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Dear mn, Thank you for your reply. I never knew that case managers were available at the insurance company end for patients. But one doesn't have a choice about the manager, does one? I guess it's luck of the draw. As you say: the patient signs up wi...

Hi Joy, I just responded to you but I don't think it was sent. I have worked overseas in the South Pacific for many years. I practiced nursing in the Solomon Islands for six years and now am a graduate student in a FNP program in California. If I wou...

DSHRN, I too am a telephone triage but I work in a busy family practice with a large pediatric population. Some days when I am the only nurse, I will have 70 - 80 calls! I am very interested in your sticker system. Can you fax me a copy? . Thank you.

I was an ER nurse for almost 2 years after 9 years of experience as an RN in med/surg, ICU/CCU, pediatrics, ortho, and OB (mostly postpartum). My experience was helpful, but not mandatory. ER is a wonderful place to work. It is quite challenging beca...

You will find ways to assist the patient in his or her physical needs as a result of listening to what is needed, and guided by your nursing textbook knowledge. Also, engage in conversations about what interests he or she. The paraplegic's life has d...

Use an inexpensive toothbrush - one per razor. They work well and keep the caregiver's fingers far away from the sharp razor's edge.

I don't think that the passage of the managed care bill by the house is good news, do you? Legal costs of lawsuits will drive up the already exorbitant cost of healthcare to the point where few of us may be able to afford decent, good quality care - ...

I too have seen the Atkins diet work - weight loss happens on the diet. In nursing school (1973) people who were on it were checking there urine daily for acidosis. If ketones were very high, carbs would be added to the diet to reduce the acidotic st...

I agree with you nursedude, that it is not good news that citizens may be able to sue HMO's if the the Senate and President ok it too. The HMOs will go broke fast. HMOs are going broke now, but the multiple lawsuits are sure to increase the velocity ...

Back to your September 29 posting Nursedude......it's easy to understand that there are those of us who do not understand what is going on in health care today. There's a lot of chaos right now so it's not an easy thing to comprehend. And basically i...

Dear Bluesboyj, Have you actually known of or seen the cost of a HMO denied CT scan come from the MD's pocket? I haven't personally seen or known of this. But I have seen a MD paying his staff out of his personal savings to make ends meet. This is ku...

A nurse who worked for a HMO in the prior authorization pharmacy told me he resigned because he couldn't handle the job ethically, any longer. If he liked a nurse or doctor who called him up to get medicine approval for a patient he would approve it,...

And just think about it, a family doctor is paid $5.00 a month by your typical HMO to keep a person healthy...this does not cover the cost of the sutures to stitch a wound, let alone payment for the time it takes to suture it. In the family practice...

Dear Nursedude, Judith, and others, Thank you for your helpful insights to this mess of a health care system we have. Your last comment Judith about the liability issue is very interesting, although hopefully will be changing soon, as consumers conti...

Dear Lisi, I've worked in a family practice office for four years now. Even though it's difficult in your office, wash your hands as often as you can. Another possible help, drink plenty of water. I find that drinking 6-8 glasses a day while I'm at w...

Dear All, I still say that I would recommend nursing as a career. After 25 years of being a RN I feel that I have enormous responsibility and also have authority over what happens along with the physicians. In California, it has been my experience th...

Dear Nursedude, Would you agree that what is at the heart of the healthcare crisis in this country is that we are pricing ourselves out of the market? Our medical care has gotten so expensive and now we're having a horrendous time paying for it? Plea...

I think we all are in the boat together trying to comprehend this one. We have different levels of understanding on managed care - I guess this is an indication of how complex and mystifying it is. What I've experienced in the family practice where...

Dear ND, I too am one of those dedicated nurses - was a nurse's aid at age 18, a RN by age 21. Now I am 45 and will be graduating as a FNP with a master's degree in May. Over the years, I certainly have gotten burned out and the best thing I ever did...

We know how managed care operates and that at least one CEO I read about makes $937 million annually. We have all seen the injustices that seem to be a consequence of managed care such as treatment delays for young children with malignant tumors...th...