Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    I wasn't hired because I failed the personality test???

    Altra replied to loveishope's topic in General Nursing

  2. Altra

    Desperately seeking encouragement in 1st year

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

    Busy acute care can absolutely be stimulation-overload for someone who is not well-suited to it. For this reason, I would caution you to think carefully about taking a daylight position on the same...
  3. Altra

    Patient safety-escorted transport?

    Altra replied to MAISY, RN-ER's topic in Emergency

    OK, here goes: ICU patients (and that includes ER patients who are being admitted to an ICU) don't go anywhere without a nurse, nurse aide, and RRT if intubated. A pack of code drugs goes with them....
  4. Altra

    blood pressure spikes and drops, help please

    Altra replied to mcd24RN's topic in General Nursing

    It does sound like this patient was septic. Even with the hypotension that accompanies sepsis, however, it is very possible for the patient's BP to temporarily increase with some stimulation -- i.e.,...
  5. Altra

    Can you be an er nurse with an assoc. Degree?

    Altra replied to ksm84's topic in Emergency

    Can either of you provide a link or citation to your state's nurse practice act which outlines this "state" requirement? Or are you trying to say that requiring experience is simply the habit or...
  6. Altra

    Listing jobs on Application?

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

    Like you, I am 40+. When I have filled out job applications in the last several years, I have listed all employment about 15 years back. In your case, I would list the CNA job, as it was pretty...
  7. Altra

    dont say nothing at all...

    Altra replied to purple10's topic in General Nursing

    To my extra-special patient: "Because I've seen you in the ER 4 times in the last 7 months, and all of those visits have resulted in admissions with significant wait times to get you a bed ... I've...
  8. Altra

    Patients need better anticoagulation therapy education

    Altra replied to jbowers's topic in Patient Education

    What education do you find that your patients are lacking? I live in an area with a large elderly population ... and thus a large Coumadin patient population. Education is generally done by nurses...
  9. Altra

    Nursing Attitudes

    Altra replied to smorgan1228's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to in your post. Are you saying that nurses and NPs where you work are critiquing the way that you do your
  10. Altra

    bad nursing care rant

    Altra replied to ashleyisawesome's topic in General Nursing

    OP, I'm asking you a serious question, as an experienced PCA: It never occurred to you that your friend's father had removed his brief, in his confusion, and left it on the
  11. Altra

    bad nursing care rant

    Altra replied to ashleyisawesome's topic in General Nursing

    For cripes sake ... My 94-year old patient currently in the ICU is trying hard to die ... but her family's not ready for that. So we keep her heart beating, ventilate her lungs, and dump pressors...
  12. Altra

    Another rude supervisor. What gives??

    Altra replied to SoCalRN1970's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    From your post, you seem to have had the same, recurring problems at different employers. What conclusions can you draw from
  13. Altra

    nurses VS doctors

    Altra replied to iamann's topic in General Nursing

    If OP used similar verbiage to speak with the MD as she has here ... I'm not surprised that the exchange did not go well. For the sake of her patients and her career, OP would do well to immediately...
  14. Altra

    Please Help...CM or Clinical Nurse?

    Altra replied to cdk_bsn's topic in General Nursing

    Your challenge is that you are no longer a new grad but you have no meaningful clinical experience as a nurse. Think carefully about why you want to give bedside nursing another try, and strongly...
  15. Altra

    Gasp! An uninsured Nurse (rant)

    Altra replied to optimist's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Can you explain what you are basing this statement on ... and how much are you willing to bet? I'm a gambling kinda gal
  16. Altra

    Needle Chest Decompression?

    Altra replied to mwboswell's topic in Emergency

    Needle decompression in the ER = chest tube inserted by
  17. Altra

    changing departments

    Altra replied to gonzo1's topic in General Nursing

    Been there, done that, and I'm better for the experience. You shouldn't have too much difficulty. Good luck to you.
  18. Altra

    Gasp! An uninsured Nurse (rant)

    Altra replied to optimist's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Nurses and others who work in health care in the US see daily the fragility of life and health, and the ramifications of the insurance/payor system as it currently exists. For an educated health...
  19. Altra

    RN's who cannot insert IV's being Fired???

    Altra replied to maidy's topic in General Nursing

    I believe this 5-year old thread discussed a nurse who wouldn't/couldn't attempt to start IVs when it was a requirement for the job and was thus terminated ... not a nurse who was fired because s/he...
  20. Altra

    Withholding Vacations???!!!

    Altra replied to Queen2u's topic in Ob/Gyn

    No US employer is required to offer vacation time. However, employers are required to follow their own stated policies/procedures. Time to look at and get to know your HR policies -- how vacations...
  21. Altra

    A beautiful thing happened today...

    Altra replied to Anna Flaxis's topic in Emergency

    That is a good day, Stargazer.
  22. Altra

    Backboards in the ED

    Altra replied to mwboswell's topic in Emergency

    I don't think I'm seeing a decrease in EMS use of backboards (will have to ask some medics ...) but in my ER we have a specific protocol to log roll patients off of backboards immediately after triage...
  23. Altra

    rn taking orders from an lpn?

    Altra replied to tofunurse<3's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Mazy, I believe you're confusing Medicare with Medicaid. All US seniors are eligible for Medicare simply because they've reached age 65. (some younger folks are eligible too, for certain disabling...
  24. Altra

    Tourniquet use

    Altra replied to mwboswell's topic in Emergency

    Only rarely do we see this in a patient coming in via EMS/HEMS - and it's usually a BP cuff. Only a couple of times have I seen a rigged-up "tourniquet" on a larger body part. I have never seen the...
  25. Altra

    Vacation

    Altra replied to lsisco0420's topic in General Nursing

    Personnel/Human Resources of a hospital is unlikely to have anything to do with the nuts & bolts of a particular department/unit's schedule. Ideally, this should have been addressed with the...