Fluesy

I just want to run this past some others out there as to what they would think was acceptable staffing. I was working in a small non-interventionist unit and one evening we were down to only 2 patients. In the evenings there is only 2 staff on that unit but that evening the manager insisted that 1 staff member be left alone while the other staff member went across to ICU to help out with meal breaks. The manager (and even the hospital Supervisors) insisted that this was "safe" as there is an emergency call button behind every bed. Both of the two patients both had had chest pains just hours earlier. One of the patients had apprehended violence order against her significant other (at this stage we did not know if he knew where she was). The unit is new and each room is enclosed so that it is impossible to directly visualise the patients from the main desk. This was not the first time this pressure had been put upon me to do this but worst, for me was that it was being done in such a way as the responsibility for leaving the unit with only one staff member was mine.

When I was training (more years ago now than I would care to admit) there was a nurse who was the niece of the DON. She was notorious - it was she who collected all the false teeth in the ward put them on one tray and then scrubbed them and then................you guessed it - took a dentist 6 months to sort it out!! The best stroy by far though about her was when she was told to give a patient 2 suppositories and an ear syringe. She came back to tell the RN that the suppositories kept falling out - Yep! She had inserted them in the ears! Some people are NOT suited to nursing and the best thing is to acknowledge that and get them into a different stream of work before they waste thier life and those of others.

Hemorroidectomy by R. Stornaway

It happens and you have to see the OTHER end to really appreciate how compassionate and caring that nurse was. The other end is a terminal patient who is conscious with a tube down their throat (which is not only painful but causes choking/gagging sensations) while they die. Leaving the tube in might extend life in the very short term but it will not effect the inevitable outcome. Yes it happens.

Maggots - can't stand maggots. I know that they clean wounds but yech:barf01: Give me the dirty wounds - vomiting patients but save me from the maggots.

one of the many reasons that there are clinical components to every nursing course is that it lets you see what the job is really about. our job is incredibly varied from place to place and from day to day. most commonly we have to deal with the bodily functions of human beings and things that leak and ooze. it is not pretty it is not glamorous but it is rewarding. we get dumped on a lot by other professions and are often the ones at the end of the "find a scapegoat" line. it is difficult demanding work. it is not for everyone.

Then what should I, as a Buddhist do? Should I simply say I believe in a God? I do not worship the devil but I do not "worship" christ either.

You are correct. Theorectically (as opposed to reality lol) the air is supposed to be sucked down the blue tube and up the clear tube, which should stop the suction ports in the clear tube sucking up against the stomach wall and causing erosion. We have one way valves for our Salem's that stop the gastric fluid draining all over the sheets while still allowing for the air to do it's thing. OF course theorectically the one way valves are not needed - if the system is working the blue tube will not drain gastric fluid............. Yeah Riiiiiiiiight!

That is because rigor mortis is transient. The rigor relaxes after a while.

Suggest you read this document if you remain at all skeptical. http://www.erc.edu/index.php/doclibrary/en/viewDoc/24/3/?PHPSESSID=66012c1aa288d7274ee2a82e7772310e In todays world it is better to base your practice on a solid research foundation. And you should try to know this algorithm by heart http://www.erc.edu/index.php/doclibrary/en/viewDoc/66/3/

Some very good rationales given here. We are swabbing in hospital but not if the patient is self - administering. The rationale being that inside a hospital there is greater risk of abnormal bacteria and infection but now I have read your replies I might just think about our policy some more.......................

Some very good rationales given here. We are swabbing in hospital but not if the patient is self - administering. The rationale being that inside a hospital there is greater risk of abnormal bacteria and infection but now I have read your replies I might just think about our policy some more.......................

Stevierae is right. Start insisting on getting breaks because you are unable to have water at the NS and managment will suddenly find a compromise.

CRAFT syndrome - Can't Remember a F'ing Thing SOB - Silly Old Beggar FDGB Fall Down Go Boom CFOB Can't find own Bum

I thought it might be a case of "Who goes there Friend or enema?"

Somehow this just feels like nurses giving away a core business. Wound care has been an integral part of nursing since Nightingale - why are we allowing others to do our work???

Perhaps nurses just are the best at moaning about their job!!!

Are you going to share????

The pharmacists tell you that baking soda and magnaplasm are all old wives tales that don't do anything but everyone who has worked in a country hospital where grass seed boils are common will tell you different.

And the eleventh commandment is most important!! Thou shalt NOT take the keys home:rotfl::rotfl:

You know I did not expect that ending? Good one!:rotfl:

Grrrrrroooooaaaaannnn!!!

I am sending this to my computer tech friend!! :rotfl::rotfl:

Funeee!!!:rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl: