Spiker ASN, RN, EMT-P

OR 35 years; crosstrained ER/ICU/PACU

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All Content by Spiker

  1. Spiker

    Do you overspend on luxury items as a nurse?

    Spiker replied to Neywel120's topic in General Nursing

    Snels50, you are so right about that! I encourage our newer colleagues to heed those words! In my almost 39 years as an RN, I've worked in two medical centers, so I have two 401K's. Hubby has one...
  2. Spiker

    Do you overspend on luxury items as a nurse?

    Spiker replied to Neywel120's topic in General Nursing

    Snels50, you are so right about that! I encourage our newer colleagues to heed those words! In my almost 39 years as an RN, I've worked in two medical centers, so I have two 401K's. Hubby has one...
  3. Spiker

    How do you deal with Doctors that insult nurses?

    Spiker replied to relusanmi's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    @Tjballzack: Are you even an RN? Your post makes me think not.....you certainly don't exhibit any professionalism or intelligence. If you have issues with a physician, this isn't the place nor...
  4. Spiker

    Blood transfusions??? just say no...

    Spiker replied to macgirl's topic in General Nursing

    Please, God! I hope not a Nurse or Nursing student! Atrocious grammar, spelling, lack of punctuation, & such negative, accusatory proclamations! Threats to sue? Not sure I'd want "Originalex"...
  5. Spiker

    Legal Name vs. Preferred Name

    Spiker replied to SunshineNRainbows's topic in Texas Nursing

    My most recent employer, a huge hospital system, did allow us to have nicknames on our photo ID's, & to use our nicknames in conversation, introducing ourselves to patients, family, etc. We did...
  6. Spiker

    Finally Leaving Nursing...For Good!

    Spiker replied to cocoa_puff's topic in General Nursing

    I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say you would give haphazard care; my point being that coming out if orientation too soon leaves you unable to have had time to perfect your routine organizational skills....
  7. Spiker

    Finally Leaving Nursing...For Good!

    Spiker replied to cocoa_puff's topic in General Nursing

    Try acute care nursing! I'm an OR nurse - no day is ever like the day before; lots of challenges, procedures, equipment to learn! It keeps you on your toes & always thinking about what's needed...
  8. Spiker

    Finally Leaving Nursing...For Good!

    Spiker replied to cocoa_puff's topic in General Nursing

    Reading how you feel about nursing care - lack of hard science - seriously?? I'm glad you're leaving. It's good that you're being honest about it; you obviously don't have what it takes: empathy,...
  9. Spiker

    I am a new grad and can't wait to get out of orientation!

    Spiker replied to CRC12's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Oh young, New grad: you should be afraid of feeling this way! No, you're NOT ready to fly solo after only 3 weeks! Be realistic, & know you can't possibly know all there is to know in such a...
  10. Spiker

    Only Crusty Old Bats will remember..

    Spiker replied to Pepper The Cat's topic in General Nursing

    Wow! That's so far back in my career, I'm glad there are fellow colleagues here that remember all of this too!! Reusable EVERYTHING!! And in the OR we had all cloth packs: drapes, towels, gowns,...
  11. Spiker

    Only Crusty Old Bats will remember..

    Spiker replied to Pepper The Cat's topic in General Nursing

    My career to a "T", until I switched to the OR in the early 80's!! Retired in April -
  12. Spiker

    Whatever happened to going to school to be a nurse?

    Spiker replied to indish's topic in General Nursing

    I hear ya!! I'm an old RN, too; finished college when my kids went to school, in the 70's. I started on my BSN, but got divorced, & started working 2 full-time jobs (hence, the Medic career), so...
  13. Spiker

    Only Crusty Old Bats will remember..

    Spiker replied to Pepper The Cat's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, I'm an "old" OR nurse, since 1982. And yes, the docs & staff smoked in our break room. We certainly saw plenty of nasty-looking lungs in surgery, too! A few of the nurses smoked in our...
  14. Spiker

    Documentation of In and Out screws

    Spiker replied to Mytake's topic in Operating Room

    We document the on the patient implant log only the items they leave the OR with. As for a pack that contains multiple items, since it only has 1 serial number/ID number & expiration date, it's...
  15. Spiker

    Only Crusty Old Bats will remember..

    Spiker replied to Pepper The Cat's topic in General Nursing

    Those large blow-bottles instead of today's little plastic incentive spirometry thingy's. Having to thread needles in surgery; & the needles were resterilized. This was before swedged needles...
  16. Spiker

    Social Class and Nursing

    Spiker replied to AllOfMyWat's topic in General Nursing

    I was born to parents with only HS degrees; my dad was a WWII combat veteran, who worked his way up the ladder of a major electric company (Con Edison, for you fellow New Yorkers out there). We lived...
  17. Spiker

    Why I'm leaving nursing

    Spiker replied to UK nurse88's topic in General Nursing

    I've been saying this for years now, with 39 years in Nursing! Between the government, & insurance companies, I resent the hold they have on us, & the way they can dictate how we care for our...
  18. Spiker

    Why I'm leaving nursing

    Spiker replied to UK nurse88's topic in General Nursing

    UK nurse88: it certainly does seem like you've had a difficult few years in your short Nursing career. I myself have been working 39 years as an RN! I hate to see you throw away a college education...
  19. Spiker

    Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant

    Spiker replied to nurselyfe4115's topic in General Nursing

    The OR for the hospitAl system where I work doesn't employ RNP's to assist; we have surgical technicians for that. HOWEVER, there are several surgeons who do employ RNP's in their own practice, who...
  20. Spiker

    Breakroom refrigerator theft

    Spiker replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    We have permanent markers in a cup stuck to the front of our break room refrigerators - there are so many staff members who bring food, we need 2 refrigerators, & 3 microwaves. We have to put our...
  21. Spiker

    How do you deal with Doctors that insult nurses?

    Spiker replied to relusanmi's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Just because as Nurses, we're expected to respect our physicians, doesn't mean we have to be doormats! I'm fortunately at retirement age (65), & many of the docs I work with in the OR are now...
  22. Spiker

    Do you overspend on luxury items as a nurse?

    Spiker replied to Neywel120's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, let me know where I can get a luxury car. I will note, after 39 years in Nursing, I'm at top of most pay grades, but I still want to save for my retirement! Yes, I have a cute convertible, a...
  23. Spiker

    Help me understand an Ampule

    Spiker replied to Femine91's topic in Patient Medications

    Been there, done
  24. Spiker

    Help me understand an Ampule

    Spiker replied to Femine91's topic in Patient Medications

    In my almost 39 years as an RN, I've never inverted an ampule to draw up the medication. We also didn't have filter needles when I 1st entered Nursing in the late 70's. We switched needles, usually...
  25. Spiker

    Don't like nursing at all, what can I do with my BSN?

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

    I can only say "wow" to the fact that youre "burned out" after only six months on the job. Many of us last 30, 35, 40+ years in Nursing (I just retired after 39 years an OR nurse). Honey, it takes a...