Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    My thoughts. Literally. Catheter. Psych Pt. ED

    Altra replied to Ronda89's topic in Emergency

    I'm going to guess that you are a very new nurse, and very new to the ED. Please discuss with your preceptor, immediately: 1. Why do we insist that those who present with suicidal or homicidal...
  2. Altra

    How to Decide

    Altra replied to gemmi999's topic in Emergency

    I agree with Pixie.RN's post -- 200 patients/day in just 14 beds? But putting that aside ... if you are committed to relocation, take the community hospital
  3. Altra

    Multiple gtts

    Altra replied to KG MSN RN CCRN CEN's topic in General Nursing

    Hopefully your order sets will include titration parameters such as frequency and increment - these are a good starting point. Management of multiple vasoactive gtts requires a solid knowledge of the...
  4. Altra

    How to think like and ER nurse

    Altra replied to amzyRN's topic in Emergency

    A million likes for this excellent
  5. Altra

    need help w a short and long term goal

    Altra replied to lola_b123's topic in General Nursing

    Some food for thought: think carefully about cause and effect -- if I (patient) do not speak to you, one particular nursing student, does this mean I am developmentally delayed? Try searching your...
  6. Altra

    Questionable legal and ethical violations within a department??

    Altra replied to ednrs4life's topic in General Nursing

    I can understand where you're coming from, as can anyone who has worked in more than one hospital. You learn the "right way" and then go somewhere else where things are done differently - it can set...
  7. Altra

    Patient education and documentation.

    Altra replied to statcoffee's topic in Patient Education

    I'll address your fundamental question -- no, I do not think you should enter new documentation on all the patients you've discharged in the last few months. That pattern of late documentation would...
  8. Altra

    Tag team elopement

    Altra replied to statcoffee's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Several things stand out to me about this scenario. 1. Have you all had some type of non-violent crisis intervention training, such as CPI? Reading of staff running after patients, getting in...
  9. Altra

    Blood Collection Variables are a Risk to Patients

    Altra replied to Nerd eNurse's topic in General Nursing

    I understand that you have only recently learned of the existence of standards for blood specimen collection. Learning something new can significantly alter your perspective, and that's a good thing....
  10. Altra

    Post ops coming back to ED as "holding" patients

    Altra replied to anursedad's topic in Emergency

    This is probably an EMTALA violation. You cannot transfer a patient from inpatient (surgery) to an outpatient area and then back to an inpatient unit. However, if the patient originated in the ER ......
  11. Altra

    Triage question

    Altra replied to gvrn13's topic in Emergency

    Seriously considering printing this and putting it up next to our ESI algorithm poster! It's one thing to learn from colleagues, including physicians. It's another thing to start altering your...
  12. Altra

    Nurse Bullying

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

    Lack of eye contact produced tears? Your classmate cannot control the behavior of others, but she can certainly control her
  13. Altra

    Nurse Bullying

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

    What is the common denominator in these 3 cases? Is it logical to consider the common denominator as a possible contributing
  14. Altra

    Please help! Is it worth it???

    Altra replied to jenwillRN's topic in General Nursing

    Since you offered up your age, I will point out that you have 22 years to work until full retirement age. I'm not saying that you should or shouldn't pursue NP, but there is plenty of time left in...
  15. Altra

    Government should not be in healthcare business

    Altra replied to Vtachy1's topic in Nursing News

    Regarding use of the PSA test as screening tool, from the American Cancer Society's annual "Cancer Facts and Statistics" publication, available at Cancer Facts and Statistics | American Cancer Society...
  16. Altra

    What to do about coworker not pulling her weight

    Altra replied to guest947568's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Not to hijack the thread, but I love the quote above. It should be a mantra ... a t-shirt ... a bumper sticker ... and a
  17. Altra

    0200 BP's - Dealing with Tired Rude Doctors

    Altra replied to Jennifer in Cali's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Jennifer in Cali, the portion of your post I've quoted above is very important. It shows you have enough experience under your belt to perceive the disconnect between documentation of core measures...
  18. Altra

    Amiodarone

    Altra replied to BecomingNursey's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    OP, have you had ACLS yet? If not, I think this episode demonstrates why your involvement in codes should be limited to compressions, observation, and perhaps documentation until you complete the...
  19. Altra

    Nurse Bullying

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

    I had no idea who Renee Thompson is. Google led me to her LinkedIn profile - she is a professional speaker - and a YouTube video promoting a conference she led earlier this month. Her target...
  20. Altra

    6th nursing job in 4 years?

    Altra replied to rjstrickland23's topic in General Nursing

    I cannot say whether or not you should take the insurance job. But it takes at least a year to get really proficient in a specific job, and a good 2-3 years in the same job/specialty to really get...
  21. Altra

    Non-nurse recruiters

    Altra replied to Newbie_1's topic in General Nursing

    The HR/recruiting/talent acquisition portion of obtaining a new job is only a minor piece. I don't think there is necessarily any significant benefit to dealing with a recruiter who is a nurse....
  22. Altra

    0200 BP's - Dealing with Tired Rude Doctors

    Altra replied to Jennifer in Cali's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Vitals q 4 hours for a tele patient seems pretty standard. However ... have you ever been abruptly awakened from a deep sleep? Did you momentarily have the heart-pounding, disoriented, WTH feeling?...
  23. Altra

    Help with patient labs!!!! -Tube Feeding

    Altra replied to lyndsay5530's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Enrich is probably the brand/trade name. Look again at your labs, and consider dehydration. What issue do you see with 8pm - 8am feeding? 8am - 8pm would definitely interfere with daytime activities...
  24. Altra

    Disciplining employee in front of other employees?!

    Altra replied to Seas's topic in General Nursing

    Praise in public, discipline in private is an ideal that I agree with the vast majority of the time, for reasons that should be pretty apparent to anyone who has ever had Psych 101. But I'm going to...
  25. Altra

    False documentation?? I need your help

    Altra replied to distressnurse's topic in General Nursing

    If you scanned the patient and the med, that equals administration in most EMRs. You are not the first or last person to drop a vial - it happens - but you MUST then edit your documentation. EMRs...