Advocate1

We get to have a Pot luck meal---> "Just remember to make enough for all" And we got a coupon to a nearby restaurant Let's just say... not too thrilled

Days, Tele mostly-- but we get a bit of it all at times-- our ratio is 5:1, a few times I had 6

Im a bike commuter too! Save on gas and get a workout all in one. I have toiletries (sp?) at work, and take a quick shower there. I ride 8 miles each way and I love it. I also like passing the cars in traffic.

I went into nursing because when my mom was dying the nurses there were phenomenal! I will never forget them- So here's the wow part. I had a pt not too long ago who was dying. She was awake & alert and I took care of her for weeks- yes weeks- she would bounce from ICU back to the tele unit (my floor) over adn over. She wan an amazing woman- stong, funny, loving with a heart of pure gold. I took an liking to her- I couldn't help it. And I made sure she was my pt everytime i worked. During those weeks I also bonded with her family, esp her daughter. I may have crossed some professional lines when we both cried together or when I told her my story about my mom. She asked for my number one day- just so she could stay in touch she said & I gave it to her. After she left my floor she went on Hopsice and a few weeks later she passed. I saw her obit in the paper and even wrote a message online to the family. Then, this am I got a call - it was the daugher, just saying hi & telling me what an impression I made on her & her family & how none of them will ever forget me. She said she still can't believe that I have been an RN for less than a yr. I can't believe that I was able to help someone like my mom's RNs helped me-- but it feels so good. I glad to be a nurse today. :redpinkhe

1 hospital

Phentermine, it take over a long perior of time, can lead to mitral valve or (any heart valve) problems. It a controlled subsance it is highly likely to be abused and assoicated w addictions! Be wary:down:

I'm gonna Print this and Post it in the Break Room- Thanks:bowingpur:yeah:

EPIC is at my hospital too and I love it- the system does freeze up at time but nothing major. It is overwhelming at first- just like learning anything new & different. I've only used computer charting and I dont think I'd ever work at a hospital that used paper charting.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. You did the right thing by going to the ER stat. this is difinitely a scary situation to be in. I hope the test results are ok.

I know this sound naieve but what do u mean exactly by "damage control" ?

If I'm working during the day shift I usually prepare my breakfast to eat in the car (around 0545 am). Yougurt mixed w high fiber cereal, banana, coffee. Or I make a hardboiled egg, slice it up, add some low fat mayo, then slap 2 pieces of bread on it. Theses usually last me until 1030 when I start feeling shaky and just not all together. Then, I usually have a snack like an apple or gram crackers w peanutbutter. Without a snack I'd FREAK out!! This will hold me until lunch (If I get a chance to eat at all) For me at least the trick to not starving is to have handy snacks that are filling, not messy, and quickly edible.:pumpiron:

Yes, things are getting better. I have learned much from this experience and am moving on. Thank you for your support. -Advocate-

That's incredible- I wonder if he will have to have the tx for the rest of his life? And I wonder if this works for others like stroke victims?

Oops- posted b4 I finished typing Not sure where the law is- but pt's alway's have the right to refuse any medical treatment, including meds In my hospital that is explained in the "Patient's Rights"

Is it possible to ask the other RN about the situation. Maybe she rec'd a verbal order and didn't put it in. If you can't talk to her I'd talk to your MGR

Talk about EGO boosters-- you guys are phenomenal- Everyday i read new words of support and carry them with me when I have to go to work. BTW, I spokw with my floor MGR and she said she would have given me a "level 2" warning but "It's not in my hands anymore". I then asked the mgr, "If this had happened to a different family would alof this occurred?" Her reply was pretty much silence. And we all know silence speaks volumes at time. I do believe this was unfair and once word get out to others about it many more nurses will be scared to report themselves in fear of their job or license- I don't think this family realizes the consequences of their actions. I doing OK- still somwhat depressed and lacking in sleep sometimes but I know this too shall pass. I have another meeting today (my only day off) to meet with everyone who cared for this pt to rehash everything and find ways to improve ourselves. Ugh, but hopefully after today I will never have to talk or hear this pt's name again. I just want to move on, get stronger, and be the best RN I can. Thanks for being there for a fellow RN in need .:w00t:

Where does one sign up for Liability Insurance and how much is it yearly? THanks again to all of your support

wow! at first i was hesistant to post about my error at all but now i am so glad i did. you guys/gals have been great and reading your words of support is really helping me get throught all this. from the bottom of my heart :redpinkhe - thank you all

I am still working on my floor- maybe ur right- Thanks for the support

:oWell I made my first (and hopefully last) med error . I gave wrong meds to the wrong patient. The meds were NOT high risk medications. To make a long story short although I asked the name I never looked at the ID band. Nothing bad happened, the pt was fine, I reported it immediately. The bad part is the family- I understand their position b/c I was in their position once too, but when I asked to apologize to them they said they didnt want it. They are going to JAHCO and Dept of Public health and also threatened to go to the media. The hospital wrote off their bill and is still having "meetings" with the family. I felt horrible and havnt been sleeping well for over a month. I have gone to a PT Identificatio class, have been asked questions regarding the incident almost daily, and and really beginning to doubt myself. I have a lot of support and my coworkers have been great, saying everyone makes mistakes- be glad nothing happened, and learn from it. I have learned & believe me I check ID bands w every med pass. But now i have been given a "final warning". I have never been written up before. Actually, i have been an RN for I asked my mgr if things would be different if this happened to a different family and she didn't give me a straight answer. Other RNs have made med errors and didnt recieve "final warnings" . I spoke with the VP of nursing and she said she believes in me and knows I wont make a med error again but they had to write me up. She also said that if anything ever happened in the future that I wouldnt be immediatly fired b/c she would consider the situation. So i am wondering what to think- am i being given a final warning b/c of the incident or to appease a very difficult family. I know I am a good RN and I also know I still have much to learn and I have learned a bundle from this alone. I am just being so hard on myself now and I can't help from beating myself up over this day after day. for those that have made errors how do you move on? I know the post was long - I just needed to get it off my chest.

What would you want done for you in this situation?

one piece of advice I can give is to remember that in nursing Patient safety in the #1 Priority before anything else. These head injury pts are a. Not being given adequate care to provide for their safety b/c your facility is not equipped to care for them and your RNs are not trained to provide specialized care b. the safety of the staff and Other Pts are also in jeopardy Write your facts down and bring them in with u to the meeting - it will help you keep your focus. Maybe given examples of How to solve the problem. So it doesn't seem like u are against them. I know this isn;t much but I really wanted to help in some way.

Angie.. I completely agree with you on that front, but in my situation heparin was on it's own pump and so was the abx, they were connected at the Y-site. Do u think that should be allowed?

I guess what I am wondering is "Why?" I wish someone could explain the rationale for such a policy. Any Ideas?

So today pt pt was ordered a Heparin drip and IV abx. One abx was Vanco - which is not compatible with heparin - the other abx was Azactam (sp?). When I looked its compatibility with Heparin up it said it was compatible at the Y-site. I ran the Abx on its own pump and connected it to the Y-site on the Heparin line I called pharmacy just to double check. they agreed. Then, another RN with many more yrs experience than I, (been an RN for 6 mos) said that NOTHING is to run with heparin- "Per hospital policy" I looked up our policy and it said verbatim, "It is not recommended" but Heparin was NOT included in the list of meds that had to be run by themselves. What do u think about this? was I wrong to run the abx and heparin? Just wondering