Stcroix ASN, RN

Stcroix has 6 years experience as a ASN, RN and specializes in cardiac-telemetry, hospice, ICU.

Stcroix's Latest Activity

1. 

   Nurse Sick and FIRED: Exploring Nursing Absenteeism

   Stcroix replied to allnurses's topic in Nursing

   I was a seasonal nurse. had the flu once, called off for what turned out to be hospital acquired pneumonia. was admitted to my own hospital, visited by my manager and many co-employees. when i returned 4 weeks later after acute kidney injury a c-diff, my manager said i violated my seasonal contract and could leave or work at beginners pay, thank you very much. said hospital lists retention as their biggest problem.
2. 

   What's the BEST nursing shoes?

   Stcroix replied to BigCSN's topic in Uniform/Gear

   I replied to this topic years ago. I tried at least 10 different types of shoes. In the last two years of my career i found Hoka 5, a running shoe. Lightweight, well padded, and protect my arthritic feet. Like it has been said, no one shoe works for everyone, but I am a happy camper. oh yeah, they last a year on the floor.
3. 

   Case Load Home Care

   Stcroix replied to ocdstacy's topic in Hospice

   i average 15 home case manager
4. 

   Dilemma situation! I'm not a nurse, but is this common practice??

   Stcroix replied to Nursing617's topic in Safety

   I worked a while for Hospice.. We used sub Q to administer morphine on a continuous drip. The rate need to be very low (in volume). Sub Q injections by their very nature go into spaces that don't exist, they 'make their own space'. I have never seen a sub Q site flushed, heparin or otherwise, it would do damage to the skin. In fact, SubQ sites go 'bad' quite quickly, often the site is changed daily. We used a tiny TB type needle mounted on a plastic base that adhered to the skin by a peel off sticky base. Maybe the OP was seeing a type of true IV, and of course flushing would be done. As a hospice nurse I never used a peripheral IV. I would on rare occasion access a port or Picc if the patient came with it.
5. 

   Traveler to Avow Naples FL

   Stcroix replied to nrcnurse's topic in Hospice

   So glad it worked out. yes, they are nice folks
6. 

   4 weeks?!

   Stcroix replied to Aem207's topic in Cardiac

   Many good points made here. The one I haven't heard much about is the patients. I know that at 4 weeks in if I had been cut loose on my own my patients would have gotten to short end of the stick. I don't think they were in jeopardy because I would ask if I didn't know, but because of being in the 'deep end' so early (especially on a tele floor) I would have very little time to spend with them. At four weeks I was so inefficient that common tasks took me twice as long as they should. Heck, I barely understood where things were on the unit. No, four weeks is not adequate at all. Only you, OP, can decide if you should go for it.
7. 

   Generation Gap??

   Stcroix replied to Kind-hearted's topic in School

   I remember being the cool kid on the playground because I had a transistor radio. (I bet a lot of you don't know what that was). Also I bought my first computer for my business in 1983. It replaced a legal sized ledger that we actually wrote words and numbers on! Said computer ran DOS, had 40 MEGAbytes of hard drive and cost me $4,000. I thought it was a miracle. Oh, and by the way, we still had to deal with those pesky dinosaurs running around the neighborhood, one ate my little brother ;-).
8. 

   Being Ordered to Give Whiskey

   Stcroix replied to purplegal's topic in Nursing

   I agree. Like many of us, I have had more alcoholics than I care to remember. Currently, the approach in favor is to detox ALL of them using benzos and (hopefully) prevent seizures. There is also a prevailing sense of urgency among the nurses and the doctors to discharge them ASAP before the magic 3rd day where severe withdrawal tends to occur. I for one just don't get it. We know the vast majority of these folks aren't going to quit drinking, so why even try? It makes much more sense to me to keep withdrawal at bay with the poison they came in with, address their other medical problems and discharge them back to their lives without try to be virtuous and detox them. Unless of course the patient expresses the wish to attempt detoxing.
9. 

   Traveler to Avow Naples FL

   Stcroix replied to nrcnurse's topic in Hospice

   Good people, even better community of nurses. I worked in the home care end. I felt comfortable and welcome. They look for you to do 4 visits a day, occasionally a fifth on crazy times. You are well supported. Docs are great, available, down to earth and willing to support the nurses. Good luck!
10. 

    Salvia Divinorum: A Potent Hallucinogen

    Stcroix replied to Brenda F. Johnson's topic in Nursing

    Enjoyed your article. Salvia has been a fringe drug gaining in popularity in some areas. One minor thing, I am quite confident the photo you used is of Lobelia sp, not Salvia. No big whoop.
11. 

