babedollRN

Usually I would assess my patient's pain level before the next shift. If they need to be medicated I will do so, so the on coming nurse doesn't have to do that if they are due. Also, if you do bedside report, like the other person said, both of you can assess it at that time. Some patient will lay there in pain and not ask and those patients have to be assess. I know PRN means it they need it they should ask, but you have to assess and look out for the on coming nurse. I don't know the real story, but this is my take on it.

Rn1989 brought up some good points; IS, TCDB, and getting OOB. Others brought up good points as well, keeping track of I & O's, and making sure water is there for the patient and in reach if not NPO.

It may be in a bad neighborhood, but it is safe there, but then again its not safe no matter where you go. If you do attend the school, they do have security to walk you to your car. Also leave in groups or with one other school mate. Over all it is pretty safe there. They do have a reputation to uphold. If there was a problem the school would not be there.

Lexicomp or Micromedex are good reference.

In hospitals LPN can not take orders from the doctors. I did read an article where LPN can take orders from the doctor ony if it within their scope of practice, but since our LPN did not get an inservice on this they are not allowed to write any orders. In nursing homes and assist living, LPN can take orders.

You're right it is the younger doctors the older doctors are alright.

Thank you very much.

I've only been a nurse for 4yrs and to be honest with you I have never heard a doctor saying that, but action speak louder then words. Some won't speak until spoken to. One I know will hold her nose up at me and keep walking. When assisting with a dressing change they leave the od dressing for you to clean up. Some expect you to bring them the chart. There are other things, but that's to name a few. There are really some good doctors out there who do care and have great respect for the nurse. (Some you have to earn their respect.) One thing I believe is you can't worry about what doctors say or do. We are there for the patient and be a good advocate for that patient. All you can be is the best you can be and that you went into the field, you were called to do.

You know what, reading the other message, we are switching over to the new end port in which we do not have to use heparin. Thanks for you opinion.

This may still pertain to the previous heparin question, but a different situation. There's a policy at my hospital for flushing PICC lines as well. We had a situation where a patient had surgery and needed pain medication every hour. While getting report from the preivous nurse she states she was flushing with normal saline, but not the heparin. I would like to hear the solution to this please. We are switching over to the new end ports where we do not have to flush with heparin. Thanks for all who did reply.