nursemike ASN, RN

Rodeo Nursing (Neuro)

Member

All Content by nursemike

  1. nursemike

    Religion Needed to be a Good Nurse?

    nursemike replied to Kabin's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    I confess, I haven't taken the trouble to look it up, but I was shocked, years ago, to learn that long before Marx, Thomas Jefferson described religion as the opium of the masses. I wasn't going to...
  2. nursemike

    New male thinking about nursing

    nursemike replied to 2bnurseguy_2005's topic in Men in Nursing

    You're obviously not at all well, mentally. You'll probably love it. You'll probably kick yourself and feel like giving up at some point, but hang in there. Once you slide into full-blown dementia,...
  3. nursemike

    New male thinking about nursing

    nursemike replied to 2bnurseguy_2005's topic in Men in Nursing

    I've been a nurse for about six months, and it just totally sucks. I work three 12-hour shifts, and while I do usually spend a good part of my first day off sleeping, I find that I have a lot of free...
  4. nursemike

    Am I Cut Out For This?

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

    Hey, nutrix, glad you're feeling better. I think the switch to nights is going to help you some. Passing 20 zillion meds is definitely less hectic than 100 zillion meds, it's less crowded, fewer...
  5. nursemike

    Am I Cut Out For This?

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

    Nice posts, Daytonite and Tweety. You both make a lot of sense, and yet there are some serious differences there, aren't there? No wonder it's so darned confusing to us newbies! I'm coming up on...
  6. nursemike

    Question About a CVA

    nursemike replied to Janinern84's topic in General Nursing

    I checked the Taber's on my PDA, and it mentions that proximal muscles (shoulder, hip) may be more affected than distal (hands, feet) which sounds consistent with your
  7. nursemike

    Question About a CVA

    nursemike replied to Janinern84's topic in General Nursing

    Do you mean hemiparesis (paralysis)(oh--I see you said trouble walking) or hemiparesthesia (numbness)? Either way, it's likely to be in the cerebral cortex, in the frontal and/or parietal lobe. That...
  8. nursemike

    I had some trouble with a CNA...should I talk to the manager?

    nursemike replied to bth44's topic in General Nursing

    Just to clarify, I don't mean it's okay to "take it to the next level," just that one shouldn't be surprised. To get a little pedantic, there is under law the concept of "fighting words," that are so...
  9. nursemike

    I had some trouble with a CNA...should I talk to the manager?

    nursemike replied to bth44's topic in General Nursing

    i am not a battery victim. i don't commit acts of violence or condone acts of violence. i do believe there are words one can speak which can provoke violence. there are things i don't say because i...
  10. nursemike

    I shaved off a patient's mustache. Was I wrong?

    nursemike replied to NebbyLPN's topic in General Nursing

    I'm 49. I started growing my moustache in the 8th grade. By the time I was a junior in high school, other people could tell I was growing a moustache. I wouldn't want it shaved off without my...
  11. nursemike

    Night Nurses: Why Do You Work Nights?

    nursemike replied to tattooednurse's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I took nights/weekends because I thought it was my best shot of getting 3x12 right away--then realized I would make an extra $5K/yr! I'm not a morning person--my natural clock seems to run for 3-11,...
  12. nursemike

    attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

    nursemike replied to Jhanez_k2p's topic in Men in Nursing

    I've run into only a couple pts who asked for a female nurse, and a couple who prefered a more experienced nurse. Gave up one female after consulting my charge nurse--she had no objection, but we...
  13. nursemike

    When does it all start to come together?

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

    About August, 2006. I did a 2yr ADN program, and the 2nd year was a big improvement over the first--finally starting to "think like a nurse" a little bit, but orientation felt a lot like back to...
  14. nursemike

    What's a new employee called that is on orientation

    nursemike replied to Tweety's topic in General Nursing

    I had a job once that required periodic observation of skills, so people had to get "observated." I tend to refer to new people as orientals, but it hasn't gained wide acceptance, for some reason....
  15. nursemike

    new nurse-i feel useless when a code is called.

    nursemike replied to JulieRN07's topic in General Nursing

    My nurse manager gave me this same advice, and I think it's brilliant! Haven't had occassion to implement it, yet (and would be delighted if I never do) but I've assisted marginally in codes as a...
  16. nursemike

    are male nurses satisfied with their jobs, and salaries?

    nursemike replied to Alexbk44's topic in Men in Nursing

    I have to agree with Hodge that you'll (generally) never get rich being a nurse. Opportunities abound to make a decent living, but big bucks are less typical. I've known floor nurses in my area...
  17. nursemike

    are male nurses satisfied with their jobs, and salaries?

    nursemike replied to Alexbk44's topic in Men in Nursing

    On the other hand, a guy I graduated with in May isn't loving bedside nursing all that much and has been looking into a job as a pharmaceutical sales rep, which will pay six figures. There are a...
  18. nursemike

    are male nurses satisfied with their jobs, and salaries?

    nursemike replied to Alexbk44's topic in Men in Nursing

    I think it depends a lot on where you're starting from. I was a carpenter for many years before I went into healthcare. The hourly rates for carpenters and nurses are comparable--nursing is a little...
  19. nursemike

    "Just" a nurse? You can do so much better!

    nursemike replied to Mirai Kangofu's topic in General Nursing

    This isn't a problem I've run into a lot. Most of the people who matter to me are proud of my going back to school and getting my ASN, and respect my choice to be a nurse. A few nurses I know have...
  20. nursemike

    Let's introduce ourselves...

    nursemike replied to pedi-RN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Hi, and welcome! I'm in much the same boat, except that I'm 49. I work on a neuro floor, rather than ER. And since I'm working these things out myself, I can't offer much sage wisdom. For what it's...
  21. nursemike

    question-need to clear myself on this now or it'll bother me

    nursemike replied to sweetieann's topic in General Nursing

    That was my thinking, too. If the pump is inadequate, there are organs more vital than the leg. I'm a little perplexed on the DVTs, myself. It seems like if a clot has formed, you wouldn't want it...
  22. nursemike

    lpn license

    nursemike replied to sassysammi13's topic in General Nursing

    My ASN program did (does) a criminal background check on all students. If you pass that, you should be okay. If your program doesn't do one, or do it early enough, she might be prudent to contact...
  23. nursemike

    Officially off orientation!

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

    Congratulations--and to myself, as well! I start my first solo shift in 5 hours. Neuro/neurosurg. Never thought I'd make it this far, but here we are. I hope I don't pee myself. Our max is 6...
  24. nursemike

    Question: Is it too late for me to go to nursing school in my mid 40s?

    nursemike replied to Charity1230's topic in General Nursing

    I graduated at 48, turned 49 during orientation. Juggling school and work was tough. Learning a new job has been tough. Frankly, if waiting until I got younger would make it a little easier, I would...
  25. nursemike

    Any black male nurses out there?

    nursemike replied to Spoiled1's topic in Men in Nursing

    Yeah, just kidding. Not really meaning to be sarcastic, though--just a play on words. I'm not someone who gets too bent out of shape over the "male nurse" label, although I can understand the angst....