    How old is too old to become a new RN?

    Stcroix replied to CathyH's topic in Nursing

    Ok, I guess I have to chime in. If you want it, really want it, and you are physically fit- then go for it. I graduated at age 60 and am now in my 4th year. I spent 3 years in cardiac- med surg and am now with hospice. I might go back to the hospital. I am healthy, physically fit and work alongside and even train the 20 and 30 year olds. But like everyone says, it is a demanding but potentially rewarding occupation. I always love it when the youngsters complain about how tired they are at the end of the day, validates how I feel! Yes, it's only a number but be realistic about your physical abilities or you may find yourself well trained but not able to hack it.
12. 

    TPN in hospice?

    Stcroix posted a topic in Hospice

    This week I got a new patient, a very sick fellow. He is an alert and oriented walkie talky with serious problems.. He was just sent home from a cancer center where he got the news "we cant do anything more for you" He has been fighting bladder cancer for a year. He now has 2 nephrostomy tubes, an ileostomy,a peg tube for decompression because his bowels are completely blocked and he was vomiting. The decision was made to run TPN into a port. I have not been with hospice too long and was kind of surprised about the TPN. I guess I can understand because we do tube feeding often, but TPN seems kind of I dunno, heroic? Not making a judgement here, just surprised I guess. Daily visits to hang new bags, family wont participate. Doc says we will do it for as long as it works. Anyone have patients like this?
13. 

    Return to nursing

    Stcroix replied to Lalapops's topic in Cardiac

    When I was in your shoes, I asked pretty much what you are asking and the AllNurses community responded with this. I saved it and give it to you: Anticoagulants/antiplatelets: Heparin Lovenox Coumadin (warfarin) Bivalrudin Aspirin plavix (clopidogrel) Blood pressure: ACEi's- captopril, lisinopril, enalapril ARB's- losartan, valsartan Other heart meds Beta-blockers (olol)- labetolol, carvedilol, atenolol, propranolol Calcium channel blockers- verapamil, nifedepine, amlodipine, nicardipine, diltiazem Vadodilators- nitroglycerin, nitroprusside Pressors- Dopamine, dobutamine, norepinephrine Statins- atorvastatin, rosuvastatin Fibrates- finofibrate Cholesterol binders- ezetimbe, cholestyramine Lung meds Albuterol, salmeterol Ipratropium, tiotropium Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol combo) Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol combo) GI meds Anti-acids H2 blockers- ranitidine, famotidine Anti-acids PPIs- omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole Bowel preps- mag citrate, polyethylene glycol Constipation- docusate, senna, miralax, lactulose, enemas Diarrhea- loperamide antinausea- ondansetron, promethazine, prochlorperazine Kidney meds Diuretics- furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, acetazolamide, Bumex Endocrine Diabetes- metformin, insulin (lantus, aspart) Thyroid- levothyroxine Steroids (glucocorticoids)- prednisone dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisone, GU meds antispasmodics- oxybutinin, tolteridine (detrol) solifenacin (vesicare) BPH meds- doxazosin, tamsulosin, finasteride ED meds- sildenafil, tadalafil Neuro Alzheimers- donepezil (aricept) Seizures- valproate, levetiracetame, phenytoin, topirimate Benzos- lorazepam, diazepam, Agitation- benzos (lorazepam, valium), haloperidol, Pain meds Opiates- oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, fentanyl NSAIDs- ibuprofen, ketorolac Other- trazodone, cyclobenzaprine, lidocaine patches Headaches- fiorocet, sumatriptan, metoclopramide Gout- allopurinol, colchicine Psych meds and antibiotics are too numerous to name
14. 

    Inpatient Hospice Ethical Dilemma?

    Stcroix replied to CNSnurse's topic in Hospice

    Ya, report his a**. That is waaaaay off base.
15. 

    Recommended BP monitor and thermometer?

    Stcroix replied to KHT's topic in Hospice

    I have an omron wrist manometer and it works fine as long as the patient remains still. Also I use a cheap Walgreen temporal thermometer, works fine. I do however, keep a full sized cuff and a rectal thermometer with me if I get weird readings.
16. 

    You know your nurse brain is still at work when....

    Stcroix replied to EmpathyInAction's topic in Nursing

    In the grocery checkout line I look up and down at the people near me. When one is pale, dyspnic, tachypnic, morbidly obese, jaundiced, or the like , I think to myself, "See you soon".