LPNtoBSNstudent

Thank you for posting this. I think it is important, being nurses, to know other cultural and religious beliefs regarding death and healthcare. Though I am agnostic, I will continue to look at this and other postings related issues and studies such as this.

I replyed the way I did to show there was likely NO HARM DONE that would warrent a lawsuit.

Well, I am still surprised about this whole post. I completely understand why someone would be upset if this happened to their child. But to completely blow it out of proportion like this....? I am really dumbfounded. 8 pages of responses and almost everyone is ready to hang her. I really don't understand why our profession does this to each other.

Are you guys serious??? Jeez, I thought this was a board full of nurses who have been put in situations which a mistake could have happened??? Oh wait, we're all beyond reproach, right? We'd never make a mistake. And how many people here are screaming 'lawsuit'???? I wonder why we can't get raises...all the money and energy and time is going to BS lawsuits. ***. For a lawsuit to be successful there has to be HARM, actual harm involved. This kid got the first dose...protecting him from hepatitis A...which probably protects the mom. Most kids don't have any symptoms from Hep A disease but pass it on readily. Adults, after a period of being non symptomatic have serious problems from it...hence the need for vaccine. (it doesn't stop people from working at fast food restaurants) How do you know who is preparing your food? I have given literally a thousand Hepatitis A injections with no reports of even minor swelling afterward. Yep, there is commonly soreness at the site, which is minor considering HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS. I'd pretty much guess that the Varicella vaccine caused the redness. Hep A is given IM and can be given in the thigh or arm. I prefer the thigh until age 5...for any vaccine. Main reason is because it is easier for the nurse to give a shot there and still hold the child. Parents are notorious for not being good at holding them down...and I'd rather not have a needle break off in someones muscle. Now as far as getting consent...yes this person should have made it clear exactly what was given before it was given. But it is not mandatory to get parent signatures, etc. Most places do obtain signatures because of fear of BS lawsuits. And everyone gets mad because they have to wait for 1-2- hours in the immunization clinic. I am not surprised by someone coming here to vent about a situation like this (who wouldn't be mad about this...) but what I am surprised is how our profession can't wait to pounce on others WITHIN OUR OWN PROFESSION who are not absolutely PERFECT. A few words to the manager of the clinic should suffice (unless actual harm occurs due to the immunization) so it can be brought to the attention of the clinic. It sounds to me like a 'system' problem rather than any specific person being at fault. At last count; 13 states in the USA require Hep A immunizations for school entry...and that number will only increase. I'm sure in your research you know that it is a TWO shot series....ONE now and one in (after) SIX months...and you don't have to repeat the first dose if you don't get it on time. It is given every day in my clinic to children age 12 months, safely. This thread should be a head's up to us all that bedside manner and patient/parent teaching is one of the most important things we can do.

Absolutely not advisable to give to yourself. People have serious allergic reactions to this. Think about it....you are being injected with a KNOWN substance which you are already highly allergic to. As a nurse giving this, you must always have a doctor in house and be ACLS prepared, plus have immediate access to injectable epinephrine, injectable benedryl and O2 when giving allergy shots. I have seen reactions that require intervention! edited to add that each time you get an allergy shot you must be monitored for 30 minutes and then the area measured which then determines the amount of allergen you will be injected with the following appointment.

I don't know what white wall you are talking about but I encourage you to file a complaint against that physician. That should never be tolerated. Maybe you weren't afraid but many others would be, regardless if it was possible to throw him across the nurses station or not. That would scare and upset me to pieces.

