Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    do nurses get employer sponsored pensionplan?

    Altra replied to lily1289's topic in General Nursing

    Each of the 3 hospitals in which I've worked has had a defined benefit pension/cash accumulation plan in addition to a 401(k) or 403(b), and I opted to take a one time cash payout of the accumulated...
  2. Altra

    interviewing after assaulted by patient

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

    I have read all of the above responses and there's a good bit of collective wisdom expressed. But I would worry about sharing the workers comp suit up front. It's just such a huge red flag to...
  3. Altra

    Comfort care

    Altra replied to meghanls's topic in General Nursing

    Assuming that the orders for comfort care only have resulted from the patient's expressed wishes, please use that as a point of reference in any discussions you have with the family. I don't mean...
  4. Altra

    Vodka tampons?!?

    Altra replied to Christy1019's topic in Emergency

    I may have to steal this for a signature line ... giving credit where credit is due, of
  5. Altra

    Rn hurt by cold behavior

    Altra replied to RNHURT's topic in General Nursing

    FMLA is a federal program, not one offered by individual states. You might want to be aware of the basics of FMLA, just in case you ever find yourself in a situation where it may be helpful....
  6. Altra

    i cursed somebody at work, somebody overheard and filed a complaint. what can i do?

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

    OP, before you get yourself all worked up and ready to prostrate yourself on the floor of your manager's office begging for forgiveness ... do you think that maybe she just wants to talk to you about...
  7. Altra

    Nursing Future?

    Altra replied to suzie113's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, you are a perfect candidate for an ABSN. Some things to consider: 1. employment prospects for nurses in your area, or the area to which you would intend to relocate. 2. whether or not you...
  8. Altra

    Do they let family members work in the same floor?

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

    Thank you, Esme, for acknowledging a pet peeve of mine ... the mysterious "they". OP, I'm not sure why it matters what the policies may be where each of us works ... the only thing that matters in...
  9. Altra

    I like being different.

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

    Lots of tattoos and small facial piercings where I am in the northeast. OP, you'll have to comply with whatever your school requires. Take a moment when you're in clinicals in various hospitals to...
  10. Altra

    How do you get thicker skin?

    Altra replied to Loves2Lurk's topic in Emergency

    OP, I'm sorry you had that experience, and I'm sorry that your department thinks so little of its staff. If that had occurred where I work, that patient would receive a *consultation* from Security,...
  11. Altra

    Please someone help me understand..........

    Altra replied to TinyRNgrl's topic in Emergency

    I wholeheartedly agree -- this is one of the ugliest situations we encounter. Many people *think* they want their family member to pass at home, but are not prepared for the reality of it. And then...
  12. Altra

    I'm grateful for you crusty old bats

    Altra replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in General Nursing

    I almost shrieked just reading
  13. Altra

    Dayshifters - do you take a breakfast break as soon as you get to work?

    Altra replied to Snugglibumkins's topic in General Nursing

    I don't have a problem with this if it includes reasonable, common-sense/common courtesy measures such as ... only a couple of people leaving the unit at a time, keeping it brief, adjusting as...
  14. Altra

    what would you have done

    Altra replied to nursegreenbean's topic in General Nursing

    The OP states that there was an order to apply silvercel and that it was to be changed (daily?) by a certain shift. If the resident was found without the silvercel in place then the treatment plan was...
  15. Altra

    Clinical Ladder at a small hospital

    Altra replied to vic_rn's topic in General Nursing

    I'm a big fan of the clinical ladder concept, because it maintains the organizational culture that staff nurses will participate in quality initiatives, departmental and facility-wide projects and...
  16. Altra

    "No Complaints Voiced"??

    Altra replied to Hooch's topic in General Nursing

    I agree with the poster who said that you're reading too much into this. 1. "Complaint" is being used in the medical sense; i.e., the patient's "chief complaint" meaning presenting s/s, or "c/o -...
  17. Altra

    Number of beds and daily census

    Altra replied to Lunah's topic in Emergency

    Lunah, are you really utilizing only 11 beds, or are you using "hallway" spaces? What is your typical number of admissions, out of that daily census? I ask because this can have a tremendous impact...
  18. Altra

    First ER death

    Altra replied to Crux1024's topic in Emergency

    If no interventions were planned, then there is no reason to keep the patient in the ER. Where I've worked, this would have been made a priority - to get the patient to a private room on the
  19. Altra

    First ER death

    Altra replied to Crux1024's topic in Emergency

    Just curious ... was the patient in for an admitted bed, and just didn't get the bed in
  20. Altra

    Surviving a passive aggressive co-worker?

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

    OP, I find the MA's behavior you describe as being disruptive and unprofessional. But if you have objectively discussed this with your boss and gotten rebuffed, then I'm not sure what else you can do....
  21. Altra

    Surviving a passive aggressive co-worker?

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

    Agree. However, in the OPs defense, in some predominantly female workplaces, "the girls" set themselves apart in that manner. Obviously I can't know if that is the case in this situation as I'm not...
  22. Altra

    facility responsibility to the obese

    Altra replied to onthemark's topic in General Nursing

    Medicare covers rehabilitative LTC/SNF. It does not cover true long-term care. The facility must continually re-verify that the patient is receiving rehabilitative services, e.g., PT x hours per...
  23. Altra

    cdiff death?

    Altra replied to purple10's topic in General Nursing

    There comes a point in colitis that the frequent bowel movements greatly decrease or even cease
  24. Altra

    Worst doctors orders ever received

    Altra replied to jenfromjersey's topic in Emergency

    This doesn't seem like a candidate for "worst orders" at all ... considering that patients get their medical histories wrong,
  25. Altra

    Oncology RN Forced to Resign

    Altra replied to Done's topic in General Nursing

    I see a pretty straightforward case of an employee who had received remediation/counseling/discipline related to faulty performance, but was unable to correct the problem, and therefore given a choice...