SWFlorida

This is how they present in triage. You note that they appear anxious, possibly in a bit of pain, sometimes they are very matter of fact. We've all seen em. Retained foreign object in various body cavities. Kids with beans up their noses, beads ...

Medicaid was a great idea when first introduced to assure that even the very poor could get quality health care. I just wonder when I see someone drive up in a newer car come up to the triage desk in designer clothes and lots of gold jewelry and the...

Ratings for SW Florida Hospitals that take in travelers Naples Hospital: High marks, treat travelers well, however this year they cut a lot of travelers contracts short by one month which messed a lot of nurses life plans. North Collier Hospital: T...

There are quite a few small books on ER nursing. These are very helpful to have. There are little pocket manuels which have the IV drips listed, how to calculate meds etc. Very helpful. I was in your exact spot 16 years ago, best move I ever mad...

Sounds like trouble and a lawsuit waiting to happen. Before I would go along with this I would ask for formal documentation from the hospital that this is in their policy. Is this person who is writing orders an MD?

If your looking for a job with top wages and extra time at home dont go into nursing. You will be disappointed. Get into it for the love of medicine and helping people. Wages are low and no real increase in the past ten years, and the future isn't...

What do the drug seekers coming into your ER ask for most? In our ER it seems to be Vicodin or oxycontin. What is their usual complaint? In our ER it usually is back pain with pain radiating down the leg. Sometimes they will limp. Do you have AN...

Less hospital admins around. Kind of nice! :)

I learned years ago the way to get the hospital admins attention is to write up the unit your working on as "unsafe staffing" and work under protest. This way you are not abandoning your post however you will not be held responsible for care under t...

Its like stealing from sick hospitalized children! How selfish can someone be???? :angryfire

His amonia level is high so of course he will have bad decision making. Its not like its going to get better. If he is into substance abuse this is where he will turn. This doesnt make him mentally ill, it is his medical condition. Sure he may ha...

Day shift spots come at a premium. Its only fair that they go to those who have been with the company longer. It makes the current staff very resentful when the manager will give a day slot to a new grad just to hire them in. There is nothing wron...

We now have to lock up the speculum lights, two have disappeared in the past month. ($180.00 each) People just get light fingered and want to take home toys. Keep an eye on eBay they usually end up there. Years ago someone came in the middle of ...

I have seen specialty areas that hire new grads in or those without experience and a large percentage don't make it. Its not worth the gamble to them. They will hire in a nurse who has several years in med surg in, they have gained observational ...

Tasers are good. Leaves those who are out of control incapacitated for a short term without any long term side effects. Most hospitals do have policies regarding loaded guns in ther facility. If this policy is ignored, or the facility isn't dilige...

And the government wonders why there is a Nursing Shortage?

The Health Insurance crisis in this country should not be happening. More and more people are finding themselves without health insurance at no fault of their own. Why is it that our country will extend full health care benefits to illegal aliens wh...

Medical problems fascinate them, thats usually what draws them into the field. I work with one, when he starts his antics I envision the huge cross outside the hospital. One day I am going to bring in a ladder to facilitate him climbing up onto thi...

They sound very immature and insecure. Give your report and go on about your own business. If you are having problems with this duo others are also. Its amazing how nurses of this type just don't have the longevity of the patient and careful ones.

Make a vow to learn something new everyday. Even if that "something new" is to "never do that again" I've been a nurse for 22 years and look back on those med surg days with fondness. You gain your intuition and observational skills on med surg as...

I work at the Bon Secours St Josephs Hospital in Punta Gorda, Fl The majority of the staff showed up for Hurricane Charley per the hospitals emergency plan. We had the Storm team and the after storm team. The hospital was totally unprepared. The...

What has been your experience with this? Our hospital has started encouraging the pts family to be in the room during a code. They say that they are more accepting of the outcome if they are present. Perhaps its that they can see that everything w...

They are an everyday event in almost every ER around the country. What is the drug of choice in your area? I've noticed around here it is Vicodin. Our latest little treasure was an ex RN who was a daily event in our ER. She would come in compl...

With the Memorial Holiday over it is now the official beginning of summer time vacation. Time for the family to hit the road, the skies or the boats. But what to do with Gramma? Lets take her to the ER. She hasn't appeared "quite right" lately...

These trivial complaints are generally not covered by any form of insurance and even medicaid is cracking down on non emergent visits. The patients are usually very angry when they receive a bill for $600.00 in the mail. More and more hospitals are...