StrbryJelo

I was not aware that HIPPA laws protect info after you die. Of course, there are lots of things I'm not aware of. I know medical privilege (md/pt confidentiality) ends with death, so why not HIPPA? To give up info the way this person did can be tacky, but is it violating laws?

I was an LPN for 6 years before obtaining my RN and agree with ladside that you should skip the LPN & go for your RN. I loved working as a LPN until we moved and the hospital/community thought LPN's had a butt hole as a convinient place to store their heads. I'm sorry to say this attitude is still prevalent in many places. As far as bridging using Excelsior, be careful. I'm in Georgia and the board of nursing here won't accept this program anymore. Also, the credits don't transfer most places. I work with a LPN who was almost through with Excelsior's program when Georgia made this change and she's lost time and a lot of money. Good luck. Mick

MAISY, RN-ER I agree with RandyRN. And I disagree with you that we've made the addicts and seekers. I think medicine has become an enabler, but we didn't make them. They make themselves for what ever reasons. In the past they would turn to ETOH and street drugs. Now, it's easy to get Rx narcs. I've also given placebos, but it's been a long time ago. Another long discussion I'm not up to at this time as to why the pt. was ordered a placebo. It worked. Pt was happy and quite comfortable. I have no problem with trying a placebo when appropriate. If it works fine. If not, then you move on to something else.

When we moved to this area 20+ yrs. ago I was 11-7 charge of a surgical floor. Hospital policy was to call any "abnormal" labs to the surgeon the night before surgery. Sounds good on paper, but the labs routinely didn't come back until after I came to work so I had to call docs late many times for rediculous lab values such as a potassim level 1/10th off of normal. One surgeon who was notoriusly gruff and rude reamed me out about this. I quietly told him I was following hospital policy, that I agreed with him and didn't like it either, but I was in no position to change it. HE WAS and suggested he do so. I had to call him many times after that, but didn't get any more crap from him about it. I'm with the others, don't applogize for calling them. Especially when it's due to a facility policy you have no control over. When I was a "newby" I seemed to be calling one doc a lot with problems about his patients. One evening (not late) he yelled at me telling I was calling him about a bunch of stupid stuff that didn't warrent calling him. I reminded him I was new at nursing and could call him when I was concerned and he could help me learn or I could be afraid to call him because he was going to yell and berate me and possibly have a patient harmed by not getting what they needed. He never yelled at me again and was a very great help in my learning many things. Some docs, young and old, think it's alright to behave any way they want, but don't you do it. Kind of like some cops. Don't believe it. Don't allow it or accept it. Facilities have allowed the medical "gods" to get away with too much for too long and are finally, though for many it's unwillingly, doing something about it. Maintain your composure and there will be no fault found with you.

I've just found this thread and didn't have time to read all of the posts, but do want to comment on a couple of things that were brought up. I'm of very mixed heritage...Irish, French, English, Scotch-Irish, Osage and Cherokee. I've found many oriental cultures believe women shouldn't have direct eye contact with males and it's a sign of aggresion with many American Indians. I personally have to work real hard to maintain eye contact. Voodoo is still very much accepted in the New Orleans area and has moved, at least in small pockets, around the country. It also has no racial boundaries. Wites are active in Voodoo also. It was brought to this country and the Carribean during the slave trade. In the Mexican and some South American cultures, many people consult Curanderos(Curanderas are female) in conjunction with medical doctors. Curanderos practice herbal medicine and provide cures for those affected by witches (brujos or brujas), midwifery and I've seen documentation of them performing surgery with no anesthetic and using only their hands, with no patient discomfort. The medical term for people eating non-food items is called pica. I live in middle Georgia and this is a common practice in South Georgia. Many people of all ages eat clay. In school I was taught people ate clay and other minerals to make up for dietary deficiencies, but I've known many over the years to eat clay even with a fairly balanced diet. I've personally taken care of one older lady years ago who had eaten so much clay that she impacted, perforated her bowel and died as a result. I agree with earlier posters that we should use the published/anecdotal imformation about cultures as a base and move slowly with each paitent until you find out what they're comfortable with and what works for both of you. Cultural differences can make taking care of patients/families difficult at times, but it's so very intersting. Mick

