RNPolly

Oh, my goodness, these are too funny! Makes me want to share... Hmmm, so many to choose from... There I am at work, minding my own business, when my Danskos decide to throw me to the floor: in the pre- and post-op area with multiple patients, family and staff members in full view, I stand, clipboard in hand, and, twisting my ankle with first step, tap-dance my way across the room trying to regain my balance. No go - land in a heap right at my patient's feet. OUCH! The Danskos were permanently retired; not to be trusted again! RN Polly

Going back to the topic of a dying person choosing the time of his/her death or "holding on" for a certain time or event to pass or occur before passing, I'm convinced that this is possible. My family held a 4-day vigil at his hospital bedside before my dad's death four years ago. My sister had promised him that she wouldn't leave him, and she didn't, even sleeping on the chair in his room (I preferred the bench in the waiting area). Thursday was a busy day of non-stop visitors, relatives, friends, who were aware they were saying good-bye. My dad was never conscious the entire hospitalization, and I'm sure he hated the attention, but I know that it was important support for my mom, who was still living in denial. Friday was quiet; just my mom, sister, and myself. No apparent change in my dad's condition; nothing to indicate imminent death, so my sister and I wandered down to the hospital cafeteria to grab a tray to bring back to the room, leaving my mom at the bedside briefly. Wouldn't you know that's when my dad chose to pass, alone in the room with my mom (which freaked her out, of course). I'm convinced he wanted privacy, to be as alone as possible, with just my mom there and not my sister and me present.

Oh, and did I mention that the room (pre-op/post-op/day surgery) was FULL of patients, their families, nurses, and doctors?

Or better yet... How about the time I twisted my ankle wearing my Danskos? While attempting to remain upright, I danced my way across the room, only to land in a heap at my patient's feet. How graceful!

So many stories, so little time! Where to begin? Hmmm... How about when starting an IV on my pt; while turning to reach for the tape to anchor it, I caught the IV tubing (already attached) with my finger, yanking out that brand-new IV. Pt was not amused!

All right; I can resist no longer. Not a ghost story, but a kind of premonition, perhaps. My brother, age 20, had been sick for a week with "the flu" when I left for college in 1972 at age 17. Several days later, I hear from my folks that he is in the hospital and has survived a close call with a ruptured appy. (He had been to the doc at least once, if not twice, during this week. But that's another story, as the doc was later disciplined by the state medical society for failure to provide minimal care - not my brother's case.) I was angry with my folks for years for not telling me what was transpiring, but I am mature enough now to realize that they thought they were doing the best thing by not adding to my stress level. Anyway, the next day, suddenly, without a shadow of a doubt, I KNEW that he had died. I actually hid in a campus building where I knew no one would think to look for me so I could spend a couple hours alone, crying, before I felt ready to face those who would be coming to fetch me and send me home. Which is exactly what happened. My boyfriend-at-the-time had looked for me on another floor of that building, and, unable to find me, was waiting for me at the bike rack outside my dorm when I returned. My brother's death was totally unexpected - pulmonary embolism after ambulating in the hall with his fiance; they were to be married in one month. A tragedy all around. Another weird thing that I have shared (until now) only with my sister: About a month after his death, I had a very vivid dream. On a bright, sunny day, with puffy white clouds in an azure sky, I find myself walking down a street. Obviously a new street, as only new construction is visible. Several houses are going up, with many busy workmen about, and I hear the sounds of their talking and hammering as they pound nails in the wall partitions going up. As I pass the first house, my brother jumps down from the open first floor where he is either working or supervising and steps out to greet me. He motions to the house and tells me that he is building this house and that, when it is finished, I will come and live with him there. That's all I remember, but it is the ONLY dream I've ever had that I can remember for more than a day or two - and this is 33 years later (yep, I'm "mature"). I cannot share this with anyone, for it makes me cry to think of it, which it does now. A few years ago, I finally shared it with my sister, who says she has had the same dream. I am convinced (and comforted by the thought) that when it is my time to pass, my brother will be there to greet me.

107.7F on a young female post-op abdominal surgery patient. The tympanic and oral thermometers agreed, and I was ! I couldn't get her to ICU fast enough (I'm NOT a critical care nurse), and after an I&D of an abscess, and a different antibx, she was FINE!

I work in surgical pre-op where all IV catheters must be 18 gauge (and, occasionally, larger). We start many, many IVs daily, and I am a true believer in the effectiveness of the lido; pain and anxiety are greatly reduced for our patients. I believe we are the only unit in our hospital to use lidocaine for IV starts, but our patients are most appreciative (pharmacy buffers it for us to decrease burning). After an unexpected ER visit of my own recently, I was again convinced of the effectiveness of the lido start - dang, that 18-gauge hurt without lido! Anyway, to answer your original inquiry, sorry I'm no help; we have no policy on its use.

I, too, was a teacher in a former life. I taught 4th grade until I "retired" to teach/raise my own brood at home (career # 2). I went back to school at age 40 for career #3 - nursing - and 10 years later, I have no regrets. Other of my classmates were leaving teaching for nursing, and some left nursing school to pursue teaching. IMHO, the caring/nurturing aspect is the same.

Had a temp of 107.7 on a young female, post-op day 2 or 3. Couldn't believe my eyes! Recheck with both oral and tympanic thermometers confirmed it wasn't faulty equipment. I am NOT a critical care nurse; couldn't get her to ICU fast enough! Turned out to be an abscess; after I&D and new antibx, she did FINE. Scared the heck out of me, though!