nursemike ASN, RN

Rodeo Nursing (Neuro)

Member

All Content by nursemike

  1. nursemike

    What a nursing environment can be

    nursemike replied to nursemike's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Thanks for the replies. I didn't mean to say I planned to make nursing my whole life, but several of you have prompted me to realize avoiding that may not be something that just happens. Nursing can...
  2. nursemike

    Help! What is the line where family members are banned from the facility?

    nursemike replied to InSaneMembraine's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I am a hospice customer. I've not been entirely thrilled about the care my father has received. As a nurse, with real effort, I can step back just enough to recognize I'm not in my right mind, nor am...
  3. nursemike

    Would you do this?

    nursemike replied to TX.RN.Shannon's topic in General Nursing

    I actually agree, but I've seen a bit too much of the other extreme, like nurses paging at 0300 for colace. The "that's what they're getting paid for" argument is valid up to a point, but part of we...
  4. nursemike

    Would you do this?

    nursemike replied to TX.RN.Shannon's topic in General Nursing

    I do have to be aware of aspiration risk, since I take care of a lot of stroke patients, but if he's clear for other p.o. meds, Tylenol should be okay. I'm not unreservedly endorsing the OP's...
  5. nursemike

    Would you do this?

    nursemike replied to TX.RN.Shannon's topic in General Nursing

    Just curious: What could happen? Pharmacologically, I
  6. nursemike

    Nurse with potty mouth.

    nursemike replied to Born2BWild's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Some of my coworkers are devoutly religious. Well, for all I know, most of them may be, but a few are more public about it. As a general rule, I manage not to swear in front of them, or in front of...
  7. nursemike

    Feeling like a failure most days

    nursemike replied to *4!#6's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I've seen the same thing, from time to time, so no apology needed. I've also had patients who've said they would rather "hold it" until the female aide could get to them--although most are more than...
  8. nursemike

    Feeling like a failure most days

    nursemike replied to *4!#6's topic in First Year After Licensure

    A thing that helps a little with prioritizing that might sound wrong right out of school is considering how long a task may take. I can pass a pain pill pretty quickly, but assessing a new patient...
  9. nursemike

    Low blood sugar, juice or D50?

    nursemike replied to mappers's topic in Diabetes, Endocrine Nursing

    Thank you. If I could just keep my own A1c in single digits, I'd feel like bragging. I recently treated a pt for "hypoglycemia" of 75 (wasn't dying, of course, but felt crappy) and I was pretty proud...
  10. nursemike

    Low blood sugar, juice or D50?

    nursemike replied to mappers's topic in Diabetes, Endocrine Nursing

    Got curious one night and read some labels. Amp of D50 and 4oz OJ are very similar amounts of carbs. Don't add sugar to the OJ, it's overkill. And D50 through a peripheral is nothing to be taken...
  11. nursemike

    Nurse handing you a coke?

    nursemike replied to Brian's topic in General Nursing

    Once, when I lived alone, I had the flu and my Dad came by to check on me, bringing a couple cans of chicken noodle and a cold 2L coke--no diet, the real stuff. Neither manna from heaven nor ambrosia...
  12. nursemike

    This is why I am an anxious wreck...

    nursemike replied to gorjos's topic in General Nursing

    I've had some nights, lately, when I've felt I had more than I could manage. It seems to me that a shift as bad as you describe as a rare (once every year or two) emergency, or a string like I've been...
  13. nursemike

    Doc Wannabe?

    nursemike posted a topic in Men in Nursing

    Another poster suggested this thread: Did you (or do you) want to be a doctor? I never did, but since I've been in nursing school, I've begun to think if I were younger, I would think hard about it....
  14. nursemike

    Doc Wannabe?

    nursemike replied to nursemike's topic in Men in Nursing

    I'd like to second the "nice thread drudge." It's interesting to see what I posted years ago with today's eyes. Six years as a nurse has taught me a lot, not least of which is a ton of respect for...
  15. nursemike

    Anyone familiar with Morgantown hospitals? I need info.

    nursemike replied to glutton4punishment's topic in General Nursing

    ADN and diploma both OK. Need BSN for much beyond bedside, MSN for
  16. nursemike

    Anyone familiar with Morgantown hospitals? I need info.

    nursemike replied to glutton4punishment's topic in General Nursing

    Hi. Haven't been on in awhile, and haven't looked at WV forum even longer. Have to get around to that. Morgantown is a nicer town than it looks. Low crime rate, decent schools. Housing is cheaper than...
  17. nursemike

    First patient death at change of shift...feeling like a failure

    nursemike replied to Little_Mouse's topic in General Nursing

    I'm sorry for your loss, but it wasn't your failure. It would make a nicer story to be able to say you held her hand as she passed, but the reality is, other patients needed you, too. I don't think...
  18. nursemike

    Will the nursing shortage ever end?

    nursemike replied to hopeless romantic's topic in General Nursing

    I plan to clock out and go on comfort measures on my last day at work. Not so much because I want to. I'll retire today if someone will just give me a bunch of money. But I continue to waste money...
  19. nursemike

    More attractive grads have better chances of getting hired?

    nursemike replied to AddisonLawrence03's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I've been seeing these reports for decades, but I've never been interested enough to check whether there have been numerous studies or one study long ago reported over and over in the news. Either...
  20. nursemike

    Will the nursing shortage ever end?

    nursemike replied to hopeless romantic's topic in General Nursing

    The recent scorching weather in my area is not proof that global warming is real, and the cold weather back in January doesn't prove it's false. Two things about the nursing shortage: a.) it isn't...
  21. nursemike

    Time to call a duck a duck?

    nursemike replied to eriksoln's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Over the course of this discussion, I think I have become thoroughly agnostic on the professional status of nursing. There are surely qualities than could be described as professional that are...
  22. nursemike

    when the day shift arrives

    nursemike replied to nightengalegoddess's topic in General Nursing

    I've started telling them they have it a lot easier, since their patients sleep all day. Some get the joke. Some
  23. nursemike

    Do hospitals incur a net gain or a net loss from the training of a new graduate RN?

    nursemike replied to WDM08002's topic in First Year After Licensure

    so, is the problem the new nurses, or the system that treats your (our) profession as a stepping-stone? two of my newest co-workers are getting experience in med/surg so they can go into critical...
  24. nursemike

    Do hospitals incur a net gain or a net loss from the training of a new graduate RN?

    nursemike replied to WDM08002's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Training new nurses is assuredly an expense. I think whether it is a net loss or net gain depends a lot on a.) whether we're successful and b.) how long a view we're taking. On my floor, orientation...
  25. nursemike

    Feels like a slap in the face...

    nursemike replied to MECO28's topic in General Nursing

    It might not hurt to look for positions on other units, too. Going from aide to RN can present some challenges, along with the advantages. If you tend to be shy or reserved, it could be...