melsch

melsch has 16 years experience and specializes in Hospice Palliative Care.

Latest Activity

1. Advice on creepy doctors?

   melsch replied to carterr's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

   You are in Canada, get your union rep involved right away. They are your best protection. Don't worry about losing your job, labour laws will protect you, but document everything and try not to go...

2. consientious nursing

   melsch replied to emmie santos's topic in General Nursing

   I am not sure what you mean by intellectual disabled, but I work in a palliative inpatient unit and from 7 am to 11 pm we have 1 RN, 1 LPN, and 1 Care Aide for 12 patients. From11 pm to 7 am we have...

3. Patients who die right after the family leaves the room.

   melsch replied to nitenite's topic in Hospice, Palliative

   Often patients wait until they are alone to die. I have even encouraged family to leave for an hour or so if a patient seems to be hanging on for some reason to see if possibly it is just that they...

4. Inpatient center patient load

   melsch replied to hospicernva's topic in Hospice, Palliative

5. I don't know how you nurses deal with death

   melsch replied to Poochiewoochie's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

   I work in hospice and I think your perspective changes when you deal with death on a regular basis. I don't see death as a bad or awful thing for the patient, I see death as something normal that...

6. Night shift and daylight savings....

   melsch replied to mappers's topic in General Nursing

   We used to do that, but now we get paid for the hours worked. It is much better and no one gets short changed as it never worked out

7. Allergic to Morphine Sulfate but on Hospice Care

   melsch replied to payang0722's topic in Hospice, Palliative

   The pt was probably dying anyway, and didn't die from an allergic reaction, but we always use a lower dose of dilaudid rather than morphine if they say they have an allergy to morphine. If the...

8. Mandatory Flu Vaccines- How do you feel?

   melsch replied to Snowbird17's topic in Disaster Preparation

   My employer mandated we get the shot this year, or wear a mask at all times from December until march. I figured it would be easier to get the shot than have a mask on at all times. I got the shot...

9. Bowel regimen

   melsch replied to cmanurse2004's topic in Hospice, Palliative

   This is our protocol: Has there been a BM within the last 48 hours? If yes give two sennosides 8.5mg at hs. If NO, give two sennosides 8.5mg twice a day. If BM within 24 hours continue and...

10. Sympathy strike...would you do it??

    melsch replied to notachargenurse's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    Where I live nurses are considered an essential service which means we are not allowed to reduce our numbers below what is considered enough staff to look after the patients. What we have done is...

11. is this a nursing trick you would use?

    melsch replied to onthejourney's topic in General Nursing

    We do this as well. And if a patient has a gown on we sometimes place the top sheet under the gown, next to the patient. Don't tie it or it could be a restraint. It doesn't always keep them from...

12. inpatient hospice nurse/pt ratio

    melsch replied to clite's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I am in a stand alone inpatient hospice. We have a mix of end of life, respite, and symptom management patients. We have two 12 bed units. Day and evening shifts have an RN, LPN, and a care aide,...

13. Any techniques for cleaning feces off of a patient?

    melsch replied to Nerd5000's topic in General Nursing

    I have to agree with the shaving cream suggestion. It really works. Put some on your cloth and start cleaning. Once the fecesis all soft just wipe it off and give the a rinse with clear

14. Hypothetical Ethical Issue

    melsch replied to Pepper The Cat's topic in General Nursing

    I asked myself the same question as I work in hospice and wondered what I would do if he was in our facility. We did have a man who raped and murdered a young girl a while ago and I just looked at it...

15. Alberta Casual in lieu of benefits rate

    melsch replied to Stephanita's topic in International Nursing

    I work in BC, but it seems our collective agreements are similar. I don't believe you qualify for any health benefits, but you would get paid out your vacation pay. The Royal Alex falls under the...