RNmomma

I don't recall really ANY "pregnant bashing" on this thread. Rather, we are saying that it is unfair when the demands of pregnant women get out of hand, with no evidence to back it up. If a pregnant nurse came to me and needed help lifting, or exchanged a yucky wound dressing with something I needed to do, I would have NO problem. I love helping out other nurses, as long as there is a sense of fairness and teamwork about it. What I do get annoyed with is the stories of women who become consumed by their pregnancy, and have nothing else to talk about. Luckily, although I have worked with a lot of pregnant women, they have all been great! We really looked out for each other, for the most part.

I once saw a cord that had TWO knots - and baby was fine!

Is it really true that physical labor (no pun intended) can cause this? I have always believed it was an old wives tale...

For some reason I am not being allowed to edit my post, but I just wanted to say that some nurses said I SHOULDN'T pull up patients...

That would make me so mad if someone who happened to be pregnant refused to do anything. I was working on a busy neuro floor when I was pregnant last year, and the only time I refused to do something was when I was assigned a few heavy spinal injuries. I wouldn't have minded going into isolation rooms (if you are protecting yourself correctly, then there shouldn't be a risk, should there be?) though I was never assigned them b/c I was pregnant. And I had some RNs tell me I should pull up patients or do the heavier work, which I kind of resented. I don't think I put my child in jeopardy doing these things. Near the end I did go down from 40 hours a week to about 32. I actually did have my water break at the beginning of a PM shift, 11 days before my due date. I attribute being early to all my hard work!

Manyquestions - I really identify with you. ADL work can be physically and mentally grueling, and there are aspects of nursing that aren't as focused on it, but each one is going to have at least a little of it. LTC may not be for you, but there are so many different ways to be a nurse. Another way to look at it is that the ADLs are the basis, the bottom line, of caring for these patients. It is rudimentary. Too often things like regular turning, clean sheets, and oral care are ignored. Don't write off nursing as a career just yet. You may just need to find your niche.

As of Jan. 1, it is law! Along with set ratios for every other unit.

I found this on the web by a Steven Harris, MD. And of course, it's on the web, so it must be true!: ////There is really no reason at all for a correctly performed intravenous injection to contain even a tiny air bubble. Nevertheless, a few cc's of air in your venous system (a standard IV line) would be harmless, unless you were unlucky enough to have a congenital atrial or ventricular septal defect, allowing bubbles to bypass the lungs. Lungs are a great filter, and they trap bubbles and clots before they get to the brain or other places where they do damage by interfering with blood supply. Failing a heart defect, the amount of air necessary to kill a normal person varies a great deal depending on position, chance, rapidity of injection, etc. It's more than several hundred cc's. Generally, you need enough to create a giant bubble in the right heart, large enough to interfere with liquid pumping ("vapor lock"). A few patients have probably seen a little bubble go down their IV line and into them, and had heart attacks waiting for the heart attack! /////

I had long hair all through school, and would always have it up in a clip or ponytail. Soon after graduating I cut it to chin length. It is so much better!! It looks much neater and professional, and you dont need to spend the time with getting your hair up.

In california, the max ratio is 4 couplets to one RN, any shift.

Coming across as a true professional is SO important as a nurse! Let's change some negative perceptions about nursing.

I have been giving flu shots at the mall on weekends through a private company and have a question - what are the rules as far as privacy goes? We have a sign-up sheet, and not until a patient pointed it out did I realize this may be in violation of privacy laws. I was never told about this by my employer. Also, we don't give any paperwork to the patient, unless they ask for a reciept. Is this weird, or is it just me?

I think it is pretty common to have a few air bubbles in the lines. Very difficult to make sure there is absolutely no air, and probably a big waste of time. I have heard that there would have to be a very large bubble (like the whole line) to cause any problems to the patient. The "air in the line" beeps can be very frustrating! I think the trick is to get the line nicely primed, and not to let the bag run dry before hanging a new one.

This is the email I just received: /That is not something we do at this hospital. Again, if you have particular questions I would be more than happy to answer them./ I don't understand? Is this a standard rule at hospitals? I am REALLY put off.

I did email the manager about talking to another RN or 2 about the unit, to get a better feel for the place. She didn't seem to understand my question and told me she would be available for any more questions I may have. I don't want to beat a dead horse or anything, but I emailed her again clarifying my question. If the nurses are too busy or don't want to talk to me, why would I want to work there?