Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    I don't hear much about Liability Insurance anymore...

    Altra replied to ilmbg's topic in General Nursing

    A question for you: Is the litigious American culture outdated? No? Then strategies to manage that risk, such as individual liability insurance, are probably not
  2. Altra

    Death Cafes should nurses be a part of them?

    Altra replied to PrayeRNurse's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    I don't think these function as referrals at all ... just a social movement to provide a forum in which it's socially acceptable for death to be a topic of
  3. Altra

    Sexual Orientation Question

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

    Unless you have reviewed your entire medical record from this provider, you do not know whether or not his "assessment skills" were lacking and he accepted as factual your insistence that you did not...
  4. Altra

    ENA

    Altra replied to exit96's topic in Emergency

    The Journal is only a quarterly publication, so you might not see it for a while. Agree with the above suggestion to call if you are having problems with the
  5. Altra

    Nursing Classroom Education: The big bang of powerpoint slavery

    Altra replied to guest042302019's topic in Nursing Educators, Faculty

    While engaging speakers / lecturers / professors are worth their weight in gold ... welcome to adult learning, which is self-directed. YOU are there to discover your passion in the material ... not...
  6. Altra

    Extremely BAD night...

    Altra replied to SweetMelissaRN's topic in Emergency

    This is going to take some time. Go easy on yourselves and each
  7. Altra

    Eliminating charge Nurse position

    Altra replied to lilredmc's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    What law would this change be
  8. Altra

    Took my relative to the ED

    Altra replied to CP2013's topic in Emergency

    Consider that paramedics start 20# and larger IVs in the back of a moving ambulance as a routine part of their day. I'm glad that you were happy with the
  9. Altra

    Emergency Room Hunt!

    Altra replied to jeremy224's topic in Emergency

    Keep in mind that a shiny new physical plant does not always translate into progressive medicine. Good luck in your
  10. Altra

    PHRN certifican valuable in the ED

    Altra replied to Avenger1's topic in Emergency

    If you intend to pursue employment in the prehospital setting, the PHRN will be valuable, if not outright necessary. If you do not intend to work outside of a hospital setting ... education is never...
  11. Altra

    What would YOU do?

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

    If individuals can function independently in the bathroom, what they do in there is not my
  12. Altra

    Navigating Doctors Idiosyncrasies

    Altra replied to whitecat5000's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I don't see this as a physician's "idiosyncrasy" ... I just see it as learning to recognize protocols and requirements for diagnostic testing and so forth. OT but ... admission for this? Unless there...
  13. Altra

    Patient asked me what an IV med was for..i didnt know

    Altra replied to NursingBro's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    There is a huge learning curve when you're new ... but this post troubles me ... as it indicates that you have been administering meds without knowing what they were for / potential side effects, etc....
  14. Altra

    A word of advice for a strange question?

    Altra replied to bebbercorn's topic in Emergency

    While I agree with you that virtually anything can become a weapon if there is intent or the confusion of altered mental status ... it is prudent to reduce obvious easy targets. This is the reason...
  15. Altra

    Certifications...

    Altra replied to MessyMomma's topic in General Nursing

    The places where I've worked have reimbursed test fees if you pass. My current hospital, which has a clinical ladder structure, has a modest hourly increase for certifications ... no difference in...
  16. Altra

    Use of Restraints on Intubated patients - ER and ICU

    Altra replied to MassED's topic in Emergency

    Am I safe to assume then, that your advance directive states that you are DNI - do not intubate - in the event you stop breathing? As you
  17. Altra

    Can nursing students triage ED patients?

    Altra replied to taylord's topic in Emergency

    The short answer to your question is ... absolutely not. And so I strongly caution you against implying any such thing on an application, in a cover letter, or in an interview. What you encountered...
  18. Altra

    Cursing on the job

    Altra replied to Ciale's topic in Emergency

    Hey now ... didn't you just start in the ED ... like in the last week or so? So filled with rage
  19. Altra

    Woman blames assisted-care facility when her mother dies of a stroke

    Altra replied to visionary123's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Yes, it is exactly that bad, in a minority of families. Fortunately, it is a minority ... though a distressingly large one. On a regular basis I encounter people who have clearly never, ever given...
  20. Altra

    Use of C/O in Documentation

    Altra replied to darrell's topic in General Nursing

    I agree that "patients reports ... " is probably a more neutral term than "complains of ..." But endorses? That's ... bizarre. Have not seen that used by any residents or med students in my...
  21. Altra

    Doctor Hassles

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

    Agree with BostonFNP's post ... I'm not getting the best vibe from the repeated use of nurse practitioner in quotation marks. Improving your interactions with this provider will probably benefit...
  22. Altra

    Edematous after 3 shifts???

    Altra replied to %63theend's topic in General Nursing

    Yep, this happens to me too. Think about the interplay of hydration, urination, and stress hormones. Might want to mention it to your PCP, however ... just to make sure there's no underlying...
  23. Altra

    IV Magnesium Sulfate in office???

    Altra replied to Anagray's topic in Patient Medications

    When I give Mag in the ER it is most often a component of treatment for varying degrees of respiratory distress. 1g given over 30 min. ... 2g given over one hour. For severe asthmatics who we are...
  24. Altra

    Treating fever with acetaminophen

    Altra replied to Vespertinas's topic in Patient Medications

    Only temps of > 38 get medicated at my hospital. In the ER we get lots of kiddos at 37.1 - 38 ... but we nurses (AND the docs) firmly educate family about why we're not
  25. Altra

    A doctor needs to be present to draw blood?

    Altra replied to psu_213's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Bizarre. A couple of possibilities: is the staff person not an LPN, but an MA "working under the direction" of the MD and s/he has been directed to take that concept literally? Or ... the office has...