timonrn

Here we have Dr. Hackett, Urologist (who does vasectomies); we also have Dr. Love, a GP. Dr. Payne must have a HUGE family!! I see that name all the time! :)

Where I work we average 250+ births/month; we always have Surgeons on site altho not always an OB; What prompted us to iniate our "OB STAT" idea (that is, any MD in the house must RUN to OB to possibly deliver the baby--if it is an OB doc the better, regardless if it is your pt or not) was about 10 years back a mom had a uterine window that ruptured at home and by the time EMS got to her she couldn't see--anyways the only MD in the house was the worst OB doc known to man--you know the type--ready to retire and everyone covers his mistakes--but he did the emergency c/s and couldn't find the baby for all the blood-went in up to his forarms in the abd. cavity and finally fished the kid out from behind the liver--both lives were saved but mom needed a hyst becuz she went into DIC. The moral of the story is work at a hospital with these on site--OB residents (God bless 'em), anesthesia, RT, surgeons, NICU NP's, on-call LDR nurses, etc etc. You'll feel much better knowing they are just an in-house phone call away--

I'm not an LDR nurse but sounds like a pulmonary embolis? or maybe an amniotic fluid embolis? Her body may have vaso constricted due to a PE and thus constricted the vessels in the placenta causing the decels?? I'd like to know, too. Did they do a scan on her for PE's? Did she have a mild stroke?

...who knew all her pregnancy that if she didn't get clean her baby would go to foster care, so yesterday when the 72 hr police hold was placed on baby, she had NO idea how she tested positive for large amnts of cocaine, but after further pondering, she told the social worker that the Dad's sperm had cocaine in it!! I'm sure you OB nurses have heard it all and add this to that file!! LOL

One word: Twin Cities! If you need a job, move here!!!

Haji, thanks so much for your info. Timon rules!

We have quite a large IV team and I am thankful for their expertease and wisdom every time I work--their response time is usually less than 1/2 hr unless a trauma is called--I can't imagine a hospital w/o an IV team--This is a 350 plus teaching/trauma hospital. Others from Minnesota hospitals--do you all have IV teams?

What is the difference b/t a Groshong catheter and a regular Central line and why can a Groshong stay in so much longer than a CL? Thanks and pardon my ignorance--

I agree with the above post about trying getting a translater in time, this is why the above books were recomended--only as a supplement to the already in place policies. We use AT&T language line but an alternative company called Garden and Associates works quite well for us--I will usually call them first. The trick is trying to get the MD, Nurse, Pediatrician and whatever all together at once for D/C instr--try this once!!

I hate emptying NG cannisters, esp if it is real mucousy or chunky!! And I hate vomit or spit--makes me dry heave!!

Minnesota requires 24 ceu's every two years for RN's, while to keep my EMT up I need 48 every 2 years--go figure-

We, too are in the same boat--many spanish speaking women in the last year. No one speaks spanish around here. So, thank-you for the suggestion of books (I have a year of college spanish but it doesn't really help). Another suggestion--I bought a little flip pocket book for EMT that the paramedics use and that has good spanish/english medical stuff. I'm going to look at that site for arabic phrases as well--lots of arabic-speaking people moving to the midwest--

I'm not sure this is exactly what you are looking for but we have a book on our unit called "Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation" that works real well for MDs/Nurses that need to answer questions for their pts about a drug they are on. Sorry--don't know the author--If you are interested let me know, I will find out for you--

Here in MN (the MNA contract) gives us about .80 more an hour! Hopefully will change w/ new contract in May.

Here in MN (the MNA contract) gives us about .80 more an hour! Hopefully will change w/ new contract in May.

