SCRN1

You can't judge a person's pain level based on whether they're sitting in a recliner watching TV, talking on the phone, laughing, eating, etc. I have had to have numerous orthopedic surgeries, including two total knee replacements on opposite sides of one year. Following those surgeries, I was prescribed Percocet. During the time of the knee surgeries, I was on Percocet following the meniscus removal and until many months following my 2nd total knee...so over a two year period. I never took more than I was prescribed. I was able to do all the things that patients do that nurses accuse of lying about their pain level. I'm also a RN and have heard many nurses being so judgmental. Life does go on, even while in pain. I suffer daily with chronic pain and am currently on no pain medication (my choice because I want it to work when I have another surgery), but I can't just crawl in a corner and let life pass me by because I hurt. Also, because I never took it more often than prescribed, I never took it if I could tolerate the pain, and I never took more than was prescribed, I never became addicted to it. So, instead of the GOVERNMENT cracking down on pain medications and leaving those who need it have a tough time getting any relief, I think it should be left up to the doctor to prescribe if they feel a patient needs it. As others said, it's not your job to judge.

I've been using my pump for over a year now. I do like it much better than having to take injections and I love having more freedom with when, where & what I can eat again. Yes, I have a cell phone. But I don't wear it.

To answer the question as to how she got the insulin is that it's very rarely locked up on our floor. Actually, it sits right out in a basket most of the time on the counter where we draw up meds, recheck meds pulled from the pyxis, etc. I don't know how we've gotten by with this for so long. But that's how she got her hands on it and helped herself. I have verbally told my NM about all of this. She's always saying how much no one is perfect and beyond making a mistake. It's like she is trying to discourage us from writing anyone up and the people who complain about anyone end up getting talked about. So far, no harm has come to anyone and I hope it never does. But if she does one more thing outside of what she is qualified to do, I will write her up. I told my NM that it scares me that what she does could cost me my job and my license. I told this tech the other day that she shouldn't be calling herself a nurse until after she finishes nursing school (having a hard time in it) and passes the NCLEX and gets her license. I informed her that it is illegal in this state to call yourself a nurse if you aren't licensed and should something happen to someone who believes her that she's a nurse, she could be sued. I caught her allowing the EMTs to give her report when they brought us a new patient. I informed them that they needed to give the report to that patient's nurse. The tech went on to say, "I am a nurse!". So, one of the EMTs went on to tell her anyway...didn't even pay attention to the title on her badge. Luckily, the charge nurse walked in at that moment and witnessed the same as I and told them, "you can't give report to her. She's not a nurse. She's a tech". Later, this tech came up to me and told me it makes her so mad for someone to say she's not a nurse. That's when I told her about it not being legal to call herself a nurse in this state unless she is a licensed nurse. She said she is licensed. I told her, "but you are not licensed in the United States. Therefore, you are not yet a nurse here."

My question is about nursing in 2008. I think we all have had to learn the history of nursing while we were in nursing school. My main concern with this (other than hearing her talk about it) is that she is misrepresenting herself to patients, who believe that she has the same qualifications as a licensed nurse here and will allow her to do things she should not do. She has also helped herself to giving someone an insulin injection after checking their blood sugar, has turned off IV pumps when they were beeping & forgotten to tell the nurse, and many more things that she should not be doing.

no, i doubt it. the oxygen was just the latest example of why i don't think she's the equivalent of a nurse here. she says all kinds of things that make me wonder. she knows nothing about any medications, she didn't have to take any of the kinds of classes we do here, like anatomy/physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, any of the prerequisites, etc. she just said that the nuns woke them up early and walked with them from room to room while they practiced their skills. from how she sounded, they basically only did all the things that a tech here can do. she has commented before that a nurse over here is more like a doctor than the nurses in germany.

