SusanJean

Good point, Chip. This was not brought up as an issue w/ the syringe, just the fact that it was suppose to increase safety. My concern was that they did not consistently work as they should - and to me that increases the risk of a stick. Appreciate your input. SJ

Pipsqueak, Thanks for your reply...I will ck out the link. Seems to me that if they do not retract consistently (when they are suppose to) that removing them from the site, then retracting would be the better way to use it. Sorry to hear about your coworkers. Just curious, did someone report to the manufacturer what happened? SJ

Is the retraction suppose to take place after the injection and the needle is removed from the pt? Or, do you retract the needle while still in the pt after the medication is delivered? My first exposure to this type of syringe was rather frustrating - after I depressed the plunger and delivered the medication, further depression was suppose to retract the needle. Even after the "click" the needle was still not retracted...and this occured more times than not. (I was volunteering at a flu clinic and the RN supervising us required this method. My preference would have been to remove the needle and then retract the syringe.) In advance, Thanks! SJ

Have to agree this may be a possiblilty. Call the surgeon so your son can be evaluated. Hope he is feeling better soon. :balloons: SJ

While it is unusual, it is possible. My bp tends to run on the low side and I have had readings similar to what you stated in your post - and I know this is not the norm, tho. SJ

Agree w/ above posters - let us know what you find out. And I would hit up a vet board - not that they are that familiar w/ a human body... I know the clavicle is free standing or floating - has to do w/ jumping from hts. End of my knowledge this am.

My good friend was in similar situation for her last delivery - dh is cardiothoracic surgeon. She registered under her maiden name so no one in his large practice would even know she was admitted. This was family time, baby time... . Only immediate family and the soon-to-be Godmother were allowed to visit. Only time I have held a baby under 24 hours old... SJ

I would not let this interfere w/ my education. Interesting that your instructor gave you the option...

You have 2 questions here. 1. Medication may irritate the stomach if empty. Certain meds can alter the pH of the stomach. 2. Depends on the medication. Some will need an empty stomach , others need to bind w/ food to absorb. There should be a section on this in your pharmacology book, probably toward the front, on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. SJ

You have 2 questions here. 1. Medication may irritate the stomach if empty. Certain meds can alter the pH of the stomach. 2. Depends on the medication. Some will need an empty stomach , others need to bind w/ food to absorb. There should be a section on this in your pharmacology book, probably toward the front, on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. SJ

I have not heard of this correlation, nor was I able to find any literature on it. As a long time sufferer of migraines, I have heard more antedotes as to what causes them and what should relieve them... Mostly from people who have never had one. Finding what triggers my migraines and trying to avoid them is one step that has worked for me. This type of headache is very individualized, so what triggers one may not another. SJ

At my school it is mandatory for students to join and become involved w/ the student nurses' assoc. No problem w/ that since I think we can learn about "corp. politics" in this arena. Also think professionals should be involved w/ their own organizations. Nurses have a very low rate of participation...

While I cannot address the pay in Madison, I do know that it is a wonderfully diverse city w/ lots to offer. Taxes are high in WI, but you get what you pay for - good schools, great parks, etc. I would move back to WI in a nanosecond if I could get my family to go with me. SJ

The Catholic Church used to forbid cremations because it did not leave the body "intact" for Judgement Day - when Jesus returns and souls are reunited w/ their bodies. Then the Church decided if Jesus/God can resurrect a decayed body, He could put a cremated one back together. So now cremation is permitted in the Catholic Church as long as it is not done w/ the intent to not allow the body to be put back together. (This is the short, simple version.) I think it was Vatican Two that made this adjustment, but I wouldn't bet on it. The ruling was made on cremation, not organ donation. The Catholic Church leaves the issue of organ donation to an individual. So, I think your hubby's thinking stems from along this cremation arguement. While his preference might be personal, it is not dictated by the Catholic Church. I do believe that different priests will preach their own beliefs to parishoners, tho...so he may have heard it from someone who misrepresented the info.

To add to this. The image is visible on the wet film, but not all the fine details - so something may be missed w/ only a wet read, but the "big picture" is there.

