Roy Fokker BSN, RN

ER/Trauma

Member

All Content by Roy Fokker

  1. Roy Fokker

    Other departments trying to skip on work with RN's "blessing", aka lazy people wanting som

    Roy Fokker replied to ixchel's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Uhhh, nurses are guilty of it too. For the record - I'm an ED nurse. My past background includes Ortho/Med-surg and Neuro step-down. I can't tell you the number of times I've had nurses call me (in...
  2. Roy Fokker

    Med/Surg to ER: General work flow in ER at night

    Roy Fokker replied to ArrowRN's topic in Emergency

    I now work days, but I worked nights for over 6 years. The contrast is not all that different from med/surg (I worked that too! lol) - the easiest commonality would be reduction in staff - fewer...
  3. Roy Fokker

    TPA when drunk

    Roy Fokker replied to bear14's topic in Emergency

    Disregard the "distracting injury" (i.e. patient may be drunk) - you said patient had clear right sided weakness and 'word salad' (not just slurred speech). No hypoglycemia. No clear trauma. (assuming...
  4. Roy Fokker

    ER nurses a different 'type' than others?

    Roy Fokker replied to Madigan's topic in Emergency

    "'acute rehabilitation (CRRN), LTC & psych'." And I in turn, bow down in respect to anyone who can work those fields! I'd rather deal with pediatric burns before I do LTC, Psych, Alzheimers! This...
  5. Roy Fokker

    Is ER nursing out of my league?

    Roy Fokker replied to OkieDokieNurse's topic in Emergency

    I've been an ER nurse for a while. I have precepted nurses to the ER. Here's what I think: * Believe it or not, I prefer nurses straight out of school. ER Nursing, like any other branch of Nursing, is...
  6. Roy Fokker

    ER RN must haves

    Roy Fokker replied to Momma1RN's topic in Emergency

    Trauma Shears, Stethoscope (I carry mine on a hip-holder), Black ink gel pen (for writing the odd verbal orders, signing off on heparin and blood flowsheets etc.), red ink ballpoint pen (for lab...
  7. Roy Fokker

    Forgetting to prime peripheral IV line...

    Roy Fokker replied to lpnmommy86's topic in Emergency

    Lesson learned is better than none at all.I work adult ED and occasionally deal with peds - point being? I make it a point of putting some drugs I give adults to on a pump (Vanc, Propofol etc.) When...
  8. Roy Fokker

    Are there doctors on duty in the ER?

    Roy Fokker replied to Anna Flaxis's topic in Emergency

    Sorry for diggin up an old thread. Do you remember, back in school we were taught that when people are sick they don't act themselves? That their illness/stress/anxiety etc. make them 'act out'?...
  9. Roy Fokker

    What Kind of Experiences before ER

    Roy Fokker replied to xSoCaLRNx's topic in Emergency

    I worked for about a year and half doing Med/Surg. I often floated to Neuro-Stepdown (Art. lines/Craniotomies/Acute strokes that kinda stuff) and obviously remote telemetry (no cardio IV drips/pushes....
  10. Roy Fokker

    It is *not* a pannus...

    Roy Fokker replied to Music in My Heart's topic in General Nursing

    I bet a mason would say "NO IT'S NOT!" LOL Man alive - to think there were even 'technical' definitions to this stuff!
  11. Roy Fokker

    What aspect of nursing do you pride yourself in?

    Roy Fokker replied to lgripe's topic in General Nursing

    * Making patients and families feel comfortable despite high stress situations and environment. Making them smile or (even better) laugh! * Patient education. I'm a big "use hands while he talks"...
  12. Roy Fokker

    Time Management

    Roy Fokker replied to vintage_RN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Agreed! Although there is the chance that hypoglycemia could be a possible culprit - given how the sugars were running I very much doubt that. Bless you! And my first nursing preceptor who kept...
  13. Roy Fokker

    How do you brighten your patients day?

