nursemouse

These are great! Here's mine: I'd placed an elderly male patient on the bedpan with instructions to put on the call light when he'd completed his business. I was at the station when I saw his light go off. Bypassing the usual "How may I help you?" route, I answered the light directly with "Are you ready to get off?" I didn't even realize the implications of what I'd said until my colleagues, after initially looking startled, burst out laughing. Fortunately, so did the patient. :uhoh21:

I've got a nursing sense of humor as "black" as the next person, but I also agree that this cartoon is offensive to our profession.

I agree with what Gwenith said, and I wouldn't wear a dress myself at the bedside; however, if my colleagues (male or female) want to wear one, it's fine with me!

I was in academia, and I'd totally agree. Unfortunately, I didn't find one of those academic jobs where we work 6-hour days and have all sorts of free and holiday time. Between preparing and updating lectures, grading papers, rotating my clinical groups in hospitals and multiple other responsibilities, I easily had a 60 hour/week job. If I went home, paperwork went with me. And the salary was embarrassingly low (I have a Masters). I tried this at a major University and at a hospital-based Diploma program. I really, really loved those positions (and, frankly, I was GOOD at it), but didn't feel it was fair to have put my family through the nightmare and expense of my grad school (I'm still paying off the loans) only to take a $10,000-$20,000/year pay cut. Until nursing faculty are paid what they are worth, there will continue to be a nursing shortage. Nursemouse

Had the experience of a very professional, intelligent male nurse where I worked being propositioned by a patient. I was charge, and he came out to the station, reported it, documented it, and asked courteously to be removed from the case, which I did. Then the patient called me into the room and claimed that HE had propositioned HER! Even more interesting: after making the accusation, she asked if he could come back and be her nurse again. (BTW: this shouldn't matter, but she was 90 years old...)

When I was teaching a senior citizen's aerobics class years ago, for some reason I still don't know they nicknamed me "mouse". Then people started giving me stuffed toy mice and mouse figurines for gifts. I now have an office "populated" with mice, including some special "stressmice" that I throttle when I'm in the middle of something frustrating. (Maybe instead of "nursemouse" I should have gone with "stressmouse!"

I'm researching the Chain of Command within the hospital structure for a specialty-based CNS (I'm Critical Care). Please share who you answer to, whether they are supportive of your efforts, and how effective overall your Chain of Command is. I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks! Nursemouse.

Actually, by the end of that night, I was tempted...

Your nurse and her colleagues are NOT Satanic priests and priestesses who are going to sacrifice you at dawn and then eat your heart. Taking six aspirins and showing up in ER with an overdose because you broke up with your girlfriend does not garner you much sympathy. Thank you so much for this thread! I can't stop reading! Nursemouse.

I'd be a film critic! (Before I fell sideways into nursing, I was a journalism major, drama minor. Boy, did I get sidetracked!). Nursehouse.

Thanks! We're trying to look for the best way to utilize these excellent practitioners without exploiting them or exceeding their scope of practice. Your feedback is really helpful!:kiss

HI! Need help/feedback on the role LVNs take in the acute care setting. I used to be an LVN in acute care myself in the 80s and I know how the role has changed/evolved/come full circle in many ways. Are LVNs used in your facility? What practice model do you use (team, total care, etc.). What are the nurse/patient ratios? Looking for good information to improve our practice. Thanks, Nursemouse (jeannie)

Simply and selfishly: I do this because I haven't done anything in nursing yet that I absolutely hated. Even tough jobs have their moments of joy and accomplishment, and I go home most of the time exhausted, but with a warm heart. I'm currently a CNS with a focus on staff education and that's great too. What a wonderful career! Nursemouse.

thank you so much for your assistance and answers. Literature notwithstanding, it looks like it's overwhelmingly Heparin on this board. I'll admit I didn't expect that, but that's why I asked the question! As usual, you guys have been great. Take care! Nursemouse (Jeannie):blushkiss

A quick thanks for all of the assistance you provided. You helped make a difference for me and my colleagues. Your help was SO appreciated! Nursemouse (Jeannie):kiss

I agree: 10 cc or larger.

I'm seeing some really great and innovative ideas that I can take back. Thank you so much for your help, everyone. Please, keep them coming!!!

Thank you so mjuch for all of the help. I'll check out the infusion nurses link. Jeannie:kiss

I suspect the problem is with the process itself, since we're having breakdowns in multiple areas involving multiple people. I'm new here, so I'm still trying to figure things out. Right now, we're looking at best-practices (and who knows best practice better than Allnurses!). Thank you for the help.

Guys, I may be repeating what has already been said, but do be careful with your lotions at work. I admit I haven't researched this myself, but our infection control nurse has said that some lotions can impair the integrity of the glove and cause micro-tears that may admit pathogens to your poor, broken hands. BTW: I did wind up with a hard to treat infection to a cracked finger previously- with the same resistant bug my patient had! And yes, I WAS wearing gloves. I don't want any of you to go through what I did! :kiss

Hi! After being "silent" for awhile while swamped with a new job, I'm finally back and using this wonderful forum and the great brains on it. Thank you!!! Now for my question: for some reason, (actually, probably a lot of reasons...) we're having trouble with the basic process of getting physician medication orders accurately onto our MARS. Basic processshould be simple: doc writes order, secretary or nurse faxes to pharmacy, order goes on MAR, nurse checks order against original, 24 hour check catches any errors. But in our case, it isn't working as well as we'd like. How does your facility get MD orders to pharmacy and to nursing, and on the records. Do you have direct MD order entry? An organized system? Docs trained to bring the chart to the nurse or secretary, or put it in a certain place? Nurses who do a GREAT chart check? Please share your brilliance. Thanks! Nursemouse (Jeannie)

Yes, we use saline as a "back-up" between blood units, and to flush the blood tubing initially. Different places where I worked or rotated students have used 100cc, 250 cc or 500 cc bags. Wonder if this is one of those things that we "do because we've ALWAYS done it that way?" Great question! Nursemouse

Help! What do you flush your basic, non-tunneled double or triple lumen central lines with? Our policy says heparin, most of our nurses are using saline, and much of the literature I've found supports saline. I'm trying to get a policy in place to support what our nurses are doing. As an add-on, do you have any clotting problems with your central lines (particularly if you use saline)? Thanks! Nursemouse.

Zee, that test was the single hardest exam I've ever taken, and that includes my CCNS! Now I'm actually teaching the cardiovascular content in a CCRN course for my hospital system. PM me and I'll share some of my stuff. Good luck! Nursemouse

Our chaplains give a Death and Dying presentation and show excepts from "Wit". I agree that it is a remarkable movie. (And yes, we do pass out the kleenex). The title comes, I think, from the lead character maintaining her wit throughout the entire degrading process. I've actually been with several groups attending this presentation who debate whether the nurse pressures her patient into accepting a DNR by showing faint disapproval when the patient appears reluctant. It's very subtle, but definitely there. (BTW: I'd have loved to see Eileen Atkins get the Supporting Actress Oscar. Pity they screwed that up).