nursemike ASN, RN

Rodeo Nursing (Neuro)

Member

All Content by nursemike

  1. nursemike

    Where do you go when you don't trust official data sources?

    Hey now, y'all... But, yeah.
  2. nursemike

    Where do you go when you don't trust official data sources?

    I don't think it's coincidental that a lot of the voices against masks seem also to be against the vaccine.
  3. nursemike

    Where do you go when you don't trust official data sources?

    During the Winter, I noticed a mask was actually more comfortable when walking through the cold to and from my car. I also noticed not getting the flu or a bad cold this year. I haven't actually checked, but I think the backs of my ears have gotten t...
  4. nursemike

    New Nurse Struggling With Doctor Calls

    In school, when instructors spoke of "questioning a doctor's orders," it often sounded to me like they meant "challenging" or "doubting" a doctor's orders. I may have misinterpreted, but I have heard nurses doubt a doctor's judgement plenty of times,...
  5. nursemike

    Do nurses hate nursing?

    First year nurse: I don't know if I can do this. Second year nurse: I can do this! Third year nurse: Why am I doing this ? It's hard, even under the best of conditions, and the conditions I work under are about as good as they get. My ...
  6. nursemike

    Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring and COVID

    What kind of ratios are you running? Early in the pandemic, we were making all Covid patients 1:1. I believe that's still the case in our ICUs. It's a bear to staff, but there's just no substitute for eyes on a patient.
  7. nursemike

    NIHSS and Aphasia

    On the NIHSS, I would score exactly what happens during the assessment. It's important to be accurate, of course, but the stroke scale is only one tool. A patient who scores 4s on LUE and LLE but changes tv channels with left hand scores 4s with me, ...
  8. nursemike

    MEN, dont come into nursing

    I'm curious about what you've been doing to "climb ranks." I've had friends go into administrative positions--some into management, others into employee education, and a few lately have become NPs. Most seem motivated by a desire to improve things fo...
  9. nursemike

    Male Nurse Disgusted by Female Nurses

    I was a carpenter for many years, and I agree. In particular, I noticed that working on a smaller crew entailed much less of this than on a larger crew. A group of 30-40 people just seems more likely to include more jerks. When I decided to become a ...
  10. nursemike

    Depression + Anxiety as a Nurse

    If depression and/or anxiety were disqualifying, the nursing shortage would be truly epic. Whether we are more likely to be diagnosed because we are more attuned to our condition or more prone to mental illness because we are under so much stress, or...
  11. I've seen some single mom's get through nursing school--very difficult, but not impossible. It wasn't super easy for me working part time and raising cats. But if you can do it, it's not a bad way to make a decent living with hours that may be adapta...
  12. nursemike

    Male Nurse Disgusted by Female Nurses

    I have always been drawn to strong, smart, independent women. I am surrounded by them. I am in awe of them.
  13. nursemike

    Is my (50K) BSN worthless?

    Many of the problems you describe seem pretty universal, so try not to get too discouraged. I remember thinking nursing school taught me everything I need to know about a med, except how to open the package. The first year is pretty awful, for prett...
  14. nursemike

    Nurses on anti-depressants

    The point about the prospective pilot and the FAA interests me. It is a somewhat different matter than a prospective nurse. I agree with Here.I.Stand that a mental health diagnosis is a private matter, nor do I believe my history impairs me from my w...
  15. nursemike

    Nurses on anti-depressants

    I took Celexa for awhile, and it really helped me. Being the shy, private type, I told pretty much everyone I knew about it. I was astonished how many of my esteemed colleagues took antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds. I like to believe we are simpl...
  16. nursemike

    Useless Shift Report Information

    Once, after my annual physical, my doctor said, "Well, this is the part of the exam where I ask if you've been having any problems with ED." I was quite taken aback, but answered truthfully, "Well, their report's a bit sketchy, but I figure I'm going...
  17. I love my stupid job. It's hard, at times, and frustrating. Awhile back, I spent several months on the wrong side of the bedrails, and a year off on medical leave. Coming back to work, afterward, was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and I wa...
  18. nursemike

    Lindsey Runkel

    https://fox61.com/2019/05/19/uconns-first-paraplegic-nursing-student-inspires-students-and-faculty/ Posting a link to a news story I liked a lot. I'm really hoping she is successful.
  19. nursemike

    Struggles of being a male nurse

    There will always be things you "can't" do, or at least have a lot of trouble doing. Many won't have anything to do with your gender--we all have our strengths, and our weaknesses. Being male brings both. My best advice is just to be real. Can't tell...
  20. nursemike

    What might be going on?

    I nearly died, spent a year on medical leave, and had a very hard time coming back to work. Three years later, I'm still not entirely up to speed. I'm not saying it was worth all that to get out of doing charge. But, I'm not saying it wasn't.
  21. nursemike

    How did she/he get through nursing school?

    OK, I'll confess: I've wondered this at times, too. And I do get that this is a vent, and it does raise some useful questions about how nurses are being trained. But I see Triddin's point, too. My own perspective is that I was working in an unlicense...
  22. nursemike

    Having a "soft personality" make for a bad nurse?

    Hard steel takes a sharp edge, but it's brittle. Malleable (soft) iron won't hold an edge, but it's tough. You have to find a balance that works for you.
  23. The first thing a lawyer will tell you is not to communicate directly with them. The second thing is likely to be that you may be able to recover significant damages if they go forward with such an obviously unfounded accusation.
  24. nursemike

    How to handle condescending doctor

    I think it's important to recognize a difference between standing up for oneself and reacting defensively to criticism. Obviously, I couldn't hear the doctor's tone of voice, but I see nothing condescending in the statements quoted.
  25. nursemike

    Most Pressing Issues in Nursing Today

    BTW: I believe the multiple paths to entry into nursing are one of its greatest strengths. In a field comprised almost exclusively of white women, we are a lot more diverse than most people think, because we come from such varied backgrounds.