nursenatalie

nursenatalie ADN, RN

Surgical

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All Content by nursenatalie

  1. We were just discussing why last night and everyone had a different reason and most just heard not to.
  2. Irrigating foley catheter

    Ok, I tried to do a search on this as I am sure that this topic has been debated before, couldn't find anything...got tired of looking. When irrigating a foley catheter do you use sterile water or normal saline?
  3. Our hospital closed our surgical floor to admissions on Thursday. The rationale was that they anticipated a decreased census because of the holiday. We joined our Orthopedics wing on Friday afternoon bringing 10 patients with us. Crazy thing is that ...
  4. What do you use? A fanny pack?!

    I wear unisex scrubs with only two pockets. One on the left chest and one on the back. I don't put anything in the back but can fit everything I need in the one pocket; two blue pens and one red, scissors, tubex,mini dry erase and permanent marker, a...
  5. Fem Fem Bypass

    I would insist on speaking to doctor. Don't know about this doctor but we frequently have doctors speak to family members before a procedure and they always call. The doctor is the one to speak to you about risks etc. but we do this procedure often. ...
  6. Need help with IV technique

    I can't imagine that being color blind should affect your ability to start IV's. I think you are looking with your eyes for a vein and that may be the problem. Feel with your hand and finger. The veins you see, unless the person has ropes aren't alwa...
  7. Heparin in an emergency-to draw PTT or not?

    Please, aspirin is an anti-platelet drug and doesnt significantly increase ptt. Like I said, if the patient is having clinical symptoms that require heparin then best to begin heparin and adjust dose for efficacy. Worrying about a baseline ptt on a p...
  8. Can a suppository be given via a colostomy?

    yes, if the surgeon orders it. Had an order from the medical doc to give suppository via new colostomy and called the surgeon to make sure it was ok and he said no. If the surgeon himself ordered suppository or enema via colostomy then ok.
  9. Heparin in an emergency-to draw PTT or not?

    Our surgeons wouldnt give a rip what the ptt started out they would only want to change rate based on 6 hour ptt. Too late to get a baseline if you've already pushed the bolus. Some docs would be ticked that you took the time to draw a lab for baseli...
  10. Fentanyl patch & witnessing

    We have to witness waste with another nurse. Form comes with patch, we must cut patch in two and put in sharps container.
  11. Lap chole

    Funny how things are different, we allow pts to drive after 24 hours. I was back at work in three...would be funny to be able to work but not able to drive yourself there.
  12. Sleeping pill at THIS time????

    As a general rule with only a few exceptions, I would not give a sleeping pill past 2 am. I work on a surgical floor and the day time is reserved for walking and therapy so pts need to be as awake as possible for that. Ambien and other sleep meds are...
  13. Lap chole

    We rarely have any stay overnight. Usually when pain and nausea are controlled and they can pee they go home. Average 2 hours. I had a lap chole last summer and left after 45 minutes, I met criteria and didnt want to stay a minute longer.
  14. Lantus part II, oh how I want to scream!

    I personally agree with your charge nurse. If the patient is not eating then you are probably giving them sliding scale as well as the lantus, right? I would prefer to manage them on an as needed basis than give a long acting drug that could bottom t...
  15. PACU RN's- what is your visitor policy?

    We allow no visitors in PACU. There are no walls between beds, only curtains, and the report between anesthesia and nurse is verbal so I think it would be difficult to maintain patient privacy(you tell the md to lower his voice.) Patients dont need ...
  16. What is ur average 2 week take home pay?

    Here goes... 1.Type of nurse? Surgical Nurse 2. How many hours u work per week? 36 one week, 48 the next. 3. How many years of nursing? three 4. What Shift: Day, Evening, nights, or weekend only? nights 5. City and State Western North Carolina ...
  17. Heart Sounds anyone?

    yes, definately make sure the earpeices are facing forward. I am embarrassed to say this but it is the truth: I was out of nursing school roughly six months before I realized I had earpeices turned the wrong way! I was very embarrassed, it wasnt that...
  18. Labelling Lidocaine

    Don't work in OR or anything so this doesnt affect me as much but seems like a sterile pre-packed syringe of frequently used meds would come in handy. then you could open the package and place it on sterile field? They may not make anything like this...
  19. decadron as antiemetic

    Not specifically for diabetics, but we have some surgeons who will use it for retractable nausea after all other anti-emetics given. It works. Given as one time order usually. We'll use a sliding scale to control blood sugar, lets take care of the n/...
  20. Piggyback regulation (student question)

    In real life I program it on a pump and run it as such. In a couple of emergency situations when I had a patient crashing and primary wide open x two lines and need to get abx before OR I have put abx on a primary tubing and piggybacked into primary ...
  21. IV scenario

    Ok, this illustrates how different things are in facilities. We always run TPN and lipids in same port (dedicated) with lipids connected below filter. I would not interrupt TPN. We use mostly triple lumens, dont know why you would reserve these for t...
  22. Why are unstable ICU/CCU pts on our med/surg floor?!

    ....AND YOU ARE A NEW GRAD:selfbonk: ???????????????
  23. Why are unstable ICU/CCU pts on our med/surg floor?!

    Ok, if you have a ventilated patient and are titrating dopamine then how is that different from ICU? You are taking a big risk having five other patients too. I don't care how good your NA is, they don't have the license to lose...you do.
  24. IV scenario

    Wow, please don't stop TPN. Ok, assuming this is a triple lumen CVL (why do they make any less) I would run TPN and lipids in one port together and dedicate this line for TPN. The second port for abx and the third for blood products. Unless there was...
  25. Medical Assisting

    You are very mistaken if you think that MA's are in no way shape or form a nurse. This is what you said that hit raw nerves...YOU are in fact mistaken for thinking that you are some shape or form a nurse. Not trying to be unfriendly but your training...