canoehead BSN, RN

ER

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All Content by canoehead

  1. canoehead

    Serious Mental Illness: How Can We Help?

    canoehead replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    Well, when it takes at least two weeks for medications to work, and the average stay is 13
  2. canoehead

    Feeling incompetent in nursing school

    canoehead replied to btf4's topic in General Students

    In school, if you don't feel incompetent, they aren't pushing you hard enough. That's how you learn. That feeling of total incompetence is going to follow you through AT LEAST your first year of...
  3. canoehead

    What's your best catch?

    canoehead replied to beekee's topic in General Nursing

    My first good catch was a kid with vitals going up BP and HR while he pooped blood all night. He was well out of his normal range, and had an alarming amount of blood loss. The pulse went up, as...
  4. canoehead

    Your Worst Mistake

    canoehead replied to aurora_borealis's topic in General Nursing

    THESE MISTAKES ARE NOT THOSE OF A FABULOUS NURSE. I'm pretty forgiving, and I've made some doozies, but for maybe the second time in my allnurses life I'm saying that if one nurse made all these...
  5. canoehead

    Downstaffing

    canoehead replied to KSjo88's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, HELL no!! Don't send that idea our way. If I wanted to massage anything, I'd go on the street and freelance
  6. canoehead

    Discharging Patient With Opioid in Hand?

    canoehead replied to ceegee69's topic in General Nursing

    We do it all the time in the ER with full knowledge of the pharmacy. They get enough to make it through til their script can be
  7. canoehead

    Recipient's right's complaint filed on me

    canoehead replied to RhythmicRN's topic in General Nursing

    I would not touch a borderline patient without asking their consent first, unless they were about to hurt themselves or others. It would be a great thing to do the same with everyone, but nursing is a...
  8. canoehead

    New to ED, Suggestions on Supplies

    canoehead replied to Nurse-please's topic in Emergency

    A calculator, pens, tape, scissors, penlight and change for a coffee. I also keep a few O2 tubing connectors so I can add an extension tube without making an extra trip. I use the cheap kids scissors...
  9. canoehead

    Medication administration confusion???

    canoehead replied to Mike DBD's topic in General Nursing

    When pharmacy prepares the med, they are dispensing, and I know RNs are NOT able to dispense meds. I'd have to email the Board on this situation to see if it was legal. I know that pharmacy has two...
  10. canoehead

    Enabling Family and Friends

    canoehead replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    I recently had a conversation with a family member, and pointed out that the patient was treating them badly, while they were bending over backwards to be helpful. I told them that it was OK to set...
  11. canoehead

    Patients Say the Darnedest Things - WIN $250! Nurses Week Contest 2018

    canoehead replied to Brian S.'s topic in General Nursing

    An unruly patient was screaming in the ER. My confused LOL rolled over and muttered "that damn cat!" Our monitors were ringing incessantly while some patients were trying to sleep. After a couple...
  12. canoehead

    How to handle the tough questions from patients.

    canoehead replied to candacesw's topic in General Nursing

    "It happens to the best people" Really any disease is the role of the dice, worthiness, godliness, and thoughts and prayers mean not too much. It's a lottery pick. I think we all get a turn at...
  13. canoehead

    Inappropriate Conversations in the Workplace

    canoehead replied to Shookclays's topic in General Nursing

    I think your action of avoiding the conversation, and continuing with patient care, speaks well for your priorities. You won't win this battle, but you can be a good leader by NOT getting
  14. canoehead

    Can a new grad have spidey senses??

    canoehead replied to Barbie8808's topic in General Nursing

    The commute will be unsafe, and you will be mentally exhausted trying to learn all you need to know in ICU. It's a hard no on that job from me. BUT in a couple years you will have nursing experience,...
  15. canoehead

    Dealing with Guilt and Coping

    canoehead replied to clouds_creamy's topic in General Nursing

    My first code, I called for the code team, but then when they asked me things, I couldn't comprehend enough to answer. Someone said "get a bag!" and it flummoxed me for the rest of the event. I knew...
  16. canoehead

    Forcibly removing piercings in psych patients

    canoehead replied to KathyDay's topic in Emergency

    My hospital also removes phones and tablets from patients. Someone barely coping lands in an unfamiliar environment, with less freedom, and all their normal coping skills aren't available, it seems...
  17. canoehead

    How do you discuss gender issues with adolescents?

    canoehead replied to canoehead's topic in General Nursing

    What I was worried about was if a kid was questioning their sexuality, what of they decided to take hormones, is that an irreversible decision in any respect? Would they lose fertility? By honoring...
  18. canoehead

    Wearing gloves with HIV positive patients

    canoehead replied to Leekri's topic in General Nursing

    Gloves are unnecessary if you follow handwashing standards. Handwashing actually is more effective than gloving in prevention of disease. If a patient is on contact precautions, then you'd add gloving...
  19. canoehead

    Code cart outdates

    canoehead replied to Hazelgirl_06's topic in General Nursing

    Nursing has to check outdates where I work and it was the bane of my existence when someone pointed out the expiry dates on all out alcohol
  20. canoehead

    Family Member Watching Pro-terror/ Anti-America/ Anti-Semitic video

    canoehead replied to sugarmagnolia3's topic in General Nursing

    We're up to seven pages of replies. No one has mentioned actually TALKING to the visitor, and finding out how they feel about the film. It's easy, "What do you think about that way of life?" Have you...
  21. canoehead

    Has anyone else had a nurse manager swear during an interview?

    canoehead replied to AnnieOaklyRN's topic in General Nursing

    Actually I would be MORE likely to take the job if the manager swears at will. But I'm in the ER now, and we don't hold
  22. canoehead

    Charge nurse calls doc at night

    canoehead replied to Nurse-please's topic in General Nursing

    I could live with running my concerns by a charge nurse first, two heads are better than one. But I would not be waiting for the charge's permission to call, nor would I allow her to call on my behalf...
  23. canoehead

    Rolling out bedside report

    canoehead replied to magordon's topic in General Nursing

    You've tried it 15 times, had no success, and you're trying again? Quit punishing yourself, it's like the NewCoke, it's not gonna
  24. canoehead

    My DON accused me of patient abandonment during a snowstorm

    canoehead replied to NurseScorpio88's topic in General Nursing

    Right now, get a copy of any policies that relate to weather emergencies, so you have proof you don't have to check in with the DON if the weather is bad. Also, save a copy of the facility printed...
  25. canoehead

    ER BOOKS???

    canoehead replied to Kitkat222's topic in Emergency

    Polly Zimmerman's book on Triage Nursing Secrets is the best nursing text I've come across. It's out of print, but you can get it used on Amazon