aimeee BSN, RN

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All Content by aimeee

  1. aimeee

    At Your Hospice, Do You. . .

    aimeee replied to Katillac's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I think in many cases the ventilator is a mechanism that is prolonging a state of "existence" that most of us would not consider to be really living. For people whose brain is damaged to the point...
  2. aimeee

    At Your Hospice, Do You. . .

    aimeee replied to Katillac's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    As another poster has said, this man might be able to have hospice care if his kidney failure is unrelated to his lung cancer. Medicare regs require that all treatment related to his TERMINAL...
  3. aimeee

    At Your Hospice, Do You. . .

    aimeee replied to Katillac's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Yes, we use the spongy toothettes for frequent moistening of the mouth. We don't have any ventilator patients and we don't have the trained staff to support them. There are some hospices that do have...
  4. aimeee

    Is it okay to slug an oncologist?

    aimeee replied to JessicaInOr's topic in Oncology

    I think you should pull that oncologist aside and point blank ask him why on earth he told you one thing and then went and told your dad another. I think you need to say "which is it?" and if he says...
  5. aimeee

    Thank You!

    aimeee replied to MFlash's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I'm sorry. ((((hugs)))) How difficult it must be to face another loss when you are already grieving. I'm glad that you had help from Hospice and I hope you continue to get help from the...
  6. aimeee

    Hospice patients who refuse pain meds

    aimeee replied to Blackcat99's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    There are many reasons for patient's refusal to take their pain meds. You need to find what it behind the refusal before you can deal with it. For instance, the patient may have a fear of addiction...
  7. aimeee

    Assisted living- what happens when patients need more care?

    aimeee replied to lexilou's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Ok, let me see if I have this straight...your hospice (not Vitas) offers Continuous Care for emergency situations and you did this for a short time for this patient. The facility has historically had...
  8. aimeee

    Assisted living- what happens when patients need more care?

    aimeee replied to lexilou's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I am not quite understanding your question. All hospices are supposed to provide continuous care if the situation merits, but many are not able to do this do to the difficulty of maintaining adequate...
  9. aimeee

    PO meds can be given rectal?

    aimeee replied to rnbackagain's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    While oral meds CAN be given rectally, it is generally an emergency kind of action. Oral meds are not forumlated for breakdown in the rectum. Absorption and bioavailability can vary highly according...
  10. aimeee

    Lab Work

    aimeee replied to webblarsk's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Our rule of thumb is we will pay for a lab if it is related to the terminal diagnosis and the information from the lab will help control symptoms in some way. We do blood draws as a courtesy for labs...
  11. aimeee

    Methadone conversion

    aimeee replied to Penguinurse's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I haven't any personal experience but the tables in my book would suggest the same as the one you are using. If however the morphine was not working because of a difficulty in metabolizing it, the...
  12. aimeee

    Terminal agitation in hospice patients

    aimeee replied to Blackcat99's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Have you ruled out constipation and urinary retention? Has he got unfinished business from his life that his subconcious is feeling a need to deal with? What sorts of things is he seeing in the...
  13. aimeee

    Desperate For Help, Mom On Hospice

    aimeee replied to BHVHTX's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    We recently tried a scopalamine patch on a couple of patients with abdominal cancers who had very bad nausea problems. It was quite successful. ABHR suppositories are another good idea to try....
  14. aimeee

    Mouth Care Protocols

    aimeee replied to Patience911's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I've heard that too, and I have had stories related to me, but I have never seen anything in
  15. aimeee

    Mouth Care Protocols

    aimeee replied to Patience911's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    We supply the pink or green spongy swabs. I haven't seen or heard of mineral oil used and I would be afraid it would interfere with absorbtion of sublingual medications which are often needed by that...
  16. aimeee

    LPN student in Hospice

    aimeee replied to ChristinaV's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Check it out. It varies from hospice to hospice. We utilize LPN's for continuous care only, but some hospices utilize them for on call and for assisting the case
  17. aimeee

    Ativan usage?

    aimeee replied to nursepearl's topic in Oncology

    Ondansatron is used widely in the US but most people know it by its trade name, Zofran. Xanax is another benzodiazepine, generic name Alprazolam. Medical marijuana usage is illegal in most states....
  18. aimeee

    conflict between pt & son

    aimeee replied to dragon5282001's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I don't know if it is true in all states, but it is true in Michigan too: Once you become incapacitated, your POA/medical proxy (if you have appointed one) has been empowered to make decisions AS...
  19. aimeee

    Multiple morphine orders for pain

    aimeee replied to Blackcat99's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Are you on an inpatient unit? Having that many prn orders sounds confusing. My experience is that morphine is morphine. I can't speak to oramorph because I have never seen that brand here. A long...
  20. aimeee

    I'd like to become a Hospice Nurse.

    aimeee replied to CarpeDiem2004's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    That's pretty sad and reflective of how much education there is to do about what good end of life care means. I really can't see how they could fire you for making a suggestion about a referral....
  21. aimeee

    Anyone else think this is unsafe?

    aimeee replied to hospicenurse's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Yes, it does sound unsafe IF the patient is unable to transfer themselves and do their own ADL's. I would apply the same judgement to this type of scenario that I would to a patient who is living...
  22. aimeee

    Oxycodone vs. Morphine

    aimeee replied to Katillac's topic in Pain Management

    http://www.docguide.com/dg.nsf/PrintPrint/E407ABEE2163BEBA85256E53007A1E0C http://www.jco.org/cgi/content/abstract/16/10/3222
  23. aimeee

    looking for some input frm Hospice nurses

    aimeee replied to darla80's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Patients like this one will often improve during their first benefit period due to extra care and attention they receive. Many patients have their symptoms controlled to the point of comfort for the...
  24. aimeee

    Yipee! I just got hired to work in hospice

    aimeee replied to Blackcat99's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Good luck to you too!
  25. aimeee

    Do you get "pain med seekers" in hospice?

    aimeee replied to JacelRN's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Thanks! I was planning to do just that when I got home. :) This seems like a good place to end