Penelope_Pitstop

Penelope_Pitstop BSN, RN

Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health

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All Content by Penelope_Pitstop

  1. Morning report: what does soft and positive bowel sounds mean?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to northmississippi's topic in General Students

    Soft means that the abdomen is soft vs. firm. A soft abdomen is what you want a patient to have. (It doesn't mean the patient is flabby, just that there is not a firmness that would indicate an...

  2. "Unstoppable" oozing from angio site.

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to TopsDrop's topic in Cardiac

    We use

  3. Ew!

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to Adele_Michal7's topic in Private Duty

    Do the same thing I used to do when my flatmate would do this...when they're done, clap and cheer

  4. Random Question

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to Adele_Michal7's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I've been treating for both of those things since I was 18. I even required psych hospitalization and needed medical leave. Never had an issue with my job or the BON. And I take an antidepressant...

  5. do you follow up with your patients?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to aachavez's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    One night I was convinced my patient was having an MI. This was on a general floor. The attending (one I respected) was well aware of my suspicions but disagreed with me. Her vitals were stable,...

  6. Poop Smearing on Bathroom Walls

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to Tamara421's topic in School

    When I lived on an all girls' floor in college, we had someone who did this in our bathroom. There were only 14 of us and we were all around 19-21. What could that indicate in our age

  7. What do you love about the ICU?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to EGVnurse's topic in MICU, SICU

    I was a medsurg nurse for seven years, mostly all midnights. It is so nice to have physicians there who not only listen to me but who also will come see the patient right then. Also, if I'm worried...

  8. Things are not as bad as you think...

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to Brian's topic in General Students

    A med student once said, "I always think of this way - it could always be worse...I could be on

  9. things said wrong that drive you crazy

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to SDALPN's topic in Private Duty

    Guilty, sorry. I also say "oil" as one syllable...same with

  10. Is there any truth to this?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to Nurse SMS's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Eek...feel better, Kel! I can't even imagine 102.2. I'll be thinking about

  11. What is the big difference?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to EMEddie's topic in MICU, SICU

    Our stepdown units are off the hook usually. I'm in the MICU and when we're in a bed crunch, we play "who's the least sick in the house?" When I was on the floor I'd send my RRTs to stepdown and feel...

  12. Septic shock and reaction to Rocephin/Ceftriaxone

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to biscuitmama's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Gram negative bactermia is nasty nasty stuff. I only work with adults but often these patients end up on triple pressor support after attempts at fluid resuscitation - IF we catch it in time. I...

  13. Crazy old wives tales and odd customs...

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to SDALPN's topic in Private Duty

    Being cold can contribute to illness because when it is cold, people are more likely to be in larger groups inside of doors and this closer proximity more readily contributes to the spread of...

  14. question about "cutters"

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to sarasmith805's topic in Psychiatric

    All mental health has a stigma...but the thing about cutting is that it leaves a physical sign. I can't look at you and tell if you have been hospitalized for depression, or if you have a history of...

  15. You can't fix stupid!

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to SchoolNurseTXstyle's topic in School

    My mom used to pull this one because she knew that I wouldn't go to the nurse unless I truly felt like death. It was sort of a litmus test. I am painfully shy and wouldn't even get the courage to ask...

  16. things said wrong that drive you crazy

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to SDALPN's topic in Private Duty

    Pretty sure this is grounds for

  17. Should I get a gap year during nursing school? Not feeling well.

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to succinate's topic in General Students

    Who cares if those things happen? The psychologist will have much experience in dealing with them. Please don't worry about your eyes being puffy. You can always say that you're having a bad day or...

  18. Evaluate this situation. What did I miss?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to Billy_Ruben's topic in General Nursing

    If it's been more than a couple of days since those cultures were drawn, then a new set would have been most likely warranted, and the best time to do that is during the temp spike. Also, a lactate...

  19. Should I get a gap year during nursing school? Not feeling well.

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to succinate's topic in General Students

    Get help. NOW! I spent ten years in a horrid hole. I'd dig myself out a bit, then fall further in...it took a breakdown & psych hospitalization, therapy, etc., to correct it. I was never suicidal...

  20. Neuro vs Stroke Unit ?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to mhy12784's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I think you will learn a lot more on a neuro floor. My hospital has a stroke floor and that is ALL that is on that floor, except in the event of bed crises. We're a distinguished stroke center and I...

  21. Is this a HIPAA violation?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to JTinKY's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    HIPAA - probably not. But it can for sure get her in trouble or even lead to her losing her job. Employers have fairly strict policies these days. I've alluded to my night a few times on Facebook, but...

  22. The time of the year when people do crazy things...

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    We had a fairly young woman with a history of asthma who went to use her Netti-Pot. She didn't realize that her mother had just cleaned it out using vinegar. The vinegar going into her nasal passages...

  23. Diagnoses you've seen?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to CloudySue's topic in Private Duty

    I'm an adult MICU nurse, but this thread is fascinating. In grad school, I'm relearning all of the congenital cardiac defects so it's piqued my interest in pediatric patients especially. So not my...

  24. Drug use and drug testing and Klonopin

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to amesly15's topic in Correctional

    Actually, it doesn't. On average, it's about 30 hours vs. 12ish for Xanax. Valium has a longer half life than both of those, and I think Ativan is a little more than

  25. You want us to do what?!?

    Penelope_Pitstop replied to SilenceintheLibrary's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I agree. And it is a while before physicians see the results of their money. Residents live on a pauper's salary (in my area about half of what a new grad RN in the hospital makes) and are usually in...