I guess I'm just bad all around. I'm a smoker and occasional napper. I know/have known nurses that nap on days and night shifts and I agree with so many of you....what's the problem? No matter your schedule, sometimes you're just tired. I've never known anyone that "neglected/abandoned" patients to nap. Co-workers always knew where we were. Some folks ask someone to get them at a certain time, others set cell phone alarms and some have the magical built in alarm clocks. bethin YGG. The best thing that could have happened to smokers in my facility (unless it would be my quitting smoking) is making us go outside. Fortunately we have a lovely spot though it can be pretty cold in the winter. Until they forced us out of the building I just didn't realize how much stress you can lose in just a few minutes totally off the unit (ICU). Until then we all stayed on the unit the whole shift. When we started having to go outside to smoke there were a few who always had a smart remark as you were going outside. "I wish I smoked so I could go out.", etc. I told them then and it's appropriate now, so go. It will do you a world of good. The few that do have discovered this. We still have some who piss and moan about the smokers, but some of them are the same ones that read/surf the internet and ignore alarms/call lights and expect others to take care of it for them. Oh, well, other issues. Sleep tight all.

Dakins is saline, bleach and bicarb. I love it and am sorry to see it's use decline. It's one of the best things to clean up infected wounds, esp. psuedomonas. And I've seen Unna Boot do an amazing job. I remember when Skin Prep came out in the early 80's. It's made for stoma care, but at the time I worked on a med/surg floor and we discovered very quickly that it prevented skin breakdown on pts. with fecal incontinence. Now it seems to be used mostly as an adhesive booster for IV/TLC dressings.

Thanks to all of you for the smiles and laughs I've gotten from reading this thread. I needed them. I've been in nursing 28 yrs. and just do remember some of these things. I worked a few places that still had metal bedpans and we used "soft" red rubber catheters for in & out bladder caths. Ya'll remember putting NGT's in the freezer for a while so they would be easier to insert? Otherwise they just bent and squished. When I was a student the med room had a large unlocked white cabinet full of "stock bottles" of meds. All of them were about quart size. Injectables such as Phenergan, PCN were also in large multidose vials. I'm in middle Georgia now and came from a busy SICU in Fla. 22 yrs. ago. When I first got to work here I felt I had gone back 20 years as they were still using glass IV bottles instead of bags. Of course one of the first things I did was drop a full bottle about 3AM. Sounded like a shot gun going off. When I started working in ICU's in the early 80's, the monitoring equipment for Swans sat on a cart at the bedside. There was a little screw used to calibrate them and of course you needed the little screw driver provided by HP to do this. Needless to say the screwdrivers were always promptly lost. But nurses, being the ingenious people they are, soon found a dime worked very well. The transducers had a dome that screwed open and you had to put saline on the membrane. It always took me several tries to get the blasted dome back on because if you didn't hold your mouth just right while doing it, the saline spilled off and your numbers were wrong. We were taught of HYPODERMOCLYSIS in nursing school, but I didn't see it in practice until the late 80's. An older MD at my hospital felt it was easier than IV's on his very young or very old pts. I agree with him. It works very well. Before my time, but I remember my mother telling me of giving enemas for dehydrated children with N/V who couldn't hold down liquids. Works too. Mick

I've been in nursing for not quite 28 yrs. & I'm sorry to say it took me several of those years to realize my family should come before my job/patients. Even with short staffing there is someone to look after patients. I've spent a weekend snowed in at work. There deffinately wasn't enough of us or beds to go around. We took turns sleeping 4hr. here and there. Did I envy those at home? You betcha. Did I resent them? No Way. And yes, I had small children then and they were with their father. Now I'm a widow with grown kids, but still have a 13y/o at home. I would call in in a heart beat if the choice was her safety or going to work. I agree with so many others that your kids are too young to leave alone for days even in good weather. Also, unlike the Canadian responder, I don't think we baby our kids instead of teaching them responsibility. You teach a lot of things by showing, not just telling. Leaving your kids alone in bad/potentially dangerous weather doesn't show them the importance of family or taking responsibility for your kids. It tells them a job and strangers are more important to you. I don't know about other states, but here in Ga. Fam. & Children's services will get you for neglect for leaving kids these ages alone for this time frame. Good luck to you, Mick

