

Watching pica pt shove INCHES and INCHEs-ok FEET- of blanket, gown down his throat. The running comment is "would you like ketchup on that?" Also, not too gross but - once had a very confused elderly pt with constipation. We tried everything possible. Finally just to get her more comfortable, we put her on the shower chair ( the toilet seat kind, JIC) wheeled her into the shower and she let out the LARGEST amt of stool I have EVER seen. I swear you might have thought an elephant or two had made the pile! Turns out her confusion was related and she thanked us endlessly: turned out to be so sweet.