JasBSN

While I really do like the job I have now, I wish I would have stayed with travel nursing longer. My goal would be to work in all 50 states then go international Non nursing, I really like the idea of working in a cute little book store, and as someone else said, lottery winner would be perfect!

When I worked ER I had an 18-19 year old male patient come in. Don't remember why he was there, but for some reason we needed urine for a drug screen. Kid said he didn't have to go, so we gave him ice water to drink. A few minutes later he hands us his "sample" of very clear urine complete with ice cubes. It was a slow night, so about 30 minutes later we told him "looks like you tested positive for coke, you're being discharged into police custody!" He of course denied using drugs (doesn't everybody?), asked if he could take the test again. We of course told him yes, but this time, you might want to actually pee in the cup and not just dump ice water in. Do you really think we're that stupid??

I've suffered from migraines since I was about 5 years old. I would get 2 or 3 a month, my mom thought I was just being dramatic about how bad they were until the day I was so miserable I couldn't eat my aunt's home made lasagna that I loved. Tried numerous meds over the years, several helped once the migraine started, but nothing would prevent them. That is until I was finally diagnosed with sever sleep apnea a few years ago. Since I got my cpap machine, the only time I've had a migraine since is when I've taken a nap on the couch without it!

I work in LTC, we recently had a rep from the company who makes the briefs we use come in and inservice our CNAs. If a brief is leaking and you feel like the resident needs to be double briefed, you are most likely using a size too big. A standard brief can hold about a gallon of liquid if it fits properly. I have been told that it is illegal to double brief in my state (IL), but I have no proof to back it up. I do know it is against my company's policy and at the very least will earn you a write up.

Most of my family will gather at my cousin's house, about 20 of us in all. We will be having smoked brisket smoked ribs roasted brussel sprouts noodles mashed potatoes green bean casserole sweet potato casserole baked beans fruit salad cheese ball rolls veggie tray sponge cake pumpkin pie pecan pie bars texas chocolate cake and I will be making cranberry pretzel crap:)

One of my favorite recipes I got from a coworker at a potluck. Green Goddess dip. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onion, cucumber, radishes,(pretty much any crunchy veggie) chop really small, add diced black olives, shredded cheese, and a bottle of green goddess salad dressing. Serve as a dip with tortilla chips, or my family likes to eat it as a slaw type salad!

As a nurse manager in a LTC, I've found that frequent education is key to any change. When we a had an epidemic of UTI's, we re educated all of our CNA's on proper peri care and had them do return demonstrations on a dummy, then we observed them doing peri care on residents and re educated as needed. Now we are to the point of just doing spot checks on their peri care and constantly reminding and re educating. It has helped quite a bit. As for the pressure ulcers, do you have any type of specialty mattresses available? We base the type of mattress a resident has on their Braden score. High braden scores get a regular foam mattress, mid range we put them on an alternating pressure mattress, and for the ones with horribly low Braden's, we try to get a dolphin bed or clinitron, but getting the company to spring for a clinitron is next to impossible. But we have a very a low rate of CAPUs, and most of the ones we do get are Kennedy Terminal ulcers and deemed unavoidable. I hope this helps, and good luck!

So here's the story. My mom just had surgery today and will have 2 more surgeries next week, hopefully will get to come home the following week. Problem is, my sister is coming to visit next week with her 3 month old. Sis is afraid mom won't be able to see grandbaby if she doesn't get discharged as expected, and wants to take baby to the hospital to visit. Mom has told her not to bring the baby to the hospital, and so have I, but what do I know? I've only been a nurse for 17 years. So, what's your opinion? Take the baby to the hospital to visit, or keep her away? Thanks for any input!

Twenty years ago I started as a CNA in LTC. After working my way through nursing school I swore I would never be a nurse in a LTC because of the horrid staffing. I worked ICU, step down, and ER for many years. Then one day I was without a job(whole other story I won't get in to here) and unemployment was running out. Now we all know it's a lot easier to get a job when you already have one. I didn't have one and I was getting desperate, so I applied for a job at a LTC thinking it would get me by until I found something I liked. That was almost 4 years ago now, and I have no plans of leaving. I was shocked to find I actually loved LTC! I'm now in management, but still work the floor every now and then, from what I hear about other facilities in the area our staffing patterns are excellent, and I couldn't ask for a better group of nurses and CNA's to work with. Sure some days I miss the adrenaline rush of traumas and cardiacs, but I love my residents and won't trade them for any amount of adrenaline.

As I've already said, I love my ice cream! Wine is also great (and since I make my own, cheap and large amounts lol), but my absolute fav snack food is Cheese its. And don't mess with my cheese its! I don't want any of those new fangled flavors or fancy shapes, just give me a box of plain old ordinary cheese its and I'm a happy girl:)

Please, I'm dying to know the brand of ice cream???? I love ice cream, usually stick to the skinny cow ice cream stuff, but once a week I let myself indulge, and that one sounds heavenly!!

