SarahK73

Latest Activity

1. Heparin

   SarahK73 replied to YoungRN06's topic in Med-Surg

   Our policy is that anyone on a heparin or insulin drip need to have a dedicated line and a second line for atbx.

2. Medication Reconcilliation- An ER responsibility?

   SarahK73 replied to DJ-Adia's topic in Med-Surg

   JACHO standards for med-rec apply for ER patients as well. They have a obligation to ensure they have a complete list of medications, to the best of their ability (just like us on the floor). Our ER has a home medication list that the use on their ...

3. Difficult Employee...What do I do?

   SarahK73 replied to michael79's topic in Management

   UGGH!! I hate workers comp situations, there is nothing stickier. You should absolutely get your HR involved, she should have a work comp caseworker that you can be in contact with. I would set up a meeting with your HR so you know exactly what the...

4. Questions for management

   SarahK73 replied to JoshuaAdamsRN's topic in Management

   i am a clinical manager for a 30 bed medical-surgical unit in a 140 bed hospital. i am responsible for 75 employees. the questions... 1) how are you accountable for the clinical practice of nursing and the delivery of patient care? i am responsible ...

5. Med Surg Staffing Standards - Are there any?

   SarahK73 replied to Ginger35's topic in Management

   I manage what used to be a 20 bed that is now a 30 bed med-surg unit. Our staffing matrix is 1:5 but we have been short staff so my night shift has been taking 1:6 occassionally with nurses aides to help at a 1:7 days and 1:10 night ratio. We are j...

6. Rapid Response Team

   SarahK73 replied to pk1's topic in Management

   The purpose for the RRT team is to get your experience at the bedside and I know on my night shift it is VERY green! We are in a 130 bed hospital with ave census of 90-95 and have resp therapist and nursing supervisor 24 hours a day. We have those ...

7. Taking Lunches, Not Clocking Out

   SarahK73 replied to kelbel's topic in Management

   I have worked in one facility that used the automatic deductions but the problem then became that there were several people who were abusing the "No Lunch" button when they clocked out. I have to watch for trends during payroll, as well as those who...

8. Bad Rep for Med Surg

   SarahK73 replied to kellyskitties's topic in Med-Surg

   As a nurse manager in a med-surg unit I am saying AMEN to all of the above. I find it hard to entice new nurses who are seeking the glory and thrill of ICU and the warm fuzzies of Maternal-child. We do absolutely need to reflect our ratios to give th...

9. The Uncertainty of it all

   SarahK73 replied to garciadiego's topic in Med-Surg

   I like you made the big jump from a long term care facility to a busy Med-surg unit in the hospital. I thought I was a great nurse and was confident in my 13 years of experience. Nothing really prepared me for the change in acute care. I was terrif...

10. voice care reporting

    SarahK73 replied to pk1's topic in Management

    Call me old fashioned but I still like verbal report. The idea of getting report on a telephone sounds like a problem with meeting national safety goals related to hand-offs. We enourage and use SBAR as well for our reports. S (Situation) B ( Backgr...

11. New Managers - unit split to two

    SarahK73 replied to DEB52's topic in Management

    When I was hired we had 2 units that were both med-surg but one was ortho and the other oncology/dialysis. One clinical manager was covering both units. We split them, each of us taking one. It was a difficult, rocky transition. The manager I was ...

12. new ADON help

    SarahK73 replied to Zar's topic in Management

    When I was DON I always kept my "Survey Ready Binder" with all the info that I would need when Surveyors walked in. I tried to update it every week atleast. You should be able to go to your states State Survey Guidlines and get copies of the state ...

13. Question for Nurse Managers

    SarahK73 replied to glamgalRN's topic in Management

    When I am going through the hiring process I always ask if there are any scheduling concerns coming up. If I know about prearranged plans upfront it is not a problem with me. In fact I am probably more flexible right off the bat then later on, becu...

14. Mothering?

    SarahK73 replied to DEB52's topic in Management

    I have done the method of throwing something away if it is out, it only took one maybe two times before they got the picture. I have even had a couple of people leave keys on the counter and I snagged them. It was a couple of hours before they had ...

15. Going back to the bedside?

    SarahK73 replied to twarlik's topic in Management

    I had a mentor tell me when I first started in management to give it 2 years before would feel like I knew what I was doing. She ended up being right. 6 months is a little soon but life is to short to be unhappy.