Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    Stick a fork in me, I'm done

    Altra replied to nursej22's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Go get 'em! Best of luck to
  2. Altra

    Post accident drug testing

    Altra replied to Sassy5d's topic in Emergency

    I really can't even wrap my brain around what you seem to be saying here. A patient who has been injured on the job is ... just a patient with a traumatic injury, which we treat appropriately from a...
  3. Altra

    Calling patients and/or co-workers "honey" or "hon"

    Altra replied to Emergent's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    It is certainly true that the use/perception of terms like this varies considerably from region to region. In my region, the informality underlying it is associated with a particular socio-economic...
  4. Altra

    Clinical Experience on an Experienced RN Resume?

    Altra replied to surgrn1980's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Agree with posts above -- definitely include your prior employment, but not school clinical experiences, unless it was something significant on a volunteer basis (I know of schools which operate...
  5. Altra

    Experience

    Altra replied to JannockRn's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Joint Commission accreditation is different than state licensing. State department of health licensing is what allows the hospital to operate. If you have a serious, specific threat to patient...
  6. Altra

    Thinking of transferring to the ER

    Altra replied to Catch22Personified's topic in Emergency

    LOVE. THIS.
  7. Altra

    Experience

    Altra replied to JannockRn's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    If you are willing to file a complaint/describe a specific incident or situation, call the state dept. of health. The hospital's ability to keep its doors open depends on licensing from the state,...
  8. Altra

    Nurses who believe in herbal nonsense, alternative medicine, anti vaccine etc

    Altra replied to mhy12784's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    OP, you'd probably be aghast to find that some herbals are included in mainstream, peer-reviewed common protocols for treatment of certain conditions. Your statements are extremely one-sided. The...
  9. Altra

    FFP infusion

    Altra replied to EmeryRN's topic in General Nursing

    The 22-gauge is fine. Personally, I do prefer to try to have at least 2 IV sites if I'm going to be infusing something over a longer period of time, to cover the possibility that the patient may need...
  10. Altra

    Conscious sedation in the ER

    Altra replied to merilynRN's topic in Emergency

    Some good suggestions here, but one thing I see is often missing is to talk with your docs about what meds they like to use for what situations and why. You need good communication and rapport -...
  11. Altra

    Any advice or words of wisdom for precepting new grad ER nurses?

    Altra replied to turnforthenurse's topic in Emergency

    Your idea to put together a mini reference guide is a great. For those without prior EMS or ED tech experience ... remember the emotional transition that comes with working in the ER. This doesn't...
  12. Altra

    Bipap and oral medications

    Altra replied to Superman_RN's topic in Emergency

    If the patient was alert enough and had sufficient respiratory effort to tolerate a brief break from BiPAP there is no absolute contradindication. Doc needs to
  13. Altra

    How does your ED treat chest pain?

    Altra replied to dsherman's topic in Emergency

    But OP, you stated earlier in the thread that patients presenting to your ED with chest pain get narcotics almost immediately. Sounds like a drug seeket's
  14. Altra

    back pain

    Altra replied to dsherman's topic in Emergency

    I've not ever seen an academic hospitalchain of command in which a midlevel provider reported to a
  15. Altra

    Migraine treatment in er

    Altra replied to dsherman's topic in Emergency

    Narcotics as a first-line treatment for migraines, OP?
  16. Altra

    How does your ED treat chest pain?

    Altra replied to dsherman's topic in Emergency

    So ... as an RN you implemented protocol orders that pretty much threw morphine or dilaudid at a chest pain patient as soon as they hit the door? But now as an APRN you're more conservative and at...
  17. Altra

    Written warning for a care plan written prior to my employment

    Altra replied to LTCNS's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Agree -- why on earth would you sign this and go back to the office and
  18. Altra

    Safe Nurse Staffing for Patient Safety & Quality Care Act

    Altra replied to j0yegan's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I have shared this extensively with family, friends and contacts. I always stress that this is not about me as a nurse ... it's about you (the person to whom I'm speaking) as a
  19. Altra

    Safe Nurse Staffing for Patient Safety & Quality Care Act

    Altra replied to j0yegan's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    In that "middle ground" you speak of are patients' lives. Are you honestly saying you can provide the same care to 8 patients that you can to 4, in the same shift? I beg to differ. Making it to...
  20. Altra

    How does your ED treat chest pain?

    Altra replied to dsherman's topic in Emergency

    OP, I'm assuming you don't give all of those meds to every patient who presents with chest pain
  21. Altra

    RNs, I got a question about pain meds

    Altra replied to tarotale's topic in New York Nursing

    No, but they are hooked on the notion that they should be pain-free. We reap what we sow ... and this is what more than a decade of healthcare regulatory emphasis on "pain management" has added to...
  22. Altra

    Medical terminology according to patients

    Altra replied to nursefrances's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    "High blood" usually, but not always, refers to hypertension but requires some further conversation to determine whether s/he means HTN or "the
  23. Altra

    Propofol

    Altra replied to clarkw12's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    As an alternative, OP ... you can do this experiment: Stick one finger as far back in your oropharynx as you can. Remain in that position as long as you can. Consider what that feels like,...
  24. Altra

    Propofol

    Altra replied to clarkw12's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I propose that you or a classmate volunteer to be intubated and on a ventilator with no sedation. I suspect your perspective would change
  25. Altra

    It's end of shift and I'm leaving on time. Not!

    Altra replied to nursefrances's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I just love the coworkers who huddle around the assignment sheet at 0630 and then plan patient care - what they'll finish and what they won't - on the basis of who their relief is. Really - is...