KatieMI BSN, MSN, RN

ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine

Member

All Content by KatieMI

  1. KatieMI

    Would you suggest a different drug brand to a patient?

    KatieMI replied to MunoRN's topic in Patient Medications

    I would not RECOMMEND the generic drug (at least as an RN). But I most definitely WILL explain that, although there can be subtle individual differences in speed of adsorbtion (and therefore start of...
  2. KatieMI

    Accepting gifts from patients?

    KatieMI replied to matcha-cat's topic in General Nursing

    Where I am, small things like thank you cards, candy, homemade sweets, little Christmas ornaments, etc. are allowed. I got a book one time and had to go to management, but there was no problems. If...
  3. KatieMI

    duties of a radiation therapist? Pros and cons of becoming one?

    KatieMI replied to briannad's topic in General Nursing

    Just don't forget about cleaning up some traches, especially infected and eroded ones. Also, about sticking needles into someone for ABGs, oropharyngeal suction of patients with advanced periodontitis...
  4. KatieMI

    duties of a radiation therapist? Pros and cons of becoming one?

    KatieMI replied to briannad's topic in General Nursing

    From what I know: - working with cancer patients 90+%, many of them terminal - limited scope of practice - VERY limited knowledge, unless they did/do something else - limited employment (as that's...
  5. KatieMI

    How many hours did you work taking 7-8 credits?

    KatieMI replied to Skippy97's topic in General Nursing

    3.9 so far. Only because of one professor who declared that she just doesn't think that any Master's student can ever get "A" in her class (which was 100% pure fluff, BTW, and thus delivered final...
  6. KatieMI

    How many hours did you work taking 7-8 credits?

    KatieMI replied to Skippy97's topic in General Nursing

    With 11 to 14 graduate level credits/semester and 14 to 20+ clinical hours, 2 12-hour shifts/week most of the time. It can be done. But it
  7. KatieMI

    Poor Understanding of Vitals Amongst CNAs

    KatieMI replied to LJOHRrn's topic in Long Term Acute Care

    Same problem here. "Acute" LTACH with many unstable patients. Only one satisfactory solution I came to after almost 3 years there is to do it myself, because 1) I can educate CNAs till loss of my...
  8. KatieMI

    BSN straight to NP or gain work experience

    KatieMI replied to clint.parsch's topic in General Nursing

    Going through RN on the way to NP makes sense for those who never had any direct patient care experience and no health care experience in general. BTW, it is much better to go through BSN nowadays -...
  9. KatieMI

    Family Google expert, MD

    KatieMI replied to remotefuse's topic in General Nursing

    Level one: Wikipedia Community College grad: - heh... can you'guys just FIX'ED that? My mom's heart, I mean? Some pill or... that device that pushes it... somehow... like in that movie... Graves'...
  10. KatieMI

    Family Google expert, MD

    KatieMI replied to remotefuse's topic in General Nursing

    Level one: Wikipedia Community College grad: - heh... can you'guys just FIX'ED that? My mom's heart, I mean? Some pill or... that device that pushes it... somehow... like in that movie... Graves'...
  11. KatieMI

    If you could redo it....would you choose nursing?

    KatieMI replied to ICURNPA92's topic in General Nursing

    I would do it again, but I would be d***ed if there would be one single day of bedside. Would prefer $50000 in student debths and go directly to
  12. KatieMI

    Come On People, How Stupid Are You??

    KatieMI replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    The right answer on the question "can some people be REALLY THAT stupid?" is always "YES" BTW, IMHO, it is better to hold hydralazine for BP over parameter than to give it at the same time as...
  13. KatieMI

    Contacted multiple times for same empty shift

    KatieMI replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    I got such call for help yesterday and promptly told that I won't make it for that shift even if I wished to do so because my flight was some 6 hours later, over 2 time zones, plus 100+ miles drive...
  14. KatieMI

    Scheduling harassment

    KatieMI replied to NurseDisneyPrincess's topic in General Nursing

    If you stop responding and explaining, they will eventually get the message. Turn off the phone if calling is something that bothers you. It might help to make a legend about some time-consuming...
  15. KatieMI

    SNF

    KatieMI replied to Prunella12's topic in General Nursing

    I think that we need to get the elderly back to the place they occupied not so long ago. Keepers of traditions and wisdom. Backbones of families. Unquestionable support and loyalty. I am traveling...
  16. KatieMI

    NP refusing to write meds?

    KatieMI replied to nishali78's topic in General Nursing

    Prescriptions for meds, to be taken home or not, should be written by a provider who knows what he or she is doing, first and foremost. The nowadays universal reality of PCPs and FNPs writting scripts...
  17. KatieMI

    Confused about FNP and CAGS

    KatieMI replied to madlab97's topic in General Nursing

    CAGS = what was once named "postmaster certificate". Yes, a FNP who do this type of program can be considered whatever is written on the certificate. Women's Health, Peds, Acute, whatever. It is a...
  18. KatieMI

    Chores

    KatieMI replied to Junebug14's topic in General Nursing

    I do not mind getting trash out once in a while, especially, say, after unsuccessful code so that the things would be cleared up quicker and we would let the grieving family in. But if I would be told...
  19. KatieMI

    Does anyone else ever envy their patients?

    KatieMI replied to purplegal's topic in General Nursing

    Who in the world prohibits you from declaring yourself bed-bound for one day if that is what you just want? Send kids to grandma and dog to kennel and go
  20. KatieMI

    Haunted by my past...What are my options?

    KatieMI replied to MathewB's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    BTW, it is true that you may not list any degree that is not pertinent to nursing. Only one trouble is that your undergrad program will be contacted and they may be asked to report your GPA you came...
  21. KatieMI

    Haunted by my past...What are my options?

    KatieMI replied to MathewB's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    1). Find a university/program which will accept you as you are. AFAIK, they are most common among mid-range brick-and-mortar or for-profit online programs. One I know is Wayne State University,...
  22. KatieMI

    CVICU step down vs. LTACH

    KatieMI replied to Wedahayes's topic in General Nursing

    I would also go for CV step down. LTACHs ("acute", not rehab) usually have harsher enviroinment and sicker patients and require more experience to feel comfortable
  23. KatieMI

    What nursing task do you loathe???

    KatieMI replied to richardgecko's topic in General Nursing

    Being held as physicians' private secretary of a sort. "Tell Dr. X that I want this and that done, but before that call Dr. Y and ask him to schedule trache if he still wants it done; otherwise, call...
  24. KatieMI

    Contracted TB from my nonclinical job- now what?!

    KatieMI replied to bmryan06's topic in General Nursing

    1). It is not a "virus". It is a bacteria, a "bug", if you like. 2). Positive skin test means that your body and the Tb bug met each other. Nothing less, nothing more. It DOESN'T MEAN you got Tb...
  25. KatieMI

    Short staff=neglect?

    KatieMI replied to Cryssfriend's topic in Long Term Acute Care

    In any facility, including LTC, if things come to the level that you feel as not able to provide safe care for your patients, the best way is to tell the Powers that you've got life too and will work...