Gromit

Man that is TOO FUNNY! Somehow "I told ya so" doesn't quite do it. :) The unit I used to work on (nightshift, of course) had a really good crew -we all worked quite well together -and as with most areas, we were always short-handed. No LPNs, no techs, and rarely a unit coordinator/secretary (whatever you call 'em where you work) -so we really had to work well together or fall behind. Around 3, an number of us who considdered ourselves to be frustrated comedians would be telling jokes in passing, and so on. I do a pretty passable 'Apu' (simpsons) and had been talking in that voice most of the night -when the phone rang while I was charting, so I picked it up and (without thinking -as I'd never intentionally do it) answered in 'Apus' voice "Hello, this is 4F, how is it I can help you?" and wouldn't you know it, it was a doctor (of india persuasion) calling to check up on one of (my) patients -who had been teetering on the edge of the Lords Waiting Room for the last several evenings. I told him to please hold and I would retrieve the nurse. I put the phone on hold, counted to 6 and picked it up, introduced myself and answered his question. This did not go unnoticed by one of my cohorts -who quickly picked up on what had happened, and was red-faced trying not to bust out laughing until I finished the call. The rest of the night was much calmer -and I was thankful the doctor didn't ask who the unit coordinator was (assuming that was who would have answered the phone). Sigh. More than my job, I love the folks I work with.

Gee Ingelein are you so rabidly pro-union that you see any comment that doesn't actively support and promote your stance as an "anti-union" comment? I'm puzzled as to what part of my message said I was against the Union in any way shape or form. The more level-headed reader would (correctly) understand that ALL I said is that there are a lot more factors at play than a very oversimplified "we're union, you're not" explanation. Or do you honestly disagree with THIS post as well? RARELY are things EVER so simple, cut-and-dried in real life. Our system of compensations certainly is not. -Hey back atcha. Oh been around. Just haven't really been messing with the 'net in a while. Got really fired up last night when a 2-yr old came into the ER who was (little doubt in anyones' mind) physically abused (fractured face) -really got my steam going. Now I'm keeping a tight eye on the news to see if the 'suspect' is going to get arrested. Anyone who would harm a child -especially to the degree this one was- needs to be strung up. sigh. Sometimes I just wish I weren't part of our species, but I have to keep in mind that most people are not like this.

Good lord, this is the unvarnished truth. YEARS ago, when I was in fire-rescue, we had a sign inside our station, next to the entrance, that said "dead heroes don't save lives". Its meaning was that if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of others. This is just as true for nurses as it is for any other.

silly oversimplification. There are many more differences between the Canadian healthcare system and the one in the USA -many more factors play a role in our pay and conditions of our work environment. When you oversimplify it to the degree you have (union vs non-union) you cheapen the argument, or at worst show ignorance regarding the issues.

well, all the 'good things' aside, I'd say that nobody gets into it just for the money -it doesn't pay THAT good to warrant that kind of thinking. You can certainly make better pay in other professions that aren't any harder to get degrees in than Nursing. That being said, I'm NOT in it as a 'hobby'. I expect to get paid regularly, and I expect to get the bread I'm owed for the hours I put in. Would I do it if there were no pay involved? No. Would any of you? If your employer suddenly told you that you would no longer be paid because (make a reason).. Would you still do the work? If you truly have no interest in the money -that is, if money really isn't a factor, then you can say yes. Personally, I don't know of ANY nurses, RNs, OR LPNs, who would say 'yes' to those conditions. Much as they (and I) care about their patients, they aren't willing to do it for free. I'm certainly not.

hehehe, I remember the V-fib/pulseless v-tach one. Shock shock shock, epi in the body and shock. Lido shock Lido shock, epi-body shock.... sigh. My card expired -as my current positiong (case management in ER) doesn't require it, but I want to get it back (especially since the two-day program is also worth 16 credit-hours for my RN renewal, its a win-win) -My manager overheard me talking to another RN about re-taking the ACLS, and stuck her nose into the conversation telling us that "well since its not required for your position, you will NOT be re-imbersed for the class!!" -my response? I told her I was aware of that, and that I did have a life outside of this job, and was NOT doing it for her or this department. Busybodies. sigh. Every job has them. I do expect to get back to bedside nursing eventually -and I prever cardiac floors, or critical care -and both of those value ACLS (of course, its required). Hey! Happy thanksgiving all of you!!

