SamyRN

Great article-I, too, am an Oncology RN. I've been interested in this topic for years, for patients, and for personal reasons. I've watched documentaries and read numerous articles on psilocybin. Although the research--trial size, etc has been limited, it is noteworthy the significant positive effects this drug in particular has on chronic refractory depression. Just because pharma can't benefit from it, there will be more of a challenge to get more studies funded. I hope to see this in my lifetime, as the current treatments are lacking. How many veterans do we lose every day to PTSD? If there's something, ANYTHING out there that could be promising, GET ON IT, US!

It was a Lasix drip, not insulin

Does your hospital have a policy or have you ever let the Activase dwell in the catheter for longer than 2 hours? I received instruction at one point to let the Activase stay in the cath overnight and have the patient come the next a.m., instead of having them sit in the department for 2+ hours. It worked like a charm... I can find no literature one way or the other. My only concern might be the effect on the catheter material? I have no qualms about leaving it in the central line: it's not going anywhere...

Nurse: "I know they said the new doctor was a b**ch, but I didn't know they meant it literally..."

Don't know about you, but I feel the need to be able to trust those around me. What I do is too important to not have someone have my back; if your pt. crashes, you've forgotten something, you need advice, or a "nursing consult".... Don't know your specific situation, but in mine, there aren't a lot of options to "go elsewhere." So.... make your situation what you need it to be. Be yourself, do unto others, CHANGE THE CULTURE! I DARE you!!! :yelclap: Good luck, gorjos (Gorgeous??!!!) S

I found that when I had something personally to relate to a disease process, such as knowing a family member, neighbor friend with the disease, it made it stick in my mind like cement. I'd write myself a note in the margin to firm up that cement later. On rare occasion I would share something brief that I thought might help fellow students make sense of a topic. But every class must have at least 2 story tellers who everyone wants to deprive of oxygen!!! UGGGGHHHH!!!

Wow. Really? Stargazer said "Sesame Street has a long tradition of addressing social issues, going back primarily to the 1980s. Sesame Street has addressed themes such as death, love, marriage, divorce, childbirth, and even 9/11." AGREE AGREE AGREE! We live in a rural area of mostly whites. My girls learned on Sesame Street that "people are people" red, yellow, black, white. No difference. When a black family moved here, and their girls attended school, my daughters didn't notice. I believe that's what most of the lessons on Sesame Street are. Show kids what's out there, so it doesn't freak 'em out, or stare, or make rude comments. It is what it is. IMPORTANT LIFE LESSON. As far as it not being my business about a womans choice of breastfeeding? As a nurse, when I worked in OB, you darn right it was my business. Just as it's my business to encourage smokers to quit, when I'm in my uniform in in work mode.

..... and CICA: I love the phrase you used, and use it often.... "His wife was lucky to have had him." Caretakers need to hear it and love to hear it. Use those words lavishly! They need to remember that! S

KAW; I believe that we cross paths with people at certain times for specific reasons. Whatever the reason, be it for your gained perspective on your passion, his, to know there are people who genuinely care, whatever. It doesn't really matter. I've learned to embrace the interactions, and pray for "thy will be done." If you get the opportunity to talk with him again, tell him about what you remember about his wife, just as you shared here. It will mean the WORLD to him that you remember those things. Oversensitive? I would hope you would be to an extent!!! You're a nurse! S

still here after 18 years, 9 months, and ...... however many days. same facility, different positions, "movin' on up." as pointed out here several times, unless you have extenuating circumstances (a volcano wiped out your hospital.) hey! it could happen, right?!? just a besides, as a department director of a specialty area, there are no points scored when considering applicants for a position if they are "job hoppers". training and the learning curve are too tedious, time consuming and expensive to put faith in a "hopper." just sayin'..... s

Awesome post, Babs. You made EXCELLENT points that we all need to remember. I've heard of housekeepers, etc. reporting to nurses about the patients, and were met with a much different response than you gave. It is everyone's job to take care of the patients. Good for you for reinforcing that and being a big enough person to be good with it, and taking the comments as they were intended: to help the patient, not to make you look like you weren't doing your job. I like your style! :yelclap: S

MattRNstudent; You said it very well when you said "I think that being self-conscious is natural for those of us who really want to be good nurses and provide the best patient care we can." Yes, it's true that it does get better. Eventually, perhaps you'll only spend the drive home replaying your day, or just as you are walking out the door after your shift. I don't think it's a bad thing. If I were hospitalized, I'd want you to be MY nurse :-) S

"....the professor that told me i would never be a nurse because i am so shy and quiet..." This statement is bothersome to me. Not certain what the basis of her statement was? That you wouldn't speak up for a patient if needed? Regardless, I love what you state about your nervousness decreasing when you walked into the patients room. Have you explored why you are nervous? Could you perhaps honestly say that your nervousness has become more of a "high alert" when first walking in to a patient room, taking in the surroundings, observing the patient, reviewing their diagnosis and possible issues to look for in those moments it takes to walk from door to bed?

Sabinacrn, Don't believe for a minute that nurses around you haven't had similar "near misses" or worse. That's all it was. Not to belittle the issue by any means. You sound like a great, conscientious nurse. Don't loose sight of that. And, I don't think it's a bad thing to "not completely relax" when performing your nursing duties. To be complacent in our daily tasks is not a luxury afforded in nursing... You are going to be just fine.

I couldn't tell from your post if this event was current or was earlier in your career. Never lose that knowledge that you made a difference by treating your Ruthie with the same respect and kindness, as you would any responding person. Some may feel "silly" speaking to unconscious patients, but I've heard too many stories to NOT believe they hear you, even if only subconsciously. Lovely story, Kris, and keep up the awesome work! S