Vespertinas

I think we need some clarification here and I've found that an internet search produces mixed/unreliable results. I'm talking about how we do lab notations. I've seen what I thought were basic lab skeletons done in ways that I thought was all wrong o...

I wanted to get my cardiovascular RN certification. I started studying the topics and when I went to the website to do a bunch of test questions, I did great. Then I realized I needed to get my 30 hours of CEUs to sit for the exam. Since my hospital ...

I have used PowerChart, Epic, Citrix, TDS and Meditech... and paper charting of course. Of these, Meditech is THE WORST! (actually TDS was but thankfully the facility quickly changed over to EPIC after I arrived) The facility I am in is still using M...

Ixchel, your understanding of my assignment and responsibilities is inaccurate. Your answers have been not only not helpful but condescending. Whether this was my fault for not conveying the problem clearly or yours for reading too far into it is bes...

I'm working on an interdisciplinary case challenge being given by the IOM. We're trying to find a comprehensive solution to support the mental health of aging veterans. Our approach will start in the ED but I have 2 questions that I need your help wi...

The case challenge is fictitious and we've been given less than two weeks to present a budget, timeline, short and long term solutions, identify stakeholders, read 81 pages of background data, identify community resources, and do our own fact-based r...

A few hospitals I've worked at have started to implement bedside shift report. I dislike it. There is information that I don't feel comfortable sharing in front of the patient because 1) it may make them unnecessarily concerned 2) it may insult them ...

I hope it changes yours too. Girl with autism expresses profound intelligence

Cmon, what's some of the good stuff? I had a patient who spoke only Russian and finally when I was assigned to him, I think I might have been the first person who understood him (I speak Russian). Turns out he'd been hallucinating for God knows how l...

Can I or can't I positively identify T-waves in afib? Sometimes I think I can see them and want to measure but then it could always be a P-wave, right? Should I not even bother once I recognize the rhythm is afib?

Right. I agree with both of you. Ohiobobcat you made me think that if I can measure a consistent QT interval, then it's likely a T wave. I think my problem was stemming from a patient who was in afib/flutter so the whole thing was unclear as waves ke...

Based on what you said, it sounds like I should measure the T-wave if I suspect that's what it is. But it's entirely possible that I won't find T-waves in which case it's okay to say it's unmeasurable. Yes?

1st year of nursing moment: Agreed to take on an extra 4 hours after my 12 hour shift. Of course someone codes at hour 15. I'm hypoglycemic and full of adrenaline, pumping this patient so hard. When it's time to transfer him to ICU, I offer to grab t...

Win Miss State for the Miss America pageant while in nursing school. Use "I want to be a nurse" as your platform. Quit nursing school immediately after.

Mechanical hiccups

Nah. I've had trouble getting treatment for autonomous patients with MR. No lorazepam for that. It's so sad seeing them walk out AMA knowing the trouble they'll have ahead.

...used during shift report. High five = HIV I'll even go as far as to say indigent is code for homeless because it's a euphemism passerby might not pick up on What others?

LOL "The power of Christ compels you!" with your stethoscope on her forehead

Remember, you said "a lot of psych issues" You'll hate me for preaching but please try to still be compassionate to people like this. They're not trying to make life difficult for you and ultimately, they're making life even more difficult for themse...

My first emergency.... a renal transplant patient who experienced a transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) which is basically an immune-mediated flash pulmonary edema. Uh yeah I totally panicked. I mean within a few minutes she went from talki...

Love this story but I wanna ask are you sure it was actually asystole? (sorry to ruin it with nitpicking)

Having a bad attitude about management and pulling off the two-faced routine must be exhausting too. I don't even see how this relates to the original topic but I love tangents!

NurseDirtyBird, lets make us triplets. My husband and I practically divorced because he doesn't believe I'm a compassionate person. I wasn't... to him. He was too needy. I'm learning to transfer my work personality to my regular life. It's amazing h...

This is true. I wanted to make this point but for a potassium of 2, it is recommended to supplement with BOTH PO and IV