medicrn13

Our visiting hours aren't technically open, but they're technically not not open either...get it? On paper our hours are from 11am - 2pm and from 4pm to 8:30pm, but we aren't very strict on when people come in and when they don't. We usually take it ...

We have the "3 way's" at work and usually if someone is short on space we will attach those and hook an infusion up to each clave. Have seen it where people have hooked up pressors to the Y port on their IV lines, makes no sense to me, so I'll go in ...

Where I lwork LPNs are being "phased out". Not to say that they're firing the LPNs that work here, they just aren't hiring anymore. I guess it depends on what you want to do with your degree. Do you want to do hospital work? Work in a clinic? Do you...

Your learning does not end with orientation. Just because orientation has ended, does not mean that your education ends. Always attempt to learn and see new things. If a person comes into your unit with an illness/device/surgery you've never seen, t...

My first instinct about this position, even with the way the economy is going, would have been to leave. They set you up for failure there, fortunately for you you thrived. I'm moving to the ICU in August and I will have a 3 MONTH orientation progra...

To the poster who was complaining about not making enough money when having poop thrown at her from a Hep B/HIV infected patient... Try making $12/hr as a Paramedic for 3 1/2 years. Try working in cramped conditions with little to no resources, livin...

I find that if you simply view them as a person, and not someone who holds something over you (which by the way, doctors hold nothing over you, they are not your boss nor are they to be feared...) reporting to them becomes much easier. Remember, we a...

I empathize with the OP. I'm making the jump from telemetry/Med-Surg to the ICU in August. I've wanted to do ICU since I was in nursing school and did a rotation in the ICU. A position on nights came up and even though I love the floor where I work, ...

I had many problems with field intubation, poor view etc. Then I started placing a rolled towel or a pillow underneath my patient's shoulders, view improved dramatically and I've had no problem since.

Like Eric, I too have some experience in the EMS field. It was always impressed upon me that these patients could be experiencing other medical problems, vis a vis DKA/Stroke/hypoglycemia...etc etc.... The situation gets muddled even further when the...

I hate floating. That being said, it's an occurence that happens all too often and will most likely occur depending on your facility' staffing levels. THAT being said...I do believe that it's dangerous to float nurses to areas where they have no clin...

A heart monitor should never be a substitute for an actual physical pulse rate for all of the reasons mentioned above. Electrical activity does not necessarily equate to mechanical activity.

Ok....are you talking about mixing Lovenox with another drug in order to give it? Was the person you talked to a pharmacist? What is the other shot you're giving? Personally, I wouldn't do it, but that's just me. If you feel comfortable doing it an...

He is still here, alive and kickin. A very nice gentleman and a very good 90+ year old.

Had an issue similar to this the other night. Had a patient come in, 91 years old. The doctor approached his daughter, his HCP, about signing a DNR order for him. The daughter agreed, the paperwork was filled out, but when we went to place a DNR bra...

I meant in regards to his abdomen, what was the diagnosis of his abdominal pain.

The next time you notice them text messaging during your presentation, call them on it. It's rude and unprofessional and they should, as someone else stated, know better. These are the type of people who know everything, just ask them, and feel they ...

Was it a regular, formed bowel movement? Was it diarrhea? Color? Any frank blood noted? How bad was the pain? Why didn't you assess the abdomen when he began complaining of abdominal pain? Any change in patient condition requires further assessment...

More pay. More autonomy. Co-workers that are the bomb. "Oh, you guys must not do alot because the patient's just sleep..." Ha...what a joke, I've had more codes since coming to nights than I ever did when I worked days/eves. I get to actually KNOW t...

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/lactic-acid Some information on lactic acid. Also if her white count decreased that much without the use of anti-microbials, that may have lead them to believe that it was a stress reaction as well. She doesn't rea...

Not uncommon for a pt in severe heart failure to not produce alot of urine, even with the use of lasix. I'm interested to know what the Ejection Fraction of the patient was. Agree, maybe Dobutamine, Milrinone or Natrecor for a little inotropic backu...

Sometimes doing nothing, and gathering more support/research/money, is better than doing something.

Complete bollocks. If you do get to a place that's understaffed and/or has coworkers who won't help you...RUN...FAST...IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION! That place is definitely not somewhere you want to start out as a nurse, sure you may learn independence...

Love: my co-workers and patients who actually appreciate all we do for them. Hate: Incompetence.

hmm...