MEDICJOHN

Worked 10 years as ER tech and now RN....so..whats the deal with mondays? Why is it universally insane? I have entertained many theories and and interested in hearing yours! Here are some of mine: 1. Daddy goes back to work and now mommy gets bored and figures, "lets go get a check up" 2. Having too much fun partying on the weekend, now that monday is here, I can address my long standing foot pain. 3. Kid doesn't wanna go to school so he will fake sick and go to ER

ER tech for 10 years, paramedic 15....sweet talked the director

Being a new nurse, I am running into alot of nurses jumping down my throat for doing things this or that way. And it often leaves me stuck as to what is personal preference vs standard of care. This weeks question, it standard practice to use a different PB tubing for each antibiotic or is it ok to hang 3 various antibiotics using the same line?

Yes im already an RN.....

Anybody know anything about online BSN? I hear its common for ppl to go from AS to BSN totally online. Is it worth it? Anyone got any experience in either online or regular class BSN?

I made my fist error recently. The order was Dilaudid PO and I work on a floor where EVERYONE gets dilaudid IV around the clock. So, the PO order was strange and unexpected. I gave the med, (same dose) and then realized it was PO later. I guess I should have reported it, but, I know the pt would not be harmed and it would have cost me months of paperwork and suspicion to report it so I didn't. I don't regret my descision as the pt care is the most importtant thing to consider.

Davey, thanks..thats goin on my facebook!!!! Great quote!!!!

I work on Med Surg for the moment and my floor has all the physch and drug addicts. Needless to say, very hard to deal with. I have a "charge" nurse who loves to remind everyone that he is in fact the charge nurse. However, when things get crazy and we are all running around trying to get stuff done, or trying to finish up w/ our patients to prepare for shift change, he's there, reading, cruising the net, answering the call lights and yelling over his shoulder for whomever has the pt. "bed 2 needs pain meds" etc. And returns to his browsing!!!! I swear to Christ I'm gonna lose my mind over this!!!!! Would you not feel guilty for acting like that? As a team leader, why would one not want to help the team?

I have worked with docs like that...horrible horrible people, say nothing of horrible doctor. An a hole doc I once worked with had a full in MI while working in my ER...went into cardiogenic shock and ended up tubed in the ICU...he came back acting like a different, decent person.

I agree, the days i am "team leading" i do NOT give good pt care cuz hanging 10 drips and keeping up with pain meds every 20 minutes is all encompasing. Its a horrible thing to do to patients who deserve good nursing care....and all to save money by not hiring another RN....sad...

Looking at the clock is require to administer meds on time....duh!!!

I'm now an RN, just review your a/p and dont worry about the other stuff. Micro, etc...u wont use as much as A/P.

I love students....I suggest the student say things like "what can I help you with" "Give me something to do" I remember my first months on the floor and you are lost, feel stupid, feel like you are in the way....but if u just be aggressive, the RN will remember you and appreciate you.

I'm a fairly new nurse also and, of course, got sentenced to med surg. This is NOT nursing..its just looking at the clock and throw pills and antibiotics at patients. Anyone could do this. There is no assessment, intervention, nothing, just delivering meds. And u mess one tiny thing up, even setting a normal saline rate at 75 when it should be 80 and someone is writing you up! Two more months and I can transfer to ER.

wow, i got stuck into Americas Next Top Model too!!!!!!!!!

If u have kids, premake and freeze meals for them, or your husband/wife. Go to amazon and buy Lippencott Manual of Nursing Practice, it will save your life when you forgot to study something and then hear about it the day of the exam. Huge book but very worth it. Saunders NCLEX review CD with the practice questions.

IF you are asking what side you position the patient for the procedure, of course u would place him sitting on edge of bed or sitting UP in bed....a nurse would NEVER place a pt ON THE AFFECTED side for chest tube placement, the lungs and organs would fall TO THAT SIDE and risk perforation

In a pneumothorax, you lie the patient with the AFFECTED side UP....in a HEMOTHORAX, you lie the patient with the affected side DOWN. HEMO= to avoid blood draining to the one GOOD side of the chest, thereby makeing BOTH side problematic. In a pneumo, place the bad (affected) side UP so it ease in air escape (if there is a hole) preventing tension. Honestly, I answer your question based on my paramedic training from a million years ago....NOT from nursing school.....how did i do?

Sounds like pretty much what I do. I was referring to antibiotics. I forgot to mention I am working on med surg now...(kill me)... and our hospital policy is RN's are NEVER to add anything to a bag...only pharm does that...safer that way. Anyhow, sounds like we work the same. and yes, I always start early, sometimes even an hour early to get finished on time. thank you

For those of you who have not endured the hell of "team nursing" it really sucks and is very dangerous. But my topic here is to ask. When you have 10 patients to hang IV meds on during the shift. How do you keep them organized and timed? I have a system where I put the pt "sticker" on a piece of paper and under that sticker write the med and time to be given. Then, as I skim the one big paper I can see..."i have 4 meds to hang at 0200 so I can start now and finish up" I cross out each time as I hang it, hence, if close to the end of my shift, I have some times written down that are not crossed out, I have missed a med. Of course, I also check the MAR before giving it to make sure I have not written it down wrong. What do you do when you have SO MANY drips to hang on SO MANY patients?

That would be me!!!!

I have so many stories but they are all from the ER and involve disgusting yet hilarious language and editing them will completely obliterate the humor....grrr

If its a billing thing, I'll buy that. But one response I got was "documentation"....still...documentation for who? Its like being in kindergarden.

lol!!!!! good one!!!

I would not try supplements till you are done w school. U wont be able to give 100% anyhow, why waste the money. Diet is more important than anything anyhow. That, too, was one of the hardest things to give up while I was in school. But its temporary and your muscles have muscle memory and will come back...i promise