I'm with Oramar. Management is the primary stressor. Management can easily make or break the job long before co-workers, paitents, docs or families have any chance to ruin it. Management sets the tone. My last manager was pretty good (I didn't know how good until I started working in my new position -and I must say my new manager as well as the assistant manager have me looking over my shoulder, and listening to the ground more than anything else). Since I always worked nights, I didn't have too much interaction (face-to-face) with docs, and with the exception of one or two, I never felt too stressed about them. Families also tended to be gone shortly after my shift began (though I often dreaded the family members who managed to get permission to stay overnight -but I must say that sometimes they were actually a godsend -in which case I often hoped they stayed the next two shifts -grin). Still, family, patients, and to some extent docs, were easily suffered through because you would likely not have the same assignment next week (or after your third shift, anyway, if you worked 3x12) -but management stays the same, and if its not a good one, well, there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. Good coworkers can go a long way toward making the assignment pleasant -and I was fortunate to have a good team to work with.

Back when I first took ACLS (which predates the wide use of the WWW, and certainly in the old days of the dreaded solo-megacode style testing) we just strung the algorythms together with a beat. Didn't sound like much if you did it out loud (and I know the testing agent had to think we were a bit touched in the head) bit it did work. Only problem with the mnemonics is that as has been said here already, things change, which tends to invalidate the mnemonics. Still, home-roll your own, put the words to a beat, and you will do fine. Thanfully, ACLS testing has become much more forgiving than it used to be. I used to break out in sweats just thinking about it. I also distinctly recall one student (paramedics class -which is where I first took ACLS considderably more than a decade ago) who actually had a nervous fit on testing day. Since we went by last name, mine starting with R, I was actually the last to be tested. When my name finally came up, I was in a cold sweat. Sigh. memories. haha.

While I find it an annoyance at best, I'd hardly qualify second-hand smoke as the danger you make it out to be. To a severe asthmatic, yes -even pet dander can trigger a reaction in them. But you're exposed to far more 'crap' via exhaust from automobiles (or my motorcycle) for far longer, and far more consistently, than you are from someones' puffing at a cigarette. But I find it somewhat insulting that we would be expected to keep our role as HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS and then enable -or worse, be around them at the same time- these folks to go smoking. Let 'em smoke if they can get outside on their own. I refuse to participate. While having patients on my floor who can ambulate is kind of rare, it DOES happen once in a while -and I have had a couple that wanted me to take them outside to smoke -I told them 'no. I don't do that.' -while we DO have some remote tele monitors, our patients are (as a general rule) supposed to be hardwired tele. The patient in question gripped all night about it -telling me at every opportunity that on the OTHER floor they took her out (in a wheelchair) so she could smoke. My only response to her was that we are a higher level of acuity and if she is with us, she must be sicker than she was there, and that we didn't do such things on our floor. She retorted (only once) that she would smoke in her room -I told her that I'd advise against it -not only was it unsafe but it was illegal -and if she thought I'd ignore it, she was wrong. I'd happily talk to her doctor about discharging her OUT of our unit if she liked, but while on OUR floor, she had better mind herself because I didn't play games. For the rest of the night, she just griped when she saw me, but otherwise behaved herself. I truly enjoy a fine cigar, or some of my custom-made pipe tobacco. Its a pleasure I enjoy once in a while -oftentimes I'll go weeks between 'smokes', and othertimes I'll enjoy one or the other a few times a week -while on my way home in heavy traffic, or more often than not, with my father (especially when trying out a 'new' cigar). To me they are treats. I keep my cigars in humidors, some of these cigars have been aging (in my own home) for a decade. A cigar (unlike any other tobacco) will actually age or mature if its kept at the proper temperature and humidity levels. In any case, to me they ARE treats, and treted as such. I do not like cigarettes -and while I understand that many cigarette smokes are truly hooked or dependent on their cigarettes, I cannot relate to them because I've never experienced the 'NEED' to have a smoke. I do feel bad for them in much the same way I feel bad for a junkie. I have no idea what its like to HAVE to have something so bad, and so often, that my health will suffer for the need and the use of that product.

