Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    "I'm an addict...not psychotic." Aren't they both mental health issues?

    Altra replied to NurseSheGirl's topic in Addictions

    Regardless of the labels, or the plushness of the facility ... I would think that there is a high "drop out" rate at rehab in general because ... it's
  2. Altra

    Bio Patch with PICC line dressing changes?

    Altra replied to nervousnurse's topic in General Nursing

    Use of biopatch is policy where I
  3. Altra

    very complicated situation... please advice on this

    Altra replied to tarotale's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    What Meriwhen said. I would call HR at the hospital where you believe you have been offered a job and politely ask when you can expect a letter/email/something in writing confirming that they are...
  4. Altra

    No more outpatient RN's?

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

    Yes, these positions are tough to come by, and the odds of obtaining such a position immediately after graduation from nursing school are not in your favor. And with good reason -- your ability to...
  5. Altra

    Why do nurses feel the need to put RN on their license plates?

    Altra replied to 3dayRN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I've seen plates with acronyms related to nursing, medicine, radiography, vet medicine, teaching, cosmetology, accountancy, and probably lots more. If you work at a hospital, and other nurses' cars...
  6. Altra

    Am I a Good Candidate to Work in the ER?

    Altra replied to westieluv's topic in Emergency

    The transition for you would likely be one of giving up control. There is no routine in the ER. And there is no control over what happens next. You may think you have the next hour planned out with...
  7. Altra

    Changing from ICU nurse to a doctor?

    Altra replied to DelaneysMum's topic in MICU, SICU

    Hello DelaneysMum, welcome to allnurses.com. Speaking in very general terms, Americal medical schools generally require the following: A bachelor's degree A competitive score on the MCAT...
  8. Altra

    How do women feel about pts that only want female RN's?

    Altra replied to hodgieRN's topic in MICU, SICU

    My two cents: Comments like that from patients/family members are an immediate indication that there are priorities OTHER THAN the medical well-being of the patient, and that will probably be a...
  9. Altra

    Sick to my stomach IM injection

    Altra replied to hope1985's topic in General Nursing

    Agree with the post above, but for future reference ... don't let a patient's position get in the way of visualizing your anatomical landmarks. Reposition your patient if
  10. Altra

    IV "wide open" ??

    Altra replied to sassyann8585's topic in General Nursing

    "Wide open" just means that the only thing controlling the flow is the gauge of the catheter itself- there is no additional force being applied to cause a problem with the gauge of the catheter....
  11. Altra

    Graded Evaluations

    Altra replied to Tait's topic in General Nursing

    As I was reading your post I could see where this was going ... on a 5-point scale, 4/5 = 80%. Do I personally think you should do anything about it? No, I do not. I think the old adage "life is not...
  12. Altra

    Pain Dilemma Customer Service?

    Altra replied to RNnur's topic in General Nursing

    Writing down med administration times is one strategy I have seen *sometimes* be successful in setting behavioral limits on certain patients. It can work when you approach it in a calm,...
  13. Altra

    Help with d/c callbacks!

    Altra replied to AggieQT's topic in Emergency

    I have done callbacks, loosely scripted. The conclusions I've taken away from doing this: 1. About 15% of patients have not provided an accurate, working phone number. 2. Most calls are less than 4...
  14. Altra

    Helping accident victoms

    Altra replied to jonesb1984's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    "Hearing about" and having objective evidence that this is occurring are 2 different things. And, as others have posted, your interventions are going to be very limited and mostly supportive
  15. Altra

    Cosigning Conundrum

    Altra replied to KelKelRN's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    There is no "commandment" that 2 nurses must cosign insulin -- it's strictly an institution-specific policy you encountered while in nursing school clinicals. I believe what your educators are...
  16. Altra

    Undiagnosed A Fib w/ RVR Medication?

    Altra replied to SweetMelissaRN's topic in Emergency

    If the rate was not excessive and the patient was not hypotensive or otherwise symptomatic at rest, I would not expect more aggressive attempts to convert in the ER setting. Lots of people out there...
  17. Altra

    What would you do?

    Altra replied to nurse4sale's topic in General Nursing

    Before crying foul ... have you simply brought the mistake to someone's attention and attempted to have it
  18. Altra

    So why even bother with getting an RN?

    Altra replied to netglow's topic in General Nursing

    In my experience, NPs in primary care are providers. I have not seen it suggested that NPs should function otherwise in an office
  19. Altra

    Can a pt hyperventilate themselves into resp failure?

    Altra replied to LakeEmerald's topic in Emergency

    Great information provided above. To me this sounds like an MD who thought "ain't nobody got time for that" when faced with a probable psych issue and took the "safest" (though most...
  20. Altra

    Question about patient complaints?

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

    ^^ What Esme said ... draw a firm line between your work life and your personal
  21. Altra

    street drugs vs. prescribed drugs

    Altra replied to ERRN92's topic in Emergency

    I have to say, I have not experienced what you seem to have experienced ... and I've worked in 2 different hospitals located in an urban "crack alley" . Many of these patients, however, require what...
  22. Altra

    All good things must come to an end!?

    Altra replied to RN_by_day's topic in General Nursing

    Some of the best advice I received as a new grad: "It will take you a year to figure out what you're doing, 2-3 to really be competent, and 5 to feel like you can handle anything that comes in the...
  23. Altra

    flushing after urinary catheterization

    Altra replied to onthemark's topic in General Nursing

    Please, please think twice before performing invasive procedures without the presence of someone with more experience if you have the slightest doubt about what you're doing. And realize that the...
  24. Altra

    Nurses Talk To Nurses. Doctors Talk To Doctors

    Altra replied to madwife2002's topic in General Nursing

    What's described in the OP is not the culture where I work, and I am so
  25. Altra

    Internal Patient Transport - Process

    Altra replied to Travelbug73's topic in General Nursing

    That is a lot of information for straightforward ancillary testing -- I'm not surprised that "no one" is looking at