chris_at_lucas_RN

chris_at_lucas_RN RN

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All Content by chris_at_lucas_RN

  1. Staffing Ratios in Acute Care Psych (child/adol) Units

    chris_at_lucas_RN posted a topic in Psychiatric

    I work in a psych hospital on a dual unit--we have adolescents on one side and children (up to 12 years) on the other side. Last evening we had 2-1/2 RN's (one left at 7), and started with 23 patients...

  2. What would you do if diabetic pt. has 14 blood sugar.

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to Sue7573's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I appreciate your sensitivity to the feelings of others with whom you work, and your concern for retaliation.But I wonder if, when someone fresh out of school has an idea that might work, or be better...

  3. getting back into the heart of nursing.

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to nurse1995's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    I am so, so sorry for your loss. I love my children so much, and I cannot imagine the intense void you must still feel.I think going back to nursing may be just the ticket for you. Have you...

  4. Difference between RN and LPN responsibilities in the hospital setting?

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to RebeccaJeanRN's topic in General Nursing

    What a wise woman.Since the question has been posed, perhaps I can be heard? I have noticed along the way (and I'm old, so there has been a lot of "along the way") that some people, some professions,...

  5. I rescheduled

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to BunnyBunnyBSNRN's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    Gotta do whatch gotta do! Try the online version of Elsevier's CAT to help you prepare. It is a great confidence builder (just like taking the NCLEX over and over again), and it's pretty...

  6. What would you do if diabetic pt. has 14 blood sugar.

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to Sue7573's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    1) When the lab value and the patient's obvious condition are inconsistent, always redo the test. 2) "Milking" more blood from a stick means breaking capillaries and cell walls, which releases more...

  7. Hand Washing Training

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to synkitty's topic in Infectious Disease

    I've always found that the "yuk factor" helps motivate people toward proper, responsible hygiene. If one considers a person who hasn't washed his/her hands, using a door knob, preparing food, picking...

  8. What's the funniest thing you've heard a patient say?

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to MistyDawnRN06's topic in Nursing Humor

    Well, now I can join the ranks of the experienced, because I have some of these quips to share as well. On the adult psych unit, where I went to pull meds (never have them all in any one...

  9. How do You deal with Man-Hating Female Nurses?

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to PrisonrNurs's topic in Men in Nursing

    I absolutely love the metaphor, and my, my, isn't it apt?I'm so sorry you are having this difficulty, and I do empathize. I have been in nonnursing situations, working with males, and been treated...

  10. Need Advice On The Excelsior Program

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to closatssl1's topic in Online Distance Learning

    But doesn't it kind of freak you out when people ask where you went to school, and you say Excelsior, and there is some reference to "internet" or "online."This is not internet or online schooling....

  11. Colleague bitten by pt--what should be done for the bitee?

    chris_at_lucas_RN posted a topic in General Nursing

    One of the techs on my inpatient psych unit was bitten by an adolescent patient. The skin was broken, and a small flap of skin on the back of his hand was hanging by a small piece of skin. At my...

  12. Need Advice On The Excelsior Program

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to closatssl1's topic in Online Distance Learning

    I'm sure I don't hold the record, but I took my first exam January 27 and finished my CPNE June 27th, last year. Adding up the "actual" costs of the exams and fees will not approach what you will...

  13. Colleague bitten by pt--what should be done for the bitee?

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to chris_at_lucas_RN's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you so much. This makes a lot of sense. I do think they should be able to draw and test the biter's blood, since he was well aware of his situation and knew right from wrong at the time. No...

  14. Need Advice On The Excelsior Program

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to closatssl1's topic in Online Distance Learning

    No, I don't think it is possible, much less likely, that you will be taking the boards in January 2006. That's only seven months away. There is at least an 8 month wait just to take the clinical final...

  15. 2 cases of abuse covered up

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to kimann37's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I am so proud of you!!!! And I know that good feeling. Now, here is another hard part that might come to be, maybe not, but you should be forewarned. (Nobody told me, I've had to kind of figure this...

  16. 2 cases of abuse covered up

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to kimann37's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I agree about HIPAA on the camera idea.Yes, you can be fired for reporting them, but it is a violation of your civil rights. Visit http://www.google.com and look up "Whistle Blowers Act." I think...

  17. Staffing Ratios in Acute Care Psych (child/adol) Units

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to chris_at_lucas_RN's topic in Psychiatric

    I think there may be a serious problem with the competency of the staffing nurse. (I hate to say that, but it's looking likely.)Frida, we had two RN's (me for the whole eight hours, two from the...

  18. 2 cases of abuse covered up

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to kimann37's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Call your state department of health. They almost always have a toll free "hot line." You can probably use http://www.google.com for it. (I use it for everything.) Good for

  19. Hooray!

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to nursemike's topic in General Nursing

    Congrats, Mike. You'll have to take the ? off your name

  20. 2 cases of abuse covered up

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to kimann37's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Absolutely.It won't be easy. Even anonymously. But this kind of thing will continue as long as it is tolerated--and no documentation or discipline is tolerance. You will be a secret angel for those...

  21. attitudes about working in Rehab

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to cynthiavc15's topic in General Nursing

    My first clinical rotation was on a skilled nursing unit (they called it "snif" for skilled nursing facility, I think, even though it was in an actual hospital). My first thought was, what did we do...

  22. considering rehab - is 8:1 with a CNA good?

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to kek's topic in Rehabilitation

    I just had an interview at a rehab hospital for a PRN slot. I thought to get a few shifts a month where I was doing more hands-on patient care since I am doing fulltime psych nursing and I miss the...

  23. Staffing Ratios in Acute Care Psych (child/adol) Units

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to chris_at_lucas_RN's topic in Psychiatric

    We are in a freestanding psych hospital which is immediately next door to a megahospital that this hospital apparently was once a part of. (Sorry for the dangling participle.) A funny thing happened...

  24. Psych PBDS

    chris_at_lucas_RN replied to chris_at_lucas_RN's topic in Psychiatric

    Performance Based Development Systems. It's a way of assessing someone's clinical ability using short (like, 15 to 20 seconds maybe a little longer) vignettes. They might give you some lab results,...

  25. Psych PBDS

    chris_at_lucas_RN posted a topic in Psychiatric

    Started a new job in a psych hospital. Took the PBDS. Pretty sure I did very well (although it was not administered very sensibly--three of us unsupervised in the room, one on her cell phone...