TopazLover BSN, RN

I went into nursing and felt that was the only path I wanted. Perhaps you could say it was a calling. I loved nursing and, in general loved my patients. I was kind considerate, professional, etc. The bad part about that was I always felt I should...

There may be other ways of describing the relationships. I have never heard it described as similar to phantom pain, and I think in many ways it is similar. In a grief group I ran, it was described as if "someone had cut off my right arm". For many ...

When my DH was brain dead the doctors gave me a choice. In 24 hrs. they would remove all machines (I do not recall exact wording) and allow him to die or, they would move him to a different floor where his ventilator care would be done until his bod...

Viva, as another retired nurse I agree with all 10. Of course I am old enough to recall white uniforms, sensible white shoes, and caps. I have not stopped being a nurse. I once said to a doctor that I was formerly a nurse. He looked me straight in...

I agree that it is not the words, it is the actions. It is the non-verbals. It is the conversations overheard by family when co-workers talk with each other. Once a person is placed on mechanical support for breathing, the option of a natural death...

Mechanical support is what family members see. When they are told it is a temporary measure to mechanically support breathing, and they see a machine, it sinks in. Having dealt with my family members who are not medical in any sense of the word, th...

Did something change in the pt. condition to lead to having an RN on day shift? I agree that at this point it is time to change assignments and your manager needs to discuss with the family what the rules are for your company. If they want the servi...

As a family member who has gone through this scenario not once, but twice, I like the idea of mechanical support. In both cases of family, they were maintained on vents up to 24 hr. after the possibility of life was gone. Both were organ donors, nei...

Merry Christmas, a bit late, but I figure I still can say it until Jan. 6th. This is great. So on target for all nurses. Thanks.

This is my doctor. He told me not to get a tattoo because I could get an infection. I said most infections come from hospitals. I want a tattoo of a cup of coffee. I always need more for those 12 hour shifts.

"I don't care that you were up studying for the pharmacology test all night. Students still cannot bring coffee to clinical floors."

We cannot give legal advice. Get to that lawyer. Ask those same questions and many more. Domestic violence in any form is taken very seriously by any prospective employer (and I will not touch how any BON treats it). Also clarify what it would mea...

To me this is close to violating TOS, as it is almost medical advice. Read about what the test actually means. I do understand the fear you have, even if unfounded. There are many reasons for positive skin tests. It may mean exposure to TB. It may ...

I agree a meeting is necessary. I am flabbergasted that the school would suggest a retake of the course without even suggesting how to improve the relationship. I have seen this type of behavior exhibited in one case that landed on my lawyer's des...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/19/us-usa-cancer-hpv-idUSBRE95I1AW20130619 Reuters) - The U.S. introduction of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in 2006 has reduced infections with the human papillomavirus or HPV - the sexually transmitt...

A union would immediately file hostile work environment charges to management. They would support staff not being injured and would show the difference under new management. I suspect you might be in a "right to work" state. As can easily be seen "...

That is so sad. If vaccination can save any young people and their families this kind of suffering then the incorrect worry about it making young people more sexually active seems even worse. And the cruel statements by Bachmann et al about the dan...

I agree that nurse is abusive and negligent. That said, seeing a resident up at 3 am humming makes me wonder if she might have been having pain that she could not acknowledge. How do her late night habits work with any therapy or other day time i...

UTI giving stroke like symptoms that then caused fall that in term caused a rhabdo. Pneumonia from either stasis or aspiration, or both.

Juan, thank you for this really down to earth article that I really enjoyed for many reasons. Karen, that trip down memory lane with a look at the Bird was almost like a silent scream for me. We used to call Birds "the kiss of death" and worked rea...

By the end of my 12 hour shift everything is dragging.

While there is a federal law and regulations involved many places in "right to work" states seem to be able to ignore it as they will fire anyone who makes waves. As a shop steward I fought for our night nurse to be paid. My reasoning was that if t...

That came from the NM's office. I always knew.

Thank you all for sharing. I think some people who have some understanding of schizophrenia believe the bast a person can do is live like John Nash in a very controlled environment focused on one thing. I have to admit that even though I know better ...

I have a friend who was just diagnosed with Meniere's. She doing better and can actually do her work now. She has young children and is still learning her boundaries. I have tinnitus. I can appreciate that part what you go through. Sometimes the n...