I am starting a distance education program for MSN in nursing education at St. Joseph's College of Maine. There is a 2 week summer residency requirement at some point during the program. I am at the beginning of my first class! Theoretical Basis for Nursing. Good luck tweety

I will preface this by saying that I'm not sure what exactly your 24 hour report sheet functions as. But, I don't understand why this couldn't be taken care of by you talking to her plainly and clearly, stating that this was not acceptable to you and that you would kindly ask that she not do something like this again. Personally, it would seem to me that someone with your 'principles' would understand that occasionally people mess up and maybe it wasn't for the wrong reasons. And you want her FIRED for that? I find it a little unprofessional of you to drag it to the extremes like this when it is quite possibly something that you could handle yourself, if done tactfully. Frankly, and I'm sorry to be harsh, but it seems to me that if this is the biggest thing you have to worry about in LTC, you are doing good. And I'm quite sure that your ADNS and DNS DO want to know this information but I doubt very much that they like being given ultimatums and I could bet money that in LTC they have much more important things they could be spending their time on than this. Maybe I am reading your story wrong and I apologize if so. I just don't get it. Let the co-worker apologize and give you an explanation as to why she did it...take her for her word and then reiterate that this is not something you are comfortable with nor will you accept as the norm in the future...and let it go.

http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00243

This is a great website. I take ACLS for the first time this tuesday and wednesday and am scared to death about it. This has helped my confidence and helped me focus a little. I will definately bookmark it for future use too. I think I am going to email the guy who made it. thank you for posting this.

I do not know what the situation is with Air Force GS positions. I am a recent BSN grad (Dec04) and within a few months of graduating my husband who is Active duty Army was stationed in Germany. So while my family all PCS'd to Germany I was not working. I volunteered at the health clinic through the American Red Cross and was eventually offered a job, after about 5 months of voluteering. I wish so much that I was able to work for a full year before starting with the GS system, but I didn't have any choice. As an American nurse there are very few options here in Germany. Anyway, they did not take my volunteer experience into consideration, nor did they take any of my years of LPN experience (I had significant experience as an LPN since 1991). Nor did they even consider clinical experience or even the few months of full time experience I had as an RN before the move to Germany (I worked from January until May!) Now I am working as a GS 5 for one year, then will advance to GS 7 for one year and then will be a GS 9. It is pathetic. I work with a nurse with an ADN and no prior LPN experience, who just barely squeeked by with one year part time nursing experience before getting the job here. She is a GS 9. Like I said, I don't know if there are any differences in the GS system, I doubt that there are. Keep asking around and speak directly to a nurse recruiter for the Air Force GS system, if you can find one.

Please take care of yourself. I agree with the other poster who said be his mom now not a nurse. Please try to surround yourself with friends and people who care about you. This is an emotional kick in the stomach and you need help now too. I am so sorry that you are going through this. There is nothing I can say, I know, to make this better for you, though I wish I could. I hope your son will stablize soon and be able to get the help he needs.

I have never known anyone to do that.

I'm a SSTI member. I was selected in nursing school and have so far kept my membership. I really like the pursuit of nursing scholarship and research. I'm very proud to have been inducted. I would like to do more with the organization when I'm more experienced and back in the States.

Hi there! This is my situation RIGHT NOW! I am a new graduate (december 2005) with my BSN. We moved to Bamberg Germany in June. Before we left I applied for Dodds school nursing, but there was not an opening. So, when I got into town, I went to visit the clinic on post (there was never anything listed on cpol). Anyway, I got the ok to start the process in order to be a volunteer. (It is true that you need one full year of RN experience...my 14 years of LPN experience didn't count for ANYTHING!). However, there is a new program that RN's without experience can be hired on the GS 5-7-9 program....so check into that. Kind of like a 'nurse trainee' for a year or so. (I had 5 months experience as a RN before we came here but that doesn't really count either since it wasn't a full year) Anyway, from June until this month, I have been volunteering through the Red Cross at the health clinic. But it is ok because I am still obviously learning a lot and am able to set my own schedule. Now they are thinking of offering me a part time job through the GS 5-7-9 program. We'll see what happens. Good luck to you.

I guess everyone doesn't always know the right thing to say all the time. I feel that your anger might be misplaced. Perhaps you are still dealing with the anger you have over your diagnosis and you are transferring what you feel to her. I think this might be a normal reaction though. Perhaps she shouldn't have said what she did or said it the way she did or whatever. And I can't imagine why she said that to you, try as I might. Good luck to you. And congratulations on your graduation and landing a new job. Please don't let that nurse's comment influence how you feel about the whole experience of working there or of being a nurse.

