momcats3

I have a student who has a G-tube. It is not used at school, they can eat and drink with no difficulties. Parents will not submit a Care Plan. I am curious as to why a G-tube is needed at all if the child is eating and drinking normally. They do ...

I worked in hospice for 7 years, at two different agencies in two different states. Both non-profit. I ended up doing visits/office stuff from about 8:30 to 4:00 - 5:00 and yes, I ended up doing my charting at home, on my time. There was just no othe...

Dan-You're so right!! I've thought about that staff, all of them, as well as the other patients and families. God will bless them.. PD

We also use Hospice Pharmacia, and they've added a Cardiac Comfort kit..Unfortunately, I'm not sure what meds are in it (I left my MUGS book @ work..)

Hi :) I quit my first job, too, after about 10 weeks. I was in very similar circumstances, and they had me doing all sorts of things I really had minimal training on. I was told to "ask another nurse" if I needed help. Ha! Ha! that was a real joke...

Hi, one of our textbooks was "Math for Meds". It broke things down very simply for me. However, I ended up doing my formulas like this: If 20 mgs is to 1 ml, what is 15 mgs to x ml? Written as: 20 mg:1ml =15 mg :x ml Remove the mg and mls Now you hav...

If you're looking for info, try HPNA @ www.hnpa.org:)

AT what point are you talking about using Megace? From my humble POV, I wouldn't really use Megace at all. If the patient doesn't want to eat, they don't have to. At EOL, their body is shutting down, right? Why would you do that to them? As for the f...

Good question:) We are also curious about how other hospices operate. We are all considered salaried, which is a joke. Pay rate is from about $18-27/hr LPN/RN. We are only paid for 8 hours, whether or not we work 8, 10 or 12 which is the rule and not...

My heart is broken today. I had my beautiful 18 yr. old kitty put down today. He had CRF and was failing. I am filled with doubt. Did I do the right thing? What if he could have rallied one last time and I didn't let him? I even think, did I do it fo...

Hi, we use Hospice Pharmacia. They also do things like MSIR in 1 mg gel paks, just open and apply. Also have Ativan gel, Haldol gel, etc. I think they may be out of Philadelphia. Also, I get a box of scopalamine patches, just to have. Don't keep them...

We have MSIR and lorazepam liquid, Lorazepam tablets, Levsin tabs, ABHR suppositories, acetaminophen suppositories, and some separate Scop patches. PM me if you want the amts of ea.

Did you try VNA? There are also some private agencies that use LPN's in home care. Look in the phone book for starters.

Hugs and congratulations to you all :balloons: I'm thinking of trying either next spring, or next fall....

A big hug for you (((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) I couldn't agree with you more....Let me add I have also had difficulty with the majority of geriatric NP's I've encountered. Aren't they capable of seeing what we see, or at ...

I would like to thank each and every one of you who sent words of kindness. I truly appreciate it... I'm still heartbroken, but life goes on, and you adjust. You never "get over" it.... I still wonder, though. How do you provide comfort, sympathy...

Well, I was a new grad, too. I'd worked in a rehab hospital for 10 weeks (yup, 10 weeks) and decided that I hated it, too. I'm 46, and had gone back to nursing school at 44. I'd always wanted to do hospice nursing and was told I'd have to do the "...

Been using for about 6 months now...the screens are too complex, data entry of information doesn't flow naturally. For example, one side of the screen on the mid-upper right corner of the Vital Signs tab has Respirations, then you have to tab down an...

We've been using Misys - bad experience all around. Just and FYI.

Hi, I'm from up north, and we're considering a move to Florida (yes, I know, along with everyone else from up here!). Was wondering if you knew of/had an experience with LPN's working in hospice in the Orlando area. Or, do they just use RN's? I've fo...

Thanks again for NAFTA, Bill Clinton!:angryfire

Hi, I'm pretty P.O.'d too.... Am a Hospice nurse with a patient who's had a lifelong hx of neurological pain. Each time I see her she c/o pain "all over", is grimacing, moaning, cries out when moved, etc. when I ask if she needs pain meds she says...

Why don't you ask the SW in your facility to contact whichever hospice they recommend and have them come in and do some pain management education with the staff? I've found these sessions presented by our Medical Director at our hospice go a long wa...

Not sure if I made it clear, I'm a Hospice nurse, work in LTC, and my original post was related to a Hospice patient. Pain management in Hospice is a unique specialty (yup, it really is). I've had many nurses who've stated to me "Well, they look comf...

I must disagree as well. My experience with our palliative care patients has shown me again and again that you can indeed live a full, productive life - working, driving, living(!!) with the addition of meds such methadone as well as oxycontin. I b...