Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

Member

  • Content

    6,255

  • Visitors

    44,488

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    79

All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    Arbitration?

    Altra replied to heyitsme728's topic in General Nursing

    You can google-search this term, using a clarifying phrase applicable to your homework/reading, that will give you good
  2. Altra

    What do people think the ER is?

    Altra replied to Sassy5d's topic in Emergency

    "Mama's-Boy Syndrome" is as old as time itself. Your ER was just the setting for this exacerbation to take place. And the significant other seems to be progressing to co-dependency right on...
  3. Altra

    Linkedin etiquette for nurses - to invite or not to invite?

    Altra replied to sjc2005's topic in General Nursing

    You can possibly add the mutual acquaintance who works on the unit, but I think it would be presumptuous at this time to send an invite to the manager. As of now, you do not and have never had any...
  4. Altra

    Have we lost the "art" of nursing?

    Altra replied to Barbara Hunter's topic in General Nursing

    I think our current culture has different expectations of personal space and convalescence than in the past. It is widely understood that discharge from acute care will occur as soon as possible, and...
  5. Altra

    Tasks that are left for the floor

    Altra replied to friendlylark's topic in Emergency

    Antimicrobial prescribing practices can vary widely, as I assume you are aware. I'm not quite sure where you're coming from with your rationale that if Vanco is ordered it is *the* appropriate...
  6. Altra

    Is the height measurement on crutches always correct?

    Altra replied to Trixyp's topic in General Nursing

    No, it's not always perfect, for the reason I gave above -- body proportions. If I line up 5 people who are all the same height head-to-floor ... their axillae and other body landmarks are not all...
  7. Altra

    Establishing Identity of ED Patients

    Altra replied to Jolie's topic in Emergency

    Really - I will not be calling police because my patient who has been homeless or living "off the grid" for a long time doesn't have
  8. Altra

    Is the height measurement on crutches always correct?

    Altra replied to Trixyp's topic in General Nursing

    The height measurement isn't the only parameter - everyone is proportioned differently (long legs/short torso, etc.). This is where the adjustments of the handles come into play. Having said that ......
  9. Altra

    Chest Tubes and Tidaling

    Altra replied to Orizguy's topic in General Nursing

    If the procedure being performed is draining *peritoneal fluid* from the abdomen (parascentescis) then you are not using a "chest
  10. Altra

    Scripted responses to difficult phone conversations with patients

    Altra replied to BlueLightRN's topic in Ambulatory Care, Clinic

    I absolutely agree with the post above. Over the years I have observed that many difficult conversations are made more difficult by "talking too much". It is not impolite to simply state, "no I am...
  11. Altra

    Establishing Identity of ED Patients

    Altra replied to Jolie's topic in Emergency

    Patients are asked for a photo ID if they are using insurance benefits. But a significant portion of our patient population has no insurance and so there is no reason to ask for ID. I could rattle...
  12. Altra

    How to help with ratios

    Altra replied to Wheels28's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Thank you for your interest in this important subject! If you Google-search "states considering nurse - patient ratio laws" or something similar you can find multiple links and see if legislation has...
  13. Altra

    Vital sign Documentation In ER

    Altra replied to jollymon16's topic in Emergency

    My post addressed "manually recording" (e.g., writing) vitals vs. importing them from the monitor -- not manual BP vs. Dynamap/auto
  14. Altra

    Tasks that are left for the floor

    Altra replied to friendlylark's topic in Emergency

    The answer to your question is "it depends" on what the task is. A heparin gtt is an important part (and possibly the focal point) of treatment -- for PE, cardiac issue, etc. In other words,...
  15. Altra

    Evidence-based Justification for <40hr/week & Per Diem Scheduling?

    Altra replied to mountainandsurf's topic in General Nursing

    It sounds like your hospital had implemented a desperation measure during the nursing shortage of the 2000s and provided full-time benefits for part-time employees. And now they're saying, that's...
  16. Altra

    Vital sign Documentation In ER

    Altra replied to jollymon16's topic in Emergency

    Technology will not solve that problem. Commitment to quality care and pride in performance is what is needed
  17. Altra

    Vital sign Documentation In ER

    Altra replied to jollymon16's topic in Emergency

    What you're describing would be a technological step backwards ... and what does it accomplish to have nurses manually record vitals as a stand alone task? Intervention based on vitals is what tells...
  18. Altra

    A bad code, question skills and career choice.....

    Altra replied to AZER's topic in Emergency

    Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. I will forever remember a young father of two children who after presenting with intermittent chest pain but a normal EKG ... stopped talking to me and his...
  19. Altra

    GIVING REPORT!!!!!

    Altra replied to friendlylark's topic in Emergency

    Very true. Don't get emotional or personalize things -- stick to facts, and don't take on anyone else's perceived "feelings" that are not yours. There's no Vanco in the Pyxis? ... then there's no...
  20. Altra

    Vent! PEG tube replacement

    Altra replied to LongislandRN23's topic in General Nursing

    Yep, got it. But ... my ED does not replace tubes, and interventional radiology does not do this after hours. So a nursing home resident that arrives in the ED late afternoon/early evening/late at...
  21. Altra

    Vent! PEG tube replacement

    Altra replied to LongislandRN23's topic in General Nursing

    I can see from this thread that there is variation in what ED MDs are willing to do regarding PEG replacement. However, at my ED ... we do not do this. And so it is very frustrating to repeatedly...
  22. Altra

    ETOH and OD Census

    Altra replied to Kidrn911's topic in Emergency

    We see ODs daily ... about half heroin and half all others combined. Daily ETOHers ... considerably more during major city events and
  23. Altra

    Major in Fashion Design and then go to Med School?

    Altra replied to Mell101's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    This is not accurate. MDs I have worked with have had a wide range of undergraduate majors, including humanities subjects unrelated to the physical sciences. OP -- lots of good info for you here:...
  24. Altra

    Pain management ;)

    Altra replied to Sassy5d's topic in Emergency

    OP, you might ask your former preceptor, a charge nurse, or some other nurse mentor if the "emphasis on pain management" at your hospital is intended to focus on excellent assessment &...
  25. Altra

    Free time/vacation time while being a nurse?

    Altra replied to nurse_sharon's topic in General Nursing

    You've been at your job for a month now ... ask your preceptor how scheduling/vacation/holidays work in your