BluegrassRN

I'm taking a research class, and as a final project we need to develop a research study. I have pretty much everything I need: question, sample, environment, review of lit, all of that. What I don't have is a theory to use as the "framework" for m...

Depends on a lot of factors. In an opioid tolerant pt whose baseline is the scheduled oxy, who is in with something that increases pain, yes I would consider giving them together. It would depend on her current status, her history, her disease proc...

Just say "No need to apologize. It's our job to help you when you're ill, and we're happy to do it." Be matter of fact and cheerful without being creepy. Move on to next topic; you can get an entire assessment completed when dealing with a code br...

Lighten up, it was a joke. It was funny.

In general, don't leave meds at the bedside. There are exceptions to this rule, of course. In our hospital, you can get a physician's order that the med can be left at bedside. We do this primarily with cough lozenges, inserts for nicotine inhaler...

I have investigated discrepancies in my former position. Let me tell you, not wasting immediately but rather after the fact is a big red flag.

That could mean up to an hour or more wait for the pt in my facility. The pt needs 4mg of morphing, which comes in 1' 2' and 5 mg doses in our pyxsis. So I would have to send a request to the pharmacy, they would have to draw it up, then, since it ...

Standard at my facility is to take meds into the pt room, scan them, and as you're opening them, to tell the pt what they are: here's your doxycycine, that's the antibiotic for your infection, here's your coreg, to strengthen and regulate your heart...

I don't know if "insulted" would be the word I would use. If the $10 was at or below the cost of the printing and tshirt, then I don't think that's a bad deal. If the shirts came in colors and a fit I liked, I'd buy it. I would rather have the oppo...

Well, we're doing them, but they aren't anonymous...we have to put our name on them. At each yearly eval, the person being evaluated fills one out, gives two to other staff to fill out (one on day shift, one on nights) and the director gives one to ...

Are you looking for documentaries, educational resources, or fiction-yet-realistic movies? For educational, check youtube. For a documentary, I like "Young At Heart", which does not take place in a nursing home, but does center around a group of el...

1) Seek out a counselor who specializes in interpersonal skills. This can be hit or miss, you may have to try a couple of therapists before you hit the jackpot, but once you do, you'll learn so much. 2) Do you have a trusted friend or family membe...

We had a nurse the other day who seemed out of sorts that her admit had HIV. Everyone was a little incredulous that it was an issue for her, and there were several comments such as "This isn't the 80s, you don't need to be ignorant about taking care...

You will probably get some unfortunate responses, but for the most part, if your work environment isn't incredibly toxic, I think you'll find that most people won't be phased. Even here in the midwest, we are getting more and more transgender pts. ...

I am too young to have been a nurse back in the 80's, but have two stories from family with personal involvement. My great uncle died of the disease in a larger town in the Midwest,sometime in the 80's (I'm guessing earlier than later, because I don'...

Jeez, that was long! The "too long, didn't read" version is: Omega 3, multivit with C, and D3 supplements. Food, activity, and mood journal. Avoid processed foods. Avoid meat. Make own meals. Take meals to work. Tea, water, sparkling water. Dai...

I recently read "The Depression Cure" for a friend of mine (he was going through the classes and needed some support). It was a surprisingly reasonable and research based book, despite the title, and I have incorporated some of its recommendations i...

Musical taste is so individualized; whatever gets you energized or inspired is what you need. My workout playlist has everything from music from the 80s through the present, in 4 languages (only two of which I speak), everything from pop, rock, pun...

We don't do self scheduling, but our schedules and timeclock are in Kronos. I have never worked with any other software. I don't know how horrible or awesome it is. I feel like I wasn't well trained in it, so there were a few things I didn't underst...

I left the floor for a while for an administrative position. Went from walking 12k plus steps a day to barely clearing 3K. My stress level was through the roof. Went back to to the floor. Lost 5 pounds, have more energy, and am happier than I've...

Cotton balls come in a large container that is open for weeks/months. They are typically stored in smaller containers where they are exposed repeatedly to different hands and therefore germs. 2x2s are individually wrapped, and remain sterile until ...

First, I always make sure the pt is actually aware of the smoking policy. Second, I explain the reasons why they aren't allowed to smkoe, including the fact that we have a lot of critically ill respiratory pts for whom even a scant amount of second ...

The flip side of this is that, when you have a. Fellow coworker whose pt has coded, you should touch base with them and ask what you can do to help. If your charge doesn't take pts, they absolutely should be stepping in to take over some of your pt ...

We had this issue with our students, and a lot of us complained. There was no guidance as to what the students were capable of, expected to already be a proficient at, etc. Our ed department met wih the local nursing schools and now each clinical d...

Our hospital rarely worries about the color of the clear liquids. If I'm concerned about a bleed, I'll limit it myself, but if there isn't any concern for an active bleed, it shouldn't make any difference. I would have given the potassium.