Funny you should mention this, as I have heard the same thing, recently. I think it is because *IF* you do use alcohol swabs you are supposed to let it completely dry before you use the lancet because in theory, it could interfere with the reading. Most nurses I know still use alcohol swabs prior to doing the sticking. I'd be curious to hear what others have to say.

I think the best way to combat the drama is to completely stay out of it from the beginning. If you are involved in it once, you'll be involved in it every time. *Don't complain about others or talk behind people's backs. *Treat others respectfully *Try to put a positive spin on things *Let others know in no uncertain terms (but nicely) that gossip, etc, does not interest you and that you would like a chance to form your own opinion. If for example, (and this is a rather elementary scenario) a nurse leaves you in a situation that you have to 'clean up' so to speak (and I think we've all been there), rather than complain about it to others, I've found it is best to go directly to that nurse and discuss it with them respectfully and letting them understand the situation you were put in (or whatever). Approach them as you would like to be approached and treat them as you would want to be treated. You might find out that there was a perfectly reasonable explanation. This is one way in which can show that you expect to be treated with respect and directly. You can be a leader among your peers without being in management. Leaving the area when people start to talk trash can be effective for the moment but it won't change the atmosphere of the unit. Of course you can't change other people but I like to think that we can have some impact (Peer Pressure can work both ways!) I like the direct approach. Letting people know upfront what is acceptable conversation, by how I conduct myself and how I respond to what they say. However, this might be difficult if you are the new one on the unit with a group of people who have been there forever. In that case, yeah, I'd just leave the area and start doing other things, especially until you've been there long enough to feel comfortable. One thing I have heard others say when in that situation, is that they feel that they have to join in with 'them' or else they will be the one everyone is talking about. That is a mistake. Because once you are involved in it once... you will always be dragged into it. And it is so easy to be involved in it! Just one bad day when you are tired, cranky and had it up to here with being a nurse....and the next thing you know you have to keep yourself in check (I'm actually thinking about myself!) to keep yourself from saying something that gets you involved! Good luck! It can be done! I really believe that.

I also put them in the sharps container if the patient refuses or if they get dropped, etc. But, I *have* put them in the toilet and flushed. I didn't realize that wasn't ok. But where the heck do all the destroys go when the nurse and pharmacist get rid of them, specifically in a nursing home.

I have this and I LOVE it. The only problem I have found is that sometimes (being a bit overzealous) I file it down too much causing the nails to be too thin and they break!

I totally agree. Many people are thrilled that their child wants to go to college at all.

More to add... A blister is natures perfect bandage, so it is best if they are left intact, in most circumstances. But I recall there was a huge amount of fluid in the blisters, almost inevitable that they will burst rather than reabsorb. I remember on the blisters themselves, when they burst, I think, we put non stick dressing on them with antibiotic ung and changed them every other day or something. It has been years ago.

Yes, I have seen a few patients with it. As far as I remember, it is not contagious. It looks terrible though! I think it is auto immune disorder. I remember the first time I had a nursing home patient with it, everyone was freaking out like you described and the poor little old lady was just miserable. However, it did eventually go away after a month or so. I think she was put on steriods for it. But then I remember a few years later she got it again, not as bad.

Graduation is tomorrow and pinning is Saturday. Wow. Still hasn't hit me yet...but, I don't want to graduate! I LOVE nursing school.

Kitty cat-- I think this is great to hear that someone was actually trying to preserve that nurses reputation!!! It is comendable that someone would go to such lengths and expense. I am not at all surprised to hear that someone would go through a sharps container to prove their story. Diverting drugs is such an issue with nursing but to feel as though you are not trusted and that you have to do that to prove yourself shows....well, I just know I would not want to work in that sort of environment if I felt that way.