TriageQueen

I believe from reading the posts that they were saying you should call the pharmacy, not check your drug book. Pharmacists are wonderful resources to use!

CEU's/Contact hours... whatever you want to call them. Technically they're contact hours. There's about a 60/40 split between clinical and "other" hours. The majority of them are from the ENA (Emergency Nurse's Association), and I didn't think that ACLS, and PALS counted for continuing education. Either way, I'm relatively sure that my state doesn't require a certain amount of CEU's/contact hours for maintaining current licensure... I don't think they asked last time I renewed, and I didn't tell. Guess I will have to look that up.

...you normally have? I have at least 118.9 that I can account for in the past 12 months, but honestly have no idea how many are normal!

Hello everyone! DH and I are thinking of moving to Youngstown (his hometown). I am curious to hear about the reputations of various hospitals, and salary potential. Currently I am a BSN prepared, ED RN (non trauma center) with 2 years of experience. Where we live an RN with that kind of experience makes around 24-27/hour, plus shift differential (3-8/hour). I almost cannot believe that RN's make that much money in Youngstown where the cost of living is substantially lower, even though I heard that Ohio RN's are unionized.... so is it true? Thanks in advance for any information you may be able to give.

I too am curious to know why one poster said it would be a difficult transition from the ER to the OR. I am currently considering this change myself, and would like advice on what makes a good OR nurse.

Thanks so much. I walk quite a bit (besides the 5 miles a day at work). I have tried to start a few of the "couch to 5k" type programs, but seems like I stall after a few weeks and can't seem to get past that "plateau" for lack of a better word. I'll definitely try your suggestions, thanks again!

I'm currently interested in joining the military, but have some time as DH is finishing his degree. However, I am horrible at running! Anyone have suggestions, or stories of how they got into shape so the military didn't totally kick their butt?

It just always stood out to me as odd that they would ask these types of questions. Its interesting to hear other people's experiences with these recruiters as well. I also wonder if it is dependent on which branch of the military you are speaking with...

Nearly ten years ago I was speaking with a military recruiter, and one of their "moral type questions" was inquiring as to whether or not I had children, was pregnant now or ever, and if I had had an abortion.... I can understand the logic in asking if a person currently is pregnant, but what's with the other questions? Is this normal questioning? Besides what would they do if a person said that they had been pregnant and in the past had an abortion... really now? Or was this particular recruiter just a whacko? Just curious

I remembered a few more... Mother brings 2 children in c/o red bumps to arm (I counted 2-3 on each child), each deny pain, sats 100%, non-puritic. Mother states had called pediatrician, but pediatrician had not yet answered her call. Asked for duration of symptoms, 15 minutes! While standing at triage her cell phone rings, lo and behold it is the pediatrician, who tells the woman to take the children home, give them each a benadryl and she will see them first thing in the morning. Mom decides to check in anyways "since we're already here"... yeah, and I know we paid for that visit... 35-40 something female via EMS c/p splinter in her finger. Worst part of it was her family, whom she lives with, showed up before the ambulance did! Chronic ETOH'er being taken to jail, but police must bring him to the hospital because he starts screaming "my liver hurts!" (never did understand why we can't just send the drunks to the drunk tank, and not spend hours upon hours waiting for them to sober up enough to call for a ride... but that's another thread). One more (for now) 90-something female sent from NH for respiratory arrest... oh yeah, forgot to mention pt is DNR. Was pronounced in the rig and taken to an empty room in the back to wait for family to visit...

We've had a lot of really busy months lately, and more days than not we're seeing more than 50 patients/day over our average. We're super short staffed, and management decided to cut all pre-scheduled agency shifts, which has caused many of them to promptly say "the heck with us" and pick up shifts at other area hospitals. The patients are getting sicker and sicker, and I have had days where I have had to care for 4-5 ESI level 2's at once without a tech or a float RN. Not to mention being the only one to take all of my patients to all of their tests, or upstairs when they have been admitted, starting IV's/drawing blood, meds, breathing treatments, d/c's, cleaning rooms, etc.... It makes me scared for my patients safety and scared for my license. Maybe I just need a vacation, but I was speaking with DH, and he brought up a good question. I'd like to see thoughts from other people on this. What is the average length of employment for ED RN's? I am coming up on two years in my ED, and I am in the top 40% according to seniority (at our ED... not in total experience though). Most of those that have been at our hospital longer are prn or part time. Is it simply my hospital, or am I getting worn out? (Counting down the days to vacation.... 9 left) Thanks in advance

I want to know where they surveyed because my ED definitely sees more than 14% or cases that are non-urgent! And I have worked in the areas mentioned in the article, very large non-insured populations. At least once a shift we have people come to the triage window asking how long the wait is, and then trying to decide whether it would be better to make a doctor's appointment in the morning. To those people I want to scream "if you can think about whether or not to be seen, it is not an emergency!"... oh yeah, and btw there is an urgent care center literally right across the street from our hospital. And more on point, simply sending patients up to the other units without having a bed available is not necessarily a great solution... who will watch these patients upstairs to make sure they don't die there? However, I think we should be able to send the patient up to wait in the hallway while the other patient is gathering their things to leave, or the room is being cleaned (which somehow seems to take 4 hours sometimes), but not if there is no staff, because that is not safe either.

I hate to be a PITA, but waiting for shot time wouldn't have made a difference after injection with demerol. The half-life of demerol is somethinglike 3-5 hours, so she still would have gotten a DUI. Our ED has a policy of a 4 hour wait time to drive after narcotics, although this fact is not advertised or our WR would be constantly full! According to our policy, shot time is 30 mins for IV/IM, including Td. Oh yeah, and if you do happen to hop in the car with narcs on board, we will call the cops on you!

We had one come in via medic a few weeks ago because she had a splinter in her finger, and therefore was unable to drive herself... can you say triage waiting room?! Or how about the one riding home with family on a day with icy/snowy roads, decides to pull over because they think grandma has low blood sugar (known diabetic, but a&o x4, no symptoms), and while she is in the rig... on the side of the interstate getting checked out by the medics, and refusing transport, her family drives away, thereby truly dumping her, and her 90 year-old husband, on the medics. Fingerstick upon arrival at hospital = 89, pt still without s/sx... we ordered her a meal tray, and waited 2 hours for her family to show up. When they finally showed up they were all over my behind running me ragged and trying to rush my discharge of her..... I guess they enjoyed their dinner/movie and were ready to finally take grandma home. Can't even remember what I figured out to put down for her CC!

I have, through the grapevine, requested ideas from other staff members r/t education topics, but unfortunately do not have the resources to offer any good prize for surveys But I do like some of the already posted ideas, thanks!