chapsticknurse

Hello! I am a home health nurse and I was taking over a new patient just for today who needed a wound vac change to an abdominal wound. I got most of the foam out but on the bottom of the wound bed , it is covered with a very thin layer of the foam and even with soaking it with NS, it will not come off! Apparently the vac wasnt changed since last week! (which is a whole other story ) I called my manager and a nurse at KCi and they stated to have the patient do wet to dry dressing TID until the next nursing visit in two days so hopefully the foam will loosen up and come off easier. Anyone else have any ideas on how to take care of this? If not the patient will just have to go to md office.

An assistant was setting up a sitz bath for a patient with a very large wound, I'm not sure what caused it but it may have been a strain of staph/MRSA and I overheard it was flesh eating bacteria. While setting up, the tube squirted water out and got into her eye and on part of her face. The sitz bath tubing was not new nor was the tub! She was told to flush her eyes out and wash her face. She told me she will go to see the employee health department tomorrow but I advised her to go to the ED right away. The md on the unit said that the patient was on antibiotics (Vanco, etc) for several days so she probably isn't infected. What the hell, is there anything wrong with this picture? Would they give prophylactic oral abx for this situation?!!!!!! I'm scared for her!

Hello! We had a patient once that was just a bit difficult to handle. She wanted all care done on her schedule. She would actually put notes on her door stating, " Do not come in or wake me up until noon". She was supposed to get some non-invasive diagnostic tests done (ultrasound etc) however would always state "later, when I get more pain medication" Later became two days later! She would refuse an xray because she was in too much pain to sit still long enough. She also kept leaving the facility all together to go smoke. She was not steady on her feet however did not listen to anyone's advice. Nicotine patches were offered, managers talked to her, doctors. However her pain was always 10/10. Finally the MD's got together and stated that if she didn't want any diagnostic tests done then she would be discharged. She still refused diagnostic tests and kept asking for pain medication. Very strong opioids were gived around the clock plus continuous dosages. She kept maxing out on the recommended dose before time was up. No MD would give her more meds especially since she was refusing all other care. (refused fingersticks, vital signs etc) She kept kicking people out of her room. So she was discharged in the early morning. However would not leave. She kept threatening to sue us and kept calling her lawyer. Our managers went to the MD's, house supervisors and the facilities legal team. What happened was that she would just stay in the room but no care would be given until she just left. I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on this whole situation. I mean what the heck are we supposed to do, just let her refuse all care but keep giving her pain medication that jeopardizes her safety?

Thank you all so much for all of your advice! I am going to set limits on how much I am there for her and if she gets upset or passive aggressive about it then I guess I will have to call her on it. I feel that I know how to deal with friends and difficult people fairly well but I've never been in a situation where that person has cancer! Thank you again for your honesty and advice!! xoxo!!!

HELLO everyone! I'm in a bit of a sticky situation any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. I have a family friend (whom I have not spoken to in years) call me a few weeks ago basically begging for help since she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She states that she doesn't have anyone, family is not around, no friends etc. Well, at that point in time she was not diagnosed with cervical cancer but had an abnormal pap.. She does tend to exaggerate and has a history of attention seeking behavior. Nonetheless, she was crying so much so I was there to support her. Turns out, after getting a biopsy and the results, she does have cervical cancer. I have been there as much as possible taking time off of work and basically my life. Its hard because I know she is going through a rough time but all she does is spit out drama and cry about problems that have nothing to do with her cancer or her trying to get better. She cries about how she has no one ,so she really really clings on to her 2 friends. I was not able to go with her to her biopsy because of work/school and I had to listean to her passive aggressive comments all weekend!! Lastly, she went into an appointment today and she told me that the doctor stated she will have a D&C and will be down for 8 weeks so she will need me and her other friend to come over and help her. Does this sound right to you? My instinct tells me she is exagerrating and just wants as much attention as possible but I also feel so damn guilty for thinking this. My mind is so foggy after every time I talk to her because she just spits out verbal vomit. She has no friends, no one ever sticks around for this girl but I feel I should but I am just drained from her already. There was many reasons why I stopped talking to her years ago and I know if it wasn't for her being sick, I would have not rekindled our relationship. This girl is a DRAMA magnet and has never been able to control her emotions. What do I do??? Please help

Hello! I'm a LVN working on Med-Surg and will be starting a RN program in a few months. Where I live, we need a BS degree to become a public health nurse. Until i get my BS degree, would working in a correctional facility or county jail help me in public health? I really do not like med-surg, I'm comfortable with it but it's just not for me. What do you guys think?

Hello! Geez, where to start. Iam a new LVn on the med-surg floor. I am lucky somewhat since this floor actually utilizes the LVNs and gives them there own patients (with RN oversight of course). However, the schedule is HORRIBLE. Not only am I working noc shifts but I am required to work 7 nights per pay period. And it's not like 3 shifts on, 3 off. It's two nights on, two off, etc. It's horrible. My life is upside down with this night shift! On top of that, my back has been KILLING me since my 2 week there! I've only been there 4 months and was thinking of quitting at 6 months and taking a clinic job. (I LOVE 8-5). I was told NOT to do this since I will learn so much more on MED-Surg. But I don't want to work med-surg/icu/er etc in the future. I really want to be a public health nurse or perhaps a doc's office. Do I suffer and stick it out for a year on med-surg? There are really no other opportunites for LVN's in our hospital except med-surg.... what should I do? any info is greatly appreciated!!!!