CeeKayRN

Our hospital recently(within the last year or so), went to color coding. RNs are midnight blue, LPNs violet, CNAs chocolate, RTs royal... etc etc.... I do, however, miss my fun tops, and my bright solids.

Hey Guys! Wow, I sure haven't visited this thread in a while! As far as the pt who assaulted me, I never heard a darn thing from the officers on the case, however, through friends on PD I heard she spent a few days in jail. Not enough by any means! At any rate, she is from out of state so I bet she went home... probably never to see her again. The jaw is fine, was fine in a couple of days after the fact. We have had an increasing number of assaults in our department and our unit manager is fed up. She met with the hospital lawyer and somebody from PD( no clue who... she told me, but it was my friday and at end of shift... thus not filed in long-term memory) a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully something comes of that!

Sadly, I have to go back to work on friday night. I am on a weekends-only contract where we are allowed only 3 weekends off in a 6 month period. I used my first two for a glorious 18 nights off of work at the start of this contract (10/27-11/13). Even if we use just ONE day of a weekend(say I go to phoenix to see family on a monday, and don't fly back til friday night) it constitutes the use of a weekend. So, I don't have much choice but to go back to work tomorrow nght, sadly! Thanks for all the well wishes guys!! Sue, sorry you're feeling super poopy too!!! HUGS!!!

thanks for the wishes for getting better guys! Oramar, thanks for providing some outside logic for this whole mess! I never even thought of that! Highlandlass- Yep... I sure as heck have learned my lesson with this! If anything, I have learned I'm not super nurse, and can't fix myself all the time! :)

Hey guys! First off, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all you amazing guys and gals out here! I hope you all have a great day, working or not! My vent is just over this latest sickness spell I have had. It started last Friday night at work. Felt achy and feverish, so I just took some Motrin and Tylenol and pressed on! got home, slept, and woke up feeling kinda like death warmed over, but it was 1700, so way too late to call in. Shoot. Went back to the Tylenol and Motrin and put on my big girl panties and dealt with it! Called out Sunday night as I felt even worse. Sunday and Monday was not able to take in ANYTHING PO because my soft palate hurt so bad AND my nose was so congested nothing tasted good! So, Monday I tried really hard to get some PO fluids in the form of popsicles. Figured that would help numb up my throat and give me a little hydration. At this point, still continuing with Tylenol and Motrin q6hrs and some alka seltzer cold/cough/flu stuff with phenylepherine. So by the time early tuesday morning rolls around I take my pulse and find it's in the 130's. So I decide to suck it up and go to my ER where I work, where I found out at triage that my heart rate is actually 154, so I bought myself 2L of NS with that. Also got some solu-medrol and toradol. I felt like a new woman! I was convinced that I had licked this thing, and just added some Tylenol c Codine and some sudafed to my little virus cocktail. Well, wednesday afternoon rolls around, my L ear feels terrible, and my eyes are kinda itchy. Just figured it was my cats, took my sudafed, and my zyrtec for my allergies and went back to bed. No big deal. Felt ok-ish when I woke up for my weekly karaoke time with my friends. I didn't sing, and felt miserable. Was home by 2300 and back in bed. Well I wake up at 0445 and have to pick my eyes open so I can even get them open. I stagger to my bathroom and freaking amazing... Pink eye. Both eyes. So I call my charge nurse and ask if my ER doc and just take a quick looksie write some Rxs and be on my way. Nope. Gotta go check in. Again. He walks in and goes, "Um yeah... you have pink eye." I also told him about my L ear bugging me and he says, "Oh and you have a pretty nasty otitis in your left ear, too." Fantastic. So I got my Rxs for Vigamox eye gtts, 500mg Zithromax PO qday, and some vicodin since they T3 wasn't cutting it. This has also sealed my fate for not being able to go to my parents house for Thanksgiving Dinner today, which is just kinda upsetting. It's my holiday off and I was really looking forward to being with my family, watchin the football games, and helping make dinner. Not so much now. I gotta stay at home. I guess where I"m going with all of this is that I feel like I TOTALLY failed at trying to manage this at home. I feel like a totaly loser for having to go to the ER at odd hours for stuff I couldn't take care of myself. Everytime I thought about going to my PCP I never felt bad enough to go. Of course, at zero dark thirty, I find myself driving my happy little butt across town to work. On the plus side, my friends all took real good care of me! I totally owe all of them hugely for this! Well, guys, I've whined long enough. Thanks for letting me vent! And, again, Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

We have a similar system at our hospital. It's called the Rapid Response team. From what I hear it has done alot of good for our patients.

