nurscee

The cheerleading dog was just tooo much!

I love House but Puleeeeezeee - the way they always snoop in people's homes and cars!

No one has answered so...I researched a little. It seems that leg cramps are common. However this lady has been this way for 2 days. Is it common to have them so bad you can't walk? Is dizziness common?

I am a telephone triage nurse. Very little experience with dialysis. I had a call yesterday from a man who said his wife gets dialysis 3 times a week. He said his wife has such bad leg cramps that she cannot walk at all. She also has the shakes and is dizzy. I asked if he called her dr. He said yes, the dr gave her neurontin for the shakes but it isn't helping. He also said the dr told him to buy an OTC for leg cramps. This man was calling me to ask the name of the OTC! I advised him to take her to ER right away. He said he could not carry her to the car, she cannot even stand up. I said call 911 - he said he would. I don't know much about dialysis, like I said. I have been a nurse less than 4 yrs. But I think it IS a big deal when they have these kinds of symptoms, right? Am I off base to think that their doctor is a :monkeydance: ?

Ohhhh, now I get it. Thanks!

Hi all, I'm a telephone triage nurse. I just recieved a call from a woman saying she was getting the new prep for colonoscopy. She says she is supposed to drink clear liquids until the test. (no enemas) She said tonight and in the morning she drinks one glass of normal saline and another in the morning. She says no, they don't give you that whole gallon of Golytely anymore. I'm confused. This is news to me. I'd like some clarification. Thanks!

*******sigh********* I agree. 32 yrs ago I was a Nursing Assistant in a large hospital. I didn't go to nursing school til I was 49yr old. What a change and a shock when I went back into the hospital! Nurses always worked hard, I knew that...but what happened to the phlebotomists, orderlies to lift and transfer, nursing assistants, and on and on... I know they are still there. But not nearly enough. I agree that someone is lining their pockets.

Yes, we have protocols that come up on our computers. But we can give any extra helps as long as it does no harm. Always looking. Think my place is a little more lenient. Sorry.

I was wondering if you have any additional home self care help for a cough. Here's basically what we say: Increase fluids, steamy shower trick, mucinex, cool mist vaporizer, warm apple juice for coughing spasms, hard candy.... any more tips you can share? (doesn't have to be coughing....we have a wealth of health tips between us...let's share) Thanks!

I am a telephone triage nurse. The work is WAY less stressful than the hospital. Of course, the pay is lower. But we still work hard. Nurses work too hard almost anywhere you go. Anyone who thinks hospital work is EASY is a GOOBER.

These are all the reasons I left hospital nursing. I took a major cut in pay, but for me it was worth it.

2 separate procedures for the same thing I woke up (?) and vaguely remember hearing someone hollering. I then realized it was me! And then I was put under again. Another time I woke up with a sore, swollen chin and injured hand after a colonoscopy. All 3 times I was put under with Versed. Never again will I let them use Versed on me.

50 when I went in. 52 years when graduated. What was I thinking???? :trout: (just kidding)

I suppose it depends on whether or not you shed a compassionate tear (not a bad thing to do) or disolve into boo-hooing (bad).

I am a 54yr old RN who is very fortunate to have a job as a telephone triage nurse. This has been a God send for me. I work 40hrs a week, and my days off are my days off. No reports to give, no charting to catch up on. I still feel as if I am helping people without the politics or backstabbing rat race that goes on in the hospitals.

My favorite line when a patient is afraid to show a private part is to tell them "It's just another face in the crowd."

I went to RN nursing school at 50yrs of age. (I'm 54) At this time I'm a Telephone triage nurse and love, love, love it! I was a CNA 33 yrs ago at a large hospital. I naively thought things were the same. Not! Gone were the orderlies who used to help us lift. Now it is a very lucky day if you have a CNA at all to help. Heck, you're lucky if you just barely have enough nurses! I couldn't believe all the insane charting that now has to be done to CYA! Long long hours. I loved the patients. Shame things have changed so much.

OMG This is cracking me up!!!!!!!!!!! I'm having the time of my life reading these.:roll :lol_hitti

I love it! I know there is a thread in Gen discussion for funny things. But calls are a little different than what I used to encounter in the hospital. Some of these calls do truly sound like prank phone calls. Here's one told to me that happened here: A man called and wanted to know if "Icorificeeheartsonmymama", nurse, "Hearts on your Mama?." He answered "Yes" (running all his words together, he once again asked..."CanIuseheartsonmymama." Upon further questioning it was discovered he wanted to know if he could use Hartz dog dip on his mother because she had fleas!

Oh my gosh, I just read it too. I am laughing out loud! Nurscee

Well, I have been working for about 2 mo as a telephone triage nurse. The same day I accepted this job I finally get a call from the public health dept. AAARRRGGG! Anyway, I love doing telephone triage. It is not high stress. Rarely do overtime. work 7 to 3 days. And it's fun. You never know what kind of call you will get. And it is real nursing without the high stress. Sorry it took me so long to post, but I just never heard anything from pub health. If hosp is stressful, consider telephone triage. Hugs! Nurscee

Hard on my family life. Saw several divorces that last semester in my class. Make time to be with those you love. Nurscee

I am so sorry about your experience. I never tell anyone I'm a nurse if it concerns my health care. Right now I'm going through several root canals and I certainly don't want them to know. (you got a follow up call from your root canal???? Wow...I'm impressed.) One night I rushed my postpartum daughter-in-law to ER. I was watching the monitor (her b/p was outta sight). My son thought it would be nice if the staff knew I was a nurse. Well, off went the monitor, and I was no longer informed of her condition after that. Anyway, what happened to you is a good lesson for us all. I'm sure it will make you a better nurse in the long run (if that's any comfort). And BTY the movie about the dr turned patient is excellent! Hugs, Nurscee

I haven't been at this very long, but already am surprised at some of the funny calls. Would like to read yours.

I've been at this for a couple of months now. Basically, I love it. I think I've truly found my niche and encourage any nurse who is burned out by the hospital rat race to give this a try. It doesn't pay as much, but I don't care. I don't go home stressed out and physically spent. Most of the time people really appreciate us. There is the occasional cranky person. I just tell myself that at least they aren't going to be my patient for a week! Anyone who thinks this isn't real nursing has another thing coming. It really stretches your brain. Hugs to all, nurscee