    Roy Fokker replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    * By being my usual, goofy self ;-) I've found that humour is a GREAT help when dealing with patients in the ER. Witty wise cracks - sometimes about patients, sometimes about their conditions,...
  14. Roy Fokker

    Pain management in hypotensive patients

    Roy Fokker replied to 1fastRN's topic in Emergency

    I felt horrible for a young CA patient that was in constant pain but I was having a difficult time managing it because his BP was in the toilet. Watching his very loving family watch him suffer just...
  15. Roy Fokker

    Managing pre shift anxiety?

    Roy Fokker replied to %63theend's topic in Emergency

    As long as you do what's right for the patient - nervous or otherwise - you'll be fine :-) You have to believe in yourself. I told myself when I switched jobs: "Pshaw! I survived 6 Charlie. I can hack...
  16. Roy Fokker

    Violence in the ER

    Roy Fokker replied to TLS1's topic in Emergency

    Inebiration and intoxication is no excuse for violent behaviour. Do you think the DA declines to prosecute an MVA because the driver was drunk?! People need to be held responsible for their actions. I...
  17. Roy Fokker

    Being a Patient Where you Work

    Roy Fokker replied to ChristineN's topic in Emergency

    I've brought Dad in with cardiac complaints to my ED. When I had SVT, I requested transport to a different ED - nothing against my ED co-workers (my best friend was working that night) but I was too...
  18. Roy Fokker

    New to ER qsts about orienting

    Roy Fokker replied to %63theend's topic in Emergency

    I agree with a lot of what stargazer said - specially the bit about being not only a new nurse but new to the ED as well! Here is my perspective: As an orientee: I was new to the ER and nursing as...
  19. Roy Fokker

    Well, I finally made a big medication error.

    Roy Fokker replied to brainkandy87's topic in Emergency

    Glad the kiddo wasn't harmed. Now give yourself 10 lashes with a wet noodle and carry on... I almost always have another nurse eyeball/check my peds drugs (even saline bolus/drip) before I give 'em....
  20. Roy Fokker

    Med Shortages

    Roy Fokker replied to Lunah's topic in Emergency

    Slowly getting some stock of IV Zofran (yay!). Also had a fresh batch of Propofol delivered! Still critically short/out-stock of IV: Valium, Versed, Compazine, Ativan, Reglan, Levophed, Neo, Vecc and...
  21. Roy Fokker

    Are there doctors on duty in the ER?

    Roy Fokker replied to Anna Flaxis's topic in Emergency

    i have posted this before: i have read posts in this thread about the 'entitlement mentality' of people today. and all i can think of to ask is: "hmmm, wonder who raised them to be this way..."...
  22. Roy Fokker

    What do you hate seeing the MOST in the ER!?

    Roy Fokker replied to CrashED's topic in Emergency

    Drunks. Drunks. Drunks. God, I will deal with ALL the drug seeking frequent fliers if I don't have to deal with drunks. I will deal with the polysubstance ODs if I don't have to deal with drunks. I am...
  23. Roy Fokker

    Haldol and Ativan cocktail IV

    Roy Fokker replied to TRAMA1RN's topic in Psychiatric

    I've had pts. who ended up being intubated because nothing short of deep sedation+paralytics (because Haldol, Ativan, Versed, Dilaudid, Benadryl, Fentanyl AND Zyprexa did nothing!) would control their...
  24. Roy Fokker

    Advice - I'll need a meal tray too

    Roy Fokker replied to LalaJJB's topic in Emergency

    I don't feed families. Period. "I'm sorry but meals here are for patients only." It used to really chap my hide - especially because I'd be running my butt off with no lunch break etc... Used to. Not...
  25. Roy Fokker

    POCT- Troponin

    Roy Fokker replied to triageguy's topic in Emergency

    We discontinued the I-stat many months ago. The Docs never really trusted it. Now we rely on lab. On the really critical patients - no labs --- just presenting symptoms, Vital Signs and EKG! :-)...