canesdukegirl BSN, RN

Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management

Member

All Content by canesdukegirl

  1. canesdukegirl

    New Grad Nurse Dilemma. Please help.

    Get the experience! At least you will be working and making connections within the hospital. I will never forget a new grad that came onto my unit. I was her preceptor and after a week or so, we...
  2. canesdukegirl

    a better way to collect u/c sample from foley catheter?

    There is no way that this method could be considered a sterile sample. Your scissors alone would contaminate the sample. ALWAYS use the aspiration
  3. canesdukegirl

    Is 2 years experience charge nurse ready?

    Sounds like you are ready! Go for
  4. canesdukegirl

    low HOB better for urine flow?

    Not so much that the urethra is straight, but the foley itself is not kinked or constricted, as classicdame suggested. Think about when you water your garden and you have to unspool the hose. You can...
  5. canesdukegirl

    Spouses being asked to leave the room

    Yep. I try very hard not to appear irritated when a spouse or family member answers all of the questions that I am pointedly asking THE PATIENT. I get that family members want to feel helpful, because...
  6. canesdukegirl

    Spouses being asked to leave the room

    Oh, yeah!! I was taking care of my nurse manager's husband (at her request) during surgery. She said that she wanted to be there during induction, but then promptly left to allow us to do our jobs....
  7. canesdukegirl

    The War On Fat

    Spot on, my Blue Devil friend! I work with an orthopaedic surgeon who refuses to do knee replacements on smokers. I work with a vascular surgeon who will not perform elective surgeries on patients who...
  8. canesdukegirl

    most troubling trend in healthcare

    In one of my nursing school classes, the professor INSISTED that we refer to pts as clients. I flat out refused. I turned in a case study for this class and used the word PATIENT, so she gave me an F....
  9. OP, any
  10. canesdukegirl

    LAZY CNA's!!

    By nature, we as health care workers are very task-oriented. It feels good to complete the tasks assigned to you, and in general people have a sense of accomplishment when an objective is met. The key...
  11. canesdukegirl

    Does it ever get to you?

    YES! There are definitely cases that tug on your heart strings. I have been in nursing for 13 years, and it still doesn't get easier for me. I will give you an example: My mother died from renal small...
  12. canesdukegirl

    Shoes

    I don't think that your choice of topic will elicit a 'flaming war', but it brought a smile to my face :) I have always worn Danskos. I wear them to work, I wear them to garden and even wore them...
  13. canesdukegirl

    LAZY CNA's!!

    I know that you are venting and probably not looking for advice, but if you will allow me to offer a few suggestions: So many of us have been in your position. It is SO frustrating! If you feel up to...
  14. Educate her about STDs. I bet his crabs have
  15. canesdukegirl

    Nurses Day Gifts

    GREAT
  16. canesdukegirl

    Nurses Day Gifts

    How many nurses do you have on your unit, OP? I have mentioned this in prior threads, but I will say it again: the best nursing day gift I ever got was a 20 minute massage. My NM brought in a massage...
  17. canesdukegirl

    Nurses Day Gifts

    My nursing school graduation gift from my mentor was a clipboard with lab values, GCS scores, Braden scale, and drug formulas on the back. It was SO useful! I loved this gift-I think clipboards are a...
  18. canesdukegirl

    Super Discouraged New RN

    It sounds like you miss critical care. Is there something stopping you from going back to the ICU? Life is too long to spend your time working in an environment that doesn't intrigue you. I started...
  19. canesdukegirl

    Some questions about needlestick injuries

    You wrapped that sucker tightly, didn't you?!? Good job. A word of caution-it isn't the safest thing to bend back a used needle. You probably already know that, but if you find yourself in this...
  20. canesdukegirl

    Question about some labs

    Nice catch, OP! I am having a hard time with the fact that your co-workers poo poohed your theory. Critical thinking skills are so
  21. canesdukegirl

    Orienting a new hire - issues

    A valid question, but moreover, I wonder if it is just anxiety in general that is prompting this new orientee to be defensive. It could be that this new nurse doesn't have a healthy coping mechanism...
  22. canesdukegirl

    Orienting a new hire - issues

    These types of nurses are difficult to deal with: you find that they are spot on in some areas, and lacking in others. Any feedback you are giving her is met with defensiveness. That is challenging....
  23. canesdukegirl

    Nurses~

    The greatest gift I have ever gotten for Nurses Week was a 20 minute massage. A massage therapist came up to our unit with massage chair in tow, and let me tell ya, folks...it was HEAVENLY! This...
  24. canesdukegirl

    anxiety after being an RN for 14 years

    Have you always had anxiety issues? I found that the older I got, the worse my OCD/anxiety got. I talked to my GP about it, and being the wonderful practitioner she is, she taught me several tricks to...
  25. canesdukegirl

    100k salary?

    I used to be a travel nurse and it was GREAT! I was paid $92K/yr and didn't have to pay for much out of pocket. All of my housing expenses were paid for with the exception of cable/internet. I had a...