nursemike ASN, RN

Rodeo Nursing (Neuro)

Member

All Content by nursemike

  1. nursemike

    Complain more please! It is just an hour!

    nursemike replied to Tait's topic in General Nursing

    I always work weekend nights, so I get both the spring forward/fall back. (We get paid for the actual hours worked, by the way). Last night, though, we were short from 3-7 and overstaffed from 7p-7a....
  2. nursemike

    Scared to Death!!!

    nursemike replied to suzyQ73's topic in General Nursing

    I think you probably should be scared--a little. It's a big responsibility you are taking on, and it's gonna be hard, at first. Time management is a challenge. You can't really learn it in school....
  3. nursemike

    Have I been beaten

    nursemike replied to catz123's topic in General Nursing

    I agree with chicookie--you aren't beaten. Nursing programs are very competitive. If you were good enough to get in, you have a lot going for you. And while these are difficult economic times, that's...
  4. nursemike

    help?! PEG tube incident

    nursemike replied to morningloryRN's topic in General Nursing

    As you undoubtedly realize, assuming anything is risky. However, I often see patients with meds ordered PO that are to be given by g-tube. Are you sure it was meant to be given PO? We usually get...
  5. nursemike

    Why am I taking another tb test??

    nursemike replied to adruiz01's topic in General Nursing

    A positive PPD with a negative X-ray shouldn't affect your chances of getting a license, or even of getting hired. It isn't all that uncommon. And while a confirmed diagnosis of active TB is never...
  6. nursemike

    Patient Complaints In Spite of Good Care

    nursemike replied to vivere's topic in General Nursing

    The thing about being dumped by a mean, ugly girlfriend (I suppose it's similar for boyfriends) is that you are bound to wonder, at some point, Gee, if she didn't want me, how big a loser must I be?...
  7. nursemike

    Tasers, Pepper Spray, and Attack Dogs...Has hospital security gone TOO far?

    nursemike replied to abbaking's topic in General Nursing

    Count me firmly among the fence riders on this one. Guess it depends a lot on location. It would be serious overkill at my facility, but in areas with a higher incidence of violent crime, I can...
  8. nursemike

    Measuring blood pressure

    nursemike replied to Moogie's topic in General Nursing

    The aides where I work routinely use automated machines for routine BPs, and will take them in just about any convenient extremity. Sometimes the upper arm is just not practical. Sometimes no part...
  9. nursemike

    Have you experienced bias from being a left-handed Nurse?

    nursemike replied to Hopetoheal's topic in General Nursing

    I'm so used to using a mouse right-handed that I can't do it left-handed. So, I was trying out my Dad's graphic tablet, one day, and found I can't use the pen left-handed, either. Freaks me
  10. nursemike

    Is it possible to work full time and become a nurse???

    nursemike replied to steelersfan39's topic in Men in Nursing

    Off-topic, but, Vikings are victims!
  11. nursemike

    Guy's ,have you been told this...

    nursemike replied to James Garrity's topic in Men in Nursing

    When I started in healthcare, my job actually was getting patients in and out of bed, taking them to tests, wheeling them out for discharge. After a time, I got pretty good at it. I remember...
  12. nursemike

    'Nuther dumb question........~~~

    nursemike replied to wje9516767's topic in Men in Nursing

    If you go into nursing looking for post-menopausal man-haters, you'll find them. If you go in open to learning, ready to accept people on their terms, willing to work hard and advocate for your...
  13. nursemike

    Have you experienced bias from being a left-handed Nurse?

    nursemike replied to Hopetoheal's topic in General Nursing

    The first IV I ever started, I started right-handed. I suppose it was what I was used to seeing. I didn't remember I was left-handed until it was time to screw the hub on. Blood everywhere! But...
  14. nursemike

    No BS, what's the reality of starting as an older male, with a previous degree?

    nursemike replied to wje9516767's topic in Men in Nursing

    Got my RN at 48, after seven years in healthcare in an unlicensed position. Big change from 25 years as a carpenter, but the time spent pushing beds was a helpful transition. On the whole, being a...
  15. nursemike

    Nurse being above emptying a foley catheter bag??!!

    nursemike replied to LPNfurever's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks. I didn't mean to make it a cna vs. nurse thing, either, only to say that we do sometimes delegate things we are perfectly capable of doing, with legitimate reasons. And I gotta admit, it was...
  16. nursemike

    Nurse being above emptying a foley catheter bag??!!

    nursemike replied to LPNfurever's topic in General Nursing

    In a little over four years as a nurse, I may have emptied 2-3 foley bags. It isn't beneath me, but the aides usually do it, and it's pretty rare that one needs emptied right away. I'll help a...
  17. nursemike

    I'm probably nuts for asking, but....

    nursemike replied to d'cm's topic in General Nursing

    Yellow dog Democrat (I'd vote for a yellow dog, if he ran as a Dem), chain smoker. (Trying to quit--smoking, that
  18. nursemike

    Can Someone Be a Nurse Without Jean Watson??

    nursemike replied to Q.'s topic in General Nursing

    I took this thread as an incentive to Google both Jean Watson and Dorthea Orem. I have to admit, my perspective as a working nurse is different from what it was as a student. In school, I could feel...
  19. nursemike

    Male in a female dominated field.. How bad is it really??

    nursemike replied to AVMadd's topic in Men in Nursing

    I was a carpenter for 25 years before entering healthcare, so it's a different world, for sure, but I like it. Frankly, I think what you see depends a lot on what you expect to see. I got into the...
  20. nursemike

    phenergan ivp into hand

    nursemike replied to newnurse012's topic in General Nursing

    I agree with all above, you did fine. But for future reference, don't overlook the possibility of starting a new site in a larger vein. It's a hassle, but it's something to at least consider. When...
  21. nursemike

    Medical Dosage Calculations - In Your Head or Calculator?

    nursemike replied to DoGoodThenGo's topic in General Nursing

    Paper towels. Unless it's just incredibly simple, like 50mg of a 100mg tablet. The most common calcs I do are heparin gtts, and I wouldn't trust a calculator or doing it in my head. Also, it's...
  22. nursemike

    Help!? Is $27,000 too much to LVN and RN school??

    nursemike replied to ladybugme!'s topic in General Nursing

    This is one of those questions each of us probably has to answer for ourselves, but I'm inclined to be a bit promiscuous with my advice. That sure sounds like a lot of money. Worth it? Well,...
  23. nursemike

    What should I expect in nursing school

    nursemike replied to hathead91's topic in Men in Nursing

    I was surprised in my first semester at how easy nursing school was. Then I was more rudely surprised in my second semester, when reality set in. I was talking, recently, to a recent grad from the...
  24. nursemike

    Sweat Shop

    nursemike replied to abbaking's topic in General Nursing

    A number of my coworkers are women about my age. I love them, but it can be an adventure. I remember in school being just about the only one who didn't agree that men go through menopause. (I'm...
  25. nursemike

    Should I go to work tomorrow

    nursemike replied to bunnie004's topic in General Nursing

    While I agree that protecting your patients is the most important reason to call off (with getting yourself seen by a doctor a very close second), staying home may also help keep your unit staffed....