Pax_Ramona

I had a patient who needed assistance to ambulate. She would do the usual count "1,2,3" then stand. But every trip to the bathroom continued with her counting aloud "4,5,6,7...". She would reach the toilet on 14 then plop down.

When my children were young and asked "how was work?" I would reply, "No one fell and no one died. It was a good day."

Paraldehyde for alcohol withdrawal (would melt plastic syringes!) and chloral hydrate (Noctec) for sleep. Chloral hydrate was used in old movies to pour into someones's drink "slipping them a Mickey Finn".

The cheese is still on the cracker! I woke up one night, looked at my alarm clock and thought " 145, that heart rate is kind of fast".

Urology!!! Too funny. I think the initials should read IPCU and that stands for Intermediate Progressive Care Unit. It's a like a step-down from intensive care.

My husband is a pharmacist. We met in college decades ago. We often "talk shop" at the dinner table. Hey, we just got an email from his pharmacy association. They are starting a social network site PharmQD.com. I think I'll go lurk over there so...

Patient with a chest tube to Pleurevac being transported via elevator. Door closes--pt. inside elevator, Pleurevac outside elevator. Going up! YEOWWW!!

Kudos for your practical use of critical thinking skills and your courage to get involved! Once when I was at the movies with the kids (Dr. Dolittle) I heard a woman say, "We've got to get to the hospital!" I leapt over the back of my seat to find a...

Hi BA, I just completed this course in October. I started in June and finished my clinical hours (84) around Halloween and have secured a staff position after 10 years of inactive status. Your apprehension is understandable--I felt the same w...

Hi, I just completed a nursing refresher course this summer/fall and am about to start my new job (hospital) next week. I took a state board approved nursing refresher course. I went through a local community college so it was affordable (less t...

Hi ba, I was on a 10 year hiatus from nursing practice. To return, I contacted my state board who provided me with the names of approved refresher courses. I enrolled in one and the didactic portion was all on-line (over a 4 month period). I a...

Those aren't "birth plans", those are BIRTH PAINS ! And you can be sure they will be the first to sue if something happens to the baby.:icon_roll

I had a patient who said she was allergic to all odors--not just perfumes. She said her son was, too. When he came to visit, he arrived on the floor wearing a World War I gas mask! You know, the ones that make the wearer look like some kind of ins...

I like the idea of having our notes transcribed. However, there is a new policy (?federal) that in 2009 all charting will be done electronically. I work at a hospital where this has been done for a while. You would think click here, click there, e...

Yes, I think it would be a clear HIPAA violation to be within earshot of the roomate, visitors, passersby, etc. We tried this BRIEFLY at one hospital and report took twice as long. Besides, the patients seemed offended whenever we used the term SOB...

Just a side note. It was probably a typo but I like MIcrunchy's "mental detector" in the ER. BEEP BEEP BEEP! Yep, you're mental alright.

I just read the new JCAHO standards re: intimidating and disruptive behaviors to be in place by early 2009. Here's the link: http://www.jointcommission.org/SentinelEvents/SentinelEventAlert/sea_40.htm In the mean time, you carry yourself as a profess...

Hi Shay, I'm sorry to hear about this--it can be so distracting and weigh so heavy on your mind. Have you been deposed yet? Rebezemek gave some good advice. All I can add is not to say too much. If the attorney asks a yes or no question just answer y...

Vaporize, It sounds like the makings of a work place bully: "She says she is senior to me and that it looks bad on me if I don't give her an answer." You have some choices: avoid her (not likely), report her (to whom?), ignore her (good idea) and the...

oops--double post!

Hi Turtle, All good suggestions so far. I would add not to stick directly on the pad (center) of the finger but a little to the side. Many people have callous build up on the pads of their fingers.

Maybe it's aTexas thang, but there is a child at my daughter's school whose given name is Buckshot and another boy named Eerie.

I would probably ask what the nurse to patient ratio is and what approach they use like primary care or team nursing. Also what general types of cases they have like heart caths, pre/post CABG, pacemakers, cardioversions. And you might ask about the ...

A patient with fibroids was admitted (per admitting typo) with a "Uterine Thyroid"--wow that gland really slipped!

At first I thought "Booboo" was the psych client and not the aide! What kind of healthcare provider says "I'm woke" ? I think Vito did the right thing by relieving her and reporting to the supervisor (and documenting). The patient was 1:1 for some re...