Squeeta2

Thanks for all the positive thoughts. If it was one place I knew would understand about the "Nurses" kid I knew it would be here! As for the helmets, we have a plethera of them! I have shelves that are devoted to them. I worked for a long time on a vent unit and have seen many no helmet/seatbelt casualties. Unfortunately he got a case of let me show off it will never happen to me-itis, and Mom wasn't there to provide a spoonful of common sense. I was trying to picture a nurse coming at him with a leech, :rotfl: ended up spitting my coffee all over my shirt!!

Well I got to ge on the other side of the fence this past week. My 12 yo decided to leave just 1.0 cm of his ear attached, Fx a clavicle and a finger. How? On his bicycle!! We have dirt bikes, quads and jet skis..he did this doing jumps on his bike!! Thankfully ?? A stick pierced his ear & kept it in place until we got to the ER. After being transferred to a trauma center he recieved Hyperbaric Txs which I must say I was sceptical about...he is doing well. The ear is intact and hearing is fine. The tx's made an incredibly awesome difference, visibly after just 2 hours!! :balloons: Things I found interesting about this experience.... 1.) He refused his sisters request to go in the house until I arrived because he didn't "want to bleed on moms floors" even though he was shocky at 160/100 and shaking like a leaf on a tree in a wind storm. 2.) He did a crab walk up the gurney at the ED because the resident had on "dirty" gloves and insisted that he change his gloves before he touched him. It was Betadine on the gloves LOL :rotfl: Can you tell he is a Nurses son??!! 3.) Once the nurses at the recieving facility found out that I was a nurse they spent LESS time with him assuming that I would meet his needs. Even though I empasized that this was NOT my area and bowed to their knowledge. Anyway, he has one more reconstructive surgery to undergo...he is rather asymetrical at this time and then all will be well. Boys will be boys right?! So because his bike was wrecked we decided to buy another dependant on passing grades/catching up on schoolwork. What are ya gonna do? LOL Can I please stress the importance of helmets here? even on "just" a bicycle!!

My co-workers tell me that even if I didn't initial my IV dsgs they would know I was the one who started the IV... I still do old school chevron..loop..straight tape and then I cover with an opsite. It drives me crazy to see an IV site with massive amounts of tape to hold them down...peeling up anyway...and be unable to properly assess the site underneath. For example..if a site is gauzed down or has a white cloth tape down if the nurse who started it didn't note what gauge she started with & now I hafta run blood if I can't dress it down without losing the site I may hafta restick for no reason, not to mention the valuable time I lose if it IS the wrong gauge & I spend 10 mins trying to peel down layer on layer of tape...I coulda had another one in and the fluids infusing! OK..OK...LOL...I geuss it's a personal peeve!

The only time I have ever seen a pt refusal that was acceptable was: 1.) The nurse knows or is related to the pt & it would be uncomfortable for either one or both to accomodate the assignment. 2.) As previously stated, a multiple request/needy pt assigned over a period of time that for mental health reasons ( STRESSED ) nurse needs a reprieve.

Definitly fits the bill for depraved indifference. BUT...throw in the Hx of mental illness & you have a very twisted and sorrowful case. Jail is not the place for her, psych hospital yes. Perhaps she was off her meds r/t the pregnancy..or on less effective ones for the same reason. Who knows? Were there indicators? Yes. We can't change the past though just use it as a lesson learned albeit an expensive one morally speaking. I hope that the healthcare PROFESSIONALS are taking an active stance on her tx, not a judgemental one. God Bless the little children of the world. Give those involved in her care the strength to do so.

How about "I can't pee in a cup" Guess what? I can help, let me go grab a catheter Mr.Man...I'll be right back. Please note gleam in eye... Why don't you give it just 1 more try while I'm gone?? Miracles of miracles there is a speciman in that cup on my return!! LOL

Currently using Lidocaine patch on an elderly pt who fell & Fx a few ribs. Patch is placed 12 hours on 12 hours off, used with her reg scheduled po oxycontin she has been pain free. Before the patch she c/o break through pain quite frequently.

Squee = Squeeze t = to a = Allan Hence Squeeta, add the 2 'cause Squeeta was already taken. This has been my online name since day 1 many years ago. Allan was my brother in law who passed away, young & in the prime of his life. He would always say "give me a squeeze,(hug) which evolved into "squidge" for my kids. He was an amazing & remarkable person. The marriage has gone away but the gratefulness for having known him has not.

Wow..I never knew I had so much company!! I cannot swallow a pill without totally psyching myself up for it first. I can't take more than one at a time and god forbid anyone is watching or I gag like a cat with a hairball! I don't have a physical reason for this...I know its a mental issue, after all I do eat on a regular basis. I liken it to an anxiety attack...no rhyme or reason..it's just me. My kids will roll their eyes turn their back to me & keep on talking.."Is it gone yet?" if I don't answer they just keep talking. Sometimes I hafta walk out of the room & be alone to do it. :imbar I know & often say that when I get old I am going to be my own worst enemy (as a nurse) As for those who can swallow multiples at a time, sometimes even dry..I am amazed & awed EVERY time!!

Individuality...wow..now theres a thought. It is what makes people excel or fail in all areas of life. It is also what makes nursing such an inspiring field yes? Patients & Nurses alike. Lets forget about book vs common sense...what I want is a confident and competent nurse. I have never had a pt ask me what my grades were and I have never asked another nurse what their grades were like in school. Ability and performance are what counts.

The high glucose content in TPN is the reason why you cannot use blood from this line to do a glucose reading, always do a capillary stick. Your pt will not be happy about this as they of course would prefer not to be stuck. Just an FYI to skip that reading when reviewing pt labs, don't panic, give insulin & call the MD. He will NOT be impressed especially @ 3 in the morning !! LOL Yes I got to see the tail end of this conversation with a Doc & a new nurse...The things they fail to tell us in nursing school.

I just left my "niche" after 5.6 years. I am an awesome confident & knowledgable vent/pulmonary nurse. Why did I leave? Because if you had thrown a peds pt at me I would have been lost. IMHO, you use it or you lose it. I think nurses who allow themselves to become "comfortable" are doing themselve an injustice. So hop around, every shift should be a chance to learn/experience something new. I'm not saying that you should do that every 3 mos..THAT would look bad. But employers will like the "seasoned" nurse with multiple backgrounds to pull from. I have made it my practice over the years to do a minimal year, some I have stayed at much longer, others I was counting down the days!! I am far from comfortable in my new place (4 mos) and that suits me. I am the first to say let me see or can i do that?I know thats a PIA when you just wanna get the job done.. However, when they need help with a vent, pulmonary issue or a hard needle stick they come to me...its a win - win situation!!

I love the night shift! However everyone is right it is NOT for everyone. This is another reason why mandating stinks. Not to mention by the time you get mandated you have already been up way to long.

My 16 yo son adores Pink!!When he first heard that song he couldn't wait to test it out on me to gauge my reaction. When it got to the part about the Nurse he turned it up & asked me why if she knew me that I have never introduced them!!:) I actually like the song!

I agree, floating can be dangerous. Where I work we are told that we work for the facility not the unit. if we don't float we are asked to leave our badges with the Nsg Supv. & go home. To me that is ridiculous..As they are then short yet another nurse. Many Nurses who float to my unit (vent) are overwhelmed. We usually tell them to concentrate on meds & that the regulars will deal with the vent alarms, Docs, Families etc. On the flipside they like to float us as we seem to have a higher tolerance for chaos, they tell us we should be thankful for a less stressful day! Working with pts, Docs, & family that are unfamiliar. Oh yeah thats my idea of a grand time!!