chip193

chip193

ER

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All Content by chip193

  1. how to manage the waiting room?

    chip193 replied to gonzo1's topic in Emergency

    During days and evenings, we have two triage nurses and a "Triage Liason". Vital signs are done q1hr and work-ups are started (bloods, xrays, even the occasion CT) when things are backed up. At...

  2. Triage sucks!!! Any tips??

    chip193 replied to BrnEyedGirl's topic in Emergency

    I do Triage on Friday nights - it's considered a "rest day" from doing charge. I do enjoy it. We have a sign on each triage desk and several more in the waiting area that read "Your emergency is...

  3. I'm going to be an ER nurse!!!

    chip193 replied to ltvixen's topic in Emergency

    Congrats on the ER job! Make sure, for your own good, that your new position includes a good portion of orientation. Make sure that they're going to teach you to critical care stuff that you're going...

  4. Pain Scores Effective or not

    chip193 replied to madwife2002's topic in General Nursing

    We were just having a similar discussion in the Emergency Nursing area (see the CRAP scale). The problem with the 0-10 pain scale is that the average patient has no idea where their pain should be on...

  5. The C.R.A.P. Score

    chip193 replied to hollysunshine's topic in Emergency

    I only wish that I were kidding... We had a thread a while back called "Rules for the ER" or something like that. Each of the rules was similar in nature to the OP's posting here. It lasted quite a...

  6. The C.R.A.P. Score

    chip193 replied to hollysunshine's topic in Emergency

    This is really, really good. I wonder how long it will be until someone comes on here and tells us that the patient’s pain is always real, no one would ever seek drug, and that we’re just burned...

  7. room assignments/responsibilities

    chip193 replied to ERERER's topic in Emergency

    The 3 ERs that I work in: (1) The FT Place - Level 2 Trauma, 55-60K visits, 23 monitored beds in the main ED, separate 13 bed fast track, and separate 3 bed psych ER. In the Main ER, the Trauma...

  8. slave labor

    chip193 replied to Uptoherern's topic in Emergency

    Trauma designation has nothing to do with other complaints. What good is a Trauma Center if you're having an MI? One of the busier ERs in the area is at the top-rated heart hospital in the state....

  9. room assignments/responsibilities

    chip193 replied to ERERER's topic in Emergency

    Your missing the rest of the patterns for the day: 0600ish - I can't possibly go to work because of my x pain that's been bothering me for three days. I thought it would go away, but it didn't....

  10. Faxed Reports- Does it decrease length of stays in the ED

    chip193 replied to MDRRAJ's topic in Emergency

    I work at 3 hospitals... #1 - my FT job - we attempt to call report once. If the nurse is unable to take report, we fax it and send the patient (so long as it is a ready bed). It has elminiated the...

  11. CLEP vs. ECE

    chip193 replied to LuvWounds's topic in Online Distance Learning

    I'd use CLEP before an ECE for a test that you're not sure that you're going to pass. The CLEP exam is less costly. As for not having much knowledge, my wife and I both took the Psych CLEP on the...

  12. CLEP vs. ECE

    chip193 replied to LuvWounds's topic in Online Distance Learning

    CLEP is about 1/3 the cost of an ECE, so from a cost perspective it's much better. From a scheduling standpoint, it is much easier to get a timely exam with an ECE. So, really, it's up to

  13. RueEd or Excelsior College

    chip193 replied to Brina01's topic in Online Distance Learning

    Your Excelsior College Exams (or ECEs as they're know) are kept on file at the college until you enroll. It is the same if you take a class at a local college, but are not enrolled - there is still a...

  14. CLEP vs. ECE

    chip193 replied to LuvWounds's topic in Online Distance Learning

    Visit Barnes and Noble or Borders or any large bookstore and you'll find tons of CLEP info in the "study aids" area. My favorite thing is still Cliff's Quick Review after getting the review guide from...

  15. Excelsior

    chip193 replied to Mizzyfrufru's topic in Online Distance Learning

    You do not need to live in the state that you're licensed in. I live in NY and hold license in NY and MA. My wife went to school in NY, lived in NY, but her original license is in CT (she has since...

  16. slave labor

    chip193 replied to Uptoherern's topic in Emergency

    And working in a Union environment is supposed to fix these "patient safety" issues? Gimme a break! All that the union will care about is increasing the number of dues paying members - at the cost...

  17. Pick up Malpractice! They went after my license.

    chip193 replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in General Nursing

    You can't do that in a civil deposition. Letting someone know that you have insurance is not something that is criminal, so you must answer the question

  18. slave labor

    chip193 replied to Uptoherern's topic in Emergency

    I do Charge in a 55K visit Level 2 Trauma ER at night. None of our Charge Nurses have an assignment. I do task-oriented stuff during the night (perhaps an IV here, an assessment there, etc.) but...

  19. B careful LPN-RN Online

    chip193 replied to mel1977's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Be careful! Rue is another publishing company that provides materials for

  20. Chronic COPD'er, 1 lung, 02 @ 6L/min. What would you do?

    chip193 replied to DutchgirlRN's topic in General Nursing

    It never ceases to amaze me how many nurses are oblivious to the fact that less than 5 percent (some studies put it at about 0.5%) of patients with COPD are actually on hypoxic drive. Is it better to...

  21. Chronic COPD'er, 1 lung, 02 @ 6L/min. What would you do?

    chip193 replied to DutchgirlRN's topic in General Nursing

    Not every COPD patient (in fact it is a small minority - in the 5-10% range) are actually using hypoxic drive. I wrote earlier why the actual problem isn't the 6 lpm via nc, but the ventilator that...

  22. Critical Care positions?

    chip193 replied to KARENRNBOSTON's topic in Massachusetts Nursing

    Too bad you're not out here in Western MA. Our hospital is expanding the unit from 16 to 24 beds and looking for new nurses...and they send you to 6 weeks of classes before you hit the floor for...

  23. Chronic COPD'er, 1 lung, 02 @ 6L/min. What would you do?

    chip193 replied to DutchgirlRN's topic in General Nursing

    Shawn, The Paramedic obviously did look at the whole picture. She bumped the oxygen on a hypoxic, hypercarbic patient who was then intubated and placed onto a ventilator in the ER. The Paramedic made...

  24. Chronic COPD'er, 1 lung, 02 @ 6L/min. What would you do?

    chip193 replied to DutchgirlRN's topic in General Nursing

    Shawn, Patients must be able to understand the consequences of refusing care. Someone who is hypoxic and hypercarbic cannot form that thought. You are not legally bound to follow the wishes of...

  25. Chronic COPD'er, 1 lung, 02 @ 6L/min. What would you do?

    chip193 replied to DutchgirlRN's topic in General Nursing

    Shawn: (1) No does not always mean no in healthcare. Remember implied consent, consent of minors, etc., etc. This patient is hypoxic and may very well be unable to refuse care based on being...