It used to be a narrow scope about three years ago, but know a days, if you've seen my other posts, a GYN floor is basically a dumping ground for anything female, so, yes--you will get a good med/surg AND gyn experience at most larger hospitals. So now I don't discourage new grads from staring GYN instead of M/S--we are all getting the same pts, anyways. (altho the other day I did have to turn down an admission to my GYN unit--it was a chest wall resection. I really don't think that was appropriate for a GYN floor w/ absolutely no experience w/ chest tubes and we have no equipment for something like that, plus no experienced nurses for that) ; )

It all boils down to this: Give me a good nurse anytime to back me up while my pt is laying on the floor bleeding out from a GI bleed, or having massive chest pains--I don't care if you are an LPN, ADN, BSN or a NA--If you are competent and helpful--that's what I need!! I'll sort out the credentials later!! (anyone who works charge knows what I am talking about). PS-I have a BSN and I'm tired of the remarks I hear all the time from people who think that it was a waste of education!! It is only a waste if you don't continue to make yourself a better nurse thru your education--don't stop at ADN or BSN--go and get BLS certified, then ACLS, PALS etcetc!! Our higher accuity pts need us to be better trained beyond basic nursing skills.

It all boils down to this: Give me a good nurse anytime to back me up while my pt is laying on the floor bleeding out from a GI bleed, or having massive chest pains--I don't care if you are an LPN, ADN, BSN or a NA--If you are competent and helpful--that's what I need!! I'll sort out the credentials later!! (anyone who works charge knows what I am talking about). PS-I have a BSN and I'm tired of the remarks I hear all the time from people who think that it was a waste of education!! It is only a waste if you don't continue to make yourself a better nurse thru your education--don't stop at ADN or BSN--go and get BLS certified, then ACLS, PALS etcetc!! Our higher accuity pts need us to be better trained beyond basic nursing skills.

I am happy for you that you guys all get along because when we discussed female stuff in front of our male RN he threatened us with sexual harrasment. Management then siad no more "gutter" talk at work and if we felt uncomf. w/ any discussion, just to get up and leave. which is what any norm. person would do, anyways--

Todd, wasn't sure if you wanted to see answers posted but I think this is a very interesting topic and I, too, would like to see what others have experienced. I work in OB/GYN and have only worked w/ 2 males ever in my 17+years here--one an RN, the other a CNA. The RN was here for about three years and never did find acceptance from either his peers or his pts. I have to admit he never could get a break from us "females" but he also was kind of creepy. He eventually was forced to resign due to one too many medical errors. The CNA, on the other hand was very well accepted and never had a complaint from pt or staff (All female). Why? good question--so maybe it boils down to this--if you are a male going into a female dominated unit, you are at a major disadvantage and will be looked at warily by the female clientele/staff-we can't help it. This is where trust and respect (not to mention safety issues ingrained in us ) are earned after a trial by fire. I'm sure male MD's feel this fresh out of school--it either makes you or breaks you. (being creepy doesn't help the cause) Any answers out there from you fellow OB nurses/CNA's?

I believe that a pregnant teenager is now considered emancipated, and therefor able to make all their own decisions related to the pregnancy. Unless this is a child welfare issue (ie-is the teenager endangering her fetus) there is nothing we can do. I would want to know if my daughters were pregnant but unfortunately once a teenage girl gets pregnant she is considered an "adult" where her pregnancy is concerned. Ask your Social service department--they know all the laws/rights in your state.

I've seen this once on an episode of "Paramedics"-so maybe it is an EMS thing? Never seen it used in Minnesota rigs, tho--

I've seen this once on an episode of "Paramedics"-so maybe it is an EMS thing? Never seen it used in Minnesota rigs, tho--

Not only can we NOT drink or eat at OUR desk (apparentely considered a "pt. care area"???)we can no longer apply makeup, lipstick, our contact lenses, nail polish, or any other personal hygeine issues!! This is a true policy now hanging on our board!! Not that I've ever seen anyone doing any of these things, but sometimes I reach for my lip balm (you all know how dry the lips get) and have to quickly put it away and go into our report room!! I know these are all JACHO issues as they are due at our place in March.

...AND worse yet, a redheaded L&D or OB nurse to boot!!! (I also watch out for MD's- they like to bleed, too...)