HamsterRN

HamsterRN ADN, RN

Psych/CD/Medical/Emp Hlth/Staff ED

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All Content by HamsterRN

  1. Electrolyte Replacement

    HamsterRN replied to LouisVRN's topic in General Nursing

    It's not really electrolyte replacement, but sodium bicarb can cause electrolyte shifts that can result in hypokalemia so it's always a good idea to check and replace potassium prior to giving sodium...

  2. What To Chart After "pt. vomited"

    HamsterRN replied to brownbook's topic in General Nursing

    We use strict charting by exception which I thought was becoming fairly common these days, although it sounds like many nurses still chart lengthy descriptions of normal findings. Is this still that...

  3. NEVER say we are short staffed.

    HamsterRN replied to TipitiwichitRN's topic in General Nursing

    The hospital I work at actually posts our staffing at the front desk of each unit for everyone to see, including what our nurse to patient ratios are for that shift compared to what they should be...

  4. mistake - unable to fix

    HamsterRN replied to lovingRN2009's topic in General Nursing

    Mistakes happen. If it makes you feel any better, our Infectious Doctors say it is no longer considered to be good practice to culture PICC or central line tips. They have a high chance of being...

  5. Written up for this???

    HamsterRN replied to Emma123's topic in General Nursing

    Agree with AsystoleRN, insubordination is a clearly defined legal term and this isn't it. Refusing to do something you were told to do, assuming it is in your job description, is

  6. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    I don't consider arguing to be a bad thing. There is nothing wrong with airing opposing viewpoints about what is best for patients and trying to figure out where the other side is coming from and how...

  7. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    I got that assertion from "Yes, they can refuse the treatment plan, and they can do so by GOING HOME" and "If they don't want the treatment they need, go home". (stated by cherrybreeze) You don't...

  8. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    What are you basing that assumption

  9. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    So if the MD D/C's the order simply based on the patient's refusal then you would give extra water? How is this not still "enabling a bad decision". If the patient's condition hasn't changed then...

  10. Isolation Gowns

    HamsterRN replied to Redhead28's topic in General Nursing

    Yellow nylon, with the blue available at our discretion. I wore one once while I was putting an NG tube in, it came in pretty handy (the pt's belly was beyond

  11. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    I should admit that I also used to enforce fluid restrictions and I don't think a hospital should be a free-for-all where patients are given the keys to the med room, free to treat themselves with the...

  12. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    I think you may have missed the posts between the original and now, as everything you mention has been addressed elsewhere, I don't blame as there have been many long posts, and yes I am very...

  13. Quality Compliance

    HamsterRN replied to GreenPolkadot's topic in General Nursing

    It would seem like they would need better evidence before publicly (at least to staff) declaring that a particular nurse was responsible for an infection. Particularly since they seem to be making...

  14. Can you work as a CNA/NA/LPN as licensed RN?

    HamsterRN replied to Curious1alwys's topic in General Nursing

    Maybe we've been naive, but where I work RN's cover holes in the CNA staffing all the time. Some nurses like it (no passing meds) others not so much (nurses don't always take direction well from...

  15. DVT and Homan's sign

    HamsterRN replied to HarmonyW's topic in General Nursing

    From what I remember, a positive Homan's sign is when there is pain the calf resulting from dorsiflexion (toes towards knees). I've sort of intentionally let my memory of it go because it's...

  16. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    What if the Dr. D/C's the order because the patient refuses and the patient's condition is the same as

  17. What constitutes falsifying documentation?

    HamsterRN replied to physioex's topic in General Nursing

    That' s nothing compared to where I work: We are required by policy to chart medications as "Given" in the computer before even walking into the patient's room with the meds, we've questioned this...

  18. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    According to the law in my state, not giving water to a competent patient who requests it is a crime, which is far worse than a bad survey result. Free access to water for a competent patient is the...

  19. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    Exactly, it's not the nurses place to decide that the patient is not competent although you seem to be arguing that we can deem the to be not competent. Unless there is an order otherwise, you have to...

  20. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    I agree there is a point at which patient's are no longer competent to make their care decisions, where that point is could be a thread all on it's own. In my experience, it has to be pretty severe...

  21. Drug Cal

    HamsterRN replied to sydneycna's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    I would suggest you take the math placement test at where ever you are planning to take your pre-reqs and start with the class you place into. Some schools allow students to argue their way into...

  22. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    From a legal standpoint, I think we may be a little off track. It has been asserted that the decision maker is the MD, although the law sees it differently (below is an excerpt from a legal summary)...

  23. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    Pain usually won't kill you either, yet we give pain medications anyway even though giving narcotics is probably the most dangerous thing we do as nurses. From an ethical standpoint, we seem to...

  24. Blue Collar or White collar?

    HamsterRN replied to CEN35's topic in General Nursing

    Blue collar is generally defined as those who perform manual labor at an hourly wage regardless of the education required. Being a professional is not the same thing as being white collar, there are...

  25. Fluid restrictions vs Patient rights

    HamsterRN replied to HamsterRN's topic in General Nursing

    That's my question, whose is the decision maker, and if it is the patient's decision then why would we help a patient not comply with one treatment but continue to enforce