We have a nurse tech who is from Germany. She's forever telling everyone...other staff & patients...that she was a nurse in Germany but the United States won't let her practice nursing here without going back to school and earning a degree here. She is currently in her first semester of an ADN program. From a lot of the things she says and does, we don't think she really went to the kind of nursing school we have to go to here. She says she spent 4 years in nursing school, being taught by the nuns. I asked her just yesterday if she had to take classes like Anatomy/Physiology. She avoided giving the actual answer, but just said, "maybe our school was a little different than here". So, that told me NO. The other day, she came to me and said, "that patient said they couldn't breathe good, so I turned their oxygen up to 6". I told her to NEVER do that again and explained why. I could go on & on. I (and others) are really getting sick of hearing her talk about being a nurse and how good she is at being a tech. She does get her vitals & baths done quickly and is good about many things AS A TECH. But she also refuses to do anything else with patients that aren't assigned to her. She will sit & read magazines if no one is available to listen to her tell how good she is. I've told her before that they aren't just "your patients/my patients"...that they all have needs and if someone else is tied up with another patient and someone else isn't busy, then that person needs to attend to the needs of the other patients. She also loves to say, "I'm just here to help the nurse with the patient's I'm assigned to. If other techs can't do their work, then that nurse needs to do it, not me." Anyway, back to my original reason for writing this post...does anyone know if the requirements to become a nurse in Germany is different than in the US?

Patient's are put on Plavix after having a heart cath with stents being placed. But, they should not take it within 5-7 days before having a CABG. If they are already on it, our patients usually remain in the hospital until they have been off of it for that long...called a Plavix washing. With this patient taking it, it cost them an extra day in the hospital. On our PCU floor, that's at least $5,000.00 per day. If the insurance company refuses to pay for that day because of a med error, then the hospital may have to eat that cost and may be a big reason you are being fired. I'm so sorry to hear this has happened to you. I agree with the other poster...I would've called the doctor too to verify that the Plavix was ordered. Even if it was, it's still the nurse's responsibility if they give something ordered when they know it's not safe. I think you have learned a valuable lesson with this and wish you luck.

Congratulations on getting your life back!! Good luck working your new shift! I've worked all shifts and think that has got to be the busiest shift of all because it's usually when we get the most admissions in any of the hospitals I've worked in. Positive side of that is that is that it seems to make the shift go by faster. Now that my kids are old enough to drive themselves to school and anywhere else they need to be, I wouldn't mind working that shift since my body clock would like it more. But where I work, we only do 12-hr shifts. So, I guess you could say I do work half of that 2nd shift, lol.

Regardless of whether or not it was from latex (which the straps are rubber instead of plastic), I still think it's something in them that she is allergic to. I know there was one other person who said that they also had that kind of reaction. But if it's something that anyone can get, just think about how many millions of pairs of those flip flops have been sold and there's only these two we've heard had a reaction? If it was something that was causing it to most people, it would've been all over the news. Also, I don't think she should sue Walmart because of an allergy. Anyone can develop an allergy to something at any age even if they've been exposed to it over and over all their life. If someone is allergic to peanuts and doesn't yet know it and goes into Walmart to buy peanuts do you think Walmart will give them a free allergy screening before allowing them to buy them?

Where are you applying? Are you applying at hospitals? I can see having a hard time finding something at somewhere like an office without experience or if it's a specialty area somewhere. Have you tried applying for Med/Surg at a hospital? If you could get at least a year's experience there, it may help you out getting something else.

That is horrible. But I wonder if it could be from a latex allergy instead of reaction from lead. I didn't think contact with lead could be that fast. They used to put lead in white gold jewelry and I never heard of anyone's skin breaking out that fast from jewelry unless they had an allergy to something in the metal.

I don't know how long it takes, but here's a link where you can call and ask them. http://www.nursingboard.state.nv.us/contactinfo.htm I'm considering taking on a travel job there. Maybe we'll run into each other sometime.

