Anna Flaxis

Anna Flaxis BSN, RN

Member

All Content by Anna Flaxis

  1. Random drug tests

    Anna Flaxis replied to roreyn02's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    No, occasional second hand marijuana smoke is not known to produce positive results on a

  2. When a patient states "something isnt right..."

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

    I think all you really can do is assess the patient, let them know that you're taking their concern seriously, and stay calm. I think it's worth noting if someone tells you this, but if your...

  3. Just a question to understand the ER better

    Anna Flaxis replied to sheilahdee's topic in Emergency

    OP, glad to hear your father had a good

  4. Just a question to understand the ER better

    Anna Flaxis replied to sheilahdee's topic in Emergency

    If it's full in the back, the triage nurse will call the charge nurse on the phone and let them know there is a "2" in the lobby, and where does the charge nurse want them? The charge nurse then has...

  5. Defibrillation question

    Anna Flaxis replied to amoLucia's topic in General Nursing

    I still love Scrubs,

  6. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    Ah, I see, that makes sense. Never thought of that! Still, you have the issue of needing a doctor's order for the ABG. If the doc won't order the ABG, then you're kind of stuck looking for venous...

  7. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    Agreed! I think it might also contribute to more good will and greater cooperation between the two

  8. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    Just saw this. At my facility, type and cross has to be two pink top tubes, the patient must have a blood band placed at the time of the draw, and the tubes must be labeled in a specific way, and it...

  9. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    And that's why continuing monitoring is so important. If a person is a retainer, you will see them go into narcosis. It's pretty obvious, and if you catch it quickly, it's not really not too hard to...

  10. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    My understanding is that the holdup was that the nurse needed to draw a type and cross, the existing 22g. would not draw, and the patient was a hard stick. It took a long time and a lot of work to...

  11. Defibrillation question

    Anna Flaxis replied to amoLucia's topic in General Nursing

    It is a good question. They do include razors in many AEDs, but if not, you should apply firm pressure when placing the pads. If the AED can analyze the rhythm, then you've made good

  12. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    Yes, we definitely need more information. Keep in mind that in the ED, the primary focus is on stabilization and moving the patient to the next appropriate level of care, whether that is discharge...

  13. Just a question to understand the ER better

    Anna Flaxis replied to sheilahdee's topic in Emergency

    Based upon your description, I would have assigned him an ESI level of 2, because he is a high risk patient (ESRF on hemodialysis) experiencing cardiac symptoms (rapid heart rate [the throat...

  14. Defibrillation question

    Anna Flaxis replied to amoLucia's topic in General Nursing

    LOL, no, I didn't mean to imply that cost should be an issue during a resuscitation attempt! Most nurses who work in hospital EDs probably don't have to even think about cost or availability of...

  15. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

  16. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    The OP states in the orignal post that the patient already had 2 neb

  17. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    I bolded the part above that I have seen in my practice; typically for people with end stage COPD, or those on palliative care. I haven't often seen Ativan or morphine ordered in the ED to decrease...

  18. Defibrillation question

    Anna Flaxis replied to amoLucia's topic in General Nursing

    Which is fine if cost is not an issue (pads are expensive), and as long as you have two sets readily

  19. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    It sounds to me like the patient had already been seen by a physician. Antibiotics had been ordered, and the nurse had an order for a type and cross, and presumably, a transfusion. The ED physician...

  20. Defibrillation question

    Anna Flaxis replied to amoLucia's topic in General Nursing

    Dry shave with a disposable razor, or use clippers if your facility supplies them. Good skin contact is essential for effective defibrillation, and a little razor burn is the least of a pulseless...

  21. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    Correct. Which explains why the patient was dyspneic and anxious even with sats in the mid 90s. She was probably tachycardic as

  22. Immediate bedding

    Anna Flaxis replied to emtb2rn's topic in Emergency

    We're doing it. It works great when the census is low and you have lots of beds, but at peak flow times, I've seen the same problems mentioned already. It really stinks when you end up with someone...

  23. I feel so dumb... I got flustered - about a patient in respiratory distress

    Anna Flaxis replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    You needed a doctor, an RT, and another nurse or a tech in the room with you. That you were alone with this critically ill patient who needed interventions beyond your scope of practice and level of...

  24. "You look tired"

    Anna Flaxis replied to nickel78's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I interpret a comment like this from a patient as an attempt to show concern, and it shows that they see you as a human being, not just some faceless servant/robot/maid. I think that's a *good*...

  25. IV pain meds standards??????

    Anna Flaxis replied to jbluehorseh's topic in Patient Medications

    Not exactly. I agree that each person's experience of pain is indeed subjective. Some people can handle tremendous amounts of pain and won't even take a Tylenol. Some people are so pain sensitive...