I was an LPN before going to RN school. As an LPN we had 3 different caps. The 1st was plain white and a burgandy ribbon was added when we reached a "senior" level of proficiency. Our graduation cap had 2 light blue ribbons. My pinning for LPN school was held in a church and my RN pinning was held in my college auditorium. For both we wore our student uniforms which were blue dresses (LPN) and white uniform pants suits (not scrubs) or dresses (RN). We wore dress clothes for LPN graduation and caps and gowns for college. We also received our Nightingale lamps and white bibles at pinning in both programs. Caps were pretty much on the way out when I was in RN school in 1981 and we had the option to wear them or not. I've worked in ICU for many years and for several of those I've been fortunate enough to be able to choose my own scrubs. Do I want to wear all white again? NO WAY! But did it hurt me to do it then or to wear white for pinning? NO WAY! I still have my pictures and we looked pretty good. Watch out as there a several facilities going back to nurses wearing all white. Large facitlities in large cities, not just small. Why does the idea of this being held in a church bother you so much and what are "pretty significant christian religious overtones"? The church your faculty wants to use...what is it like? Ours was held in a lovely church and the ambiance was much nicer than the pinning held in the school auditorium. The church added dignity and grace to the ceremony. Not because there was any specific religious service as part of my pinning, but because it was a beautiful building with lovely architecture. Some responders have stated there are many nurses practicing who don't hold a fundamental belief in GOD. I don't believe that. I believe in that old military adage that there are no atheists in a fox hole. You can't be an effective nurse if you don't have a basic belief in a higher order. Without this you can't survive over the long haul and you sure can't help your patients with their needs. Read all the latest. Docs are finally catching on to what those of us in the trenches have known for a long time, spirituallity affects your health and healing. You don't have to be a christian to paricipate in a pinning ceremony in a christian church any more than I have to be Greek Orthodox to enjoy a friend's wedding at her church or in a synagogue or temple. So if they say a prayer that doesn't fit your beliefs? Say a prayer you feel is suitable If you're an agnostic & don't pray, enjoy a moment of stillness and think about something that makes you happy. One person who responded gave a history of nursing dress that relates to nuns. I'm not familiar with that part of the history and am not doubting the writers accuracy. The point here being that it's still our current history. Because we've changed in our everyday work wordrobe, why do we need to change our history? What do you call those stupid caps and gowns for college graduations? Talk about out dated! I didn't hear any complaints about them and I don't know of any colleges that let you walk without wearing them. And push come to shove you can do what a coworker of mine used to do. She was always going to social functions that required evening attire which is pricey. She just hid the tags, taped the bottom of the shoes, wore the items and then returned them. Not a practice I care far as I've been in stores and found the stuff with perfume and makeup all over it. But, it's an opton Don't sweat the small stuff. In the long run that's what this is. Be proud of yourself for all the hard work you've done to get through your nursing program. And all the crap. All the programs are full of crap and busy work. Welcome to nursing. We can use all the help we can get. If you go to work at a place where the "nurses eat their young", run as fast as you can. There are MANY places out there where this is no longer done/allowed/tollerated. Mick

I was an LPN before going to RN school. As an LPN we had 3 different caps. The 1st was plain white and a burgandy ribbon was added when we reached a "senior" level of proficiency. Our graduation cap had 2 light blue ribbons. My pinning for LPN school was held in a church and my RN pinning was held in my college auditorium. For both we wore our student uniforms which were blue dresses (LPN) and white uniform pants suits (not scrubs) or dresses (RN). We wore dress clothes for LPN graduation and caps and gowns for college. We also received our Nightingale lamps and white bibles at pinning in both programs. Caps were pretty much on the way out when I was in RN school in 1981 and we had the option to wear them or not. I've worked in ICU for many years and for several of those I've been fortunate enough to be able to choose my own scrubs. Do I want to wear all white again? NO WAY! But did it hurt me to do it then or to wear white for pinning? NO WAY! I still have my pictures and we looked pretty good. Watch out as there a several facilities going back to nurses wearing all white. Large facitlities in large cities, not just small. Why does the idea of this being held in a church bother you so much and what are "pretty significant christian religious overtones"? The church your faculty wants to use...what is it like? Ours was held in a lovely church and the ambiance was much nicer than the pinning held in the school auditorium. The church added dignity and grace to the ceremony. Not because there was any specific religious service as part of my pinning, but because it was a beautiful building with lovely architecture. Some responders have stated there are many nurses practicing who don't hold a fundamental belief in GOD. I don't believe that. I believe in that old military adage that there are no atheists in a fox hole. You can't be an effective nurse if you don't have a basic belief in a higher order. Without this you can't survive over the long haul and you sure can't help your patients with their needs. Read all the latest. Docs are finally catching on to what those of us in the trenches have known for a long time, spirituallity affects your health and healing. You don't have to be a christian to paricipate in a pinning ceremony in a christian church any more than I have to be Greek Orthodox to enjoy a friend's wedding at her church or in a synagogue or temple. So if they say a prayer that doesn't fit your beliefs? Say a prayer you feel is suitable If you're an agnostic & don't pray, enjoy a moment of stillness and think about something that makes you happy. One person who responded gave a history of nursing dress that relates to nuns. I'm not familiar with that part of the history and am not doubting the writers accuracy. The point here being that it's still our current history. Because we've changed in our everyday work wordrobe, why do we need to change our history? What do you call those stupid caps and gowns for college graduations? Talk about out dated! I didn't hear any complaints about them and I don't know of any colleges that let you walk without wearing them. And push come to shove you can do what a coworker of mine used to do. She was always going to social functions that required evening attire which is pricey. She just hid the tags, taped the bottom of the shoes, wore the items and then returned them. Not a practice I care far as I've been in stores and found the stuff with perfume and makeup all over it. But, it's an opton Don't sweat the small stuff. In the long run that's what this is. Be proud of yourself for all the hard work you've done to get through your nursing program. And all the crap. All the programs are full of crap and busy work. Welcome to nursing. We can use all the help we can get. If you go to work at a place where the "nurses eat their young", run as fast as you can. There are MANY places out there where this is no longer done/allowed/tollerated. Mick

