Pappilli0n

I started taking classes at age 37 and graduated at age 41. My goal was for a better second income for my family with three young children. After that having been said, after being a nurse for 18 years it came down to dreading the getting up each morning when others were still sleeping, but once I was AT work, I was fine. I loved nursing. I think too, knowing that all the other staff had the same dread of the alarm clock, helped push me along. Once there, we'd all give ourselves a few minutes to "adjust" and then the day/evening/night went forward and things became okay. We worked for a wonderfully innovative hospital and our doctors were tops in their fields and the patients were in need of our specialized care. It wasn't all bad. When you can witness a "miracle" every month or so, it was all okay with the world again.

not sure what a "mickey button" is but I'll assume it has something to do with a feeding tube...either the doctor needs to change the prescription or the pharmacy might could suggest a generic to the med or saline vs. water flush or coke flush, or you give it bit by bit with LOTS of water (IF the doctor says that's okay for the patient's wellbeing). Just remember, keep the patient's wellbeing at the top of your list and good luck.

I don't think being out of one's uniform suddently depletes your ability of helping someone. Probably the next time, telling someone else "in uniform" where the article is may be the more prudent thing to do and avoid any future doubts on your part.

Sounds like your hospital knows a good thing when they see it and don't want to encourage transferring from a no doubt busy floor to another area of the hospital. You must remember when you do go to a new and highly skilled area to work there will be an orientation and training period....use this time and learn and practice as much hands on as will be allowed. You'll "get there" and will even feel good in your own skiin in a few months....maybe even in a year.

Until a nurse realizes that she/he "knows what they know and are willing to learn whatever else there is to learn" she/he will continue to be a ball of nerves at their jobs. We all graduated from a nursing school and we all passed Boards.....WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW.....believe it and live it!!

I can understand where this nurse is coming from, BUT, way back then we were not aware of the bugs out there. PLUS, the medical field has changed so much and so have the bugs. Sounds like that nurse is on a "death wish" trail.

"What goes around, comes around."

Was given Compazine IVP in the ER one time. I thought my hand and lower arm would ache right off. The nurse either pushed it too fast or perhaps should have diluted it more with the IVF that were infusing. After that, I empathized a little more with my patients......ANYTHING going INTO a body is an INVASIVE procedure and great care should be taken to FIRST DO NO HARM

your religious quote has what to do with poo?

TMI!!

as they say, "better out than in!":clown:

Her Manager just told her she has to work the Christmas Holiday for the third year in a row. She has two small children at home and wants to be there with them on Christmas morning. But, no way......

Too much sexism here. A patient is a patient is a patient.....usually that term implies someone with a health problem or they wouldn't be there. Respecting that alone should rule the day. The Hospital sets the rules and the rules should reflect care and respect for the PATIENT.

Working on a cardiac surgery floor, we had patients waiting for heart transplants. Often times they were put on (attached via hoses) a left ventricular device. Had a woman who was waiting for a heart and attached to a VAD. One morning while attempting to pull the VAD and walk her to her bathroom one of the hoses got caught between the wheel and the body of the VAD, cutting off the assistance the machine afforded her. I sat her on a chair and RAN for help because I could not get the hose free. The other nurses saw the look on my face and came running! A younger nurse managed (with a lot of muscle) to free the hose without causing any other problems. BUT upon entering the room I'd found the patient had PASSED OUT and laying on the floor. I honestly thought I'd killed her! Another nurse seeing and hearing my distress, pushed her way to the patient and lifted her to the bed and another got me out of the room. I was hysterical and so ANGRY, not only at myself but at the machine! Of course EVERYONE, including the heart surgeon came in response to all this ordeal. First thing the doctor said was "I've been waiting for this to happen." Didn't make me feel better in the least......:redbeathe

Redraw and let's just wait for the lab results, The hemolyzed wasn't all that high anyways. When you hit the 6 level that's is perhaps a little different but I'd still wait for the lab results.

I'd always call the nurse at home to confirm the meds WERE given or WERE NOT given. Then, I'd put her initials followed closely by MY initials and I'd put my signature at the bottom or top of the med sheet. Meds being computerized now I'm not sure how it would work. Techniqcally the nurse should be FIRED yesterday!!

this is a quote I just made up...."UNTIL you grow eyes in the back of your head, be forever watchful over your shoulder." Like that?

"You never screw the hand that feeds you.":nurse:

One good thing about being retired.....you can control your own life without the ever present authoritarian rule of a nursing manager! My brain has finally quieted down and my dreams aren't as scarey anymore. I have come to grips with the fact that I am only human and have made my share of mistakes, but this I can say about my 20 years of nursing experiences.....I never killed anyone and I did my best every shift I worked, plus, I made it home safely each time.

Saying that nursing school was hard is such a cliche! I remember I had such a thirst to learn every word in the books and every word that came out of my instructors' mouths. Plus, I wanted a big old house in which to raise my family of three children.

Just a bump on the leg/arm can cause a little cellulitis that if left untreated and ignored can eventually develop into something this big. The poor, the elderly, the handicapped, the transiant are all possible victims of these kinds of wounds. Poor circulation, poor diet, poor medication are just a few of the underlying reasons.

You like to think that the people who are watching this particular video are mature enough to handle it and respond in a more ethical and professional manner....not. What also bothered me is the other portion of this extremity appears to be awfully dark? Wonder if an amputation was next.

When nurses want to take over a doctor's role I say nursing is in trouble. Nurses have a hard enough time taking care of their own roles:nurse:. The doctor's role is complete involvement with his patients and that means including the diagosis with each med ordered (I thought that was now a requirement). Nurses should never assume they know what's in a doctor's head or his/her reasoning for ordering a particular med. It may not happen today and may never happen but when a case is brought against a doctor or nurse or hospital you'd best be well documented for everthing that transpires around a particular patient. Cause and effect is what health care if all about. A nurse thinking she is just as "smart" (I like using the word INFORMED here) as a patient's doctor is on her way to trouble. Everyone should be responsible and held accountable for their own job. Let the doctor do his.

Read where MULTI-TASKING is NOT a good thing.....SO, what is the NEXT best thing? PRIORTORIZING!! Do it and make like a nurse.

Not knowing the full story re the DON's decision, it's difficult to give an opinion. BUT hypothetically let's say the DON had given the situation a good consideration. First, was there a back up for this person going home? PRN's have to be available in order to come on the spare of the moment (PERHAPS PRN'S NEED AN ON-CALL STATUS FOR SO MANY DAYS A MONTH). Second, an her work be absorbed by another current staff member. Third, was this a family member who was under the care of the staff member? Fourth, was this a pattern for this particular staff member? The longer you stay in nursing the more you will see certain staff making a pattern for themselves when it comes to taking time off. All these things MUST come into play when the DON makes her decision. It's nice if all that went into her/his making the decision, but don' count on it. Most DON's feel they have the weight of the world on their shoulders.....just ask one. Some days are better than some days, but not every day.