canoehead BSN, RN

ER

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All Content by canoehead

  1. canoehead

    Triage times (under 3 minutes)

    canoehead replied to MassED's topic in Emergency

    It's hateful when you get someone who is over 90 years, but has a low triage score. They shouldn't have to sit for 6-8 hours, but the sickest need to be seen first. It's always a
  2. canoehead

    Quitting without notice

    canoehead replied to Summer247's topic in General Nursing

    Give the notice, then you can care for the patients during your last two weeks, and to heck with all the paperwork and demands of management. Just ENJOY the time, and nurse the way you want to. It's...
  3. canoehead

    What's Going on with Patients Hgb?

    canoehead replied to NerdyMedSurgNurse's topic in General Nursing

    Is the reticulocyte count normal? Or iron studies? She's in renal failure, and perhaps her kidneys aren't releasing the erythropoietin needed. And if she's puffed up like a balloon, why are they...
  4. canoehead

    My coworker was high and got away with it

    canoehead replied to Volley88's topic in General Nursing

    I keep seeing this stupid thread, can't believe its still alive. The nurse WAS NOT HIGH. But if I worked with such a nosey Nancy, I'd drop hints too, just to see her
  5. canoehead

    Documentation of times

    canoehead replied to hlnorrn's topic in General Nursing

    OP, we could make a three page list of things that other people are responsible for, but nursing does it for
  6. canoehead

    Nurse's Week Festivities?

    canoehead replied to Extra Pickles's topic in General Nursing

    I started nursing in a country where we didn't do anything for nurses' day, then moved to the USA, where we got a small gift every year. I'm back home now. I think admin really cant win as far as...
  7. canoehead

    Is it common for nurses to have papers published?

    canoehead replied to Raven1994's topic in General Nursing

    When I was taking my BSN I pulled out two papers I wrote for courses, buffed them up, and had them published. It's a great way to stand out when you apply for a
  8. canoehead

    What Did You Get For Nurses Week?

    canoehead replied to iPink's topic in General Nursing

    We got an email from the nurse manager. He wrote it himself, and didn't get his secretary to write it and cc it with his blessings. Pretty impressive. Also there's a sign on the lawn that says Happy...
  9. canoehead

    Patients Say the Darnedest Things

    canoehead replied to allnurses's topic in General Nursing

    They couldn't pay me enough to go out with those two on a smoke
  10. canoehead

    Do psychotropic meds contribute to poor decision making sometimes?

    canoehead replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    Ten years of antianxiety meds, after the death of his son, tells me he has issues that needs to be dealt with. I imagine his general life issues cause some trouble with decision making, more than the...
  11. canoehead

    Manager catch phrases

    canoehead replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    "Perception is reality," as in, if the patient perceived you as rude, you were rude. In some ways it's true, I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But if I'm stating a fact they don't like, that...
  12. canoehead

    Dealing with sensitive care aides

    canoehead replied to notanumber's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    If more drama makes you hold back on your discipline, it's effective for the worker. "He made me cry!" is a great tool to get
  13. canoehead

    Doctors Say the Darnedest Things

    canoehead replied to allnurses's topic in General Nursing

    I got an order for a stat banana once. Same
  14. canoehead

    Help!?! New to SICU. Cried second day. Terrified

    canoehead replied to jlv613's topic in MICU, SICU

    You and your preceptor may adapt to each other. She may be a pussycat underneath all that crank! Even if you decide in a few weeks or months that this is too intense, or not the environment for you,...
  15. canoehead

    Moderate (Concious) Sedation by RT?

    canoehead replied to OkieICU_RN's topic in MICU, SICU

    I say go for it, RT's take sedation, as it's mostly a respiratory issue. But if they take it, they need to take the initial screening, the paperwork, and the recovery. Not just there to push meds,...
  16. canoehead

    Dealing with a dirty old man

    canoehead replied to BookishBelle's topic in General Nursing

    In this patient satisfaction age, if soft measures don't stop them, I say "that makes me very uncomfortable. I'm sure you don't mean it in an inappropriate way, but it's feeling a bit creepy, so let's...
  17. canoehead

    You're not going to pull that on me

    canoehead replied to TeenyTiny's topic in General Nursing

    Sharpen my colored pencils! and buy me candy! Fluff my pillow! Bend my straw! I can't even. I'll be back after I calm down. The sad thing is that if they were nice we'd have no problem doing those...
  18. canoehead

    Stethoscope tracker

    canoehead replied to leonard_huh's topic in General Nursing

    You can get "Tiles" from the apple store. My neck/head aches if I keep it on there for more than a couple hours. One of our docs walked in with about twenty stethoscopes he had kept in his car, and...
  19. canoehead

    Alternative sites for peripheral IV access

    canoehead replied to MacDSlim's topic in General Nursing

    Well, if that's all they could get, and the patient needed the Vanco, there wasn't a lot of choice. I'd notify the doc about the crappy access, give that first dose, and start making calls to get a...
  20. canoehead

    Feel stupid

    canoehead replied to Cat365's topic in Emergency

    With patients constantly coming and going, I flip through the labs just before giving report to make sure something new and horrible hasn't come back that needs to be fixed. I also give reports with...
  21. canoehead

    You're not going to pull that on me

    canoehead replied to TeenyTiny's topic in General Nursing

    Multiple instances of people needing to be bumped ahead in the ER triage because they had an appointment (including a doctor's appointment) or had to go to work. The best one was a lady that needed to...
  22. canoehead

    You're not going to pull that on me

    canoehead replied to TeenyTiny's topic in General Nursing

    An ER patient in his 20's with no know medical issues c/o not being able to feel his feet at all. He walked in, but lost the ability to ambulate when he didn't get the requested Percocet. We let him...
  23. canoehead

    Rough day on the unit

    canoehead replied to GuestAnon's topic in General Nursing

    Nursing was constant misery and learning for my first year. You did nothing wrong, just your coworker pointed out what could have been better. Don't beat yourself up, because on your next shift you...
  24. canoehead

    Question regarding resignation

    canoehead replied to ryanc001's topic in General Nursing

    OP, blow them a kiss as you leave. They want you to clomp around the unit on a broken foot? It's just
  25. canoehead

    question about nurses on methadone

    canoehead replied to Ntheboat2's topic in General Nursing

    Prescription wise, the physician knows the patient, and her profession, and has assessed her mental capacity. So if it needs to be reported, it should already be done. Unless you see a worsening...