Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

Member

  • Content

    6,255

  • Visitors

    44,510

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    79

All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    Do you have a dangerous doctor in your ED? Long vent.

    Altra replied to NeoPediRN's topic in Emergency

    If the behavior and lack of clinical judgement are consistently as over the top as what you describe, I don't think it will take long for the situation to correct itself. And if I lacked confidence in...
  2. Altra

    What's up with veteran nurses hating on new grads?

    Altra replied to jennilynn's topic in General Nursing

    The OP is talking about his/her perception of his/her own work environment, which may or may not be a VA hospital. The OP can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe s/he is using the term "veteran" as...
  3. Altra

    Still a new grad... when will it end?

    Altra replied to helster83's topic in First Year After Licensure

    You're in a tough spot. I cannot comment on whether termination was an appropriate response to your errors, as I was obviously not there. But the bottom line is that you have now left 2 jobs as a...
  4. Altra

    The ridiculousness of basing reimbursement on customer satisfaction

    Altra replied to wooh's topic in General Nursing

    The OP discusses the new (effective Oct. or Nov. 2011) Medicare reimbursement formula which does tie a portion of reimbursement to the results of HCAHPS surveys distributed to Medicare patients....
  5. Altra

    Favorite and least favorite diagnoses?

    Altra replied to Anna Flaxis's topic in Emergency

    Love: STEMIs, SVT, rapid a-fib, sepsis, and kids whose mild fever only requires Tylenol & a popsicle. Don't love: TIAs/complex migraines that require 5 hours of "I think my hand feels more numb...
  6. Altra

    I can't understand what you're saying!

    Altra replied to ShayRN's topic in General Nursing

    Beautiful illustration of why conventions/standards of language are important ... if you care to make yourself
  7. Altra

    HIPAA are there loop holes?

    Altra replied to pilotpn's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    yes. so there is no hipaa issue. again, no hipaa issue. depends on the work flow where you work -- that patient's primary nurse might be the one to follow through and obtain the new rx -- or it...
  8. Altra

    Do you have a dangerous doctor in your ED? Long vent.

    Altra replied to NeoPediRN's topic in Emergency

    I have to say that I have not experienced what you are describing, though I have worked with the polar opposite: a couple of MDs who would evaluate a patient with a fairly benign set of symptoms,...
  9. Altra

    What's up with veteran nurses hating on new grads?

    Altra replied to jennilynn's topic in General Nursing

    Yep. Think about the logic. Of course an inexperienced nurse is not functioning at the same level as a more experienced, competent nurse. It is a drain on the flow of the unit as a whole. Better...
  10. Altra

    The ridiculousness of basing reimbursement on customer satisfaction

    Altra replied to wooh's topic in General Nursing

    At Kroger's ... you pay upfront, or you make the choice to go down the street to the next grocery store. Kroger's doesn't have to wait for "reimbursement" dependent on whether or not you burn the...
  11. Altra

    in patient charting, difference between notes and reports.

    Altra replied to unsaint77's topic in General Nursing

    The "reports" tab is likely results of labs, testing, procedural notes, etc. The "notes" section will contain progress notes from physicians and other disciplines such as PT/OT, dieticians, case...
  12. Altra

    CEN CCRN?

    Altra replied to Ryan RN's topic in Emergency

    The book is good, and the AACN website has info on the content as well. It is a damn hard test. For me it was about demonstrating some level of mastery of my second specialty. (is it an oxymoron to...
  13. Altra

    Compression socks ~ too soon?

    Altra replied to GucciBeaR143's topic in Emergency

    You don't have to order them online and pay shipping .... they're in your local drug store, some grocery stores with a larger health/wellness section, Target,
  14. Altra

    Compassion Fatigue!!!!

    Altra replied to OhioCCRN's topic in General Nursing

    I may have misunderstood your post, OP. I interpreted it to mean that you observed behavior/assessment data that did not match up with a patient in pain ... and you felt bad about it. Wishing you a...
  15. Altra

    Any other cold hearted nurses out there?

    Altra replied to sweet~revenge's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    When you have a confused patient who needs an NG tube and your soothing voice makes the patient say, "oh, OK, I understand ... and I'll just hold my hands quietly at my side while you do this" ......
  16. Altra

    Compassion Fatigue!!!!

    Altra replied to OhioCCRN's topic in General Nursing

    Not a problem -- good documentation (patient's VS and what they look like) is your
  17. Altra

    Compassion Fatigue!!!!

    Altra replied to OhioCCRN's topic in General Nursing

    "Compassion" includes using assessment skills to prevent getting a patient so snowed on pain meds that they stop breathing, at least in my book
  18. Altra

    RN-MSN?

    Altra replied to LMcCary's topic in General Nursing

    This forum here at allnurses.com will probably be a help to you: Pre-CRNA Inquiry - Helping You Be a Better Nurse Scroll to the bottom of the first page of threads for a couple of FAQ
  19. Altra

    RN-MSN?

    Altra replied to LMcCary's topic in General Nursing

    I'm not sure I understand your question. Any RN-MSN program assumes the MSN portion will be completed in some area of specialization such as the 2 examples you cite -- CRNA or NP programs. These are...
  20. Altra

    If you had to do it over again would you?

    Altra replied to Tally4970's topic in General Nursing

    Yep, I would, without reservation. (assuming that I never complete what I just know would be the Greatest Novel of All Time)
  21. Altra

    Work ethic, what's your take on it all

    Altra replied to cardiacrocks's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    You do not know, nor is it your business to know, your coworkers' personal business. Time/attendance is the most black & white personnnel-related issue. Believe me, management is aware if...
  22. Altra

    CEN CCRN?

    Altra replied to Ryan RN's topic in Emergency

    I have both certifications; however, when I took the CCRN I was working full-time in a MICU. http://www.aacn.org/wd/certifications/content/ccrnlanding.pcms?menu=certification There's a lot of info...
  23. Altra

    Best way to push 0.5 mL med into a central line?

    Altra replied to Neverbefore's topic in Patient Medications

    Take your 10mL saline flush ... squirt out 1-2mL ... attach blunt needle & draw up Benadryl into the rest of the saline ... administer through port, flushing appropriately after the
  24. Altra

    Why do ED docs hate putting in orders?

    Altra replied to JennyAS's topic in Emergency

    You can always *update* the attending on the patient's status -- that you are awaiting orders for a Foley, pain meds, etc. I suspect you'll get the orders quickly after
  25. Altra

    Delegating to UAP. How do you feel about it?

    Altra replied to kwagner_51's topic in General Nursing

    Note that the OP is almost 7 years old ... I think that this concept gets twisted sometimes. You are most certainly responsible for your own actions. This is why all health care facilities...