whichone'spink

So, will President Trump's executive order putting a hiring freeze on federal government jobs affect hiring for VA positions?

10 days might have been better, but we need more of this legislation in other states as well. Especially the states with more prescription drug abuse.

I make more than that as a RN, in the Upper Midwest.

I have a Santa hat, and will buy some Christmas socks to wear either on the 24th or 25th. I've got to ask my supervisor to bring out the unit Christmas decorations so I can work on it this weekend.

I'm kind of expecting more blatant racism, as a minority. Certain people feel emboldened by our new president-elect, and will now say and do things they didn't feel safe to carry out before. Expecting it from patients is one thing. What will surprise and sadden me is if colleagues start treating me badly, because they think they can get away with it. I don't think it will happen, but like I said, certain people are emboldened. I had a patient about 2 weeks ago who asked where I was from, which is not uncommon. I gave my boilerplate answer, and she said at the end "Good, at least you won't get deported". My white coworker remarked, out of her earshot, that was a bit rude. I basically told her I am expecting more of this nastiness, and to not be surprised. I think administration is also anticipating an increase in nastiness, from and towards patients. This week, the CEO of the organization I work for sent a system-wide email basically saying we continue to honor our commitment to our core values, diversity etc, and to take the concerns of our minority patients seriously.

He has a point. Just like there is a glut of RNs, there will be a glut of NPs which will depress wages and ruin the credibility of NPs. I think you should get a degree in something else, and then go for PA. If being an independent provider is what you want without sacrificing time and money for medical school, you can easily do that without going through nursing, working a crappy nursing job for a year or two after graduation and then getting crappy education and crappy clinical experience to become a NP.

I knew by 5 years old Santa wasn't real. My parents never confirmed nor denied his existence. I guess I worked it out by myself. By 8 years old, kids should know Santa is just a construct.

That is a different case altogether. If I saw them commit murder, then I would alert authorities. Anyone who admits to doing something while they are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is bound to create a legal sticky situation for me. What if their lawyer finds out I charted a note about the patient admitting to committing a crime, and that I went to the police afterwards. That's what that nurse did. They can argue their client was not in their right mind, and that I violated their privacy. Plus, I have taken care of plenty of people not in their right minds, most recently having worked in the PACU. People say stupid crap when they are under the influence of some mind-altering substance.

Well, for certain groups, it may not be a bad idea to consider getting out. Muslims, who may be forced to register like sex offenders. Gays and lesbians, who will definitely have their marriage licenses voided. Any public figure who has openly opposed Trump, I have the feeling he's going to make political prisoners out of them. We're in for some interesting times. And perhaps Canada will be too. Want to know what it's like to have a huge illegal immigration problem? I think you'll find out soon.

Recently in my city, it came out that a suspected murderer now on trial was seen in the ER I used to work in. The nurse that cared for him later reported to the police that the patient told her he killed someone. At the time it was also found he was high on drugs, although I don't know what drugs were found in his system. To me, anything a patient says under the influence of drugs or alcohol should not be reported to the police, because it will definitely be used against them in court. I don't know if HIPAA will cover my ass, or what hospital policy is regarding this matter. But if a patient is under the influence of some mind altering substance and says they committed a crime, it's my own personal policy that I won't say anything or make a note in the chart. Now if I find out if a patient I have is on the most wanted list, I really don't know what I'd do. Depends on my mood I guess. If the patient treats me and others like dirt, I might be angry enough to search the most wanted list. But I've not done that, even though I've had plenty of obnoxious patients. It's never occurred to me to deliberately look at the most wanted list.

As far as insurance, there might be some changes to the ACA. I do hope some things are kept, such as letting young adults stay on their parents' insurance until 26, disallowing denial of insurance for those with pre-existing conditions, and federal dollars for Medicaid expansion. For reimbursement by CMS, I don't think that will change so much. Value-based purchasing is the new thing, and I don't think it will go away. I am curious how gutting the ACA will affect our employment. Will census go down? Will there by massive layoffs? I really feel for those who barely had insurance for 3 years and now they will lose it again.

At least he's still in touch with people in the heartland, like the people in his home town of Flint. The Democratic party was sorely out of touch, and all of us, including the people who voted for him, will pay for it. Might as well stick a fork in America, he can't reverse the damage done starting in the 1980s with offshoring.

I don't think there will be a re-take in 4 years. All the things conspiracy theorists accused Obama of wanting to do, such as implementing martial law and cancelling the election in 2012 and this year, will be carried out by their man. I am afraid many people will end up fleeing north of the border with nothing but the clothes on their backs, if they're not placed in FEMA camps. Dear God, I wish I had applied for a work permit in 2011, when my mother encouraged me to do so. Canada will not want to take in an influx of Americans. They'll treat us like we treat Mexicans and Central Americans who cross the border.

Speaking of ovarian torsion, this week I learnt even 7 year old girls can have ovarian torsion. It didn't take long to un-twist it though. But this poor girl will have to worry about this for the rest of her life. Every period she will have to think about if she's just having cramps or if her ovaries are twisted again.

Eek! How does one let it go that far? I hate nursing and wish I could do something else, but this is all I have to earn so I pay the renewal fee. I did let my CO license expire, and only recently renewed it. I also started the application process for my TX license, but did not complete it. But the license I primarily work under is one I keep up with without fail. How can you not?