I don't think 4 weeks is long enough for a new grad either and 2 weeks at night is just scary!! I've worked nights myself for years and there have been many nights I was busier then than I've been on days. It sounds like you're precepting the same nurse I currently am. She dwaddles when she knows there's an IV to be started, a dressing to be changed, etc. Her excuse is, "I haven't started my charting yet and I need to get this done". No more letting her off that easy! I've told her the charting can wait, even if it means doing it after she reports off at the end of the shift, but the patient needs take priority. She didn't like that, of course. But, oh well, that's the way our job goes. Yesterday, when we were talking about a patient's dressing change that needed to be done on a Stage 4 decub, she asked me, "who's going to do it?". Without pause, I said, "you are". I heard her saying something about it later to our nurse manager. I laughed and said, "I wasn't gonna let you out of that one" but pointed out that we didn't push her out there on her own. (I stood right beside her assisting and giving her step by step instructions, while there were two other nurses also helping to hold the patient on his side and also assist.) She's been with us for over a month now...with me the past 3 weeks...and she's still not ready to take 4 all by herself. I don't think she even realizes all the things I'm doing for her that she will be expected to do alone once she's off orientation and I keep trying to remind her when she says, "I'm already doing something", that soon, she won't have a preceptor as a back up and now's the time to learn to handle a load by herself. She's only up to 4 patients at a time (with LOTS of help) and needs to get up to handling at least 6 because there could be days when she'll have 8.

I've also seen them at Uniform Advantage on Hwy 378 in West Columbia and at Adams Bookstore on Assembly Street.

Is anyone else doing this where you work? I work per diem at a local hospital to a particular floor. They recently just started doing BID shift there. Actually, those shifts start in Sept., but we just had to start bidding online for them this past week. The way it will work is that the Nurse Mgrs go ahead and fill in the schedules using only staff with benefits and agency nurses. After that is done, the "holes" in the shifts are entered into the computer and then per diem nurses and any other nurse wanting extra shifts go in and bid on those shifts. They had started this at another hospital I worked at but it went a little differently. Instead of the NMs filling in the schedule with regular staff & agency, they also included their per diem nurses. THEN, whatever was left over went online. Does anyone have any idea how this may end up working out? I have a feeling that if all of us per diem nurses are going to have to race each other to the computers in order to get the shifts we want and then not get them, some of us may start looking for work somewhere else after awhile. There are lots of per diem nurses at this hospital and I think the hospital may be shooting themselves in the foot by going about this the way they are. It's like they're saying agency is more important than the per diem nurses who've been loyal to their floors. Going agency is looking more attractive to me now...in addition to a better chance of getting the shifts I want, I'd also get paid more AND with benefits. Hmmmmmm!

First of all, let me say that I am thankful for phlebotomists. If it weren't for them, I'd have even more work to do. As to your question, nursing is something I just always wanted to do. I was kind of steered toward doing something else right after high school that I ended up not liking. So, when my kids started school, I went back to school to do what I wanted to do to begin with.

Thank you for the info. Since starting this post, I have gotten a pump. I've had it sitting, still in the box, on my kitchen floor. It's not just the pump alone, but also came with everything but the insulin that I'll need for 3 months or more. I have had one horrible time with getting an appointment with the CDE at my Endo's office. The Endo has pressed me about the importance of my needing a pump, especially with working nights 3 nights a week, then switching to sleeping at nights. But now that I have one, I can't seem to get in to get started. It's a long story, but put it this way...the pump company has referred me to an independant nurse to get my training for it and then I'll get the insulin script from the Endo. My Endo had said he didn't want to recommend any one particular one. Instead, he gave me several different packets on some and told me to read through, look at their DVDs and decide for myself which one I'd be most comfortable with. After looking at it all, I called my insurance company to ask if there were any particular ones they pay for or if they pay different amounts for different ones. Luckily I did this before ordering a pump first because they only pay towards the Minimed. So I have the same 722 as you. Mine is purple. The insurance company covers all but $750 of it.

I love going to Myrtle Beach, but I don't think I'd want to live there year 'round. That is because of traffic. I don't like traffic. But that's just me. I don't know anything about your finances, but the real estate is VERY expensive on and close to the beach. I'm kinda short on time right now, but if there's anything else I can tell you, let me know. We live in Columbia, SC but go to the beaches all along the coast several times a year at least. I came back to ask if you'd like to live in Georgetown. It's still close enough to go to the beach often.

What kind do you have and how do you like it? What are the advantages & disadvantages? My endo is trying to convince me of getting one. I'm not sure I'm ready. I am still trying to get used to the idea of having the disease and taking insulin for the rest of my life and right now, I just don't want to have some device connected to my body as a constant reminder. I know they say you can get better control of your BG with them and lots of people love them. I'd just like to hear what people who have them have to say about them. Thanks in advance.

