Altra BSN, RN

Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU

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All Content by Altra

  1. Altra

    At what point are employers asking TMI?

    Altra replied to KayRN910's topic in General Nursing

    We can put aside the discussion of yearly colonoscopies, as I merely threw that into the discussion to iterate that this concept of very comprehensive pre-employment physicals is not new, nor is it...
  2. Altra

    Why are so many new nurses having problems?

    Altra replied to okchug's topic in General Nursing

    what are the implications of all this? a mixed bag, at
  3. Altra

    At what point are employers asking TMI?

    Altra replied to KayRN910's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, I'm sure they do ... as they are accountable for their financial
  4. Altra

    How to stay safe fulfilling 2 week notice

    Altra replied to azrn523's topic in General Nursing

    There is no reason to reveal your new place of employment. Keep your resignation letter short & simple -- "I am resigning my position as staff nurse at XYZ LTC for personal reasons, effective Date...
  5. Altra

    While you're at it...can you clean my poop too?

    Altra replied to Miller86's topic in General Nursing

    Who are these people? Many in number
  6. Altra

    At what point are employers asking TMI?

    Altra replied to KayRN910's topic in General Nursing

    I think it's worth considering that the current system of private insurance does affect both individuals and businesses alike. In the 20th century, with the development of ever-increasingly...
  7. Altra

    At what point are employers asking TMI?

    Altra replied to KayRN910's topic in General Nursing

    This has been going on for a while. By far the most comprehensive pre-employment physical I ever experienced was for a non-healthcare related office job at a large corporation. The most strenuous...
  8. Altra

    While you're at it...can you clean my poop too?

    Altra replied to Miller86's topic in General Nursing

    If this patient was ambulatory, I would have brought towels & washcloths, handed them to him, and suggested he walk to the bathroom to get cleaned up while I changed the bed. With alert,...
  9. Altra

    Discharged and left to die ????

    Altra replied to Gabby820's topic in General Nursing

    While you are certainly welcome to discuss your own feelings about growing older and how you might approach a life-threatening health crisis, I think it is presumptuous for any of us to assume how...
  10. Altra

    permitting a patient to urinate in bed versus holding it in

    Altra replied to dseltzer's topic in General Nursing

    Sorry -- your learning will be greatly enhanced by researching the components of this scenario yourself ... and asking the question on a message board does not constitute "research". Good luck with...
  11. Altra

    Discharged and left to die ????

    Altra replied to Gabby820's topic in General Nursing

    This excellent post does not "play devil's advocate" ... it plays PATIENT ADVOCATE. The GI docs at my large, academic, tertiary-care hospital would probably not perform endoscopy on a patient with...
  12. Altra

    How are some nurses nurses?!

    Altra replied to kellyjo's topic in General Nursing

    Would you like an "S" for your chest, SuperNurse-to-be? Yet again we have, "Hospitals are scary!" with the (barely) unspoken, "I, however, will come and set everything
  13. Altra

    Prescribing narcotics to drug seekers

    Altra replied to Djuna's topic in Emergency

    Though it was difficult to read your post through the typos ... I do agree that little is achieved if a nurse cannot communicate effectively with people. However, about the "act like it's there (sic)...
  14. Altra

    That is not how you address one on the telephone.. *vent*

    Altra replied to Forever Sunshine's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    The time is relevant because it starts the clock ticking on the bed hold issue. Again, I'm sure that an LTC nurse can explain that better than I can. I'm very surprised that some of my fellow acute...
  15. Altra

    That is not how you address one on the telephone.. *vent*

    Altra replied to Forever Sunshine's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    i disagree. leaving the ltc because emergency evaluation/treatment is needed does not equal discharge. i'm not an expert -- but i'm sure an ltc nurse here could elaborate on the complicated...
  16. Altra

    Just throwing it out there

    Altra replied to FancypantsRN's topic in Emergency

    I'm another fan of 3 - 3 ... as long as you realize that you will get your butt kicked mostly every single day because those are peak busy hours. I'd seriously consider
  17. Altra

    I've been waiting for....

    Altra replied to psu_213's topic in Emergency

    I'm trying to quantify the Perception of Time Formula. I think it's something like this: Time in hours since onset x 1.15 for each minute spent calling 15 family members (to get advice, figure out how...
  18. Altra

    Health care costs are RIDICULOUS!!!!

    Altra replied to OhioCCRN's topic in General Nursing

    OP, you are comparing an outpatient, non-interventional physical exam with an emergency department visit for an episode of acute chest pain. Please think about what all is built into that ER visit...
  19. Altra

    If a MD says "Don't Call Back"- do you write that as an order?

    Altra replied to proudnurseRN's topic in General Nursing

    In the situation you described, where you have been given prn orders (and range orders at that ... love it!) and the MD has said s/he will see the patient in the morning, I would not write it as an...
  20. Altra

    Best MD note

    Altra replied to beckster_01's topic in Nursing Humor

    One comes to mind ... After several paragraphs describing patient's noncompliance and the tale of the consequences of noncompliance, the last sentence was, "Good
  21. Altra

    Do I have to give my job information about my court hearing?

    Altra replied to NurseLoveJoy88's topic in General Nursing

    OP, please use this unfortunate circumstance to think about setting more firm boundaries between your employer and yourself. If the schedule had not yet been posted for the time period in which your...
  22. Altra

    The dreaded pregnancy test

    Altra replied to psu_213's topic in Emergency

    Everywhere I have worked, even the appearance of the slightest suggestion that care would be better provided elsewhere before the medical screening exam has been considered an EMTALA no-no. Seriously...
  23. Altra

    The dreaded pregnancy test

    Altra replied to psu_213's topic in Emergency

    There is a simple answer to your questions: EMTALA. http://www.cms.gov/EMTALA/ In short, this federal law in effect since 1986 states that anyone experiencing a medical emergency (and the definition...
  24. Altra

    Bitter dried up nurses that need to RETIRE

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

    The student with no actual experience as a nurse tells others that they will have to learn from their own experience ... ... and then intones that she does indeed have great respect for all. That just...
  25. Altra

    Does anyone who has made a lifelong career of the ED still love their job?

    Altra replied to NeoPediRN's topic in Emergency

    Not a lifer, but after almost 8 years I still love it. I did make the jump to the ICU for a while, and I embraced it ... but the ER is