lkushen

We have a tone that is audible to diffentiate the overhead page, for any type of code - disaster, fire, bomb, tornado, dr. stat, missing infant/ child. We use code blue for adult, green for peds, and pink for neonate. Also, we have a code purple for an acute MI rolling into the ER. Can't wait until they start calling a code gray or code white for CVA!

OK, here's mine, We've had a patient named Harry Dick (no joke) Used to have a Dr. Dakters Used to have a Dr. Gaddipatti (overhead operators made it sound like gotta potty) And the finale, my last name is Kushen (sounds like cushion) and we once had a supervisor who started calling me pin (my first name is Lynn), therefore I'm Pin Kushen to my coworkers. My daughters hate it when I mention that I considered naming them Whoopi!:)

Ditto to everyone's response. Bravo, Linda!

How about charge, precepting 2 new nurses, and having my own patient load! All for the bargain price of...you got it, nothing extra! Our unit calls charge "shift coordinator" for which I lovingly call it sh*t coordinator. Being in charge is not so bad if you are working with a good crew. On the other hand, if your not, it can be a nightmare. The other factor has to do with your current patient acuity and staffing issues, as well as the supervisor (some are better than others).

I can take the usual, vomit, mucos, sputum, urine, feces - OK, but here's a few that got me. We had a patient that arrested and had seizures secondary to hypoxia. The neurologist started IV Dilantin. Withing 2 days, this obese African American female had skin just sloughing off in thick layers. We were treating her as a burn patient with dressing changes that would take 4 nurses to do just to lift body parts and turn her. Here's the gross part. I was helping another "team" of nurses in the room, lifted her arm by the elbow and hand, and the skin on her hand slid right off and LOOKED like a glove!!! I was so glad the patient was comatose. The heeby jeebies made me drop her entire arm and run from the room. Another happened recently, had a male patient who's feet stunk so bad you could tell his hygiene was horrific. One morning, I went in to bathe him with the assistance of another RN. When she started cleaning his member, no problem. then she pulled back the foreskin. I've never seen that much cheese - even in a female!!! Disgusting. I told her she deserved battle pay for even venturing there. She did let out one heave, but kept on cleaning. Kudos for her! My last story is about a patient from a nursing home that complained that her ear itched and she couldn't hear very well. I got out the otoscope and peered in to find maggots wriggling around in her ear!!! Ortho stuff gets me too. My husband broke his leg last summer and got some screws and plates. I'm still traumatized by the picking up of his leg and watching the bones in the ankle shift in two. Still can't touch his leg where the plates are!

Interesting topic to me. I have carried personal malpractice insurance since the day I became licensed. Today, we live in a very litigenous society, and it seems the wise thing to do. When someone feels they have been wronged by something you have done, they do not inquire ahead of time whether or not you carry your own insurance. They will go after you regardless. Having been a licensed insurance agent prior to obtaining my nursing degree, I saw the damage that can be done to individuals without adequate insurance. A court will not award based on the ability to pay. Personally, I worked too hard to obtain my license, my home, my assets for my family. Heaven forbid if I make an error in my nursing practice and it results in a malpractice suit - I would want to be insured to cover it. At least I feel that if something ever happenned and I lost my nursing license, I would still have my home, rather than being out on the street. The other side of the coin is what about when you tell your neighbor some sort of medical advice when they inquire since they know you are a nurse?... You are held to a higher level of responsibility than the lay person due to your licensure. Your employer does not cover this. Or when you spend the week as a day camp leader for a scout troop and they utilize you when someone injures themselves?...same scenario in regards to your employer. Yes, we watch who we give advice to, not just any John Doe on the street, however even that neighbor can be told something that ends up being harmful and sues our butts! Be careful...my advice is to protect yourself. We would never think of not insuring our home or autos if we could afford to. Business' would not dream of not covering their liability. Yes, some people play roulette with their lives and health regarding insurance. Don't play roulette with your license related to your assets. Just my opionion. Thanks.

I carbon copied this response from another posting - thought it might help. Don't really know if this is how others did it, but I fell into a CCU position as a new grad out of an ADN program years ago. The hospital I work at routinely hires new grads into critical care. We have a critical care educator that works in the classroom with new grads to teach them the idiosyncracies needed to know for functioning in the unit. The next step past that is experienced preceptors, and then mentoring that is carried on. Our facility puts new grads in a 16 week orientation, which can be modified shorter or longer depending on the skills of the individual, since everyone learns at a different rate. Obviosly, this then translates into a costly orientation process for the facility. Regardless of where you start as a new grad, MOST new grads are task oriented, so realize this when you get out. Nothing can replace time and experience. Most feel comfortable on the floor withing 6 to 12 months. You continue to learn new things for many years to come. Be open to change and the opportunity to learn something new. Good Luck!

Just something I have to say. As an RN who started out the ADN route and went on for my BSN, and am starting my MSN in the fall, having worked with a variety of healthcare providers, from RNs, LPNs, nursing assistants (with whatever proper name your facilty calls them), and nurse practioners -- we are all here for one main objective - the care of the patient - in whatever setting. If you open yourself up to it, in the nursing profession, we can all learn from each other, even across the different levels of skill, education, and years of experience. Don't make it a competition. It is really individualized - you can have a really awesome LPN, and an overseeing RN that frankly can suck! I have heard more than one RN make the statement that they learned more from an experienced LPN when they started out. Personally, I appreciate the help I can get from whatever nursing professional is there for me and my patient. I work in critical care, though mostly dominated by RNs, we do utilize some LPNs and aides as well. I'd rather have them than not! Remember, in the nursing profession, we all need to mentor each other...for the sake of the patient. That's what we are here for, after all, isn't it?

I went on from my ADN to my BSN. It took me 4 semesters total. I opted for a part-time option, where you went one day a week and no summers. Was better for me with family. Overall calendar time was 2 years. It probably also depends on whether or not you have the prerequisistes required by the university offerring the bachelors degree. Check into several options before making your decision. By the way, the program I went to was an RN to BSN program, where they take your current work experience into consideration, and don't reteach the basics.

I too am an ADN Graduate, and went right into critical care as a new grad! Our local community college provides a wonderful 2 year degree. I felt well prepared. What new nurse doesn't lack skills when first getting started! That's what preceptors and eventually mentors are for. Face it, we all have learned most of what we know on the job. It is our duty to pass on what we know to others for the benefit of the patients. I have also since attained my BSN, and have plans to begin my MSN later this year. Don't be discouraged by the LPN's words. Keep with your original plan, and find a wonderful mentor when you are done. Remember, just because you've graduated doesn't mean you are done learning. That applies to any level of degree! Good Luck!

I once had a similar assignment years back in nursing school having to combine NIDDM with an AWMI. I choose to present it as a case study that I created using information from the history of my grandmother. It flowed very nicely. I was able to break off of the main part of the case study for "review" of information pertinant to the diagnosis, but wrap it all up in the case study, including a potential outcome of the patient. Just a thought. Hope it helps.

I too LOVE my CAREER! Nursing to me is just not only a job. I live for nursing. I enjoy being able to continuosly help others through the knowledge that I have acquired. Many lay-person don't understand what is going on medically with them, and as well as being able to help them attain better health, I can help them to UNDERSTAND exactly what is going on with them or their family member. Despite the issues of nursing shortages, inexperienced staff, patient loads - Nursing is what I live for. I know that every day, I make a difference in at least one person's life.