Thanks for all the replies guys!! I really appreciate all the support! I have been such a total lurker on this website, but had to get some opinions on this. I couldn't even get to sleep until 1400 in the afternoon because, eventhough I felt calmed down, I was apparently still quite amped about the whole situation. As far as asking for an extra day of vacation due to having to see my sdentist, I'm ok with using the day. I currently work on a weekends-only program that my hospital uses, so today is mostly just like any other day off I would have during the week. I'm almost considering cancelling it as my jaw has stopped popping and hurting... but it never hurts to get it all checked out anyway, right? I just woke up so I haven't really looked in the mirror for any bruising. I hope any of it along my jaw won't be too bad. My cousin is getting married on saturday, so I'm hoping any of the bruising will be gone by then... really not looking forward to showing up to a big family function looking like I got my butt kicked! Still haven't heard from the two officers who took the call, which is frustrating. One of the guys is in training... new guys! The other I have seen quite a bit in the ER. I have a good friend who is an officer that I will ask later tonight what I need to do. I'm really not a big fan of the "hurry up and wait" game. Especially in this situation. Hope everybody is having a great night, and again, thanks for all your support!!!

Natingale- I'm doing alright... getting a check up with the dentist tomorrow just to make sure the jaw is ok. It sure is popping alot more than normal. They tased somebody at the nursing home? Yeesh!!! I agree! What is wrong people these days!!! Catlyn- I'm hoping something goes through. The officer on the case will *hopefully* call me back when he comes on shift this afternoon. If not I'll go down to the station myself. This little drunken girl is NOT going to skate off with this one! It enrages me when I hear about this happening to fellow nurses, so I'll be darned if I'm gonna just let things go by the wayside!!

:yeahthat: I'm kinda the same way... the first time I had a pediatric code come in, I didn't cry, and it seemed like all the other people around me were... I felt terrible!!! Then I leanred that it's pretty much what TramaRUs said... keep on doin what you're doin! you're gonna be awesome!!!!!!

So last night it happened. I was assaulted by a patient. I went to our observation unit to help a nurse who has having trouble with this patient and it really just didn't go well. I went in there very calmly asked her what was wrong, tried to talk her down... you know the drill. Long story short I ended up getting punched in the face along my jaw several times, the back of my head several times, and got my left forearm clawed up pretty darn good! I let my attending know about it, cleaned out the wounds she left on my forearm, filed a police report, filed an occurrance report, and went to make sure it was documented through employee health as well. Mostly I'm just hoping my butt is covered completely in this because I just don't want to end up with my butt in a sling over this. Thankfully now I'm on vacation for the next 12 days(WOOHOOO!!!!), but now I can't sleep. Sorry it's short and vague, but thanks for letting me vent!!!

OY!! What a weekend!! I'm sorry it was rough for ya! When do you have to go back? If I were you I'd settle in with a glass of wine and a long bath... Hope your next night on goes much better!!! :cheers::tbsk::icon_hug:*wine

Congrats on taking the plunge! It's a great rewarding field. I can't imagine NICU, so great for you! Although, you may find that as you go through other areas in clinicals, you like other areas too, and that's ok! Of course, you'll find areas that you don't like as well... and that's even better! The things I like about nursing: I love being able to help somebody feel better, or find out what's wrong with them when they are sick. I love being able to hit the floor running and keep that pace until I'm ready to quit. I love knowing I made a difference in somebody's life, even just for a few hours. Learning about patients lives outside of their visit... I could go on forever. Things I hate about nursing: Well, I don't "hate" anything I have some strong dislikes, so I'll list those: I don't like seeing the same drunks over and over who want to detox for the umpteenth time(luckily you will avoid most of this in the NICU), Patients who cop attitued with me when we've done a million dollar workup and can't find the answer and then tell them to follow-up with their provider, Patient families who will spend hundreds of dollars on purses and cell phones and smokes but won't buy a friggen bottle of tylenol to keep on hand when their child has a fever. Patients who spit at me whilst drunk. Manipulative psych pts. Pediatric SANE cases(it just makes me so sad and angry). Again, this list goes on.... and it's not as long as my likes!!! I promise! It's deffinitely a long, trying road, but if you have your heart and mind in it, you'll do awesome!!! Again, Welcome and best of luck!!!!!

