FLGAZRN

oo! thank you for that link!!

We have negative pressure end caps for central lines. Then we have positive pressure end caps for our PICC lines. What current research do you all have in regards to clamping lines with certain end caps?? What are your policies on your units?

I would definitely have held the lovenox and would have drawn a PT/PTT/INR because that patient has been taking coumadin. This baseline lab can help that patient later get his coumadin dosing figured out because it seems like the 7mg that he is taking is too much. At the facility I work in, we see GIBs VERY often and commonly, anti coagulant medication is always held until the bleeding has resolved and the patient has been appropriately rescucitated. I am surprised you only transfused 2 units of packed cells. Definitely use your nursing judgement and then chat with the doctor.

Thanks everyone for the replies. It is definitely a shady situation and no one on our unit ever has a clear answer as to what to do when this happens. Detectives are often a lot more pushy than PD. Next time this happens I will definitely be talking with risk management.

I work in a mixed ICU, medical and surgical. We get traumas, and sometimes the patients are associated with a legal situation, whether it be they are a victim, the perp, or are just being investigated due to the nature of their situation/accident, etc. I recently had a detective come into the unit and ask about my patient, knew that we had blood work on her, and was prodding about her drug screen. What kind of policies do you have out there that protect the patient while also allowing us not to impede or delay an investigation? I did not answer him when he flat out asked me if she was positive for heroine because they suspect that she is involved in a drug circle in town, but he definitely was aggressive about it. I never feel comfortable telling detectives information about the patient but mostly don't ever know what I can tell them and what I cannot. For example, I have been asked about injuries in detail and what surgeries they have had.. that patient was a victim of a crime. I just feel so confused about what is allowed and what isn't! Please help!

I work in the northern part of the state and it is completely DEAD for the last few months

I might take you up on that at a later time. I am starting my search around early, I am not looking to start somewhere else for another year

YES!!!! I would vote for a union in a heartbeat. Our hospital actually had the California union attempt a vote and I was not yet a nurse...I think I was a CNA at that time, but anyways, some how, the hospital sued the union and in the settlement the Union wasnt allowed to come back to the hospital for 5 years. I think that 5 years is almost up, but during that time, administration had a hay day and starting making serious changes. I wish a union would come back

I am so sorry to hear you feel depressed at work! I do have to say that the long drive would be quite hard especially when you are already tired. Do you listen to podcasts at all? There are a lot of funny podcasts out there that are definitely entertaining to listen to on long drives especially if you dont want to listen to the radio or music. I started out as a new grad in an ICU, the same one I currently work in, and I was scared s***less and had my moments and cried at work. But I also had more training than you did. They did 6 months with us. Didactic time and on the floor time, in the beginning, then straight floor time with another nurse for 4 months. It made me feel a lot more comfortable even though I was still scared. I say keep going, it might be the thought of a contract. I did have to sign one also, it was for 2 years and I didn't like the idea of being tied down. The time does fly by though. before you know it, if you really are not that happy, you will be free to go. No financial obligation

CONGRATS! I was also a new grad in a CCU and now will have 4 years experience in May. It is a great great learning experience and you will love your job. Where are you living by the way? I heard that a lot of places were slowing down their new grad hires in critical care units.

I am currently an ICU RN with 4 years of experience this May. I would like to stick to critical care, because I do love it. Does your daughter feel like the patients and nurses are happy? Thank you for your reply and the offer for a contact!

Not necessary to be so catty when it comes to something as simple as the font color that I had written in. I didn't ask you about your "problems" with my post. We have all been well educated on the financial position of our hospital and yes, they do make a profit and they do share that information with us. They have spent a some great money into investing into laying down new flooring, then tearing it up, then laying more down. They have also spent a hefty penny on paying Dell to come in and remove computers from the units, then buying the C5 and installing the compatible equipment, throwing those away, buying new computers, re-installing them, changing the way we scan medications by buying more equipment... the list goes on. We have also "re-modeled" units that do not need remodeling. I am also well aware of the cost of equipment. Are you aware of how much a patient is charged for utilizing the equipment? Perks have been going away and we all know this, it would be nice to hear from areas in PHX that have happy nurses and happy patients. Patient satisfaction is quite relative to their nurses' job satisfaction. My post is simply a rant with a question, How are the hospitals in PHX? I really am not looking for a large reply with attitude.

i am curious to see how the job market along with attitude is looking in phx right now in regards to the different hospitals, and available jobs. i think we all are going through a tough time right now. getting cancelled left and right, no patient census, but then when we are busy, they do not want to offer extra pay to come in and work, hate giving out over time, and nurses are just getting burned out. i know that where i work, there is a lot of animosity towards administration. well...our administration is completely corrupt and do not look out for their nurses... but we used to have all types of perks at work and they keep taking things away, slowly but surely. nurses are unhappy. the only happy ones are the ones that are close to retirement. it is frustrating when 'non- profit' organizations don't put any of their profits into their employees, and trust me, our organization makes money. i am grateful and fortunate to have a job, yes, but i am getting tired of being treated like **** and feel like they are just testing the waters to see how hard they can push it. are there happy nurses in phx? are there any that are being appreciated and treated well? are any of you proud of where you work? where are the good hospitals??