I did quit a job because they were mandating we change to white uniforms. But, it was not the only reason, more of just the last straw, so I got another job closer to home that paid more and let me wear what ever scrubs I wanted.

I've been an RN for a little over 15 years, and I'll be the first one to tell you I make a horrible patient. Why? Because I know how the system works, it sucks, and I have no patience for it. Like a lot of nurses I've had chronic back problems for years, but never really followed through with further tests. I know I should have, but I figured a few days rest, some ibuprofen, and I'll be good to go again. Well December 8th I hurt my back yet again, and finally gave in. After I was in so much pain I wound up in the ER twice, I finally let my PMD order xrays. Results could have been better. Found out I have some congenital vertebrae defects, so MRI needed. Why on earth does it take a month to get an MRI scheduled??? That whole time I'm off work, and had to wait 3 weeks for my PMD to finally complete my FMLA and short term disability paper work, and I honestly think it only got done because I threatened to call their action line and complain. MRI results were even worse with one unformed disc, 2 herniated discs, and 1 bulging disc. Still unable to work due to pain and mobility issues, and I have to wait 3 more weeks for a consult with a specialist. I only have 1 more week now until I see the specialist, but how long will it take them to get me in to therapy or whatever else is needed to get me back to work? I now completely understand why our patients can be so crabby sometimes. This constant "hurry up and wait" has me about ready to rip my hair out. Day time television sucks, I think I've watched just about everything there is on Netflix, and I've been crocheting like mad. I just want to be able to walk more than 10 feet without severe pain and muscle spasms and am sick and tired of trying to be patient! Thanks for reading my rant, it really does help to get the frustration out, and I know my friends and family are sick of hearing my complain.

I had a friend staying with me for a few weeks while he was looking for a new apartment. He came in one day and I was sitting on the couch eating left over spaghetti and watching Trauma-Life in the ER, don't remember the episode, but it was a bloody gory mess! My friend turned several shades of green, shook his head, and ran away very quickly. Later he asked me "how can you watch stuff like that and eat??"

Do we work at the same place? You just described one of my residents perfectly! No one has an issue with his weight. We are lucky enough to usually have the necessary staff available, and since we are a no lift facility we have plenty of mechanical lifts around that are a godsend. What we have issues with his attitude!

My new guilty pleasure is Casey's iced mocha! I know it's probably a powdered mix having very little resemblance to real coffee, but it tastes soooo good, and it's an awesome substitute for hot coffee when it's 90+ degrees outside.

Due to blood pressure and heart rate issues I usually limit myself to one cup a day, but I'm picky. It has to be good coffee from my keurig, and my husband knows not to talk to me until I've finished at least half of it:)

WOOOHOO!!! I got lucky and got called off for low census today:)

As fat girl myself, I think a very important thing for healthcare providers to remember is not every injury or health issue is because I'm fat. I injured my back several years ago, the first doctor I saw said "well, you need to lose weight, then your back won't hurt." I actually hurt my back bending and twisting wrong to pick something up off the floor. The absolute worst was a hematologist I saw. While going through my health history I told him I was on an antidepressant. He said "if you lose weight you won't need the antidepressant." I informed him that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, not my weight, walked out of the office slamming the door as I left. The receptionist asked if I needed to schedule a follow up appointment. By this time I'm in tears, told her the doctor was an uneducated ***** and I would not be back!

When I realized yesterday that Friday is the 13th and a full moon I found our scheduler and told her I volunteer for call off if census is low. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

It's quite effective! When I started working nights 15 or so years ago I had a friend who would call at 11 am just to chat. I started calling him at 3 am "just to chat." Word spread pretty quick to leave me alone while sleeping! Might have helped a little that I threatened to shoot the next person who woke me up:)

LOL interestingly enough, the original phone call during which he cussed me out, was to clarify an order no one could read since his handwriting was even worse than normal that day! The letter was in his handwriting but looked like he actually took the time to write neater. Think he'd cuss me out again if next time I have to ask him to clarify unreadable orders I tell him 'I have proof you can write neatly! All our lives would be easier if you'd just write like that all the time!"

We've all worked with crabby doctors. I've been a nurse for 15 years and run into my fair share of rude and crabby docs. What happened today astonished me. Last week one of the doctors I work with was in a particularly foul mood. Lucky me, I had to speak to him on the phone, and caught the brunt of that bad mood. I got to work today to find an envelope with my name on it taped to the desk. Inside was a handwritten letter from the doctor apologizing for taking his bad mood out on me! I was speechless!! In my 15 years of nursing, I have never had a doctor apologize to me before! Please share your stories of doctors doing the unexpected!

My husband and I make our own wine! I've told him more than once I'm saving several bottles from each batch for when I'm a resident in the nursing home. I have a lady in our LTC that gets a martini every evening if she wants it, so I don't see why I can't start saving up now for my nightly bottle of wine:)