PacuTwo

I also tell my post ops that they are going to have pain. I tell them that we hope their pain medication will keep their pain level below a 5, but that it can not take it all away. I have found our plastics docs to be the least forthcoming about pain expectations and our orthos and general surgeons to be the most direct. I also deal with several docs who seem to be in complete denial that their surgical procedures can cause pain so they refuse to give scripts. They make me the saddest.

Anyone else here with me and interested in keeping in touch?

I am hating this class! I do not understand the power point document assignment and I am finding the coaches less than helpful. They just keep repeating the mechanics of what is expected vs. what the heck is it they want us to put on those dang power points. I am thinking this will just be a hit my grade has to take. The amount of work is overwhelming, yes but the not being able to work ahead...well that just irks me.

My Blackboard course opened today. I was wondering if anyone else here was taking it with me. Susan

Mmm...Not too long ago, I got a fresh post-op from OR. It was a middle-aged man who had had some areas excised from his member. I lifted the blanket to check the dressing for my pacu documentation and...could not find a dressing anywhere. I mean it couldn't be far right. So, I thought. The doc came in to give me a script for him and to speak to him and I asked about the dressing. I told him, I just could not see it. He raised one brow and sorta smirked and told me to look again. Yup. Coban that matched the skin exactly. I was looking for the xeroform, kerlex, & medipore tape (white) the OR nurse had mistakenly told me to look for. The Doc stopped by later "to make sure I found what I was looking for".

It depends on what type they were and if you are completely honest. They are hard on crimes that are violent in nature, take advantage of the weak, and theft or drug dealing. There is a list on the website somewhere of those crimes. Some are felonies and some are misdemeanors.

@armygirl7- I'm right there with you. I have taken care on my brother's MIL a couple of times for minor surgery. It makes for a weird Xmas eve when we go over there because I know, she knows and her DH know, but I have no idea who else knows. Does my brother know? Does she keep it from her daughter? Arg.

Ok, maybe it would have been better delivered in a staff meeting, however, I see absolutely nothing wrong with the email. I work with some of the most work-ethic challenged people I can imagine. It makes my job harder because I have to pull their weight. It makes me look like a harridan because I complain frequently in hopes that my wishy washy NM will actually sit someone down and say "tow the line or move on". But no. Staff members tell her how and when they will do their job. They tell her they have PTO days in the bank and they are going to take them on they days they choose and to heck with unit needs. They will not work the call they are scheduled. Staff members go off unit during shift and no one knows where they are...they are not on lunch or break. I would give anything for an email like that to be in my box on Monday morning because I am tired of my work ethic and my need/desire to give excellent patient care being taken for granted.

Virginia Beach here. We did not evac, nor did we need to. We have some high water/low lying areas that are pretty bad but my house sits up high. I was able to get to work by big pick up truck today instead of my little SUV. A large amount of our cases cancelled, however, and I can home as it got bad again. Last year, they let some of the staff stay in closed units instead of going home. We have never evac'd as of yet, it would probably take a direct hit from a cat 4 to get us to go. We just get out the generator, make sure we have plently of emergency supplies, and hang on. Last year I was the only discharge nurse for both a hurricane day and a snow day. We had one admitting nurse and one discharge (me). Everyone else stayed home. The wind and rain are still kickin' right now though...

Ours accrues as a percentage of hours worked. I am budgeted for 64 hours a payperiod, but usually work 72 minimum so I get a bit over 3 weeks a year. We are not forced to use PTO except for vacay or sick call. If were stay out for low census, we can use it or not, that it up to us. We sign up about the 3rd week of January, but the schedule stays up all year so you can add to it any time as long as there is a spot for you. We are allowed to take up to 3 weeks at a time as long as it is not between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when you can only take two weeks at a time. Vacation scheduling has not been a real issue except with is can be unfair as to some people are allowed earlier access to it than others so the holiday weeks go to the same people all the time. The only issue I ever have is not with vacation scheduling, but with what I will call "life" scheduling. I get grumpy when the same people always have to have special work schedules to accomodate whatever is going on with them this week. I get annoyed by someone saying...I need Mondays off for class, I will be 45 min late on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I have to be off early Friday for a Dr. appointment.I am quite old school about it...job first, school fits in to job not the other way 'round. We are not flipping burgers here. I think we should support the pursuit of a higher degree, but there is a limit to how much accomodation anyone should expect or even ask for.

Of course I don't remember it, but unfortunately my only faint was immortalized on film. I was a senior in high school and on a summer Saturday band members had to stand in uniform for pictures on the football field. After about thirty minutes in the hot sun there I went toppling over backward. I hit the ground so hard you can see my hat fly up off my head about three feet. It is a very funny film to watch, but it was embarrassing at the time.

Three years ago the hospital I worked for "eliminated" 16 positions during a restructuring. Funny how all 16 nurses were over 40 and near or at the top of the RN pay scale. Hmm, fish anyone?

Thank you! I forgot about this scene and I love it.

Hi Andy, Did you get a job yet?

I went from many years in home health to a hospital outpatient ambulatory surgery center. I was nervous at first having been out of the hospital for so many years, but spin everything you have to do independently as a home health nurse in your favor. You have must very good assessment skills, and critical thinking skills as home health patients are much sicker than they were 11 years ago. You have to sell yourself. Good Luck