There are a lot of strange people out there that profess to being what/who they are not, but in 27 years and several states I've known a few nurses like this. Actually, one works in my hospital right now. And FYI, Cake Mate gel is terrific for an unconcious hypoglycemic. Just give it sublingually and it will absorb. Also, this product comes in a tube that is handy to carry as it won't leak or break and also lasts for months without spoiling.

Paint, you didn't sound rude. When I said, "not to sound rude", I wanted you to know I meant no offense to you. British nurses do look good, but I've seen some of them in colors & prints also. I understand where you're coming from and you could always wear a print warm up jacket with your uniform for some variety. They're not all little kid prints, but they can be fun and you don't have to work in pediatrics to wear them. As for fingernails....When I started in nursing 27 years ago short nails were required and NO nail polish. Not even clear. This wasn't an aesthetic issue. It was infection control. People started sneaking polish and artificial/acrylic nails in and through lack of follow through on existing policies it became common, if not the norm. Now we're back to the realizaton that even un noticed gaps between the natural nail and the overlays or even micro cracks in the surface of nail polish can, and does, harbor organisms. CYA, Mick

Paint, it sounds as if you're British and, not to be rude, you're not in England anymore. I don't wear colors because of the dirt/stain factor, but it is something to consider. I wear them because I got tired of wearing the same thing day in and day out. Try it now. Wear only one color in all your clothes and see how quickly you want to wear something else. Try it for several years and you'll be ready to scream. I wear solid colors as well as prints and have yet to hear a patient or family member make a negative comment to any of us or to administration. Trust me, administration would let us know quickly if this were the case. I've actually had several patients and visitors over the years that have told me they like the colors. And no, I don't work in pediatrics. Sick kids scare me, but that's a dfferent story. As for the docs, I have them making routine rounds, not a crisis visit ( I work in ICU), in 3 piece suits, bibb overalls, boots and cowboy hats, mini skirts, see through blouses, blouses with major cleavage exposed, sweating from working out and in gym clothes, and a few bring their kids expecting us to babysit and allowing the kids into patient areas. The doc "mystique" disappeared for me a long time ago. Wow, we could start several threads from this stuff. I don't have long fingernails, but I do wear big earrings and believe it or not they have absolutely no effect on my nursing abilities. And I've gotten positive feedback on them as well. Good luck in school and with your career. Mick

I've been a nurse for 27 years and had to wear white-with & w/out a cap-for around 17 of those years. The thought of having to wear a "uniform" again makes me sick to my stomach. I hate to even buy white underwear. In the ICU I work in we can wear any colors we like and it's wonderful. The floors are allowed the same freedom. I agree with those before me that badges, introductions and info boards in patient rooms are sufficient. Freedom to choose the colors & prints of scrubs that suite me allow me to make a statement about myself just as it does doctors and "civilliians". And I can choose what colors are most flattering to me personally. I think hospitals, MD/dentist offices, etc. shouldn't have the right to tell us what to wear as long as it's appropriate for our work type/location. What tells patients/visitors that you're a professional is the way you present yourself, not the uniform. How many times have you been in a bank, store or other business and had to conduct business with someone who looked very professional, but was far from it? Think again about this folks. Hospitals continue to keep us down and inviting them back into this aspect of our lives is taking us back a step. We need to empower nurses, not regress. Mick