gardengal1

gardengal1 ASN, RN

ED only

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All Content by gardengal1

  1. What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

    gardengal1 replied to JUSTYSMOM's topic in Emergency

    We had a 63 year old male come to our ER a couple of days ago, complaining that his eyebrows hurt. After extensive testing because we didn't want to miss anything due to his age, he left with a...

  2. help i am trying to find an er job!

    gardengal1 replied to Hermitess's topic in Emergency

    Give yourself 6 more months where you are and then start applying for ER positions nationwide. Two years is the usual criteria of previous experience before you can apply for an ER position. In 6...

  3. First Nursing job, and I drowned!

    gardengal1 replied to galenanurse's topic in First Year After Licensure

    You will look back on this after some time has passed and you will be very, very glad you were fired. It doesn't seem like this right now but there may be something much better waiting in the wings...

  4. paramedics in the ER

    gardengal1 replied to blufoxtrot's topic in Emergency

    We have one paramedic in our ER per each 12 hour shift. Because we are a rural area and many ambulance services have no staff with advanced skills, our paramedic has a SUV fully equipped and goes and...

  5. What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

    gardengal1 replied to JUSTYSMOM's topic in Emergency

    I had one yesterday come to the ER by ambulance from local nursing home with swollen bridge of nose. Someone had put the C-PAP on too tightly the night before. And, they had to go back by ambulance...

  6. I've been bullied all my life, and it continues...

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

    Most all the advice given is appropriate. And, you need to realize that when you go in to a unit where the nurses have been there forever, it is their territory and they are VERY territorial. They...

  7. You might be a trauma nurse if...............

    gardengal1 replied to T14WFLY's topic in Emergency

    You can use almost every supply in the trauma room you have available and the paper containers are all over the floor within the first 5 minutes that your trauma patient

  8. You might be a trauma nurse if...............

    gardengal1 replied to T14WFLY's topic in Emergency

    We take bets on blood alcohols - nickle to whoever gets the closest when the lab report comes out. I ALWAYS win - must have a good

  9. Vasovagal syncope with seizure like activity

    gardengal1 replied to Guest219794's topic in Emergency

    We hear this all the time - 16 year old female at school, brought by ambulance after having a seizure followed by period of unconsciousness and then awakens shortly without any confusion, etc. Most...

  10. Sounding board wanted! Please, need new perspective

    gardengal1 replied to blueeagle11's topic in Emergency

    Use your new job to start with a clean slate. Be excited (I can tell that you already are). Show them what a good nurse you can be - even when times get rough - and they will. You have a whole new...

  11. Gastric Lavage - What size tube?

    gardengal1 replied to JessicaSN's topic in Emergency

    We use the standard lavage kit which comes with a 32 F OG tube. We used to do this a lot but now, with it falling out of favor, I have done this once in the past 4 years. BUT, the charcoal goes down...

  12. Compulsively going to the doctor for the 20th time..

    gardengal1 replied to nurse441's topic in General Nursing

    itsmejuli is correct. We have no control over the number of visits these people have in an ER nor their complaints so, it is a waste of your time and energy to even think about this. Just provide the...

  13. RE: How much heart Break? Does it still hurt?

    gardengal1 replied to MMayo's topic in General Nursing

    I have been in an ER for 24 years and it is a rare occasion that I show emotion. Certain patients or life stories gets to you and tears are shed but that in no way means I don't care. Younger nurses...

  14. Good Press Ganey for ER. Possible??

    gardengal1 replied to 5n2_is4u's topic in Emergency

    Are you kidding? There are very few people who give good reviews to the ER. The waits are too long, the admission process is too long, it took the physician too long to come back in and talk with...

  15. Things you would like the ICU to understand

    gardengal1 replied to I_LOVE_TRAUMA's topic in Emergency

    And, sometimes they pee and their bed is all wet and I just changed their wet depends not even 30 minutes ago! I do not intentionally bring a wet patient up to

  16. POC Testing in the ED

    gardengal1 replied to brysmit's topic in Emergency

    We run POC on urine pregnancy, hemoccult, urine dip and rapid strep screens. Orders are placed by secretary so they can be charged. We fill out a carbon copy form with the results, original goes on...

  17. Good Press Ganey for ER. Possible??

    gardengal1 replied to 5n2_is4u's topic in Emergency

    Let's get realistic here and, how many patients do you see in 24 hours? We have instituted every single measure you have mentioned over 2 years ago. Have shaved times off turn-around for labs and...

  18. Rules for the ER (long)

    gardengal1 replied to EDValerieRN's topic in Emergency

    21. You have called an ambulance because you "don't feel well" and will meet them in the lobby of your assisted living - DO NOT tell me you have to go to the bathroom the minute you get into the

  19. RN to patient ratios in the ED

    gardengal1 replied to biker momma's topic in Emergency

    Rural, Level III, 13 bed ER plus 5 Fast Track beds that open at 5 pm weekdays, noon weekends. We use fast track beds during the day so 18 rooms available to us total. 3 RN's, one triage RN, one ER...

  20. Can RNs really make this much?

    gardengal1 replied to MiahMSN's topic in General Nursing

    Blackheartednurse: I too worked in Iowa and Wisconsin. Moved from Iowa at $18/hr to Wisconsin at $24/hr base, moved back to Iowa 10 years later and started at $18.75/hr in a CCU, moved back to...

  21. Working with EMTs vs CNAs/techs

    gardengal1 replied to RoyalNurse's topic in Emergency

    We have the same situation in our ER. I know that a lot of ER tasks are grunt work but everyone shares the wealth. And I know that these tasks are not as "exciting" as what goes on in the field....

  22. Been at it for 6 months, when does it get better???????????

    gardengal1 replied to motivated2nurse's topic in Emergency

    Two months on your own is not nearly long enough for you to be comfortable. Give it a year and talk with all of us again. At the end of 2 years, you will be fighting off the other staff for the most...

  23. I am sad, I am numb, am I burned out?

    gardengal1 posted a topic in General Nursing

    I am an ER nurse, older, 24 years ER experience. Today, one of our co-workers killed himself. Shift was horrible, we knew something was going on - fleeting sight of tears, disappearing staff members...

  24. I am sad, I am numb, am I burned out?

    gardengal1 replied to gardengal1's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you all. This comes on top of short staffing, increased pt flow (3 nurses each 12 hour shift seeing 100 patients/24 hours), increased acuity of these patients, new manager, new rules, increased...

  25. I am sad, I am numb, am I burned out?

    gardengal1 replied to gardengal1's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks for your replies. It is comforting to know that my one voice in this massive cyber wilderness has been