CHIRN

Heartman, The vision of that was hilarious. Thanks for the best laugh I've had all week!!!

Well, a couple of days ago some family members asked me why their mother wasn't responding as well as she had earlier (I had given her some Morphine for pain)...I replied...."Well...she's very sleazy...um...sleepy". Luckily, they didn't catch it, but my fellow nurses did....haven't heard the last of it yet.:rotfl:

When I worked at the local Vetarans' Hospital (back when Viagra first came out), I noticed that a great deal of the in-patients were receiving Viagra. On a unit one day...checking on a study paitent (was in research at the time)...I asked a nurse why I was seeing all of these prescriptions now. She looked me straight in the eye and with a most serious expression replied ..." It's to keep the patients from falling out of bed."

When I worked at the local Vetarans' Hospital (back when Viagra first came out), I noticed that a great deal of the in-patients were receiving Viagra. On a unit one day...checking on a study paitent (was in research at the time)...I asked a nurse why I was seeing all of these prescriptions now. She looked me straight in the eye and with a most serious expression replied ..." It's to keep the patients from falling out of bed."

I was in neurolgy research for about 3 years...we did acute stroke studies. I got tons of respect and was treated as an absolute equal. Then I decided to change the world and become a critical care nurse....wow what a different view. I don't see myself leaving, however. For all the "crap" I endure, it still makes my day to see someone leave that unit alive. BTW, no insults to research nurses intended. We all play our own parts. Kudos to you guys. As for me, what do the teenie-boppers say these days?.... "Bring it on!!!" :angryfire :rotfl:

I feel for you. I've been at this for two years also (ICU). I'm not having any problems with scheduling, but my stress level is through the roof. Without violating specific HIPPA regulations, I can only say that I have witnessed one of the most horrible incidences of patient abuse by a doctor. The sad thing is, I charted the incident, informed the patient of her rights to file disciplinary action...and was reprimanded for my actions. There was a "suggestion" that I change my charting (to cover the doc's behind), and I flatly refused. I am and will remain foremost a patient advocate. If that costs me my license in the future then so be it. At least I did what was right. I think my current state of depression stems from being an idealist in a place where egos and god wanna-bes thrive. (Guess I picked the wrong profession, huh?) Oh well...venting helps... I hope you stick with it. You've worked hard for what you've achieved. Don't let uninformed (I'm being nice with that word) people keep you down.

Often, when a family decides to remove a patient from the ventilator and all other life sustaining medications we have morphine standing by ready to push. Most families that want to be in room when their loved ones die have great difficulty with the agonal breathing that occurs right before death. Most doctors order this pushed to spare the family. I have ethical questions about this practice but I have never refused to push the morphine. If this is active euthanasia then I suppose I am guilty. However, I will continue to help those in need (patient and family) ease the burden of dying.

My apologies for the spacing error. I'm still rather green at this and had no idea this would go beyond the margins.

I often read Billy Graham's column and thought today's was particulary pertinent to our profession. I'm just curious as to your own personal thoughts and feelings on the matter. (Please, no screaming at one another...this is not a debate.) Dear Dr. Graham, I'd like to be a Christian, but I have a hard time believing that Jesus rose from the dead. You see, I'm an intensive care nurse, and I know that once a person dies, that's the end. Maybe you can help me get past these doubts. -- Mrs. K.W. Dear Mrs. K.W.: The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the most important event in all history -- and yes, incredible as it may seem, it really did happen. In fact, it might interest you to know that one of the Gospels was written by a medical doctor (Luke). Like you, he knew that death is final and irreversible -- and yet he also gave us one of the most extensive accounts of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Why? Because he had thoroughly investigated the evidence for Jesus' resurrection for himself and he knew only one conclusion was possible: Jesus had come back from the dead. Why is the resurrection important? Why did God raise Jesus from the dead? One reason was to prove that Jesus was who He said He was: the divine Son of God, sent from heaven to save us from our sins. The Bible says that He "was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:4). The resurrection sets Jesus apart from every other person who has ever lived. But the resurrection points to an even greater truth: Death has now been conquered! The grave is not the end, but heaven's doors are now open! Jesus is alive, and He wants to come into your life today. Why not discover this great truth for yourself by turning to Christ today? Edited to remove the dead link that stretched things past the edge of the screen - hope it makes it easier to read :)! - Ratched

Retrain...I meanst restrain...although the other would be helpful too.

Oh, we retrain ALL of our intubated patients. But they never seem to amaze me how they can contort their bodies to just the right position where that tube is in reach. Either that, or they simply cough and cough until...whammo...out ya go!!!!

In general, a great majority of our patients like to extubate themselves. :) We just go with the flow.....

Thanks so much for the input...I really hadn't considered PACU...but it's definitely worth considering. carcha, yes I've considered this. I thought I might "scrub in" on some of my days off just to get a feel for it. Thanks for your reply.

After a really bad day yesterday, I am considering going the O.R. route. I'm an I.C.U. nurse and love most of my job. I'm also afraid I'll lose my skills if I go to O.R....but I keep receiving tempting offers from physicians asking me to work for them. I'm thinking....more respect...less dealing with deranged patients and family (yesterday I was cursed in every way possible by a very SANE patient because I would not allow her to use the phone to call her doctor, two doctors had an argument by using me as their mediator (GROW UP...OR TAKE IT THE H*LL OUTSIDE!!). I also lost my temper with the unit coordinator...she told me where to put my lab vials...I told her where to put them... Anyway, what do you O.R. nurses think? Do you think you've lost your critical care skills as a result of working in O.R.? Any info would be greatly appreciated. The only O.R. experience I have is from my nursing school rotation...which was very interesting. Thanks.

O.K. I know I'm a "professional", but one day last week I just completely lost it...whatever "it" is. In a not particularlly "disgusting" as much as it was funny incident...I found myself excusing myself to the breakroom so I could get myself under control. We had this very young woman...mid 40's...who was suffering from AIDS related encephalopathy. She had a long list of sexually related diseases...no laughing matter. But being in the post-hypoxic state she was in, she communicated by yelling at the top of her lungs to each nurse that entered her room. One of our male nurses happened to be taking care of her that night. As he entered, she immediately screamed "I wanna feel it!!! Give it to me!!!". As she kept yelling this for about 10 minutes, the male nurse kindly told her he didn't "have it". About that same time, the little old guy with Alzheimers in the next room (this is an ICU) piped up very loudly..."Hello...I'm over here!!!". Needless to say, our "professionalism" took a turn for the worse at that moment. I guess you had to be there.