Diana,RN

My favorite is by far: COPD Exasperation

'Operations manager' anagrams to 'Great ape as in moron.' LMAO

First off...a big hug for you! Secondly, Please get off of nights! I don't know you or your history, but it sounds as if you are suffering from depression. Something that may be intensified by working nights. Third: Please get counseling to help you cope with your emotions! And please, keep sharing about how you feel! Keep us updated, Diana

heartworm in humans? don't kow...but if yes, then most likely not in foot? Sorry I'm busting your chops...I'm tired. I know this abbreviation from german nursing school: HinterWandInfarkt (posterior wall myocardial infarct) HarnWegsInfekt (UTI) Let us know what it is once you find out. Diana

I have been working shifts for 10 years, 8 years of rotating all 3 shifts on an irregular schedule and now 2 years straight nights. I put in for a transfer to days this past friday because I'm growing tired of not having a part in my husbands life. We see each other on weekends only right now and maybe a few hours during the week. On off days I am drained and unmotivated, nevermind the "marital dues":zzzzz I also feel as if I am aging so quickly lately, if you know what I mean. Hopefully by summer I will be on days and be home every night to have dinner with DH and go to bed together and wake up together... As for you situation... I urge you to get off nights yesterday. If your manager doesn't hear you please find another job! And if you ever feel so down that you just can't take it anymore please come and share with us!! Your health (physically, mentally and spiritually) is the most important thing you have. Hugs, Diana:icon_hug:

Thanks, I call them Piston syringe or Bulb syringe. Haven't heard the term Toomey before.

and here's the foreigner asking: What the heck is a "toomey?" Diana

I was on the pill for 9 years, stopped taking it 3 years go and have been trying unsuccessfully in the last 18 months to become pregnant. I don't believe it has to do with my use of BC. I've heard of and known so many people that got pregnant on or just off the pill that I think it does not affect fertility. I am sure there are a few that would say otherwise. Diana

I am from Germany and studied on my own for the NCLEX-RN, passed with 75 questions in an hour. If you retained enough info from nursing school you will be ok. I am sure that a review class would benefit you though. Good luck and keep us posted! Diana

I have to agree, my rule is: never deny oxygen. To prevent excessive dry mouth you could provide frequent mouthcare, use artificial saliva (even though it's kind of gross). I don't really worry about atelectasis in CMO pts. Keep them comfy with O2, pain meds, and your presence.

Well now I feel better... I thought I was just lazy....but I am TAKING CARE OF MYSELF. lol

I am so sorry this happened to you... I hope the NA on lunchbreak had to answer some questions regarding the lack of "pt handoff". Please don't put this on yourself, freaky things like this happen! Live and learn. Hugs to you! Diana

Tried and true, the direct way is the best way to go!

I started out as a CNA on my med-surg floor and here CNA duties include: taking and recording vitals, recording I+O's, assisting patients to bathroom, ambulate patients, transport to and from xray (after 5 or 6 pm), obtain EKG's, do blood draws, turn and change pt's, if CPR certified: do chest compressions during a Code. I think that's about it. Good luck with your interview and I hope you enjoy your career in health care. Diana

In my second year of nursing, working in LTC, I had a resident that was as feisty as they come, refusing care, refusing meds, name calling... He started deteriorating after 2 TIA's, becoming incontinent of urine and stool. One afternoon he threw his poopy undies at the second shift nurse who reported off to me later that evening. His night went ok, a couple of "accidents, otherwise uneventful. On my last round at 6 am, he's lying in bed and crying "I don't know why I'm so being so difficult, I really don't mean to be" He also had some urinary incontinence again and was soo ashamed, couldn't stop crying. After washing him up and changing his bed I tucked him in and looked him in the eye and said: "It really is alright, we love you anyway" (This guy had no family). After that he stopped crying and gave me his big old smile and thanked me for my kindness. Later that afternoon one of my co-workers called me at home and said "You won't believe who died today" They found him dead at 7 am with a smile on his face...

Kind of off topic but I just have to share: Had a 80-something female patient, huge abd. surgery in dec, intubated for over a week (difficulty weaning her off), transferred from ICU to med-surg. I'm providing pm care and suddenly my pt. goes into resp. arrest. Called a code and 20 min late she is back and alert (w/o tube and shock, just bagged and cpr). ICU transfer follows. This was "my" first code (my own pt that is). I was soo scared but my training took right over and things just happened on auto-pilot. Now I am tired and very glad to have this night off. Good night everyone, (a kinda proud) Diana

Dempather, sorry to hear about your havig to deal with this person. Did she end up cleaning the pt as you asked? I would definitely get your charge nurse involved and if needed go up the "chain of command" (do we use military terms in nursing?) Nobody should have to work in a toxic environment like this. Is this NA always like that? How is everybody else treating her? You already said that you are using positive communication skills w/ her. Maybe she feels depressed? Has issues at home? Try not take her behaviour personally. I hope that things will get better for all involved, keep us posted. Diana

:eek:Wow, I would be shocked. But if you are never late, don't call out a lot and return calls on a regular basis I can see why people at work would be worried about your safety. I had a charge nurse go as far as looking up my neighbors number just before I finally got home ad called back (i was convinced I had the night off). I'm always 15 min early, never call out and return calls promptly. What a way to ruin your day off though. Diana

My friends and family know, other than that I don't introduce myself as "Diana, I'm a nurse". My husband on the other hand likes to tell people his wifey is a RN, he's just so proud, really sweet. Haven't had any trouble so far. Giving medical advice is a no-no for me, if I do listen to a friends compaint about whatever, I tell them: I'm not liable, go see a doc" Diana, RN LOL

Here is another issue: patients with pressure ulcers Do you report these to your NM/OM daily? My unit wants to do this, and yes, I am all for it! What tool do you use to update your NM on a day to day basis about patients w/ pressure ulcers, their stage and treatment plan? Another log book is totally undesired, as well as filling out Incident Reports. Let me know what you do? Diana

Hello everybody, I am trying to come up with a tool to educate patients about "unavoidable" hospital noise (iv pumps, bed alarms, call lights, cardiac monitors, etc). I was thinking of a handout... Does your facility do this? If so, could you give me a couple of pointers? I am not sure how to go about writing one of my own. My unit is currently batteling with bad Press Ganey scores on noise levels and we are going to have a "Yakker Tracker" (sp?), and we will also be implementing hourly rounds. I do believe that we are on the right track here, however, my research online leaves this gap regarding patient education about noise. Yes, we are very noisy (hospitals), and yes, we are trying to keep it down... but there are things that we can do nothing about (bed alarms, cardiac monitors and so on). Any input is greatly appreciated! Diana

med-surg, married, female w/ 2 dogs, boy (1 yr 4 mos) and girl (10 yrs) (yellow lab mix and american fox hound). They keep me sane and moving...love them to death! We also have 4 hermit crabs, 13 cichlid fish (very relaxing)... oh yeah... and dust bunnies LOL

ditto

25.50 plus 6.50 shift diff (noc's) and 3.25 weekends. CT, started in march

I don't even recap clean needles, I make use of the syringe caps after drawing up meds. Dirty needles definitely should never, ever, ever, ever be recapped! If the sharps container is too far from the pt's bed grab a small sharps bin (check iv trays or phlebotomy boxes). If those are not available then the employer must be asked to purchase 1: needles with safety glide, 2: more sharps bins or small sharps disposal! Hope this helps. Diana