canoehead BSN, RN

canoehead has 30 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in ER.

canoehead's Latest Activity

1. 

   What do you say when a patient family member is taking out their rage out on the world on to you? 

   canoehead replied to BeatsPerMinute's topic in General Nursing

   Usually, they need to yell, and I'm the one in front of them. It could be anxiety, aftereffects of an adrenaline rush, the situation, conflict with someone else, nervous energy from a wait...you name it. some people are very on/off with anger, no mid...
2. 

   Where should I realistically be at this point in orientation?

   canoehead replied to cblossom78's topic in General Nursing

   I really think four weeks is much too soon to draw any conclusions. You know where the bathroom, med room and utility rooms are. You can do an assessment head to toe? I'd be good with just that right now as a preceptor, as long as you were still aski...
3. 

   Paramedics in the ER near Portland, Maine?

   canoehead replied to jkmk's topic in Maine

   Im in Biddeford, the same hospital system as Portland, and we don't have EMS in the ER. I've worked where they are used in the ER, and they did a great job.
4. 

   Thoughts on putting a soft roll under the Achilles tendon when positioning for surgery.

   canoehead replied to mrsd's topic in Operating Room

   That sounds like it would be painful postop. I have chronic Achilles tendonitis, and I'm certain it would cause problems for me.
5. 

   "It's all in your head." Advocating for Proper Diagnosis for Female Patients

   canoehead replied to angeloublue22's topic in General Nursing

   Docs I've worked with would listen if I had an idea of what might be happening, but they aren't so open to hearing they need to look further, without other ideas.
6. 

   Career Change From Adult Oncology to NICU, Nervous!

   canoehead replied to Sweetpea04's topic in Career Support

   Jump in and do it. You need a change, so try it for 6 months, and start applying elsewhere if you want to try something else. If you don't make the change, you'll be unhappy and start reapplying elsewhere, and you'll get a reputation for being flakey...
7. 

   Has anyone slept through phone calls while on-call?

   canoehead replied to SilverBells's topic in General Nursing

   I think anyone that takes a medication that changes their level of alertness cannot plan on working until it wears off. That would mean skipping meds for OP, and it sounds like call lasts a week at a time. Missing a week of nighttime meds might be de...
8. 

   Patients Filming You

   canoehead replied to Anonymous666's topic in General Nursing

   I don't want anyone to take my photo without my permission, and I certainly don't want to be on film. If asked beforehand, probably would be fine with being filmed when I'm teaching a skill. I'd even be OK with video setup in a patients room for thei...
9. 

   CPR Renewal and Physical Limitations

   canoehead replied to Cricket183's topic in General Nursing

   I'm with OP, I don't do well in a kneeling position for an hour, however, if someone was down and needed CPR I'd be ready to go for two minutes of compressions. In reality, since I hit my fifties there are tons of younger and stronger folk lined up t...
10. 

    Been an RN for 20 yrs, can't take anymore

    canoehead replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Nurse Beth

    I was overwhelmed by my work and feeling unsafe/anxious about it. I ended up in another job, and amazingly, the workload here is manageable. It wasn't me, and it wasn't that every hospital is in crisis so there's nothing that can be done....nope, it ...
11. 

    Management Criticism: "We see you care a great deal…"

    canoehead replied to KalipsoRed21's topic in Professionalism

    Definitely, on the changing policies. We must work at the same place. I've looked up policies multiple times and found nothing, and had the nurse manager pull something up saying she searched a different word and found I wasn't compliant. The OR vrs ...
12. 

    Management Criticism: "We see you care a great deal…"

    canoehead replied to KalipsoRed21's topic in Professionalism

    OP, I am also a "just do it, dammit" nurse. But then I realized that the same issues that make me feel overwhelmed are what piss me off when someone asks if they can help. If I had the mental resources to think about what I need someone to do, I'd ha...
13. 

    ER downward spiral

    canoehead replied to canoehead's topic in Emergency

    Since my last post my administration has reported me to the Board three times, two were dismissed without investigation, still waiting for word on the third. Locally I've been blackballed, would get a great interview, or even get the job, but once th...
14. 

    What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

    canoehead replied to JUSTYSMOM's topic in Emergency

    I want to shame you for doing that when you suspected a heart attack, but... Last Summer I tried to bring the raft in, and lifted a 100lb anchor, but couldn't get it over the side, just up to the edge. I got a sudden sharp head splitting headache, wi...
15. 

    Decapitated baby

    canoehead replied to SHH's topic in General Specialties

    If anyone thought a coverup would work, they have a lower IQ than average. There's no way family wouldn't find out. I can see the nurses wanting to make the baby look as good as possible for the family, but why are they just holding up the body? Fami...