fsh1986

Great idea. I'm going to email my manager about it. Thanks!

The dresscode also says no fleece jackets... BUT since this is a scrub/scrub company, I wonder if I could get away with that lol.

Our dress code was recently changed to allow only scrub jackets to be worn. I work night shift and a lot of us would typically wear zip up sweaters/jackets (not hoodies) because it gets so cold at night. We even turn the heat up to the 80s but it doesn't get warm enough til almost change of shift. Scrub jackets absolutely aren't an option for me bc they do nothing whatsoever. I already wear thermal tops under my scrubs. Are there any thick/heavy/warm scrub jackets?? I've been looking but unable to find any, so I'd appreciate some help!

Do you guys think they would accept a reference from a coworker who is not a charge? There is only one person who's been there a while who I trust not to say anything, and she doesn't do charge.

Thank you everyone!

I work nights and currently have a 45 min to one hour commute each way. Needless to say, by my 3rd or 4th shift I'm exhausted and that drive is hell. I've nodded off a couple of times driving on the interstate, pulling over immediately afterwards so that I can take a nap. I do not want to continue having to pull over to go to sleep. Working days is not an option, so, as much as I love my floor and enjoy my co-workers and manager, I'm thinking about applying to the hospitals 3 hospitals that are literally less than 20 min from me. It's a safety issue, I've got my family to think about here. My question is - should I give my manager a heads up that I am looking for another job so that he's not blindsided with a call for a reference, or should I put in apps/resume and if I get hired, give my two week notice? My fear is that if I tell him ahead of time so he's aware, that he may just decide to let me go.

I usually just hold the 2x2 over the IV site when I'm removing it... and if for some reason you get a couple drops of blood on the patient, no big deal. Just wipe it off.

I've been reading and noticed nurses writing that they would call a dr and ask if they can hold a med due to low bp or low hr, and write that as an order, and then get parameters for future med administration. Is this something that we have to do for risk of losing our license or administrative action, etc? When we pass meds, there is an option where you can select that the med was not given, then a drop down menu: patient off floor, patient npo, patient nauseous, bradycardia, hypotension, patient somnolent, etc. etc. I've typically just chosen one of those options if I held a med. Should I be calling the on-call PA/NP (I work nights) and informing them? I can't recall whether or not I was told that in orientation, so I'm just curious. TIA:)

I only called my mgr so I know what to do in the future and discuss how it can impact me legally. My charge nurse didn't give me a clear answer either way, the day shift charge who was coming on didn't think it was a good idea. My manager said next time I can also get the administrators involved if I really don't want to give a med, and bc of the blood pressure I could also call a MET and get the ICU nurse involved, even though she had been asymptomatic. MD didn't want to bolus her either, even though kidney function was fine, no CHF, etc.

Also: is my license at risk if something happens to the patient and I followed MD orders? Or am I more likely to get fired/lose my license for NOT following MD orders (and the SAME order from multiple MDS, at that) bc I felt it wasn't safe?? Thanks!

I had a pt who had scheduled 20mg oxycontin q8, along with PRN narcs q6 and q4. Her normal blood pressure ran low 100s. For a few days before I had her she was mid 90s. I work night shift and the night I got her, she had been maintaining SBP of 87, 88, etc. Mds aware. There was a written order that she was to get her narcs even with hypotension. So she got her 10pm and got her PRNs, but then her AM BP was 83/53. I understand that there's a written order, but don't you draw the line at some point? I didn't want to give her the oxycontin. She had requested the scheduled dose and then fell asleep, so I didn't wake her up and I paged the ARNP who was on call. She said to give it. I still didn't wake the patient as I had a bad feeling about giving it. Charge RN and the other floor RNs thought it was ridiculous that I was told to give it. So I waited until 6AM when the attending was on and I paged her. Told her despite the other MD's written order, I wasn't comfortable giving narcs with a pressure like that. She told me to go ahead and give it, said since it's chronic pain and the pt is used to taking all of these meds, that it wouldn't drop her. I understand that logic... but sh*t happens and that's already a low BP. So based on my last phone call with the attending, I wrote that as a telephone order, I documented my conversation with both the ARNP and the MD and gave the med. So I guess I what I want to know is, is my license at risk if something happens to the patient and I followed MD orders? Or am I more likely to get fired/lose my license for NOT following MD orders (and the SAME order from multiple MDS, at that) bc I felt it wasn't safe?? What would you have done in this situation? I've called my nurse manager and left a message for a call back so I can discuss legal ramifications if I'm ever at a crossroads between following/not following orders. I haven't heard back yet, so I figured I'd post. TIA for your responses.

PP's answer is what I would go with as that's how I've seen coumadin ordered, alternating doses/days BUT I would call the MD and clarify.

I wear my hair down, and it's a little past shoulder length BUT I put it up before walking into the room to do an assessment, pass meds, etc. If it's a patient on any type of isolation, my hair goes up before entering the room regardless of what I'm doing in there... But once I'm back in the hall, it comes down. I get headaches often enough with exacerbating the issue by having my hair up for 12+ hours.

Herecomestrouble, I kind of doubt the OP actually read what was on that site, otherwise she wouldn't have posted it... what you quoted shows the ignorance of whoever wrote the "information" on that website.

I honestly don't care if my medical provider has tattoos, does or does not wear makeup, or what their hair looks like as long as they are COMPETENT. And as far as a nurse having her hair down... I'm sure the first time she gets bodily fluids in it, she'll start putting it up.