CalicoKitty BSN, MSN, RN

Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care

Three cats in the yard. Life used to be so hard...

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All Content by CalicoKitty

  1. CalicoKitty

    Seeking Advice in Philadelphia!

    CalicoKitty replied to davidinphiladelphia's topic in Pennsylvania Nursing

    It has been a while, but I thought that Pennsylvania would allow a nursing student become a CNA after passing Adult 1 or something. Regardless, if you want to work sooner, taking a CNA course would be...
  2. CalicoKitty

    smokers and coughing

    CalicoKitty replied to brownbook's topic in General Nursing

    I quit smoking once for a few years. Then restarted. Got that cough. Decided that I'd smoke "natural" cigarettes with no additives. Cough stuck. Decided *maybe* it was the cigarettes. Thankfully...
  3. CalicoKitty

    Did I make the right choice?

    CalicoKitty replied to Toaster's topic in General Nursing

    When looking for jobs, I'd keep your eye out for "open houses" and hiring events. Many hospitals near me have them at least once or twice a year. Especially if you 'hit it off' with someone. Can be...
  4. CalicoKitty

    Say it ain't so...........

    CalicoKitty replied to AutumnApple's topic in General Nursing

    I've known many patients that were glad to be back in the hospital vs. their nursing home, rehab or home. They are often sad to be discharged again. They mention how they don't get the same level of...
  5. CalicoKitty

    Can a registered nurse work as a medical assistant

    CalicoKitty replied to yourstrulynurse87's topic in General Nursing

    If you' If you're dealing with Geriatrics, I'd consider any medications on the Beers List to be high-risk, also. Geriatric patients may have a slower metabolism, meaning their bodies don't clear...
  6. CalicoKitty

    Write Up's and Potential Termination for Pain Reassessments

    CalicoKitty replied to MiralaxOnIceRN's topic in General Nursing

    I get annoyed because it isn't easy in our system to chart the pain level when administering the medication. It is relatively easier to do the 'reassessment' from the MAR, but there is no scale that I...
  7. CalicoKitty

    Vancomycin Trough

    CalicoKitty replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Where I work, draw the lab ~30 minutes before administration. Send it down. Administer the current dose. Future holds/adjustments are
  8. CalicoKitty

    Skin/Wound rounds

    CalicoKitty replied to JamiePedsRN's topic in Wound, Ostomy, Continence

    Many hospitals do monthly or quarterly "skin audits" NDNQI days. Every patient is checked for pressure ulcers. Those that the wound nurses don't already know about are checked out. At one hospital,...
  9. CalicoKitty

    Cdiff question

    CalicoKitty replied to ss234's topic in General Nursing

    I think part of testing for cdiff includes ruling out 'other explanations'. Granted, I see doctors order the test the days right after starting patients on tube feeds. At some hospitals, simply...
  10. CalicoKitty

    How NOT to Write an Incident Report

    CalicoKitty replied to CloverPark's topic in Nursing Humor

    So, one clogged pipe led to another clogged
  11. CalicoKitty

    Short acting vs regular insulin

    CalicoKitty replied to ForeverYoung018's topic in General Nursing

    That is the safe practice. If you give the insulin, and the patient gets whisked away to MRI, dialysis or some other procedure before they eat, bad things can happen. I think sometimes insulin orders...
  12. CalicoKitty

    Tell me about your Hospital!

    CalicoKitty replied to RnRnNurse's topic in General Nursing

    I'm pretty sure that if you want part time in a new specialty, you'll need to get trained in that unit first. They probably won't let you go part time for a little while (maybe 6+ months?). Why not...
  13. CalicoKitty

    Bring back our childhood diseases!

    CalicoKitty replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    It is both sides. The liberal side is the "I don't want any toxins in my body" type (since potentially fatal diseases aren't toxins, but natural, I guess) and on the "conservative" (no clue what they...
  14. CalicoKitty

    I need a change!

    CalicoKitty replied to Nrs4Sunshine's topic in General Nursing

    When I get "bored" at work, I sometimes just do some studying. I use our online education portal to complete mandatory education, then I move on to things that are interesting. Sometimes I think...
  15. CalicoKitty

    would a law suit/from credit card prevent me from renewing license/

    CalicoKitty replied to Cal08's topic in General Nursing

    I'd assume unless there was actual fraud involved, you should be fine. But, if you are convicted of a crime, get a
  16. CalicoKitty

    What if/Is it possible?

    CalicoKitty replied to CollegeStudStudent's topic in General Nursing

    I think a lot of the NCLEX is good test-taking skills. I doubt someone could pass the NCLEX just reading "textbooks". I imagine with the use of NCLEX study guides, it would be possible. I also prefer...
  17. CalicoKitty

    Worst Nursing Scrub Color Worn?

    CalicoKitty replied to RNliveoak's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    I think white is the worst. I can't keep that color clean. Luckily, I haven't had to wear that in 20 years and that was just when I was a student. I didn't mind terribly, but we had yellow tops in...
  18. CalicoKitty

    Pain management in nursing

    CalicoKitty replied to Flylik3abr1's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Generally, I'll give pain meds whenever I can. I try to get new orders if the pain doesn't seem to be controlled. With people new to narcs, I try to educate them on the real possibility of physical...
  19. CalicoKitty

    DNA testing

    CalicoKitty replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    Pretty much what happened to me. Bonus, I did "meet" a few more family members (some who mentioned the same lack of DNA). I did ancestry, 23 and me (no genetic health risks - but I think it's a bit...
  20. CalicoKitty

    February 2019 Caption Contest: Win $100!

    CalicoKitty replied to Joe V's topic in News, Announcements

    I survived! Don't ask where the stain came
  21. CalicoKitty

    Nursing Uniforms: From Skirts to Scrubs and Beyond

    CalicoKitty replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    When I first went to school for lab technology, my school uniform was white. Scrubs were available, but we weren't allowed to wear them. Had to be button up or something. I was not born to wear white....
  22. CalicoKitty

    Why red seal broken with coude cath?

    CalicoKitty replied to Nurseali24's topic in General Nursing

    Aren't coude catheters simply the insertion catheter, and the urine collection container (leg bag/drainage bag) is put on after insertion. I don't think I've seen them come pre-attached before. So,...
  23. CalicoKitty

    Notice of resignation

    CalicoKitty replied to Shyloe's topic in General Nursing

    I've had hospitals on 6 and 8 week schedules where we put in our required shifts for that period. But, giving notice for quitting a job isn't really related to that. She may feel like she's leaving...
  24. CalicoKitty

    Am I the *******?

    CalicoKitty replied to Seeing Myself Out's topic in General Nursing

    It could be a stepping stone. There is some medical in dialysis. Some hospitals have dialysis units, and some dialysis nurses do dialysis in patient rooms. I think the step would be to get into a...
  25. CalicoKitty

    Am I the *******?

    CalicoKitty replied to Seeing Myself Out's topic in General Nursing

    Could see if you can try an inpatient medical-psych unit. There was one at my old hospital. It is truly med-surg with some medically ill psych patients. From there, can probably branch out to other...