Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    Taking the CEN to get hired at a trauma center

    Altra replied to alkayda's topic in Emergency

    I do not believe in taking tests for specialty certification without actually having applicable, "expert level" experience in that specialty, so I would not give additional consideration to a...
  2. Altra

    Size matters? (IV question)

    Altra replied to theantichick's topic in General Nursing

    I agree that nurses outside of critical care areas seem "married" to 20s & 22s. It's culture, not rationale. And BTW ... a 20# is not the "minimum" for giving blood products ... otherwise those...
  3. Altra

    Running PRBC concurrently with NS?!

    Altra replied to nurseap's topic in General Nursing

    Leaking & infiltration are related to the vein in which the catheter is in ... not the IV
  4. Altra

    Umsl or slu ??

    Altra replied to pri4fun's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    As this is an international site, it might help you get better responses if you specify the names of the schools. The SLU down the street from me may not be the SLU you're thinking
  5. Altra

    Running PRBC concurrently with NS?!

    Altra replied to nurseap's topic in General Nursing

    Have you ever given a patient a fluid bolus? One liter in an hour or less? What's the administration rate then? Here's a link to one brand of IV catheter. Note that the flow rate for a 22# catheter...
  6. Altra

    Do potential employers owe you an explaination?

    Altra replied to Marshall1's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Do potential employers owe you an explanation? No, not even remotely. I do agree that some communication saying thanks, but no thanks when the position has been filled would bring professional...
  7. Altra

    Running PRBC concurrently with NS?!

    Altra replied to nurseap's topic in General Nursing

    What kind of line are you thinking of that won't "hold up" to an administration rate of
  8. Altra

    D50 for blood glucose protocol vs juice/snacks, your thoughts

    Altra replied to Billy_Ruben's topic in General Nursing

    My point was the OP's repeated references to including the patient's isolation status as part of his decision making. And I'm cautioning against
  9. Altra

    D50 for blood glucose protocol vs juice/snacks, your thoughts

    Altra replied to Billy_Ruben's topic in General Nursing

    As has been said ... don't beat yourself up. However, the underlying assumption that "I will always make good decisions as a new nurse" is probably not realistic. Be careful, too, about changing...
  10. Altra

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

    Altra replied to canoehead's topic in Emergency

    Be careful that your effort to stop Medicaid fraud does not result in an EMTALA
  11. Altra

    New handoff report- scared!

    Altra replied to lilaclover6984's topic in General Nursing

    "This is a new system that we're all getting used to. Help me out and hold your questions on your specific patients until I run through everyone." And make people stick to that. Gee whiz though ......
  12. Altra

    Pregnant Teen Mom Who Just Turned 18

    Altra replied to healthcare4life's topic in General Nursing

    Highly unlikely. Unfortunately 367,678 15-19-year olds gave birth in the U.S. in 2010. ( FASTSTATS - Teen Births ) And 70% of 17-18-year olds report being sexually active. ( Facts on American...
  13. Altra

    Hospital approach to influenza

    Altra posted a topic in General Nursing

    I asked these questions in the Pandemic/Flu forum but got no response. What is your acute care hospital's approach to flu testing? Do you: Swab all admitted patients? All ED patients too? Only...
  14. Altra

    What exactly do physicians do again?

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

    Agree - hats off to those nurses! :) But it is not typical in the US for a physician to remain with a laboring patient through hours of labor, so I'm not sure what to make of the implication in your...
  15. Altra

    Calling all RNs who have had bad work experiences

    Altra replied to Blue Roses's topic in General Nursing

    Have you done a literature search to see what's already out there? (hint: there is a fair amount of scholarly literature on both job satisfaction among nurses and other workplace
  16. Altra

    Am I being too sensitive?

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

    "Intimidated by young age" ... OK, now I've had a laugh to put a smile on my face. Seriously, everyone -- smile and go have a good day!
  17. Altra

    Behavioral Health Patients in the ED

    Altra replied to vokaybo's topic in Emergency

    Even in urban areas, psych resources are often spread pretty thin. For a patient to wait for a day or two for an inpatient bed to be found is unfortunately not uncommon. But "weeks"?? Initial...
  18. Altra

    Negligence when a patient leaves?

    Altra replied to Sassy5d's topic in Emergency

    AWOLs are problematic when the patient has potentially left with an IV in place. And even without that complication, AWOLs must be reported to the state health dept. in my state. So I can't agree...
  19. Altra

    Lidocaine IV causing SVT?

    Altra replied to thelema13's topic in Emergency

    I understand your concern regarding the patient's subsequent development of SVT. But I'm not understanding the initial hesitation about giving it, if the patient was without other history that made...
  20. Altra

    Before You Take An Elderly Family Member To The ER

    Altra replied to sharpeimom's topic in General Nursing

    A couple of considerations: 1. Ascertaining if a patient is cognizant of symptoms that have brought him/her into the ER today, as well as past medical history, is helpful in assessing mental...
  21. Altra

    Negligence when a patient leaves?

    Altra replied to Sassy5d's topic in Emergency

    Please note that the OP has asked about a very specific scenario -- the patient who physically presents to the ED, but does not go through whatever registration process is in place, is not triaged,...
  22. Altra

    Schedule

    Altra replied to exit96's topic in General Nursing

    No, you're not being irrational. I have never worked anywhere that published schedules would be changed arbitrarily without prior notice. From a management/administrative standpoint that practice is...
  23. Altra

    Something funny

    Altra replied to itsnowornever's topic in Emergency

    I have never worked in an ER where this would be possible. Your admitted patient has a bed and there is not a compelling reason why they are still in the ER? You haven't called report yet? Fine -...
  24. Altra

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

    Altra replied to canoehead's topic in Emergency

    And you learn how to describe the plastic bag of dope without calling it "a Ziploc bag of
  25. Altra

    Opioid induced hyperalgesia

    Altra replied to Guest219794's topic in General Nursing

    Current US culture, the regulatory environment (CMS and JCAHO) and the healthcare industry itself have created an expectation of the absence of pain or other inconvenient