Our hospital stopped using IV potassium because we had too many sentinel events involving their use. In my time there we have still never used IV potassium and opt for PO k-dur instead. Our patients...
Thank you all for these responses. Your replies were thoughtful and provoking. I loved the gibe about using the PDR cover-to-cover. Each of your responses will be useful in making my top ten list....
defeatedcreek replied to kukukajoo's topic in General Nursing
I always hate when people don't reply to threads, kuka, so I will try to answer your question as best I can. My background is military medicine and that is one area where you will have multicultural...
defeatedcreek replied to pumpkin1984's topic in General Nursing
If you think it's hard in civilian hospitals, try crossing over to the military side. We can't just simply fire the bad RN/LVNs (regrettably). However, gundecking (falsifying flowsheets or records)...
I'm trying to compile a rough top-ten (or top whatever number) list of the most controversial/dangerous/questionable medications of recent history. They can still be in use or were recalled. Here is...
defeatedcreek replied to Thunderwolf's topic in General Nursing
I can see both sides. But I'm a hairier guy and I opt for wearing t-shirts. The military requires a cleaner look. That's not to say some of our military nurses go Clark Gable and ditch the...
Think deeply. If you believe your opinion is colored by your grandmother's death then hesitate. If not, report these things. Women like that nurse deserve
defeatedcreek replied to npwannab's topic in Men in Nursing
Most hospitals from what I've seen start everyone regardless of interest on med-surge. It's a good proving ground and skill building department. However, I've seen some starters in ICU too you just...
defeatedcreek replied to Stepher Gale's topic in General Nursing
I was also talking to my vastly more experienced charge just now and she says bed strokes are always the worst to assess. In fact unless the patient gets up to void, it is not uncommon to miss their...
defeatedcreek replied to Stepher Gale's topic in General Nursing
Don't feel bad, Stephen. I have my own event to share. But first off, I want to point out that you are using one pronoun here, "I". If you were working with anything resembling a team, shame on...
I agree, 0330 to 0400 is the optimal time for labs unless (like sicu said) it's an H/H or CE. But like him/her we also draw our own labs on the floor. This sounds like a typical clash with lab techs,...
I watched my mother leave the factory life at age 30 to be a nurse. We lived on my father's income for nearly two years while she finished her RN in 1991. Since then she has gone on for her BSN...