kalycat BSN, RN

CVICU CCRN

Member

All Content by kalycat

  1. kalycat

    To kill or not to kill... another person dream?

    kalycat replied to KatieMI's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Oh @KatieMI!! I just had to post and wish you well. I’ve followed your posts for years and remember you mentioning your allergies in a thread where we were discussing restaurant food and epi pens....
  2. kalycat

    Left my job d/t health reasons yesterday.

    kalycat replied to RNikkiF's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    It's a loss. A true loss. There will be somewhat of a grief process around it for sure. Try to use this time to regroup and work towards your dreams/goals, particularly ones outside of work. Give...
  3. kalycat

    What's the strangest phone conversation you've ever had at work?

    kalycat replied to Brekka's topic in Nursing Humor

    It's actually part of orientation to our CVICU that you observe a CABG or other open heart procedure - you spend two days in the OR. I think it's awesome. I used to work as a circulator and then went...
  4. kalycat

    How to Identify and Respond to Bullying and Incivility

    kalycat replied to Damion Jenkins's topic in General Students

    Add me to the list of people who were actually bullied at one time - the time I transferred to my "dream" unit. Believe me, the behavior went far beyond jamming a copier or eye rolling. Think...
  5. kalycat

    Best/Worst EHR

    kalycat replied to ICUMatthew's topic in General Nursing

    I've used both the DOS based meditech and the windows based "upgrade" one. Both were absolutely terrible and the second took 75 clicks to locate a simple lab result. I love epic as much as it's...
  6. kalycat

    Very concerned

    kalycat replied to ButterflyRN90's topic in General Nursing

    I'm sorry to hear this. I've worked at facilities that had fatigue guidelines before - but they seem to be few and far between. Unless her work hours were in direct violation of policy, I personally...
  7. kalycat

    WA Appellate Court says nurses cannot have 'break buddies' must use designated break nurse

    kalycat replied to klone's topic in Nursing News

    This is a very interesting discussion. I don't work for MultiCare, but this may be applicable in my region. When I used to work the floor, we had "break buddies" at night with no resource nurse, and...
  8. kalycat

    Very concerned

    kalycat replied to ButterflyRN90's topic in General Nursing

    I read through this whole thing and was hoping someone would mention this. I've only been a nurse for 4 years and was told numerous times in nursing school to never do this. OP: I'm a CICU nurse in a...
  9. kalycat

    Sign on room when pt dies for no more svcs. in room/ courtesy sign - do you have one?

    kalycat replied to deweydecimal13501's topic in General Nursing

    We have a special sign with a dove on it that's kept with our other iso precaution signs. It's just our way of letting others know what is going on -- lab, other nurses, etc. With 72 beds, we can have...
  10. kalycat

    L&D Nurse After Stillbirth

    kalycat replied to Swimming-duck's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I am so sorry for your loss. I suffered the loss of my first daughter in the mid second trimester due to a variety of complications. My experiences are what, in part, inspired me to become a nurse...
  11. kalycat

    It is a broken system - rant

    kalycat replied to nutella's topic in General Nursing

    While I agree that we need to put our own perspectives aside since it's about the patient and their goals, I feel very strongly about being an advocate for mitigation of suffering. Very strongly. I...
  12. kalycat

    Risk of getting your family members sick?

    kalycat replied to Pete_soon2bRN's topic in General Nursing

    I was on an immune suppressing med in nursing school - only time I ever got sick that I could directly tie to the hospital; it was norovirus. I changed my meds and lifestyle, don't take that med...
  13. kalycat

    Need help..hate my job :(

    kalycat replied to butters9812's topic in General Nursing

    A couple of thoughts to add to the great info you've received... If you think that resources are a major component of your stress, perhaps dayshift on your unit would be a better fit? We staff very...
  14. kalycat

    Pt. regurgitated/vomited NG tube

    kalycat replied to Ele_123's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I've had adults do it - not as often as kids though. Just happens sometimes. Nothing to do but drop a new
  15. kalycat

    ACLS certification

    kalycat replied to astratton83's topic in General Nursing

    This is a great little website that I used when I initially took acls. It really helped with rhythm recognition - I wasn't a new grad but hadn't worked on the floor yet; I went straight to the OR and...
  16. kalycat

    CON withholding proof of graduation!!!!

    kalycat replied to KelERnurse's topic in General Students

    OP, you come across as articulate and well prepared. Part of me wants to tell you to use those skills to reach out to the Powers that Be in advocacy and call your skool out on this BS. Part of me...
  17. kalycat

    Seattle Children's Hospital / Living in Seattle

    kalycat replied to LanaLasch13's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I don't mean to minimize a Chi-town commute, but I've lived all over the country, including SoCal. Seattle traffic and commuting is literally the worst I've ever seen, complicated further by parking...
  18. kalycat

    Tips for delirium behavior management

    kalycat replied to CCU BSN RN's topic in General Nursing

    We recently had a similar situation. The patient ended up going on palliative care, and the first thing the palliative care team did was discontinue the dilaudid and Ativan in favor of fentanyl for...
  19. kalycat

    Used CPR on my neighbors toddler today... it wasn't enough... warning, graphic..

    kalycat replied to NursingInChaos's topic in General Nursing

    I'm so, so sorry you went through this. I can tell you that I've seen kids in PICU come back from cold water drownings, even in dirty water (a collection tank comes to mind). Every case is different,...
  20. kalycat

    What was your worst shift ever?

    kalycat replied to Isakolistic's topic in General Nursing

    I can't compete with some of these stories. Ruby and IIg, you two need to write books. I have told part of thise story in another thread, but never the *whole* story. I was new to cardiac, fresh...
  21. kalycat

    What makes you say/think "it was a good shift?"

    kalycat replied to quazar's topic in General Nursing

    I get to throughly chart... I love the satisfaction of having all the t's crossed. Theres a good code on another unit and the team rocks it. (I don't want you to code, I just want to be there if you...
  22. kalycat

    Double Checking subQ Insulin Requirement

    kalycat replied to KTakami25's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    ~760 bed urban trauma center, Magnet, - no double check. ~ critical access hospital 1, no double check. ~ critical access hospital 2, requires a double check (did some training there) Washington...
  23. kalycat

    Storing bodies of deceased babies

    kalycat replied to GR88's topic in General Nursing

    It depends on the gestation and circumstances at my facility. If it is more the products of conception removed during a D and C or similar procedure, then a biohazard bag is used. Usually if the loss...
  24. kalycat

    Running cardizem drip?!

    kalycat replied to johndough's topic in Patient Medications

    So yeah, never ever run a high alert Med as a piggyback. (Ask me about the time that a panic stricken nurse on another floor had their "B" line fail on a plum pump due to some sort of tubing issue and...
  25. kalycat

    Two deaths in one shift

    kalycat replied to %)'s topic in Health, Stress Management

    Professional distance is a must in nursing. It just is. It's a must for yourself, but it is also critically important for your patients and their families. You are much more therapeutic when you can...