Only worked in the ER a couple of years and have learned plenty: Just sitting there minding your own business is one of the most dangerous activities you can do. Just because a certain organization bought you a bus ticket to PHX and supplied you with 2 bottles of vodka to get there(per your request) doesn't mean you'll get there. Mud-Butt has nothing to do with mud. ... shoot I'm sure there are more, but I'm failing to remember at this point!

In our ER we have 4 sections each has a name, thanks to one of our ER techs. Beds 1-3 are known as the green mile(our resus rooms) because sometimes you come back from the Green Mile, and sometimes you don't. We call beds 4-7 The Junkyard because that's where all the CP, SOB, NH, etc pts go, Bed 8-11 is known as Busch Gardens, and Beds 12-16 are known as Candyland, the place in which we place our seekers. We also have a pt who is a frequent flier who has since returned back to his home state that we call, "Mama Tried." Our "Cootchie Checks," we call "Dirty Kitties," we usually just let out an ill sounding "meow" followed by a few coughs. This thread is great guys!! It's made me smile lots!!

I don't know if anybody else has used this or not, but when we have women who miscarry in our ED and are able to collect the fetal parts for patho people referred to it as "products of conception"... it just seemed too cold and very... I dunno... just not right...

WOW! Finally done with all 109 pages! Now have just a few to share of my own....all of which are tame in comparison to what I've read 1) Litlte old guy comes into ER from local nursing home because the staff at the nursing home couldn't get his foley in. We figure, No biggie, get a cudet and we'll fix him right up. Well, we get him into the bed, and expose him, and this stuff that looks like petrolaeum jelly is all over his genitals... the smell is so gawdawful I still gag about it! Sent him back to the NH on Levaquin. 2) Guy comes in with c/c of diarrhea x2 weeks. Had tried Tx at home(Immodium, wait it out, etc). Guy brings with him a ziploc bag full of poo. My NP wants me to get a fresh sample to send off to lab. What ends up in the hat is the nastiest stuff ever. It looks like that orange greasy stool that you get from using alli(Or what I've read anyway), but has this hugely mucusy consistency... I coined a new term that day... Assbooger. 3) Lady comes in via EMS for... something. I can't remember. EMS tells me that the house is absolutely disgusting, filthy, etc, etc. Pt is a rather large woman(Probably about 3 bills) with scaly, oozing nastyness all over her legs. It's my area, so I do her intake, asking all my questions, and removing her socks as well as improvised dressings(paper towels). I let the doc know, he goes in to do his assessment. I tell my Charge nurse about it, and ask her to look at the legs and give me an idea of what the heck this is. Well, I covered the woman's legs to protect her privacy. My charge nurse goes right on in and removes the sheets. The doctor was horrified... he came out and said, "Carrie, before you send some one in to look. Let me prepare a little first. I totally wasn't ready for that!" I cracked up, it was the first time I'd ever seen that doc look a little peaked!! That's all for now... gotta get SOME sleep!

Oh my goodness! Just halfway through the posts and the only one that almost made me lose it was the one about the worm from the trach site! I couldn't stop shivering after that. Will share some of my own once I finish! After the Broncos Vs. Raiders game later today of course! :beercuphe

One bad sign, that I've seen quite a bit: A pt coming in with Cardiac related complaints saying, "I have to poop." Also, same patients becoming extremely anxious right before they code.

How about a few(while it's q&s around here) A.R.T- Assuming room temperature D.B.S- Dead Bigger 'n' $*** Melvic/Meculum- for the male patients/staff/family/docs suffering from acute manginitis... Goin' to Graceland- The room we have to go do a gyn exam on LOVE all the other ones on here!!! Keep 'em coming

Hi nik. There are two Drs offices in the area that are ob/gyn specialties. Cheyenne OB/GYN and the Cheyenne Women's Clinic. If you're looking for more of the hospital scene, I suggest you check out the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center website (www.crmcwy.org) and look for job postings for the L&D/Mother-Baby/Peds floor. It's all one floor with all those units put together... but seperate(I know that's kind of confusing, but you'd have to see the set-up... that and I just got off of work) Anyway, hope that helps!!

I have been reading these stories while in triage most of tonight.(It's unusually slow around here), my phone just rang and it scared the hell outta me! I still love these stories... no new ones from me, yet.. but once I get some time I will share some from the other campus across town where a good friend of mine works!

