Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    CPOE Computerized Physician Order Entry

    Altra replied to triageguy's topic in Emergency

    Our ER system contains the acknowledge step in a "flag new orders" box that is optional. It's not necessary to do anything to acknowledge the
  2. Altra

    Discharge paperwork: what do your patients get?

    Altra replied to Lunah's topic in Emergency

    No hospital I've worked in or where I've been a patient has routinely included lab or radiology results as part of ER discharge paperwork. There are exceptions -- such as when a patient will require...
  3. Altra

    Rewarded for med error?

    Altra replied to Jenni811's topic in General Nursing

    Have you considered that in the event of litigation, it is the hospital's logical priority to protect itself as an organization, not an individual employee who can be
  4. Altra

    doctors using to ER to adment ?

    Altra replied to Trekfan's topic in Emergency

    10,000 Kudos for Roy's
  5. Altra

    Thick skin missing

    Altra replied to hurleygirli1's topic in General Nursing

    Don't beat yourself up ... you're learning. I think a day or two of additional orientation will help you a great deal and will not cause others to look unfavorably at you. This position will advance...
  6. Altra

    DUI Protocol

    Altra replied to Art_Vandelay's topic in General Nursing

    The fire department was for clean up of glass & debris on the roadway. The arrival of the "DUI bus" was probably a coincidence ... a checkpoint had already been arranged for enforcement in that...
  7. Altra

    What's an IO

    Altra replied to ErinBSN's topic in Emergency

    A very experienced provider and instructor who I have great respect for tells students and newbie docs and nurses, "If after 2 minutes of poking around a critical patient you still have no IV access...
  8. Altra

    Cried at work... in front of a doctor!

    Altra replied to scorpio82's topic in General Nursing

    OP's profile lists her gender as female, and she uses the pronoun "he" to refer to the doc in her
  9. Altra

    doctors using to ER to adment ?

    Altra replied to Trekfan's topic in Emergency

    Huge issue where I have worked. And while it's probably not "the dumbest thing ever" ... it's on my top 10 list. Patient goes to PCP with XYZ symptom(s). PCP decides to admit, but is too lazy to...
  10. Altra

    Random insurance question

    Altra replied to jeyre1847's topic in General Nursing

    Not uncommon. In each hospital system where I have worked, there have been financial incentives built into the benefits plans to encourage the use of certain providers & facilities over others. I...
  11. Altra

    What are your credentials and what's your IQ?

    Altra replied to Weber's topic in General Nursing

    Why the "thumbs down" icon with the thread
  12. Altra

    Doctor needs to perform surgery but with charity care, seemed unhappy

    Altra replied to onlyj's topic in General Nursing

    Your mother has found a physician who is willing to treat her condition for limited to no payment, and has kindly directed you to social services programs which might help her financially. I'm not...
  13. Altra

    If YOU were the patient, would you feel comfortable...

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

    Have your washcloths at home ever been used to wipe a bottom? Have your sheets ever encountered bodily
  14. Altra

    Why aren't nurses mandatory reporters of ALL abuse?

    Altra replied to Double-Helix's topic in General Nursing

    This is not the same as legally-mandated reporting to law enforcement or governmental agency authorized to legally do something about the abuse. It's important to recognize the
  15. Altra

    Why aren't nurses mandatory reporters of ALL abuse?

    Altra replied to Double-Helix's topic in General Nursing

    1. This varies from state to state, as noted by the previous poster's quote from CA's Nurse Practice Act. 2. Be clear about what is required: mandated reporting is reporting to law enforcement...
  16. Altra

    Difficult access: Would you go for EJ or pedal?

    Altra replied to Murse901's topic in Emergency

    The decision point for me would have been whether or not the patient was hypotensive or trending in that direction. If not, the 22# in the foot would probably have been OK in the short-term. Many ER...
  17. Altra

    Is it true? BS + RN does not = BSN?

    Altra replied to Cathylady's topic in General Nursing

    I suspect that the students enrolled in the program are pretty clear on exactly what degree they are on the path to
  18. Altra

    Patients should ALL be swabbed tested for HIV

    Altra replied to Cathylady's topic in General Nursing

    OP, if you advocate for testing of all "patients" ... then I can conclude that you also wish for mandatory HIV testing of all nurses, physicians, midlevels, nursing assistants, and all allied health...
  19. Altra

    PLEASE HELP!!!

    Altra replied to SOAMBITIOUS's topic in Pennsylvania Nursing

    A dose of commitment usually goes well with ambition. Take stock of your situation: any career change which requires education in a new field is going to take time and resources. If your ultimate...
  20. Altra

    It's Not MY Responsibility to Get YOU Home...

    Altra replied to Music in My Heart's topic in Emergency

    One more thought: every, single irate patient I've ever discharged to the waiting room without a cab voucher or bus tickets did in fact leave the building sooner or later. They've all found a way...
  21. Altra

    It's Not MY Responsibility to Get YOU Home...

    Altra replied to Music in My Heart's topic in Emergency

    No, not really. Sudden job loss or financial difficulty, yes, we are all vulnerable to some extent or another. But a complete lack of resourcefulness to problem-solve, no -- this is a long-term,...
  22. Altra

    what percentage of your job involves poop?

    Altra replied to onedayitllbeme's topic in General Nursing

    What percentage of my job involves poop? In the ER -- 5% In the ICU -- 25% What percentage of my job involves critical thinking?
  23. Altra

    2 Wks Postpartum Bleed in ER

    Altra replied to flyingchange's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I've seen Methergine given in the ER in a similar situation, but that was with OB present. I can totally picture your ER MDs consulting with OB at the other hospital, and being given instructions to...
  24. Altra

    Thoughts on improving caring

    Altra replied to mstev001's topic in General Nursing

    I'm a bottom-line / big-picture kind of person. So my questions about this are as follows: 1. What is the "problem" that your department is trying to solve? What does "improve caring" mean? Are...
  25. Altra

    Phrase of the Night

    Altra replied to ErinBSN's topic in Emergency

    So true about theme nights in the ER. Last night was, "Never mind how I got here, I don't have a way home after my trip to the ER to score some meds and it is the responsibility of the ER staff to...