Guttercat ASN, RN

Member

  • Content

    1,353

  • Visitors

    28,014

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    119

All Content by Guttercat

  1. Guttercat

    The sight of blood makes me pass out.

    Guttercat replied to Joe V's topic in Nurses Rock

    Sputum really doesn't bother me. In fact, I get a great deal of satisfaction from sucking out ET's. It's like taking out the trash. Now, ileostomies? Forget about it. Makes my urpy just to think...
  2. Guttercat

    Do nurses get unemployment benefits?

    Guttercat replied to shuubie's topic in General Nursing

    My hospital (the only real employer in my area) went through a huge restructuring. They closed my department in the midst of the layoff's/firings, and early-retirement "suggestions." For those of us...
  3. Guttercat

    Preventing Extracorporeal Clotting in the Acute Setting

    Guttercat replied to westieluv's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    I've been able to head a complete or partial system clot-off at the pass many times ( via noting TMP/VP changes), but, other times (especially patients prone to clotting) you have either seconds or no...
  4. Guttercat

    Couldn't believe he did this...

    Guttercat replied to Elizabeth Renee's topic in General Nursing

    "Most nurses?" That's a pretty broad brushstroke, BlueDevil. You may/may not be right/wrong, but way to go all anecdotal on us. But, for posterity, let's say an LOL in a "group home" receives a...
  5. Guttercat

    Couldn't believe he did this...

    Guttercat replied to Elizabeth Renee's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks, Mods for merging the threads. I am intrigued by the responses. I believe the best use of this topic is not to divide us, but to keep dialogue open. All of us in the medical field (RN, LPN,...
  6. Guttercat

    ABCs or CAB (irony...)

    Guttercat replied to Music in My Heart's topic in General Nursing

    As a twenty-year NP told me recently, " Practicing Medicine used to be
  7. Guttercat

    I feel like I caused a patient's death and I can't get over it

    Guttercat replied to jane82's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I think way too many new nurses are still being thrown to the winds with minimal "internship." When I graduated in 1992, I took a position in an 18 bed ICU that did mostly hearts. I was a brand new...
  8. Guttercat

    Preventing Extracorporeal Clotting in the Acute Setting

    Guttercat replied to westieluv's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Yeah. I've seen docs jump on the latest ( scientific study-du-jour) bandwagon, only to jump off again a few months later. That said, if they are liable for unforeseen HIT incidences (however rare they...
  9. Guttercat

    Couldn't believe he did this...

    Guttercat replied to Elizabeth Renee's topic in General Nursing

    I hate to use use the term "dumbing down" because administration knows full well that RN's (ADN/BSN) need extensive education. But we now have a brewing situation where you need an ADN to mop floors,...
  10. Guttercat

    Couldn't believe he did this...

    Guttercat replied to Elizabeth Renee's topic in General Nursing

    Oh c'mon. Really??? What
  11. Guttercat

    A Heartfelt Apology to DON's

    Guttercat replied to bluegeegoo2's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    I have to agree. As much as poop rolls downhill (and staff RN's get plenty of high-velocity poop on our heads...because the **** stops at the floor RN) the DON's get it too, if not more
  12. Guttercat

    Acutes to Chronic?

    Guttercat replied to westieluv's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    I abhored acutes when I was new to it for similar reasons. However, once I acclimated and became very comfortable with my skills, I wouldn't trade it for inpatients. I loved it...except for call and...
  13. Guttercat

    Acutes to Chronic?

    Guttercat replied to westieluv's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Westie, I am a firm believer that the program makes or breaks it. Inpatient can be the best, or the worst. Same goes for outpatient. Personally, I get incredibly bored with the cattle-call that can...
  14. Guttercat

    Hypotension

    Guttercat replied to nurseREA's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    What Esme said. There are many variables unique to each patient, including cadiovasculature medications, and their timing/ dosage. Sometimes, fluid removal (to a point) reduces cardiac workload, and...
  15. Guttercat

    Preventing Extracorporeal Clotting in the Acute Setting

    Guttercat replied to westieluv's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    It's a delicate dance sometimes, as you are experiencing. A question, though. Why is heparin not used at all in your inpatient program? Fear of HIT? Fear of bleeds? Of course, many patients in an...
  16. Guttercat

    If you could have one nursing superpower, what would it be?

    Guttercat replied to Blue Roses's topic in General Nursing

    I'd be Elastigirl (from The Incredibles). I could do everything from a
  17. Guttercat

    Is it just me?

    Guttercat replied to mindlor's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I also, have a heart for management. They have to make tough decisions based upon their own bosses' demands. I especially feel for floor managers, where the :poop: rolls in from all sides. That said,...
  18. Guttercat

    You think the "Nursing Glut" is bad now?

    Guttercat replied to Guttercat's topic in General Nursing

    Agree with the "poor system" comment. But, I do not know one seasoned nurse who hasn't made a med error at some point, system notwithstanding. I think we all dread med errors. That said, unlicensed...
  19. Guttercat

    You think the "Nursing Glut" is bad now?

    Guttercat replied to Guttercat's topic in General Nursing

    Very interesting, Fiona. I am always curious as to nursing trends of our colleagues and neighbors to the north. We down south of the border are not (yet) a single payer system--but I am anticipating...
  20. Guttercat

    It's that time of year ... Halloween

    Guttercat replied to Joe V's topic in Nursing Humor

    LOL amoLucia, You and I would be fast friends in real life.
  21. Guttercat

    Couldn't believe he did this...

    Guttercat replied to Elizabeth Renee's topic in General Nursing

    Disturbing is an understatement. As an addendum to the "Nursing Glut" thread, I'm going to go ahead and cross post this here. Mods feel free to move this, but I think the topic warrants as much...
  22. Guttercat

    You think the "Nursing Glut" is bad now?

    Guttercat replied to Guttercat's topic in General Nursing

    I would suggest reading this recent thread https://allnurses.com/nursing-issues-patient/couldnt-believe-he-881366.html over in Patient Safety forum. I'd like to see this thread cross-posted over here...
  23. Guttercat

    Couldn't believe he did this...

    Guttercat replied to Elizabeth Renee's topic in General Nursing

    The great State of WA has been the recipient of funding to increase/expand nursing schools all over the state. The amount of nurse mills churning out new grads is staggering. All these new...
  24. Guttercat

    When patients and visitors are rude

    Guttercat replied to brownbook's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I'll never forget when I was asked by administration to apologize to a patient's family member (after they pushed me into a door-frame for enforcing the facility's protocol). Burned into my
  25. Guttercat

    Help me, I chose wrong career!

    Guttercat replied to tarotale's topic in General Nursing

    "...Once I became an RN and started working... Oh boy was I in for a surprise..." Surprise!