anvano412

Hey! Just a quick question....Back in Novemeber I was having some trouble w/ alcohol and I chose to go to a 4 week outpatient rehab to get things in check. I told my boss and HR and had to sign a last chance/back to work agreement. Anyway, I was non-drinker for 3 months, but AA wasn't for me. I started therapy and have since learned a lot about my past issues and am pretty confindent that I'm ok. But I have drank. I went to a party w/ the some co-workers and drank w/ them. I'm now freaking out that they'll talk about it at work and it'll get back to my boss. (Only 2 know what happened) I'm pretty sure drinking at all is grounds for firing, even if it isn't work related. Anyone have any experience w/ this? If I did get in trouble/fired, would it carry w/ me forever? BON not involved at all. Thanks

Hey...We put opsite on our donors and leave it on for as long as humanly possible until it falls off. As it collects fluid we drain them and repatch w/ more opsite. Then, once it falls off or comes off its dressed in SSD and treated like a burn. I'm confused....you put creams on them fresh post-op? Ouch! Doesn't anyone else use opsite first?

Well, I have to say that about 50-75% of our burns occur from stupid situations....mainly involving alcohol or drugs or suicide attempts!!!! And just stupidity. I once had a patients family ( may he rest in peace) who stated, "They should put warning labels on that gasoline that states this kinda stuff can happen" What?????? Oh and I forget the occassional meth lab explosion! I have to be honest, I think its b/c until I was burn nurse I didn't realize the severity of a burn injury....honestly. General population assumes that its fixable, esp. when it isn't. Aside from burns from crack pipes, the stupidest is usually the "I was burning bursh so I poured gasoline on it." Where is the common sense of people in America?????

Hey...if you are still there on the burn unit....STAY a minute and see! Only b/c I started right out of school and I freaked for a good 6 months! I was so scared and nervous and weirded out just by the look of a skin graft! Seriously I had to force myself to see beyone the meshed skin! Its hard. Its really hard. But it was so worth it. I used to freak about taking care of the really bad burns and terrified of the drsg changes. But I told myself I'd give it a year and if I still wanted to leave than I'd know I tried. Well, I'm less than a month away and I"m confident I will do this forever! Burn is hard, but it is so worth it. These pts. appreciate sooo much and when you get to see them leave healthy (esp. the ones you never thought would get there) its so worth it. But..if you really want to leave you should be able to get transferred w/in your hospital w/out a problem. Just talk to your manager

Hey all New to the site and fresh off my 5th shift in 6 days...and I'm back tonight! Yikes! Anyway, I was just wondering what everyone else thought bout burn nursing and what there experiences were. I graduated last year and went straight into burn and I love it. Know that sounds weird to others, but not when its your passion. On our unit, the nurses are responsible for most first drsg changes ( and all other drsg changes). We are certified, but have one PCA (nursing asst) who was laid off cuz we were slow.(pathetic thing is we have the stupid magnet thing..but thats another story! We take all burned pts. infant to elderly 1%-??? , intubated and all. We are responsible for everything. I guess just wondering how other places treat burns.....We are SSD and Baci heaven. Just starting aquacel (don't like it). Is that what every burn unit uses? I guess just curious bout how other places do there thing

Hey... I'm responding the question about ambulation. First, I'm just completing my 1st year as a burn nurse straight out of nursing school. I work on a certified burn / trauma center (but technicalities make us not a "real" trauma center) Anyway, we do 1st drsg changes 3 days after grafting. If the area is like B LE in full coban drsg than they basically aren't walking. But if its 1 leg and we can help them ambulate to say the bathroom we do....they aren't on the total bedrest thing. But, they will be non-weight bearing on the extremity until 1st change so the graft can have time to take. But, we will put them in the shower chair if the affected leg can hang out....of course all w/ assistance. But 5 Days!!!! My goodness....I'm new at this, but I've heard if a graft will take it will take in 24-48 hrs. Not positive of that though. Hope that helps a little. I'd say if it was a dime size thing and only one leg, I mean use crutches? We certainly believe in rehab asap...its better for the patient. FYI I finished a 1st change and was like c'mon now walk back to your room. We encourage rehab and utilaztion of grafted area as tolerated as encouraged, asap!