applewhitern BSN, RN

ICU

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All Content by applewhitern

  1. applewhitern

    How do Hospitals save money changing 12 hr shifts into 8 hrs?

    applewhitern replied to Adenosine6's topic in General Nursing

    I've been working 8 hour shifts for years now, and I love it. I don't feel rushed. I get 8-9 hours of sleep per night, so I always feel
  2. applewhitern

    Has anyone ever been careless and gotten stuck?

    applewhitern replied to NCmcMan's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, Josh, it can happen. The statistics of people who have become HIV positive from a needle stick (on the job) is very, very small, however. We have plenty of safety measures now, but you do still...
  3. applewhitern

    Immunizations

    applewhitern replied to sweetstrwbrry1's topic in General Students

    I actually had the measles as a child, many decades ago, but I still had to get the vaccine before I could start nursing school. Then I got the hep B series, but my titer came back as "not immune."...
  4. applewhitern

    Life/Career at a Crossroads

    applewhitern replied to Macbs4's topic in Nursing Informatics

    Our IT personnel aren't even nurses; they have some type of computer degrees, but not nursing degrees. Right now we are advertising to find someone to fill a position that someone just left, and...
  5. applewhitern

    Who reads your mantoux (PPD) test?

    applewhitern replied to psu_213's topic in General Nursing

    I have never worked anywhere that someone other than employee health or lab personnel could "read" it~ no matter if it was an RN or not. At my current facility, we don't have an employee health...
  6. applewhitern

    I want to do well in nursing school...any advice

    applewhitern replied to loveSBK's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    I was incredibly motivated while in nursing school, because my company folded and I couldn't find a job. That was in the 80's. I quit smoking cigarettes, quit social drinking, put blinders on, and...
  7. applewhitern

    Tele/DOU: Same as Progressive Care Unit?

    applewhitern replied to mlb...'s topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I don't know what a "DOU" is. When I worked on a progressive care unit, we took patients that needed drips that couldn't be given on the floor. We cardioverted, titrated stuff like neo, Cardizem,...
  8. applewhitern

    Warfarin and lovenox

    applewhitern replied to usRNs's topic in Patient Medications

    In my state, withholding a med without a doctor's order is the same thing as practicing medicine without a license. I know, I know. But until you are absolutely sure of your "thought processes," you...
  9. applewhitern

    Warfarin and lovenox

    applewhitern replied to usRNs's topic in Patient Medications

    I can see a little bit of bleeding if it was a new trach, or if aggressive suctioning was done. However, blood on the foley as well? A quarter of a canister? Yes, I would have called the
  10. applewhitern

    ICU Overflow, What Happens Then?

    applewhitern replied to BrandonB779's topic in MICU, SICU

    If we don't have ICU beds, we send them off somewhere else. If there aren't beds available at the other hospitals, we have to keep them in the ER, or else try to move someone out to make a bed. It...
  11. applewhitern

    Has Nursing Made You a Homebody?

    applewhitern replied to nicurn84's topic in Health, Stress Management

    And it gets worse the older you get! At my age, my body really has aged. Before nursing, I worked in an office and had to "dress up." I wore the fashionable high heels with dresses and suits, so my...
  12. applewhitern

    Has anyone ever reported SSI fraud on a patient?

    applewhitern replied to Mommy2be's topic in General Nursing

    I have heard people on the phone, trying to sell their food stamps. I would be afraid to report abuse, because of HIPAA and other
  13. applewhitern

    My first med error (Rant)

    applewhitern replied to MissHaleyDawn's topic in General Nursing

    At my present hospital, only the licensed nurse can do blood sugars, period. They claimed too many mistakes
  14. applewhitern

    Healthcare/dental plans for nurses

    applewhitern replied to ml52789's topic in General Nursing

    Most of the dental plans that I have had were great for routine xrays, check-ups, and cleaning. Other than that, they didn't help much with the cost of dental care. I have found that the dentist...
  15. applewhitern

    Just bought my textbooks - a mini-grumbling session

    applewhitern replied to NightNerd's topic in General Students

    I didn't read all the comments, but we used our books thru-out the entire program. Everything built on each other, so I found myself referencing all of my books, all the
  16. applewhitern

    Staffing during hurricanes?

    applewhitern replied to blackvans1234's topic in General Nursing

    In answer to your question, we were always threatened with termination if we didn't show up. It was hard for the people with kids, like myself. During the last one I went thru, they called me 3 days...
  17. applewhitern

    Staffing during hurricanes?

    applewhitern replied to blackvans1234's topic in General Nursing

    I've been thru many of them, in Florida and Alabama, at several different hospitals. During each, we were told to come and bring clothes and your own food. They did not provide food or drink for the...
  18. applewhitern

    Change in Job Descriptions

    applewhitern replied to shodobe's topic in Operating Room

    I would think personnel could certainly be fired for not meeting updated requirements. A staff member cannot expect a facility to remain the same for 20 years or more. I am an RN, and sometimes my...
  19. applewhitern

    When is high too high?

    applewhitern replied to Maddy_Rose's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I would certainly let the doc know if a heart-rate was in staying in the
  20. applewhitern

    When did nursing caps go extinct in the wild?

    applewhitern replied to RNperdiem's topic in General Nursing

    When did they go extinct? I agree with the person who said "not soon enough!" We wore them until the early 1990's, and then only if you were wearing white dresses or white pant suits. They were...
  21. applewhitern

    what to wear?!

    applewhitern replied to amoLucia's topic in General Nursing

    I thought the color navy was the traditional RN color. Maybe he is trying to look like a nurse so people will think he is trust-worthy, ha ha! After all, we are the most trusted
  22. applewhitern

    How many shifts to work in order to prevent Burnout.

    applewhitern replied to everyday6/12's topic in Psychiatric

    I worked an ICU that did 7 twelves in a row, then 7 off. I simply wasn't safe doing that, but other nurses loved it. I believe in getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep per night. I only work about 56...
  23. applewhitern

    Annoyed! Where is the love?!

    applewhitern replied to angieedoll's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Oh, another thing. Lately I have been seeing more jobs for LPN's than for
  24. applewhitern

    Annoyed! Where is the love?!

    applewhitern replied to angieedoll's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Congratulations! The only thing that matters is that you are going to LPN school, and your husband is supportive. So, that means you are both happy about this. Nobody else's opinion matters....
  25. applewhitern

    Looking for some input and words of encouragement

    applewhitern replied to NCmcMan's topic in General Nursing

    Josh, please do take one step at a time. You must lose the weight. You must also get control of your depression and anxiety. Nursing school is very rigid, and stressful. If you have any mental...