Orenda, take heart in knowing that not ALL places are like that -my floor was very supportive of me as a new RN -and we are all supportive of new ones that join our floor. I know there are bad ones out there -and they get a lot of publicity. But there ARE good ones too. AS for the highschoolers -now that you ARE a nurse, THEY are a non-issue. In MOST professional/career type jobs, they will find that the demand varies according to the economy and the ratio of available positions vs educated/qualified folks to fill 'em. In other words, many of them will get their education, and not have much to choose from (if anything) when it comes time to find a job. Many who DO get their job will find themselves stuck in it if they don't like the outfit because there aren't other outfits with which to move to. As a nurse, you're in an entirely different environment. You CAN pick and choose to a large degree where you wish to work, and if you don't like it there, there are other places to work -and other parts of the same field to work IN. Nursing is VERY diversified, and offers more opportunities than most. As for the kids -forget about them. They had zero life experience, and nothing to draw upon except what they picked up from others. Ignorance is often bliss but not particularly useful beyond that. You've outgrown them. I wish you luck in your endeavor. Don't lose hope or get discouraged because you ended up working with some bad eggs. If they find humor in your mistakes, its often because they don't like what they see in themselves. Get some experience, and leave 'em for better digs if you want to.

Same here. I don't interrupt medications for anything short of an emergency. That does NOT include answering phones, taking notes, or chasing down patients to give them messages. Assessment and drug passes come way before playing 'secretary'. When my annual came up, and that was the main complaint my boss had against me, my reply when they asked "what do you think could be done to help improve your performance in this area?" (nice form-letter question there) my reply? "Hire a unit secretary." No, I'm not the most popular guy with management, but my patients are safe, and their meds are on time. Everything else will just have to take care of itself.

Glad I work in a hospital -and on a floor where the patients' "right" to smoke is basically a non-issue. Most of 'em are on vents, and the rest are just too sick to get out of bed on their own. I enjoy my pipe, and fine cigars. I do NOT use such things at work. I DO enjoy them on my commute home (let all the other folks get angry during rush hour. I'm as relaxed as can be. No roadrage on MY end. :) ) at home, I go outside if I feel like having a good cigar -even before I met my wife I did not EVER smoke inside my home. My home is my sanctuary, and I enjoy it being free of smoke. My back porch, with a draft beer in my hand, and enjoying a bit of tobacco in my pipe or one of my favored cigars is an excellent way to relax and enjoy a bit of 'me' time.

Paramedics, Firefighters and police officers aren't bachelor-holders either, though if you don't considder them to be 'professinals' then its a moot point, I suppose. But in ANY case, I'm surprised we're still talking about this non-event (since NY abandoned the idea -or at least shelved it, months ago).

we use a hyperthermia machine (cooling blanket -this thing circulates cold water through a 'blanket' -most machines can accomodate two or three of these blankets -depending on the severity, typically our patients only have one under them (under the bedsheet -never let such a thing remain in direct contact with skin on penalty of damage to the skin) but can have one on top as well. The machine monitors the patients' core temp with a rectal probe -you set the desired body temp, and the machine does the rest (you can set it to be very agressive (cool rapidly) medium or mild. I generally find medium to be the best -no point in inducing shock after all, and mild never really seems to do the job). When setpoint is reached, the machine will 'idle' to maintain the temp -though to test and see if the patient is going to stay within range, we usually turn it to 'monitor' mode and it shuts off everything but the temp monitor. Used properly, these are very handy machines to have.

Well, I don't know what to say about the 'nurses as slaves' bit except that I was unaware that slaves got paid -at least not traditionally -nor that slaves had the option of leaving for a competing job. But as for the other part, I'll say that if a hospital DOESN'T see patients as a money maker, you will see them fail and close their doors. Like it or not, healthcare is a business. Unless the facility truly runs on charity alone, its GOT to run like a business -and a business doesn't stay in business by giving away their product and refusing to collect on services rendered. I don't work for free. Do you?