smartin13

smartin13

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All Content by smartin13

  1. New grads in specialties without the basics

    smartin13 replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    In my facility all of the units are a specialty. Even the med/surg units, for instance we have a Neuro/Neurosurg unit, HemOnc, Ortho/Trauma, Cardiac, General Surgery, GI/Transplant all as individual...

  2. Why don't you just read the chart?

    smartin13 replied to Guest219794's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Sometimes I am taking report from the ED in the middle of the hallway, or in a patients room while they are toileting and do not have easy access to a computer to check so I ask. I am sorry if that...

  3. IV catheter changes..

    smartin13 replied to RNnewbie2014's topic in General Nursing

    Any IV not started in my facility has to be changed out within 24 hours. Our IV's expire after 4 days (old policy was 72 hours) and have to be changed unless we have an order from the MD. Some units...

  4. IV starts in nursing schools

    smartin13 replied to DaynaPierceMorgan's topic in General Nursing

    Yes we had a simulation lab where we "started" IV's on a computer program. After we showed we were competent with that we were able to start IV's in the clinical setting when ever we had a chance....

  5. condom catheters

    smartin13 replied to 84RN's topic in General Nursing

    Working in an acute neuro department and with the recent focus on removing foley's I have extensive experience with condom catheters, and most of the time they stay on and don't leek. Ensure you have...

  6. Please stop! Little things that are just bad practice.

    smartin13 replied to JBudd's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    At my facility intermittent tubing is changed every 4 days along with continuous tubing, this was recently changed from daily. Nothing in our policy states anything about the amount of times you...

  7. Outside income

    smartin13 replied to William2's topic in General Nursing

    I have three jobs currently, all part time. My primary job is working two 12 hour night shifts a week and receive benefits there. I then work agency for another hospital where I may get called three...

  8. Lack of basic care--appalling!

    smartin13 replied to kool-aide, RN's topic in General Nursing

    Not a solution to the problem of the lack in care necessarily however when I see that one of my patients needs oral care and isn't receiving it consistently I get an order for nystatin swish and...

  9. Who's for banning rotating shifts?

    smartin13 replied to Lev's topic in General Nursing

    In my facility most new positions are "flex" or rotating as you say. Half of the flex staff like nights (I fall in this category), the other half like days. We self schedule and I haven't had to...

  10. Maryville University Summer 2014

    smartin13 replied to Tropical_rn1's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    I currently attend MU and am in the FNP program. Like every program there are problems. My class has a FB page and that has been amazing as the instructors are not allowed to "teach". Some...

  11. Would you deliver your baby at your place of employment?

    smartin13 replied to BSNbeauty's topic in General Nursing

    The insurance provided by my hospital only pays if we deliver in our hospital so there isn't much of a choice. If I had a choice I would not deliver there just because there are better facilities in...

  12. First time PRN while working Full time

    smartin13 replied to itsdebraanne's topic in General Nursing

    At my PRN job they call and ask if I can work, I say yes or no depending on what I want. I have no obligation to holidays, weekends, or the amount of shifts I take. It does not interfere with my...

  13. New nurse given day shift over others?

    smartin13 replied to NyLPN067's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Tell the union reps. If retaliation occurs report it to the union. There really isn't much else that can be done if your co-workers don't want to use the avenue they have available to

  14. New nurse given day shift over others?

    smartin13 replied to NyLPN067's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I work in a union facility and this does not happen. There are rules that have to be followed when a position opens up as to how long it has to be posted on the floor, in house, and then to anyone....

  15. Flomax for women

    smartin13 replied to mamadog's topic in Patient Medications

    We use it all the time in our post-op patients who have a hard time going after several days regardless of if they are female or

  16. Struggling with being my own dads Hospice Nurse

    smartin13 replied to foudini's topic in General Nursing

    You gave your father just what you promised. You did not let him suffer. He could have just as easily fallen or aspirated in a facility. Having you by his side I am sure provided him with great...

  17. What's the nurse-patient ratio in your unit?

    smartin13 replied to Niki_RN's topic in General Nursing

    I work on a neuroscience unit that also does tele, we usually run 4:1 max is

  18. Acuity in patient assignments

    smartin13 replied to n1jmfn's topic in General Nursing

    we do our assignment by acuity. Our scale is 1-4. 1 being independent walkie talkie and a 4 being a total care, tube feeds, turns, incontinent etc. We try to make our acuities as equal as possible....

  19. Maryville University FNP Program Fall 2013

    smartin13 replied to Kris1981's topic in Advanced Practice

    It took about a month for me to hear back. Waiting is the hardest

  20. Bedside nurses and pregnancy

    smartin13 replied to beeker's topic in General Nursing

    All of the nurses on our floor work up until they go into labor. Some have gone into labor while working. I work on a Neuro floor with a lot of lifting and some confused/combative patients. We try...

  21. Maryville University FNP Program Fall 2013

    smartin13 replied to Kris1981's topic in Advanced Practice

    I haven't heard anything since I got the acceptance call/email. No info about registering for classes, financial aid, or anything else. I was going to give it a few more days and contact my...

  22. Maryville University FNP Program Fall 2013

    smartin13 replied to Kris1981's topic in Advanced Practice

    Just checking in with everyone. I got the call today and I'm in for this fall. I can't wait until we get to go through this

  23. Mandated cancellations

    smartin13 replied to kellycinalli's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I work in a large teaching hospital which is unionized and we are calling off about 15-20 floor nurses a day right now. Our cancelling goes by seniority (per union contract) so most senior gets...

  24. Is it really necessary to learn to read an ekg? anyone really use it?

    smartin13 replied to northmississippi's topic in General Nursing

    In my hospital (large teaching hospital) every floor is a tele floor meaning that any patient could be on tele at any time. While all of the floors have techs (that are located in one large room on a...

  25. Charge nurse taking patients

    smartin13 replied to bamaguy1989's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    We recently made a change to where we have no independent charge nurses. We have never had them on nights (and run with 4 patients if staffed or 6 max if not). Now they are taking away the...