My facility uses press/gainey as well. It is indredibly frustrating!!! We have some excellent nurses on nights and nights is always knocked. One of the big differences I have found on nights vs. days in my facility is that we have a "Patient Liason" who goes around getting drinks, warm blankets, etc etc. So, the time we come on (1900) we are hopping(as are most EDs) and when does said Liason go home? Yep! 1900! It was once said that the liason is the reason the scores are high only because of her....yet we can't get one for nights, or for just 1900-2300 or 0200! OY! We also started the strive for 5 in our facility. The incentive to wear the button? If you wear it every day of the week you work, you get a FREE MEAL CARD!!:monkeydance: Big WHOOP! On nights the cafeteria now CLOSES at 2400!!!! We do NOT have time between 1900 and 2330(when the grill closes) to go to said cafeteria! My button is sittin in my box at work as I type!:angryfire

I know I just posted, but I had to share this phone call. I was either helping out behind the desk because we were short secretaries, but at any rate I took this call. Me: Good morning, Emergency Department, this is Carrie, how may I direct your call? Caller: Um, Hi...i have a question. May I talk to a nurse? Me: Sure, what's you're question. Caller: Well, you see, my husband usually wakes up with an erection every morning, and for the past three days he hasn't. Me: (By this point I"m trying really hard to stifle a laugh) Let me transfer you to our charge nurse. Now this may be a really SIMPLE *DUH* kinda question to answer, but I was pretty new, but my charge nurse even asked our physician who was a male because she wasn't sure either. I'm sure there are more, but I don't carry around the charge phone...EVER!(too new to be charge... for now)

OMFG... seriously! I hate the commercials anymore today. People self-diagnose too much, or they sit there(ala jeff foxworthy's wife) and think they have whatever malady this drug treats. It gets really frustrating. Just over the past couple of weeks, we have had an elderly lady come in SEVERAL times for generalized malaise but comes in and DEMANDS to see a few docs who are not even on call. Just a totally frustrating situation... People

Wow... I did the same thing... reading this right before bed. I have a few stories to share myself. I just started at the hospital in town, so I don't have any from there. I did, however, work at an Independent Living/Assisted Living facility for almost 4 years, and in almost every department, save for nursing and housekeeping. Anyway, this past fall semester, I was working security. My general duties, included answering phones, helping residents, making exterior rounds, shoveling snow(I swear we had one of the snowiest wintersI can remember when I worked this position), and locking up the building at 2100. On one such night, I had just finished locking up the building. I let myself back into the office to record the temps from the coolers in the kitchen and such. As I'm writing, out of the corner of my eye, I see a man, who I thought lived at the East End of the building. He doesn't move too quickly, but not overly slow. Needless to say, if I wanted to I could have caught him going down either hall quite easilly. As soon as I saw the man, I put down my pen and went right out into the hall. Nobody in the east end, nobody on the west end, and nobody on the mezzanine. The only way he could have gotten away is if he ran... that's how quickly I dropped my pen and investigated. I was eagerly anticipating the night janitor clocking on... In another occurance, I had finished up rounds, I'd say it was about 2145, I settled in with one of my text books at the front desk to study some material from my nursing theory lecture. I didn't see any movement out of the corner of my eyes, but I heard the DISTINCT sound of one of those aluminum(I dunno what material, but the little silver ones) going over tile. the only tile in the WHOLE building is right in the front lobby, and in the kitchen. Nobody was around... again, I was eagerly anticipating the night janitor coming on, so I could clock out and get the heck outta there. I've heard some firsthand accounts from several of my friends from the kitchen, where, oddly enough, I began and ended my employment. Anyway, we had a cook who pretty consistently came in hungover for the saturday morning shift. This was a problem in and of itself, and it has/still does happen to several of our "early morning" cooks. "Chucky" would put the large mixing bowl for eggs, or whatever, on the large stainless steel counter, and go back into the walk in cooler to get whatever neccessary ingredients he needed. He would come back out and the bowl would be spinning down the counter. Several other cooks have told me about how they'll be prepping stuff for lunch and dinner and various items for meals throughout the week, we have a large rack that holds all of our chafing dishes, lids, and on the side we hang all of our ladels... Well, one by one, the ladels come off, as if flicked by somebody. One of the cooks, who I love dearly gave me this advice, should I encounter this spirit myself(I often worked early on the weekends)Just put a cup of regular coffee out in the serving area, and it will stop. Apparently there was a little old man who would throw things until the early morning cook, or server, would get him his coffee. It's a good thing to know that there are things you can do to quell odd goings on!