KatieMI BSN, MSN, RN

ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine

Member

All Content by KatieMI

  1. KatieMI

    Going back to school for Masters

    KatieMI replied to Joymartin69's topic in Post Graduate Students

    You need to decide what you want to do first, and then shop for programs. Get friendly with as many Masters' prepared nurses as you can, in all specialties, and ask them, maybe take a day shadowing....
  2. KatieMI

    I am not proud of my track record.

    KatieMI replied to STARL's topic in General Nursing

    Wanna work with a CNA who charts turns and toiletings but doesn't really do them? For all means, go ahead and good luck with
  3. KatieMI

    Are nurses allowed to turn in wanted criminals?

    KatieMI replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    HIPAA does not cover situations when there is real or perceived threat for human life and safety, patient's or others. So, by the law, yes, you can and probably should do it, just like with suspected...
  4. KatieMI

    I am not proud of my track record.

    KatieMI replied to STARL's topic in General Nursing

    OP, your problem is not that you are "bad nurse". Your problem is that you are a bad worker in general. Only one difference is that in any other occupation you have much better chance to get away with...
  5. KatieMI

    Regret becoming a nurse....

    KatieMI replied to cocoa_puff's topic in General Nursing

    Cocoa puffs, re. meds: what prevents you to: 1) learn about them, so you know which have to be left in a fridge and which has to be locked up, 2) get friendly with pharm folks so that they would...
  6. KatieMI

    Regret becoming a nurse....

    KatieMI replied to cocoa_puff's topic in General Nursing

    ((Hugs))... now, let's start thinking, nice and cold. 1. it is true that, till you actually step in there all alone, you don't know where you're getting into. OK, that's the fact. 2. on the other...
  7. KatieMI

    Crossed the line with a flirty family member. How to deal with ethical issues?

    KatieMI replied to Scuba_NurseBSN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    "I am sorry, I hope you wouldn't mind if I will not discuss it" - first time. "I do not want to speak about my personal life. Do you have any questions about (whatever is going on with the...
  8. KatieMI

    High BP but Low HR... Which med will you give/hold?

    KatieMI replied to gelman's topic in Patient Medications

    Theoretically, it must be opposite. Coreg is b-blocker, causes brady, so it should be hold. Cardizem is CCB and at least doesn't cause brady, although it is less "tachycardic" than hydralazine. And I...
  9. KatieMI

    MIMS:"hydromorphone causes fatality"

    KatieMI replied to Joybryant's topic in Patient Medications

    MIMS is Great Britain Commonwealth analogue of UptoDate, utilizing primarily European - sourced research. I deal with the issue pretty much every single day, and found that 95% of lay people are not...
  10. KatieMI

    Colleagues who hate patients

    KatieMI replied to Emergent's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Well, honestly saying, nursing as a profession offers quite a level of exposure to some of the worst samples of humankind. And, also honestly, some of these samples tend to get concentrated in certain...
  11. KatieMI

    Pain medicine to drug addict?

    KatieMI replied to MrBlueSky's topic in Patient Medications

    Actually, they do. They change toward INCREASED requirements for opioids for adequate pain control, that is. She has lower baseline level of endorphins, orexins and such other substances in her brain,...
  12. KatieMI

    I'm tired.

    KatieMI replied to raiisfun's topic in General Nursing

    I stopped "accent on my patient's care" about a year ago. First, because sometimes it really affects the said care - mostly in negative way. Second, because if I did not say it, probably nobody will,...
  13. KatieMI

    advice from nurses- patient unfair to tech

    KatieMI replied to loovecorinth134's topic in General Nursing

    Well, it so happened that she thus served the "customer" with the perfect means to be involved in federal level lawsuit and found to be guilty of felony. One may feel free to yell on a nurse, but it...
  14. KatieMI

    Needing tips on saving my feet!

    KatieMI replied to Eeramsey's topic in General Nursing

    I have very positive experience with The Walking Company shoes, insoles and sleeves. Can't say it's cheap, but it definitely works for me. Just do not do it online and be prepared to spend a good hour...
  15. KatieMI

    advice from nurses- patient unfair to tech

    KatieMI replied to loovecorinth134's topic in General Nursing

    You work in one hospital for 5 years and this is the first jerk you'd encountered so far? Consider yourself exceptionally lucky then. I guess it sounds like to win a million-dollars lottery ticket in...
  16. KatieMI

    Potential DVT/PE?

    KatieMI replied to cdblackburn14's topic in General Nursing

    ACEIs? GERD? Obese? Chronic synusitis? (yes, it can cause sensation of SOB and cough... with everything else negative. Especially with polyps). Is he a smoker? (and, if so, of what?) What he is doing...
  17. KatieMI

    health needs by immigrants & refugees

    KatieMI replied to gk2217's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    As an immigrant, I can give you a few tips: - orientation in the system. Once one steps off the plane, there is no guidance, and medical system in the USA is VERY different from anything else anywhere...
  18. KatieMI

    How to make yourself "indispensable"? And a question about nursing education?

    KatieMI replied to Cats&Tea&Climbing's topic in General Nursing

    Being bilingual only pays if you work in the right place like a large Metro area. Otherwise, it is either useless or (if one speaks with an accent) provides fertile ground for rasists and abusers to...
  19. KatieMI

    Nurse practitioner vs Medicine turf war?

    KatieMI replied to Infofreak411's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    In fact, there is a turf war. It is going on systemic level, and physicians are losing it on primary care level. Otherwise, there wouldn't be hysterical articles about "settling up for a nurse" which...
  20. KatieMI

    Painful IM

    KatieMI replied to SammyCT's topic in General Nursing

    Seconding with Sour Lemon. No ethanol, 90 degrees to the skin, QUICK IN, QUICK OUT. And, if not standing, then sitting is better. P.S. smaller needle makes absolutely no difference in term of where...
  21. KatieMI

    Fired, no proof or investigation. Please help

    KatieMI replied to Fnj9977's topic in General Nursing

    The thing is, services of personal injury lawyer in such a case will run in low six-numbers, with little to no chance to win back anything but self-satisfaction. There can be somewhat better chance to...
  22. KatieMI

    Frequent Flyers in Healthcare Settings - Let's share!

    KatieMI replied to CaffeinePOQ4HPRN's topic in General Nursing

    LOL with preterminal CHF from LTC. Admitted every M, W, F between 8 and 10 PM with fluid overload, went to observation, d/c next AM, repeat. After something like 100+ admissions, I decided to figure...
  23. KatieMI

    nurse call response times in Ontario hospitals

    KatieMI replied to fizzydrinks's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Everything that I would like to say is may the Lord have mercy on whoever tries to be the OP's father PDN. OP's situation is definitely very difficult as he and family now having sharply declining...
  24. KatieMI

    Fired, no proof or investigation. Please help

    KatieMI replied to Fnj9977's topic in General Nursing

    Nurses, doctors and teachers should never be malicious as well. But you know what... at least some of them just are. P.S. I absolutely believe in story if it happened in one of these...
  25. KatieMI

    nurse call response times in Ontario hospitals

    KatieMI replied to fizzydrinks's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Dear Mr. Fizzydrinks, while I am deeply and with all my heart sorry for the situation your family found itself in, I can predict that this one, as any other encounter with pretty much any medical (as...