phyrenrain

Some facilities use the 80 hrs/2 wks rule and others go weekly. You need to look up your facility's policy and procedure on this. The q 2 wk thing is ridiculous!

When we have pts. w/dry, scaly, cracked skin, the docs will order Eucerin, and sometimes a mixture of Eucerin and Vaseline. I don't like the vaseline part of it simply because it's a petroleum based product. I see huge improvement w/BID use on pts.:wink2:

Agreed, Kevin. If their was a true identity crisis and this person wanted to transgender, you would think there would be no waffling with dress....

Can I answer that one???? USMC, I think you and I both know that any variation from the commonly accepted sexuality carries with it a HUGE stigma of those people being highly sexual by nature. In actuality, it's not the case at all......

Does ANY pt. feel "comfortable" with ANY healthcare professional caring for their "private areas???????" :angryfire PUH-LEEEAAASE! You, Nursecathy, are not being objective. As far as the treatment this person will receive from other staff, don't you think the student has considered this and probably already been dealing with it in other settings????? To borrow John Stossel's coined phrase, "GIMME A BREAK!"

Nursecathy, I don't know what area of the country you live in and really it shouldn't matter. "Misrepresents their sex?????":uhoh21: I couldn't disagree with you more. It's comparative to saying someone can't be a good nurse because of their sexual preference! WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. As long as this person can maintain a professional relationship with pts., demonstrates good clinical skills, etc. YOUR personal opinion on their sexuality shouldn't interfere. Looks a little like discrimination. If, however, this person is inappropriate in a clinical setting, that's different. That doesn't seem to be the issue with you.

As nurses, the saying about the customer always being right does not always hold water. Sounds to me like "nurse abuse." If the pt. had a family member and their own cigarettes, then it may be a different story if she was going out in a WC. Another story of lack of support from the "higher ups...."

I don't know what city/state you're in, but there's a store called the "Good Feet Store." Their products are a Godsend. I have invested (and I do mean invested, the products aren't cheap, but well-worth the cost) in a pair of arch supports that I wouldn't take anything for. Try looking them up online. They're a huge help no matter what shift you work. Also try bringing a second pair of shoes to trade out in the middle of the shift. Hope this helps.

In the consent signed preop by the pt., it specifies that our facility is not responsible for lost items such as dentures and hearing aids. Nope, not nursing's responsibility, we have enough to be liable for, don't you think???

Why a "big no no??" Just in case the pt passes out??? Just curious?

We, as nurses, do a lot of things not in our "job description..." I agree with the general consensus, if the trash is full, I take it out. It's just the right thing to do. None of us on our floor have it as a mandated duty, we just do it.....

Sadie, had a dangerous experience a long time ago when I gave a BP med to someone who was already hypotensive and I didn't know it:imbar . Since then I ALWAYS check pressures before giving BP meds.

Good for you NURSEKATYDID!! I'm an LVN and I can't stand to see nurses abuse the CNA's and techs! Glad to see you stand up for yourself. It's a different story if nurses are actually busy doing pt. care, but.....

I work in a rehab unit, we do our own vitals. On nights, if there is an aid working, the PP floor or med/surg floor will pull that aid to do vitals or I/O's even when they are very well-staffed and sitting on their rumps....Pretty pathetic, huh??????????

We have a "grid." Not many are happy with it, and it's not always followed. More often than not the already-strapped staffing grid is reduced....

I don't know about "way of the future," but our facility has recently changed from "faith based" to "for profit." Needless to say, we are seeing the same thing: med/surg pts. on the PP floor--anything to fill the beds:angryfire . I am not a PP nurse, but the stress can be felt all the way through the facility. Yes, we have training in other areas, but when your experience is in one area and admin wants to fill the beds with pts from another "specialty".....Bottomline, it's YOUR license, if you don't feel comfortable, you have 2 choices, request more "orientation," or move on and protect the license you worked so very hard for.

Ask any nurse (what you're doing--good!) and they will tell you nursing school is probably one of the single most stressful events of their lives! Your anxiety and panic attacks are NOT indicators of not being cut out to be a nurse, rather, making it through by persisting is comparable to paying your dues to actually join the club! You do what you must to triumph in the end! Keep your chin up and keep plugging along. If taking a daily dose of Paxil is what helps you cope with the pressures of nursing school, then it's really a small price to pay to maintain your sanity in your high-anxiety period of your life. I've been on Paxil before, and I don't twitch or have seizures, or have any lasting side effects. Just make sure that you don't abruptly stop taking it. It's a med you must taper off rather than just d/c'ing it. Best of luck to you! Hang in there!!!:)

Being a good mom and a good nurse are both full time jobs. The worst thing you can do is to bring one to the other....When you leave your job, do just that. If you had a rotten day, don't take it out on your kids. The best thing to do is hide yourself in your room for 20 or 30 minutes to recenter your energy and not transfer your frustrations to your children. As anyone working two jobs, it is VITAL to find some time to get away from it all. Even if it's an overnight trip out of the city. Unwind, relax, let your hair down, and let the kids be kids. Don't know how much help this is, but it is "doable" to be good at both. Keep your priorties straight in understanding you have to take care of you first, otherwise, it can all go to pieces in a heartbeat. Good luck!:imbar

To elaborate more, I'm not referring to actual monetary gifts, just little things like candies, lotions, small tokens of appreciation. Her take on it is that we ALL work hard with these patients. I feel obligated to accept their tokens of appreciation so as not to offend the pt. In turn, I end up offending a fellow nurse. I don't know how I should decline without offending my pts??

I am very good friends with an RN that I once worked with. We have had a serious disagreement and I need input. Is it ethically compromising to accept a thank you gift from a pt. you've had in your care for weeks on end? Or should a gift only be accepted when it's for the entire staff???:uhoh21: