Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    PESI Seminars??

    Altra replied to kindnotstupidRN's topic in General Nursing

    I have also attended two PESI seminars and found them definitely worth my time and
  2. Altra

    Dealing with "Web-Trained" Patient/Family Members.

    Altra replied to BostonTerrierLover's topic in General Nursing

    The problem is not the information contained in WebMD -- I find it to be a high quality site to supplement patient/family education. The problem is laypeople with little/no medical knowledge and the...
  3. Altra

    Drug testing a RN while a patient in the er

    Altra replied to lori4367's topic in General Nursing

    Have seen it used once for epistaxis a couple years ago. Worked
  4. Altra

    Another one for my journal

    Altra replied to EmergencyNrse's topic in Emergency

    Love
  5. Altra

    The Mockery of Nursing

    Altra replied to Old.Timer's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    We'll have a 3-day wake for you, wooh ... you'll go out in
  6. Altra

    Drug testing a RN while a patient in the er

    Altra replied to lori4367's topic in General Nursing

    I agree with Esme12 - any incident or accident at work (in many industries, not just hospital-based health care) will likely trigger a UDS. And a UDS, breathalyzer or serum ETOH, and often some basic...
  7. Altra

    Another New Nurse with a probable silly question...

    Altra replied to MaggieRN84's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I would wait at least 2 weeks from your last call. The wait can be unsettling but remember, filling this position is not the only thing going on the day to day business of the
  8. Altra

    Your least favorite patient.

    Altra replied to errn7's topic in Emergency

    I was curious about that too, Rohan8 ... PCP is pretty old school. I encountered a PCP patient once in the first year of my career and haven't seen it
  9. Altra

    Emergency or the NICU?

    Altra replied to Lemonkiss143's topic in Emergency

    LOL ... I read NICU as neuro ICU. I missed the "patients I can lift" part of the OP. However, the fact remains -- the ER and and ICU setting are vastly different worlds. Consider this
  10. Altra

    The Mockery of Nursing

    Altra replied to Old.Timer's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Well now you've done it. The next time I'm triaging any one of our "STD check" frequent flyers I'm going to be thinking, "you've got the Stomites
  11. Altra

    Emergency or the NICU?

    Altra replied to Lemonkiss143's topic in Emergency

    The ER and the NICU are totally different animals. Some of the things you say stand out to me: we give very few bed baths in the ER ... but you would do them daily in any ICU. Families who are...
  12. Altra

    I want to curl up in a ball and cry

    Altra replied to JenniferA428's topic in General Nursing

    I'm sorry this happened to you, but calling someone 30 times in 2 days may well have changed someone's mind about a hiring decision. Lesson learned. Lesson learned #2 -- without a written or at...
  13. Altra

    Dealing with "Web-Trained" Patient/Family Members.

    Altra replied to BostonTerrierLover's topic in General Nursing

    I have the luxury of reinforcing that here in the ER we are focused on the Big, Bad Things which are an imminent threat to your life/limb. I cover the big concepts that I can review within about 45...
  14. Altra

    Let's compare ERs

    Altra replied to trooperwifey's topic in Emergency

    Excessive delays for EMS crews unloading patients is not unheard of in the US
  15. Altra

    Your least favorite patient.

    Altra replied to errn7's topic in Emergency

    Yep ... all of those. Wishing you a better night,
  16. Altra

    Starting out in Trauma

    Altra replied to SWAT RN's topic in Critical Care

    Just to be clear ... in the ER you'll have days where you're the trauma nurse ... and days filled with sore throats and ear pain and back pain x 1 year. And even "traumas" aren't all the good stuff...
  17. Altra

    Dumb question: How do you move a pt w/ left side hip fracture to the restroom?

    Altra replied to J-Swish's topic in General Nursing

    At your facility patients are getting doses of IV gent just because they have had a Foley?
  18. Altra

    Dumb question: How do you move a pt w/ left side hip fracture to the restroom?

    Altra replied to J-Swish's topic in General Nursing

    If the patient has had surgery and is still ordered bed rest, she/he will likely still have a
  19. Altra

    Dumb question: How do you move a pt w/ left side hip fracture to the restroom?

    Altra replied to J-Swish's topic in General Nursing

    I suggest you check whether this patient should be OOB at all ... the "supine position" order makes me think
  20. Altra

    Dumb question: How do you move a pt w/ left side hip fracture to the restroom?

    Altra replied to J-Swish's topic in General Nursing

    The transfer method is not primarily dependent on the age of the patient or how strong their desire for privacy ... it depends on what is safe given their injury and what intervention has been...
  21. Altra

    Why HR would call to do a general interview?

    Altra replied to SurrenderDorothy's topic in General Nursing

    The general interview weeds out those who unfortunately are going to reveal some obvious unsuitability for the job. You will still interview for specific positions after this interview is
  22. Altra

    Nurses eat their young - now I understand why.

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

    The first time I read this it somehow escaped me that the interview was to fill a charge position. After re-reading more carefully, I urge the OP and management s/he works with to reconsider hiring a...
  23. Altra

    Chest tube, flush and aspirate?

    Altra replied to tojal1989's topic in General Nursing

    I definitely learned something new there ...
  24. Altra

    Nurses eat their young - now I understand why.

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

    I believe the applicant in the OP's interview stated "expert" skill in IV meds - quite a statement for a new grad seeking his/her first position working with humans. My hat is off to those who can...
  25. Altra

    Starting out in Trauma

    Altra replied to SWAT RN's topic in Critical Care

    No dedicated trauma nursing staff in either of the Level I ERs where I've worked. If you are considering the trauma ICU ... your previous experience will be very beneficial. To a certain extent,...