Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    Needing Advise

    Altra replied to Brianrn's topic in General Nursing

    Not necessarily, and not just because discharge at 8pm or whatever time we're talking about is inconvenient or even unsafe. Is there still a medical condition that requires admission - then yes. If...
  2. Altra

    Is this legal?!!!

    Altra replied to Nikki0727's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Is this a licensed nursing home ... or a personal care home / assisted living arrangement / group home? Requirements including staffing ratios differ considerably from state to state. Not all types...
  3. Altra

    Needing Advise

    Altra replied to Brianrn's topic in General Nursing

    I imagine the supervisor in this situation thinking something along the lines of, "the MD can write whatever order s/he wants ... it doesn't mean we're getting paid for the extra day." And the...
  4. Altra

    Nurses fired for refusing flu vaccine

    Altra replied to BrandybunsRN's topic in Disaster Preparation

    Thank you olddragger -- I kept reading post after post, incredulous that no one seemed aware of the CMS requirement. Getting up on my soapbox now ... Nurses -- look -- there is no way you can work in...
  5. Altra

    Soiled Scrubs Mid-Shift

    Altra replied to TheBlackDogWaits's topic in General Nursing

    I'd like to ask the following questions of some posters on this thread and the other "nurse quirks" thread ... which, interestingly, seems to center on infection control. 1. Have you or any family...
  6. Altra

    Whats rolled through your doors new years

    Altra replied to Rhi007's topic in Emergency

    What's rolled through the door? Everything imaginable from the tragic to the comic to the just plain
  7. Altra

    too slow to work in ER?

    Altra replied to dec 123's topic in Emergency

    It is absolutely a completely different environment with completely different priorities. I have precepted some nurses who have come to the ED from other specialties. Some suggestions: Focus your...
  8. Altra

    RN to MD

    Altra replied to kalevra's topic in General Nursing

    I have worked with 4 physicians who were previously
  9. Altra

    Cant believe the nurse did.....

    Altra replied to Daisy_08's topic in General Nursing

    I absolutely understand what Brandon is saying -- I too encounter patients who refuse to use a bedpan. While my ED setting is perhaps the polar opposite of BrandonLPN's LTC environment, I too tussle...
  10. Altra

    Documenting our nursing stories: The American Nurse Project- now film

    Altra replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    I received this as a didn't-quite-make-it-in-time-for-Christmas gift ... it's
  11. Altra

    General questions about nclex

    Altra replied to RN2Be85's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    I would hope that somewhere in your nursing program you were directed to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing ... which develops and administers NCLEX, or other appropriate NCLEX prep...
  12. Altra

    A Call to Action from the Nation's Nurses in the Wake of Newtown

    Altra replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    I participated in the poll at the beginning of this thread, but it is disappointingly (even shockingly) biased ... from an AN administrator whose reasoned knowledge and experience are so often...
  13. Altra

    Insulin and Levophed drips on cardiovascular unit

    Altra replied to heartnurse2012's topic in Cardiac

    Oh my. Insulin, yes. Levophed, not happening. A patient on a Levo gtt is unstable by definition. As an aside though ... and something to think about in case your management brings up this point ......
  14. Altra

    Computers that don't work

    Altra replied to rnckr's topic in General Nursing

    I think the lack of respect is for the patients, but that's just me. OP, do you not have an IT "help desk" to call for
  15. Altra

    ACLS class as a student? good or pointless?

    Altra replied to procrastinator911's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I would never advise a student to pay out of pocket for ACLS or PALS. In my region - employer-paid courses are standard for those that need them to work, and a lack of current certification does not...
  16. Altra

    safety

    Altra replied to doodledome's topic in Emergency

    Someone with intent to "gun down" ER staff probably won't call ahead and announce it ... Security measures vary widely from hospital to hospital -- it's really impossible to
  17. Altra

    Not getting any patients assigned at end of preceptorship

    Altra replied to Presto's topic in Emergency

    The lack of access to the electronic documentation system / tracking board is a major limitation, but there's nothing that can be done about that in the short term. Without that access, you cannot...
  18. Altra

    Wal-Mart Walk-in Clinic

    Altra replied to vintage_RN's topic in General Nursing

    There's a whole other thread, if not an entire doctoral dissertation, in that statement
  19. Altra

    I Chart Too Much?!

    Altra replied to skittlebear's topic in General Nursing

    This thread highlights a few recurring themes: 1. Documentation systems often contain redundancies - the same information is required to be noted in more than one location. In my experience, the...
  20. Altra

    Wal-Mart Walk-in Clinic

    Altra replied to vintage_RN's topic in General Nursing

    There is no reason a physician cannot give an injection. Having said that ... it was very likely an NP. Direct supervision by an MD is only required in a few
  21. Altra

    I Chart Too Much?!

    Altra replied to skittlebear's topic in General Nursing

    Agree with the above: charting that can "doom" a nurse generally falls into the category of description of something concerning/abnormal without clear indication of what action/intervention was...
  22. Altra

    How is the floor/hospital census lately?

    Altra replied to rn undisclosed name's topic in General Nursing

    In my region of the country an increase in admissions during the winter is typical: flu, pneumonia, injuries from falls and accidents, etc. Holidays also bring an increase in psychiatric and...
  23. Altra

    Doctor Voicemails

    Altra replied to Chelle013190's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    Voicemail systems for office practices I have encountered generally contain some verbage directing the caller who may have an emergency: either another number to call, or instructions to go to the...
  24. Altra

    homosexual patients

    Altra replied to miray19's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    One additional point for you to consider and perhaps include in your presentation: cross-cultural research studies consistently estimate between 2 and 10% of the human population to be homosexual....
  25. Altra

    Wow, I really may need to get out of here.

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

    You are absolutely correct that you cannot control the charting/care provided by others ... but you can control the situation you are in at the moment that it is occurring. If someone, anyone, raised...