Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    Problem with reference from previous employer

    Altra replied to KSinMT's topic in Nurses Recovery

    They may not be disclosing the details of why you left, but simply that you are ineligible for rehire. And that may well give your new prospective employers doubt about hiring
  2. Altra

    School Interview: Relax. Your Past Won't Haunt You.

    Altra replied to allnurses's topic in General Students

    Given the number of very earnest posts here at AN from members with some kind of past experience that does indeed hamper their ability to practice nursing (and the two AN forums devoted to that area -...
  3. Altra

    Any luck fighting PA BON?

    Altra replied to gradrn1's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Just asking a question here ... did this really come as a surprise? I went to nursing school with an individual who had a related conviction that was more than a decade old ... but did so with the...
  4. Altra

    Pain management ;)

    Altra replied to Sassy5d's topic in Emergency

    Take a little time to step back from this and examine it without emotion. Assuming that you assess appropriately and document well, including reports from a patient that s/he is still having pain and...
  5. Altra

    Standing up to my charge nurse prevented a mistake

    Altra replied to 002rn05's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    What I'm not seeing in this thread is recognition of what could have been happening with the patient, and the importance of timely response to it. If I had been that charge nurse, I too would have...
  6. Altra

    Gaining experience other than volunteering!

    Altra replied to laronicavan's topic in General Nursing

    Have you started clinicals yet? If so, I'm surprised to hear you question the value of a part-time PCT job. If you have spent any time in the hospital at all as a student and/or volunteer, surely...
  7. Altra

    MSN thesis survey:Effects of Bullying, Harassment & Verbal Abuse at work

    Altra replied to csingram2's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    The survey tool is all open-ended and does not address nurses who feel positive about interpersonal interactions in their workplace. And I'm not sure what useful information can be extrapolated from...
  8. Altra

    Attitudes of New Nurses

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

    OP, you clearly had a bad shift. But I have really no idea what you're saying here. I hope that venting helped, even if the rest of us are perplexed about what you mean. But if you're going to vent...
  9. Altra

    Making a complaint about a doctor?

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

    Just so we're clear ... it was that you heard her assessment, that she didn't feel your dyspnea and fatigue were related to asthma, that has made you unhappy with your
  10. Altra

    Standing up to my charge nurse prevented a mistake

    Altra replied to 002rn05's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    So you feel like vindicated that a "mistake" was averted because you refused to draw blood from a dizzy, dyspneic patient having chest pain. Hmm. OP, if I am ever your patient and I suddenly develop...
  11. Altra

    Nursing in the Third World

    Altra replied to rpcvVanuatu's topic in General Nursing

    I strongly agree with the post above -- spend at least a year in a more structured setting, solidifying your skills and knowledge base. This will not only make you far more valuable in a "Third...
  12. Altra

    Per-diem nurses

    Altra replied to Vishwamitr's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    I've often been embarrassed by the way that nursing sometimes focuses on putting itself out as day labor, rather than committed professionals. I meant no disrespect toward the OP, but I don't think...
  13. Altra

    Do physicians have authority over nurses in the hospital?

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

    Short answer, no. Any responsible physician will want to see that the prescribed treatment plan is being carried out, and will want to see evidence of good nursing care for his/her patients. But in a...
  14. Altra

    Do you like working weekends? Holidays?

    Altra replied to LTCNS's topic in General Nursing

    You would do well to set some boundaries at work, in a hurry. Re-read your job description -- I bet it doesn't say, "do whatever you think will make the staff like you, or the opposite of whatever...
  15. Altra

    Per-diem nurses

    Altra replied to Vishwamitr's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Then don't work per diem -- get a job as regular staff, full- or part-time, as meets your needs. There is no injustice here that I
  16. Altra

    Being directed to get a patients son a ride home

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

    This situation does differ from you, as an adult, staying with your husband. As an adult you are responsible for yourself -- your meals, your self care, etc. This is not the case with a child. The...
  17. Altra

    Nursing Policy and procedure manuals

    Altra replied to Kstayce630's topic in General Nursing

    For clinical nursing procedures your policies can reference a widely accepted nursing textbook, as dansamy noted in the post above. However, your policies are going to need to reflect the mental...
  18. Altra

    Constant Vein Blowing?

    Altra replied to JVoEDrn's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you. Invasive procedures is the line in the sand, IMO, for CAM
  19. Altra

    Being directed to get a patients son a ride home

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

    I totally agree that the patient's 13-year old son needs to go home. How is he eating, bathing, etc. during his mother's multi-day hospital stay? I also agree that it would be totally inappropriate...
  20. Altra

    Family Members/Patients Who Write Down Your Name

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

    "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE THAT DOCUMENTED?" Me: "Of course we document all the education we provide to patients & families, and their understanding of that education. It's a very important part...
  21. Altra

    Constant Vein Blowing?

    Altra replied to JVoEDrn's topic in General Nursing

    It is a growing medical problem -- patients whose habitus, anatomy, medical and social histories and/or disease processes mean they have very poor venous access. You may recall recent state execution...
  22. Altra

    Constant Vein Blowing?

    Altra replied to JVoEDrn's topic in General Nursing

    My goodness, this patient needs a midline, a PICC or a port - STAT. Have these been
  23. Altra

    latex allergy holding me back

    Altra replied to horse_des's topic in General Nursing

    I'm having a hard time following this. They "tested" for a latex allergy? As in ... subjected you to contact/exposure with latex? And to deny employment based on a latex allergy? Let me ask a...
  24. Altra

    Why Nurses Don't Want to Be Identified in Public?

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

    Yes, it does, in the opinion of this confirmed
  25. Altra

    Triage complaints- the good, the bad, and the shocking.

    Altra replied to canoehead's topic in Emergency

    Sternum ..... intramuscular injection .... Never mind. OD stories have one common theme -- seriously warped