I have never, ever, let my kids play w/ the tempting toys that are out in the pediatrician's office. Never. They learned to not even ask. GROSS.

Groc. stores in my area have put disinfecting wipes in several locations, including near the carts, so you can wipe the handles down. Love it! Now I don't have to shop w/ gloves on :chuckle . SJ

He is doing well, thanks. No diabetes. Just needs to keep those blood levels constant. (A little harder now that he is 12-teen and getting those teen inclinations.) SJ

My son was given something to eat/drink before he got his blood tested, so I did not have a "relavant" lab value to work with. I know how hard it is to think there might be no explanation at all for what happened. On the other hand, while DEET is relatively safe in most people, an idiosyncratic reaction for an individual is possible. I think there are other alternatives out there for repeling mosquitos - so you might feel better going that route. What was your son's reaction to the seizure? My son had no recollection - obviously - but when he saw a grand mal depicted on TV, he was very embarrassed. So that became another issue to work through. For awhile, he wouldn't even let us refer to it as a seizure - had to come up w/ some "nicknames" for it to decrease his anxiety about it - SJ

We have used products w/ DEET w/ no ill effects. His seizure, however, was around the same age as OP's son and also, no obvious causes. The best we could do was conclude that it was a severe hypoglycemic reaction. No subsequent episodes of seizure since the orig. grand mal episode. SJ

Stephanie, My son had a grand mal seizure at about 7 y/o w/ no previous probs. We had him kept overnight at the hosp w/ eeg, mri, etc. and nothing to really explain what had happened. Some kind of abnormality on the mri, but it was "unremarkable." That morning he was c/o not feeling well, but at the time it was a common Mon. morning complaint...not wanting to go to school. He has not had a seizure since, but this much I pieced together... Normally he has a balanced diet and regular sleep sched. That weekend he was at a friend's house and ate lots and lots of junk - a ton of it. Popcorn was the most nourishing thing the kids ate - spent the evening at the circus w/ pop, candy, cottoncandy, etc. (I was in the hosp. w/ a miscarriage.) Sun. pm and Mon am he had little to eat. He gets very hypoglycemic when he doesn't eat - not anything we knew then, since he was very balanced w/ his diet. He is a bright kid and has managed his diet well since then, asking for something w/ protein if he has pop or candy... which he rarely does, but we didn't want to forbid the food. Anyway... an isolated incident... but a cause for worry and concern for mom and dad... SJ

How high is the fever? Your body is trying to fight off a bug... I think, rather than trying to medicate the fever away, you should see your PCP for a consult. You are only hiding the symptoms, not treating them. If your fever is higher than 101 F for more than 24 hours, you should see someone... or at least call for a phone consult. BTW, if your temp is 99.3, you don't need to worry about lowering it any more. SJ

I decided to buy a pair of Crocs - have heard so many good things about them re: comfort. Unfortunately my feet are too narrow to wear them - didn't work at all for me.

I have heard that poppy seeds can give a false positive, but never anything about sesame seeds. Do the tests quantify the amount of drug, or just show the presence of it?

While I am still a student, I will fall back on my life-experience to try to help here... The first year is always the hardest, esp as you transition from school to the "real" world. There is a steep learning curve now - lots that is new, and lots of jobs related stuff to learn. Hang in there, you will get it... You will make mistakes, but learning from them is part of the this curve. And now you know...if the pts needs are not being met by the doctor, find someone who can help or will intervene to help. I remember my first time in crisis intervention work, I was 20, I had to go round w/ a doctor. He yelled and screamed, but finally heard the point I was trying to make, on behalf of the pt. End result, it kept the pt from a psych admit. The dr. just wasn't listening, was making judgements w/out all the facts. But I was devistated for days about being yelled at... So I decided to talk to the doctor about it...and he had absolutely NO recollection of the incident. Wow...did that put things in perspective. I lost sleep for days, worried a hole in my stomach and this guy didn't even remember. Lesson learned. So hang tough, do a good job, be there for your pts... I find if you keep their best interest and tx goals in the forefront, no one can fault you in the end. (general statement, but I'm sure you get what I mean.) Hopefully some experienced nurses can offer specifics to the profession. SJ