They don't always end up in DKA to be diagnosed. January of this year, I was also one of those who felt unusually thirsty...contributed it to the dry air at the hospital, voided gallons frequently (or least it seemed like gallons, LOL)...contributed it to drinking so much, blurry vision...been wearing glasses/contacts most of my life and now over 40, so I thought my vision had changed again and it was time for my yearly eye exam, constant fatigue...contributed it to two recent deaths in the family, getting past the holidays, and crazy sleep patterns because of working 12-hr night shifts. Had someone else mentioned all these symptoms to me, my first thought would be for them to have their BG checked. With myself? Didn't occur until the 2nd week. I checked it and it was in the mid-300s. At first, the doctors automatically diagnosed me with Type 2 because of my age (43). I could stand to lose a few pounds, but I've never been obese. Also, I never had gestational diabetes. At first, I was put on Glucaphage. Didn't help and Actos was added. That didn't work either and my blood sugars were now more in the 400s. Glucotrol XL was added but didn't help either. Insulin was added and that finally brought my BG down. I even had several hypoglycemic events. I had been telling them all along (after the 1st visit when diagnosed though) that I'd bought some Ketostix and my urine showed heavy ketones. Never was given an answer for that. I also told them that all my symptoms came on me extremely fast and I've had my blood sugar checked within the year (more than once) and it was WNL. Finally, after doing my own reading & looking for all the info I could find on diabetes, I insisted at my doctor's office they test me to see if I have Type 1 or Type 2. Well, guess what? It pays to take responsibility in looking out for yourself. I was told that the GAD and C-peptide showed that I am Type 1. I got a referral to an endocrinologist who I'm now seeing and no longer having to take the PO diabetic meds. I do take Levemir @ HS and Apidra AC 3 times daily. They're trying to talk me into a pump, but I'm don't want one just yet. I'm also curious about becoming hypoglycemic with Type 1 if you obviously weren't on insulin at that time. I'm sure different people react different ways, but when I delay a meal during the day (which also means delaying giving myself insulin), my blood sugar shoot way up. The only time it goes low is if I didn't get enough carbs after an insulin dose.

My husband's position at work involves hiring and firing employees. He has said the only thing an employer can legally say is whether or not the person worked there before and that's it. It could vary from state to state though. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.

One thing I think is good about that policy is it keeps the ED nurse from keeping a patient in a bed there until shift change so they don't have to put another one in it. Now before I get flamed for saying that, let me add that I don't think all ED nurses do that. But it happened quite frequently at a hospital where I used to work. They would wait until just before or just after shift change to send up patients. Some of the patients would tell me around midnight when they were just coming up to the floor that they'd been down in the ED since earlier that morning. There was no need in that since we had an empty bed all day they could've been in and the other people sitting out in the waiting room could've been seen instead of waiting so many hours. The supervisors were aware of this happening too, but never did anything about it. Where I'm currently working, it still happens sometimes. But not like at the other place. I'm with you about wanting to get report first...and to be able to assess them before getting a new admission. It could've been several hours since the last nurse was in their room. What if they're a surgical patient and they're laying in there in a pool of blood and you come on and don't get to them for quite a bit later because of getting a new lengthy admission? Is the ED nurse going to get blamed for that patient not being assessed? No, YOU are.

If it was the fragrance, I'd think lotion would help but people with RLS have said it doesn't. So, it's got to be something more. As for what kind of soap, one person told me they use Dove. I don't know if other brands have helped.

I just reread your post and noticed you said Walgreens. So are you asking about pharmacists in a drug store, hospital, or anywhere in general? If drug store, they provide lots of information on medication to customers, whether prescribed or OTC! They warn customers of drug interactions, tell them when to take the meds, to take meds with or without food for better absorption or prevent side effects such as stomach upset, side effects, etc. Also, customers can tell them what symptoms they have and ask what OTC meds they can recommend.

In addition to what the other have said, they also catch a lot of med errors that have been written in orders and alert the nurse to them.