jansgalRN

I am sitting for the hospice nurse certification this weekend. I need tips/advice from anyone who has taken the exam. I am having trouble with med conversions. Is there a standard conversion for frequently used narcotics? It seems as though the co...

I just read your post regarding the hospice nurse calling. It seems to me that you answered a "calling" when you chose nursing. I don't even know you, but I know that you possess the qualities that I want my nurse to have. That goes for inpatient,...

Hey, I have great news for you. I'm 28 years old and have been a hospice nurse for over 3 years . I recently became certified in Hospice and Palliative care. I love my job! Go for it. It is the most rewarding job in the world (for me anyway). I...

My mother's advice to me: Marry for money and you will earn every cent. In many cases a good doctor must be married to his profession. Many nurses are attracted to these qualities. I think it has a lot to do with co-dependency and wanting to be "t...

I am a hospice nurse. I can totally relate to you dilemma. One of the hardest lessons to learn in home care is setting boundries. I think there are many reasons for this. First of all, as nurses, we all tend to have varying degrees of codependenc...

Okay, before you judge me, let me tell you the circumstances in which I must ask this question. I was picking up a few things at the grocery store before joining my husband and his buddies who were at home watching a football game. I was at the che...

I know what you are feeling. Take it from someone who's been there. I'm sure many of us can remember those jobs, but it doesn't mean that you should get out of nursing. Just keep searching until you find the job that is enjoyable, even on a bad da...

I have been an RN for almost 7 years. I've just made the connection with getting plenty of rest and doing things that replenish my being. I know you are probably saying "this chick is way out there", I hear that a lot. The truth is that being a go...

Hospice nurse here. I agree. I get patients with extensive metastasis on Lortab 5mg. Of course, they reqire 2 (10mg) every 4 hours around the clock and still aren't controlled. Not to mention exceding the 24hr max dose of acetominaphen(which is 4...

If I learned one thing in nursing school, it was that the nurse is ultimately responsible. In this case, the one who gave the med because of the risk of harm to the patient. The kardex is basically a written report that is updated q shift according ...

Anyone know what the electrical shocking sensation is called? It is very real and annoying. I had a virus over the weekend and was unable to take my Effexor (75mg). Just one missed dose and I have the shocking sensation all over. I just got off o...

You guys are scaring me. I do not have any children of my own. (Three wonderful stepchildren). Can women have elective C-sections? Long, difficult labors run in my family. I am not OB, so very little of what you guys are saying means much to me. ...

My patien's wife told me that she uses hemorrhoidal (sp?) cream under her eyes for puffiness. In high school, if I didn't feel like washing my hair, I'd put baby powder in it (takes care of the greasy roots) and then blow dry for better absorption. ...

Any suggestions for razor burn. I do not have real sensative skin except my armpits. I've tried so many lotions and potions. Finally, I just started using an electric razor. It doesn't work as well and I have to do it every day. And, still, ther...

A few years ago, when I worked the night shift, one of my co-workers (and good friend thank goodness) was having the itchies down there. She said she had been treating a yeast infection for about a week with OTC meds. One of the docs was rounding l...

Someone needs to invent a contraption for the administration that will alarm every time unneccessary money is spent (like on landscaping the grounds of the hospital-our local hospital had garden of the week one time). I bet we would not have a momen...

Keep on laughing. After all, some of the best nurses that I know have a wonderful sense of humor. If the instructors give you flack about laughing in class inform her about to positive effects of laughter and the biochemicals that are released when...

Sorry to hear about your grandma. It is important to know the stage of cancer on diagnosis. Also, whether or not her cancer has metastised can be an important factor to determine outcome. Her age and general health is a consideration for determina...

I am a hospice nurse. I work 10 hour days. When I started hospice 2&1/2 years ago, a coworker told me how important it is to participate in self-healing activities. I thought, oh that sounds nice, and forgot about it as soon as I was into my r...

If everyone chose health as a habit, wouldn't we be jobless?

Hey fellas! Another curious chick, here. I've been nurse for over 6 years. Always need male nurses. You all know what you're getting yourselves into, right? Working in a field dominted by women is a challenge in itself. We need you guys to keep ...

I'm taking the hospice certification exam tomorrow. I am unclear on some things like methadone conversions. Can anyone tell me what the methadone/morphine conversion is. I think its 1mg :1.5mg, but that doesn't seem right to me. I've been studying...

If you aren't comfortable with something, speak up. Only you can determine this. Having been a nurse for over 6 years (floated all over for 3), I can honestly say that things didn't start to come together for at least 6 months. After about a year ...

Not in charting, but I've answered calls and was told by a family member "we gave the depository but he still didn't produce" [stool]. Also, family members pick up on things that nurses may miss (esp. in home care). A pt's wife called me once claim...

I am a hospice nurse. That being said, you guys could've probably guessed that I'm all for the legalization. Not just medicinal and this is why: I feel that pain is grossly undertreated. I know it is extremely difficult to determine someone elses p...