Anna Flaxis

Anna Flaxis BSN, RN

Member

All Content by Anna Flaxis

  1. Bullied by CNAs?

    Anna Flaxis replied to needsassistance's topic in General Nursing

    I'm pretty sure management is well aware of the problem, and as it has been allowed to continue, there is no fixing it until you have the backing of management. In my mind, you have three choices: 1)...

  2. How do you deal with Munchhausen-type pts?

    Anna Flaxis replied to mmc51264's topic in General Nursing

    I've had many patients over the years with various attention seeking behaviors. I treat them the same as any patient- address their symptoms, explain the rationales for each diagnostic and treatment,...

  3. Are ER Patients Getting More Ridiculous?

    Anna Flaxis replied to us2uk4u's topic in Emergency

    I utilize the Moderate Universal Pain Assessment Tool we have in our triage area. It really comes in handy to give people a visual reference for what I am asking them. It includes the Wong-Baker...

  4. ER wait times

    Anna Flaxis replied to kp1987's topic in Emergency

    I usually say something like "I wish I could tell you, but then I might be a liar. The person who has been here longest has been here X

  5. Are ER Patients Getting More Ridiculous?

    Anna Flaxis replied to us2uk4u's topic in Emergency

    "If that bullet lacerated your femoral artery, then you will need rapid blood transfusion so you don't bleed out and die, in which case a bigger IV, like a 14g., would be better. But I'm going to...

  6. Dressing question

    Anna Flaxis posted a topic in General Nursing

    I posted this in the Wound Care forum, but I'm not getting any replies, so I thought I'd post it here. Recently I worked with a nurse who placed a wet to dry dressing over a closed, non-draining skin...

  7. SC Nurse in ER... love it but drowning... ANY tips would be helpful

    Anna Flaxis replied to EdwardsRN89's topic in Emergency

    That's a lot of territory to cover in your post. I will say that Meditech has got to be one of The.Least.Intuitive.Programs out there. I don't envy you having to use it. It's horrible. All I can...

  8. Patients allowed to go outside and smoke???

    Anna Flaxis replied to JackiRN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I pick my battles. Honestly, of all the addictions I've dealt with as a nurse, tobacco is The Absolute Worst. Opioids, just give them some Dilaudid and they're happy. ETOH, just give them some...

  9. Stuck in Nurse Position

    Anna Flaxis replied to Neldi's topic in General Nursing

    You absolutely have a chance. Just keep

  10. RN never feels guilty when calling out

    Anna Flaxis replied to Sasha100's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    ​Alluding.

  11. RN never feels guilty when calling out

    Anna Flaxis replied to Sasha100's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Well, we can't give legal advice on this forum, but I will say that because you are in healthcare, OSHA would rather you didn't go to work with a contagious illness like Norovirus, and additionally,...

  12. RN never feels guilty when calling out

    Anna Flaxis replied to Sasha100's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Don't confuse my feeling empathy for my team mates who will have to work short if I call in with going to work sick. I will not go to work sick- I call in, and you should, too. I simply feel a...

  13. RN never feels guilty when calling out

    Anna Flaxis replied to Sasha100's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I work per diem, and so if I'm working, it's either because someone is out on vacation or FMLA or called out sick. If I call out sick, there is not likely to be anyone who can cover my shift. I work...

  14. Taking care of DNR patients. The point?

    Anna Flaxis replied to cholmes1223's topic in General Nursing

    Because, as has been stated repeatedly, DNR does not equal Do Not Treat, and you can treat rhythm changes. Maybe the person is not actively dying, and would like their rapid A-Fib controlled. If the...

  15. Taking care of DNR patients. The point?

    Anna Flaxis replied to cholmes1223's topic in General Nursing

    I work in Emergency, and it is not at all unusual to receive DNR patients. In my state, we have a POLST registry, which allows people to choose different levels of intervention. They can choose to...

  16. I suck

    Anna Flaxis replied to Sadie85's topic in Operating Room

    I think if you're feeling this way after two years, maybe it wouldn't hurt to try something different. Have you considered PACU? And by the way, I doubt that you suck.

  17. Correcting low sodium too quickly

    Anna Flaxis replied to Birdy2's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    If the person is older and on diuretics or has other comorbidities, it's safe to assume the hyponatremia is chronic and to treat it as such. Sometimes, however, it can be assumed that it is acute, as...

  18. Sleep/dreams

    Anna Flaxis replied to MassED's topic in Emergency

    I have occasionally had lucid dreams, but I have never "sleepwalked" to my knowledge. Sometimes I have stress dreams, where I can't get to work on time, or there is a patient in a room that I didn't...

  19. triage and family

    Anna Flaxis replied to canoehead's topic in Emergency

    Obviously the first strategy is to let the family know that I need for the patient to answer my questions, as it is part of my assessment. There are times, however, when cultural considerations come...

  20. ESI Triage Question

    Anna Flaxis replied to widi96's topic in Emergency

    I would triage the patient in question based on what I first see- with the caveat that I will take into consideration the patient's presentation in the field as well as their risk of deterioration....

  21. Haldol IV?

    Anna Flaxis replied to RelleyRN's topic in Patient Medications

    Yes, you can give Haldol IV- it is an off label use, but it's not uncommon. 2mg over two hours is not a huge dose. It sounds like a possible dystonic reaction, but it's hard to say. I have had...

  22. Patient Safety Question/Nurses Conduct

    Anna Flaxis replied to ChrisMonty's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I think you are assuming that the comment was made as retaliation for the patient's behavior, but you don't really know what was happening behind that curtain. As others have stated, if the patient...

  23. I made a big mistake

    Anna Flaxis replied to Birdy2's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I'm gonna go with the others and say it wasn't the Xanax- and, you responded appropriately. Now get some

  24. I made a big mistake

    Anna Flaxis replied to Birdy2's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    That nurse is an idiot for making a comment like

  25. Blue Pigtail on Nasogastric Tube

    Anna Flaxis replied to mikeynizm's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Surgeons throw hissy fits from time to time. Don't let it shake your confidence in yourself. The patient was not harmed, and you learned a good lesson to double and triple check next time. Move...