gardengal1 ASN, RN

gardengal1 has 25 years experience as a ASN, RN and specializes in ED only.

Latest Activity

1. NO LUNCH

   gardengal1 replied to pm2rn's topic in Emergency

   We never get lunch or breaks - you grab a bite whenever you can. BUT, no lunch break is taken out of our 12 hour shift - we get paid for the entire 12 hours - even if we would happen to be able to...

2. New Nurse Looking For ER Advice

   gardengal1 replied to DavidRamirez's topic in Emergency

   Most ER's don't hire new grads - they expect about 2 years of medical/surgical/ICU background before allowing a transfer into the ER. Get your foot in the hospital where you want to work on any floor...

3. How can we make the process of report from ER to floor better?

   gardengal1 replied to nrsang97's topic in Emergency

   We NEVER hold a patient during shift change - that is what the Resource Nurse is for. Admits go up as soon as they are ready, no matter what time it might

4. How can we make the process of report from ER to floor better?

   gardengal1 replied to nrsang97's topic in Emergency

   We use the same computer system as the admitting floors. When we call to give report to an admitting nurse, if they are not available, they MUST call back within 10 minutes, otherwise, the Resource...

5. Need ideas to reward nurses that successfully pass their CCRN

   gardengal1 replied to cjuricek2621's topic in Critical Care

   Money. It is the driving force behind most all higher-level certifications. Of course, the recognition should come with it but, if others on their unit know that a raise came with this...

6. Succ vs Etomidate

   gardengal1 replied to maloneys's topic in MICU, SICU

   We use Etomidate exclusively for bedside procedures (reduction of dislocated joints). For intubation, we combine Succ with Etomidate pre-intubation as a 2 drug combo. For procedures, Etomidate is...

7. Vodka tampons?!?

   gardengal1 replied to Christy1019's topic in Emergency

   Regarding the post that kids now will snort anything: I recently had a teen ask me if he could get high from snorting Warfarin. I calmly told him "no - but you will bleed to death". Then came the...

8. Does your facility allow the floor/unit nurses write up other nurses?

   gardengal1 replied to DayDreamin ER CRNP's topic in Emergency

   People do this crap in our hospital all the time but fortunately, we never see them. At staff meetings, our boss will tell us we have had some write ups about ie: sending a pt for a MRI with a...

9. The problem with floating ER Nurses

   gardengal1 replied to crabalot's topic in Emergency

   We do NOT float, EVER. And, it is the rare occasion that you are allowed to go home ON CALL and must be within at 15 minute response time to get back there when **** hits the fan. I do not have...

10. ER computer programs

    gardengal1 posted a topic in Emergency

    Am searching for a computer charting program/system for the Emergency Department which you think is easy to use, is complete in it's content and doesn't require you to flip through dozens of screens...

11. What do you consider to be nursing's biggest setback?

    gardengal1 replied to almost30's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Not having the TIME to spend TIME with my patients due to all the other "stuff" we have to do in addition to the unsafe staffing

12. Triage at the bedside

    gardengal1 replied to MAISY, RN-ER's topic in Emergency

    We are now talking about bedside registration to see if it will work for us. I have read the posts from the past year and understand that communication is key. What about actual numbers of staff to...

13. Triage at the bedside

    gardengal1 replied to MAISY, RN-ER's topic in Emergency

    We are smaller hospital, 19 beds, 28,000 ER visits/year. We have 2 ER techs (most are nursing students or paramedics) who get name/birthdate/presenting complaint and sit at a desk in the waiting room....

14. Supplies You Can't Live Without

    gardengal1 replied to felineRN's topic in Emergency

    Kelly clamp and ink pens - everything everyone else has mentioned is at my fingertips in every room. Computers in rooms have micromedix so don't need to leave room. BUT - have my own personal stash...

15. Door to ct time for strokes

    gardengal1 replied to nurse ninja's topic in Emergency

    We follow the same guidelines as mwboswell has