CathyLew

CathyLew

MSP, Informatics

Member

  • Content

    463

  • Visitors

    8,341

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    5

All Content by CathyLew

  1. Aggressive Nurses

    CathyLew replied to Moneypitt's topic in General Nursing

    oh yea, I have had nurses give me a text book report... and when I asked if the patient needs one or two assists to the bathroom. (since when I worked nights, that was a huge deal!) they looked at me...

  2. Bad Managers

    CathyLew replied to Vito Andolini's topic in General Nursing

    "She was told NOT to befriend co-workers" I went to a charge-nurse seminar years ago, and they basically told us the same thing! I am the charge nurse, not there to be everyone's buddy. exqueeeze...

  3. Starting IV's

    CathyLew replied to Tay245's topic in General Nursing

    as a new grad, we had to get 10 signed sticks in. I used to work at a reaserch lab... after starting IV's in mouse tails and rabbit ears... people were easy! I was a little too cocky about it, and...

  4. Where to start after graduation

    CathyLew replied to rnrn10's topic in General Nursing

    "I'm sure there's many factors but I would like to know what many of you did to earn what you did when you graduated." I have seen some of the years of experience posted by many members....and believe...

  5. Starting IV's

    CathyLew replied to Tay245's topic in General Nursing

    we like to move new grads to ambulatory surgery for a few shifts. regardless of where they will work. There you get to start IV's all day. On mostly healthy, hydrated people. (people going in for...

  6. Bad Managers

    CathyLew replied to Vito Andolini's topic in General Nursing

    "none of which my supervisors gave a darn about. All they wanted was my warm body at numerous meaningless meetings, my signature on disciplinary actions and my budgets, which I was never trained to...

  7. Aggressive Nurses

    CathyLew replied to Moneypitt's topic in General Nursing

    Sometimes when I would go into work, the day nurse would be so far behind, that I would just look in the Kardex, check some labs, and start my shift without report. It was usually the same nurse...

  8. Why is hand-off reporting to so hard?

    CathyLew replied to shabbychic23's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, I hate those walking rounds!!! Every patient wakes up, and wants something. You have about a half hr to give report... and the patient sees two nurses walk into the room. They need to go to...

  9. Negotiating Salary

    CathyLew replied to RNgonewild's topic in General Nursing

    Interested in hearing responses myself, since I will be in the position in the near future. I have already submitted a proposed contract to HR, but with the closing of the end of the finantial year,...

  10. Documentation Mistake?

    CathyLew replied to Jo Dirt's topic in General Nursing

    I think at this point, drawing a line thrugh and erroring it out would only draw more attention to it. Im sure the Dr put in his own progress note more than you did. dont' sweat it. We all chart...

  11. Why is hand-off reporting to so hard?

    CathyLew replied to shabbychic23's topic in General Nursing

    we used to tape our off going shift report when I first started. you hear a lot of things when you play it back! Shift report is so hard, because unless you have a set criteria of things you run...

  12. Bad Managers

    CathyLew replied to Vito Andolini's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, in my hospital, we have had really good nurses go on to be very bad managers. they have great nursing skills, but not good management skills. It's nice when a manager can be your friend, but...

  13. IV tubing....why don't you recap it?

    CathyLew replied to CoffeeRTC's topic in General Nursing

    nope, if you wipe, you can re-hose. or whatever they call turning the tubing onto itself. but I think what happens, is most people walk into a room and see it capped onto itself, and think they...

  14. Apologizing when paging physicians

    CathyLew replied to Sue Damones's topic in General Nursing

    But... isn't "I hate to bug ya, but..." the same as being sorry? I don't hate to bug them. Im not sorry. But I can't just say, hey Doc, Glad you answered on the third page.... Your patient,...

  15. IV tubing....why don't you recap it?

    CathyLew replied to CoffeeRTC's topic in General Nursing

    Yea, that is a peeve of mine also.. those that cap into the tubing. Not that they used an alcohol wipe to wipe off the exposed "port" they plug it into. or those that flush the one way valve that...

  16. Sometimes its the little things that make me wanna lose it!!

    CathyLew replied to female12233's topic in General Nursing

    "It's hard for patients to sort out who is who, since nurses don't have a distinctive uniform. They really don't know much about the workings of the hospital system and get confused. Try not to take...

  17. Apologizing when paging physicians

    CathyLew replied to Sue Damones's topic in General Nursing

    Oh I do. I always start with... Sorry to bother you. I have a couple that come back with You don't sound sorry, or no your not. It's just a way to start the conversation. Im defenetly not...

  18. Commute times

    CathyLew replied to tinderbox's topic in General Nursing

    My job is about 30 minutes away in good weather. It can take over an hour if the roads are real bad. I live up in the sticks, and sometimes they don't plow our road at all. I have had to spend the...

  19. Aggressive Nurses

    CathyLew replied to Moneypitt's topic in General Nursing

    yea, I know I have done that in report. When you follow a nurse who has left you a big mess... and you know from past experience, that trying to educate the nurse is a lost cause. (it's one thing to...

  20. I am sorry

    CathyLew replied to patrick1rn's topic in General Nursing

    "As for family members making coffee, well I just direct them to the tea room where they can do it themselves. I didn't study nursing for 3 years and end up with debt just to make coffee." Ouch!...

  21. How often do you change the IV tubing when pt is prn adapted?

    CathyLew replied to Kurious RN's topic in General Nursing

    per our policy, 72 hrs. even intermittent infusions, for all peripheral lines. Or course, if it gets contaminated, change it imediately. Central lines, different policy. And some PPN or Lipids, we...

  22. If u were the patient,what type of nurse would you like to have?

    CathyLew replied to ahmadfaiz1992's topic in General Nursing

    Interesting question. just by looking at some of the people I work with, and seeing how they interact... We have a couple of nurses that are downright scary when it comes to passing meds......

  23. Someone at work is trying to get me FIRED !

    CathyLew replied to NurseLoveJoy88's topic in General Nursing

    well, I don't know as I like the idea that someone can complain about you, and that you aren't supposed to know. If someone complains about you, you should be informed, and given the chance to speak...

  24. Someone at work is trying to get me FIRED !

    CathyLew replied to NurseLoveJoy88's topic in General Nursing

    I would confront her. Not in a way that gives your boss away... but if someone makes complaints about you, you have a right to defend yourself. I would start by telling her that you have been...

  25. Someone at work is trying to get me FIRED !

    CathyLew replied to NurseLoveJoy88's topic in General Nursing

    wow. what kind of job/position does this other person hold? is she also a health aid? is she well respected in the school? staying there may do more damage to your reputation. I would be very...