Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

Member

  • Content

    6,255

  • Visitors

    44,239

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    79

All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    "I'm going to smash your face in"

    Altra replied to jannjul76's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    It is possible that management is indeed in the process of dealing with this - gathering accounts from those who may have witnessed the verbal exchange, getting legal & HR depts. to sign off on...
  2. Altra

    Eating our young and more...

    Altra replied to campbellrn68's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    My point exactly - enough. Enough of the Victim Nurse, nurses eat their young, etc. Enough of the
  3. Altra

    Eating our young and more...

    Altra replied to campbellrn68's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    So which is it? You're not seeking opinions ... or "thank you for your input"? So over the course of a 15-year career, some bad stuff has happened. Your initial post painted a grim picture of...
  4. Altra

    Calling all nurses: Enough with the high-velocity urination contest!

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

    CheesePotato, OR charge nurse extraordinaire, resuscitated a patient in the ED today?
  5. Altra

    Is there a legal way to do this...

    Altra replied to BrnEyedGirl's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    Alerting law enforcement that you know the whereabouts of someone whose face has been plastered all over the media is not acting as judge/jury ... it is just choosing to act in accordance with the...
  6. Altra

    Hospital Converting Practice to Only Metric

    Altra replied to jonesy7625's topic in General Nursing

    Educational program? Instead of "training" or an "educational program" how about use of a measuring device with the appropriate
  7. Altra

    The Admission Process: Make Sure You Actually Say Something of Importance!

    Altra replied to pinkiepieRN's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    So if there is no template or other resource for them to refer to when writing admission notes ... how are they supposed to magically know what should be
  8. Altra

    Spinal cord Injury

    Altra replied to Popsickle21's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Hint: if you don't get some oxygenation and perfusion going ... is the SCI going to
  9. Altra

    Am I not cut out for this?

    Altra replied to Atownshend's topic in Emergency

    As an experienced preceptor, I disagree with hiring a nurse new to the ED for a per diem position. Particularly if the hospital is a trauma/stroke/tertiary care/regional referral center with high...
  10. Altra

    ED RNs at risk doing ASAs?

    Altra replied to 1EmergencyRN's topic in Emergency

    Let me first say that I completely agree that having sexual assault exams performed by SANE-trained nurses is of course preferred. However ... can you shed some light / provide some reference for...
  11. Altra

    Space Nursing

    Altra replied to Michael_Espelin's topic in Nursing Career

    NASA is not the only possible provider of human expansion into space. Mars
  12. Altra

    Innocent, BON, and self representation?

    Altra replied to leonard888's topic in Nurses Recovery

    $6K for an attorney vs. projected earnings as a nurse for the rest of your working life. I'm not really seeing the conflict
  13. Altra

    Calling the Warden on Inappropriate Inmates

    Altra replied to LittleTwinStars's topic in Emergency

    Agree with Esme's post above ... I have cared for a steady stream of county jail and state prison inmates, and all have been accompanied by at least 2 corrections officers, without exception....
  14. Altra

    inappropriate messages

    Altra replied to K+MgSO4's topic in Nurse Management

    What about meeting with her in your office - set an actual appointment (even if it's during her shift - just the formalization of "please come to my office at 11:00") and stating please only call/text...
  15. Altra

    The Childish "I Wuv You" Act

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

    I'll tell you my secret. In my urban ER environment I'm considered to be quite "touchy feely" ... because I've mastered the art of touching people who need/can benefit from touch up to the elbow....
  16. Altra

    WHY do I need a BSN?

    Altra replied to AnnMarie52471's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    If, as a nurse, you were using your hands *only* ... I suppose it would. However, as a nurse, you sort, filter and apply an enormous amount of data and background knowledge. You make critical...
  17. Altra

    ICU visiting hours

    Altra replied to CareBayer's topic in MICU, SICU

    I probably will not be alive to see it ... but maybe someday, through some as yet unknown technology ... recovered patients will be able to recall their family members saying, "Dad - wake up!" and...
  18. Altra

    What are the little things you do to help the next shift?

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

    Agree ChristineN -- Assessing for pain before the end of the shift is helpful, but to make a blanket statement that you medicate everyone ... I have the same type of concern with restarting IVs so...
  19. Altra

    Patients with sticky fingers!

    Altra replied to Emergent's topic in Emergency

    smartnurse1982: Can you not pop your head out into the hall, use the call bell, or approach the nurses station and say, "she needs to be changed - can someone help me turn her?" If the suction...
  20. Altra

    hypoglycemia - D10W, peripheral line

    Altra replied to friendlylark's topic in Emergency

    Venous sclerosis is a risk consideration with concentrations of dextrose 10% or higher - thus the recommendation for administration through a central line whenever possible in an acute care
  21. Altra

    Hard and Soft Skills

    Altra replied to TheCommuter's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    That many of you appear to equate "soft skills" (I'm not at all a fan of the term, but that's beside the point) with doormatitis or a "Miss America" personality is the very reason that this is a...
  22. Altra

    Patients that fire everyone/demand everything

    Altra replied to anon456's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Consider that being a "wimp" and a "people pleaser" DO NOT make you a good nurse. These traits all but make it impossible for you to advocate for your patients, or to light a fire to get the wheels of...
  23. Altra

    Patients that fire everyone/demand everything

    Altra replied to anon456's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I really think the starting point is the language that you're using. You talk about the family's "rights" ... there is no "right" to pick & choose staff. The health care organization may...
  24. Altra

    Patients that fire everyone/demand everything

    Altra replied to anon456's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I would have a bunch of advice for you, but ... 1. patterns have already been established 2. I don't know what kind of support your management will provide For starters, I wouldn't use apologetic...
  25. Altra

    Coding patient without paging code overhead?

    Altra replied to rse3's topic in Emergency

    Where was the patient -- in the ED? I have never worked in a hospital where an overhead announcement or page went out for a code in the ED the way that it does for a coding patient anywhere else....