Spiker ASN, RN, EMT-P

Spiker has 49 years experience as a ASN, RN, EMT-P and specializes in OR 35 years; crosstrained ER/ICU/PACU.

Latest Activity

1. 

   What Are Our Rights...

   Spiker replied to MochaRN424's topic in General Nursing

   Thanks for the support; I'm afraid it probably happens more than ever now though. So many units are short-staffed. Even the OR has changed significantly. When I started in the early 80's, we had 2...
2. 

   What Are Our Rights...

   Spiker replied to MochaRN424's topic in General Nursing

   I'm retired after 40 years now, but as an evening shift OR RN, & a Paramedic, I often helped out in the PACU, ER, & ICU during "quiet" times.....so much so that I completed unit competencies...
3. 

   Is the nursing field moving toward wanting DNP's?

   Spiker replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Career Advice Column

   DNP for APN's is an option I can agree with, but just that: an option. For clinical practices, BSN/MSN-prepared RN's are fully capable of everything within our scope of nursing. As was previously...
4. 

   Double lumen

   Spiker replied to Miranda RN's topic in General Nursing

   Bug Out is correct. Flushing the heparin with saline negates the reason for using the heparin in the first
5. 

   Unsafe anesthesia practices in phase 2

   Spiker replied to Pacurn's topic in PACU

   Well, you've tried talking to your department managers to no avail, Maybe it's time to move up the chain of command and voice your concerns to your DON, patient safety advocate/ethics department....
6. 

   Crusty Old Bats

   Spiker replied to Been there,done that's topic in General Nursing

   Yes! I remember that formula! I always had a pad in my pocket to do bedside calculations.... Then I bought a watch that had a calculator below the dial! You just had to use a pen cap to push the...
7. 

   Crusty Old Bats

   Spiker replied to Been there,done that's topic in General Nursing

   LOL! The most we used after I graduated college in the late 70's was grains: Morphine & ASA were grains, as you say, the "old" docs used
8. 

   Crusty Old Bats

   Spiker replied to Been there,done that's topic in General Nursing

   Does anyone else remember minims, drams, grains, gtts, etc??
9. 

   Crusty Old Bats

   Spiker replied to Been there,done that's topic in General Nursing

   Right!! After using butterflies to start IV's, angiocaths took a few tries to get used
10. 

    Twelve Hour Nights or M-F

    Spiker replied to Lynn1230's topic in General Nursing

    As an OR RN at a Regional Medical Center in NY, I worked 3-11, M-F. We were also on 11-7 call once weekly, & a full 24hr weekend call every 6 weeks. When hubby had an opportunity to move to...
11. 

    Blood on Shoes

    Spiker replied to nathalie chavez's topic in General Nursing

    As an OR RN, I wear solid clogs (Merrell's are my favorites) that I can quickly & easily wipe down. If you're worried about stains & germs, sneakers are the worst shoes to wear, being...
12. 

    The Collapsing Healthcare System in the US

    Spiker replied to KalipsoRed21's topic in General Nursing

    This is the state of healthcare, thanks to insurance companies who dictate our care, & big Pharma who charge outrages prices for meds. It's sad when we're operating, & a surgeon has to choose...
13. 

    Torn Between Two Hospitals as a New Grad

    Spiker replied to Erica Renee's topic in General Nursing

    I agree with all of my other well-experienced colleagues. It makes no sense to change where you work, especially if you'd barely be off Orientation. Be smart. Stay where you are, learn whatever...
14. 

    Starting Out on a Medical-Surgical Floor

    Spiker replied to Jessica Carter's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I knew during my 6 weeks OR rotation in college (not just 1 day observing, as is common now)that I wanted to be an OR nurse. However, starting out as a new GN at a community hospital, I took the job...
15. 

    Positions With Most IV Start Experience

    Spiker replied to BeckyRN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Definitely Pre-Op or ER. I was an OR RN for most of my 40 years, & started a ton of IV’s there (evening shift - lots of trauma & acute/emergent patients needing extra IV access), as well as...