Lysa

I would love to just have five patients. A typical day could be anywhere from six to eight to start. However, I saw myself go through 14 pts. one day. Don't ask me what any of their names were!

possibly saskatoon. where are you?

Can anyone tell me what the pay scale is like for saskatchewan nurses? thanks

I don't think it makes a difference what color you wear...it dosn't change the care you give to your pts. At our hospital, they want all nurses to be in white by the year 2005. I have alot of uniforms that are colorful and will still be wearable by that time. I don't see them offering to by ME new uniforms to accomidate their dress code. Not to mention white underwear! Besides, I don't have that much confidence in "Always" to be in white all the time if you know what I mean!!

give me an example..

What do nurses make in the US?

It's all gross! Funny story...A student was giving me a report at the end of her shift and she was describing the ng output..she said it was pinkish..cause for concern...indeed until I found out that the NPO pt snuck a cherry popsicle!!

Canadian nurse...I remove it all too. It is a nursing task that we were all tought how to do. If you are unsure, review your policy and procedure manual

All I can say is I thought I had it bad!! This is very unsafe practice! Think about your licence! So you fill out professional practice reports when this happens? what about your union?

I'm from New Brunswick, Canada. Yes we remove JPratts,Hemovacs, Central Lines and Epidurals. The only thing we havn't been delegated to remove are chesttubes...but who knows..one more thing for a doc to dump on us!

On my unit we have a step down unit with three beds and one nurse. This is where our epidural pts go post-op. They are monitered here for at least the first 24 hrs. VS are as follows: post-op-B/P, P, R, and T, sedation level, SpO2 q 1h x8h then B/P, P, R, T q4h (R q1h-SpO2 q2h). The main complication has been over sedation(R @5-6/min). Ok after narcan.

by basil rate, do you mean bolus? Usually the patient gets a bolus in the RR then when they come to the unit their PCA is usually set for 1-2mg of morphine q 5-6min depending on the anethetist. However, a PCA is never used for a lap chole or lap appy. On our unit they are mostly used for major abd. surgeries or orthos.

We use the VAC system often where I work but now that I look at the pictures, I realize that the wound isn't really that big and the VAC system in this case wouldn't be used. If you want to learn about vacumn assisted closure, go to http://www.kci1.com. By the way, we use maggots alot too for debridement. We have them sent to us from California. I remember the first time we used them, they all got loose out of the dressing that was on the knee...let's just say they made their way "up hill"!! Gross!!

what about a VAC system?

I had a patient tell me that I bring sunshine into his heart.

Last time I checked they didn't sign my paycheque. They are an employee just like you. Don't let a screaming doc at three am frighten you..after all you're calling him in the best interest of his patient. That's your job! And it's his to take the call. Simple as that!

For us (New Brunswick, Canada) Nurses week is next week. We take it upon ourselves to have a big party every year...supper, band, dancing and lots to drink!! A good time is had by all. Or at least we think we all had a good time (from what we can remember!) LOL

I am working with a very short tempered male nurse. Most of us are terrified of him. Several complaints were made about him. Surprise,surprise he's still around. What do we do now? Any thoughts?

a complete physical exam should have been done-yes-but to cancell surgery over a zit? How bizarre!

We had a patient recently with empyema and had to irrigate her chest tube twice a day with one half saline and peroxide??? Ever heard of that?

Has anyone ever irrigated a chest tube in pts. with empyema? If so what are the risks and/or complications?