ABD FL RN

Our hospital wants to be Magnet status, so is involving the staff in peer interviews. We have a hot shot new nurse who wants to "test" the applicant during the peer interview with different scenarios. I'm not sure that this is the appropriate time for that, and feel that it should be done sometime other than during the peer interview. We have gotten a list of interview questions from management, but they seem wooden and generic. Do you have any suggestions for more appropriate questions? I work in a mixed 20 bed critical care unit, we have all kinds of different patients. Thanks

I still stand by my position that it is about them not us. We are outside the bubble... there are a lot of nurses that look at a patient as their patient. Well, the patient belonged to the family member first. AACN is taking the stance because of the extreme restrictive nature of some big city ICUs like 15 min per hour. Read the article Connie Barden (Past president) wrote, that was her address at the NTI a couple of years ago. I have been on the other side of the fence so to speak and the anxiety it caused was awful. Families fight about who gets to spend precious minutes of that 15 with the patient, etc. I also work with neuro patients, and seem to be able to make the point with the families for the need for a quiet environment, etc. I agree that shift changes shouldn't allow visitors because of HIPPA. I also agree that there should be limited visitation at night because families also need their rest. Most of the bed baths are done on nights in my unit, and this eliminates the need to further restrict visitation on day shift due to bed baths. Of course, visitation can be adjusted to the needs of the patient, like dying, patient request, family arriving from out of state, etc.

I still stand by my position that it is about them not us. We are outside the bubble... there are a lot of nurses that look at a patient as their patient. Well, the patient belonged to the family member first. AACN is taking the stance because of the extreme restrictive nature of some big city ICUs like 15 min per hour. Read the article Connie Barden (Past president) wrote, that was her address at the NTI a couple of years ago. I have been on the other side of the fence so to speak and the anxiety it caused was awful. Families fight about who gets to spend precious minutes of that 15 with the patient, etc. I also work with neuro patients, and seem to be able to make the point with the families for the need for a quiet environment, etc. I agree that shift changes shouldn't allow visitors because of HIPPA. I also agree that there should be limited visitation at night because families also need their rest. Most of the bed baths are done on nights in my unit, and this eliminates the need to further restrict visitation on day shift due to bed baths. Of course, visitation can be adjusted to the needs of the patient, like dying, patient request, family arriving from out of state, etc.

We recently did this at my place of employment, and had a lot of fun at it, here were my contributions... * Keep up with research, and share it! Also implement it on your unit. Insist on change of things that are potentially harmful to patients and yourself. If you can't get others to change, at least change yourself. * Don't be afraid to challenge things you believe are wrong. * Bed baths are great ways to assess your patients, and educate them. * If you don't like the way something is done, don't complain, do something to change it. * When death is imminent, turning the patient on their left side may hasten it. * Sometimes patients just need to be told that it's ok to go. * Be sure to mark organ donor on your driver's license.

PS, I hate to tell you this, but you are required to keep on learning in the nursing profession if you expect to keep up. Also, with your background, you could go into legal nurse consulting, or be in the risk management department.

The average age of a nurse nowadays is late forties! So you'd fit right in. Sounds like your friend feels old for her age. I work with a 67 year old nurse who works rings around the nurses in their 20s! Age is relative today. If you're sick and got underlying medical problems, that's one thing, but if you're healthy you have a long life ahead of you. You haven't even reached midlife yet. If George W. has his way we won't be able to "retire" until mid-seventies by the time you get there!

American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) had a position paper on just this subject, as it seems to be a problem all accross the US. I have long been a proponent of open visiting, and am often at odds with my fellow co-workers. We must realize that it's not about us, it's about them. The patient and family, because family is so important to patients, no matter what their relationships are like. I have found very few people who absolutely should not visit for long periods, and most of the time, asking my patients their preferences has helped control some of the visiting.

American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) had a position paper on just this subject, as it seems to be a problem all accross the US. I have long been a proponent of open visiting, and am often at odds with my fellow co-workers. We must realize that it's not about us, it's about them. The patient and family, because family is so important to patients, no matter what their relationships are like. I have found very few people who absolutely should not visit for long periods, and most of the time, asking my patients their preferences has helped control some of the visiting.

It's interesting that this thread was started...a couple of co-workers and myself were discussing writing a booklet for just this thing! Here are my contributions: 1. Keep up with research, and share it and implement it on your unit. 2. Don't be afraid to challenge things you believe are wrong - even though the other person is "so much more experienced" than you. 3. Bed baths are a great way to assess your patient, and to educate them. 4. If you don't like the way something is done, don't complain, do something to change it. 5. When death is imminent, turning the patient on their left side may hasten it. 6. Sometimes patients just need to be told that it's ok to go. 7. Be sure to mark organ donor on your driver's license.

ruby, how about these: patients that say they drink only 2 glasses of beer, double or triple that! i have to have my husband clean up after the dog - both vomitus and stool, or i get sick too. can deal with all the messes at work too and not even blink :uhoh21: i've done this job for 33 years and still love it, and recommend it to anyone interested in a diverse profession! :)

LOL LOL :rotfl: :rotfl: I had one that was spraying it out her butt and dripped off Triadyne bed and on the floor and almost made it out the door!!! :chuckle

Actually, I resisted at first too, but have come to love 12 hr shifts, and the extra days it gives you off a week! Hey, you're there for 8+ hours anyway, what's the difference, a couple of more hrs? You get used to it...