SilleLu

SilleLu has 3 years experience.

SilleLu's Latest Activity

1. 

   Are Big City Hospitals Really Getting Hit With COVID-19 Pts?

   SilleLu replied to EPS's topic in Disasters

   400+ beds, SE michigan but not Detroit. 3 ICU units, a makeshift ICU in an unused area, 2 out of 3 med/surg units, 1 large tele unit were ALL made into Covid units and ALL had a good number of covid and/or r/o patients. BiPaps made into vents because we had no more vents. This is ridiculously real. Deaths of several in their early 20s. IT IS REAL. Hopefully your area won't see what we see.
2. 

   What is your Nursing Super Power?

   SilleLu replied to adventure_rn's topic in Nursing

   Getting complicated discharges done. The patient that has been medically stable for weeks, doctor are willing to write discharge orders, but difficulty getting patient placed somewhere? Gone on my shift. The challenging patient that keeps coming up with new issues so they don't get discharged? Gone. The difficult patient everyone just can't deal with anymore? yup, them too. The patient whose family is out at the nurse's station 10 times before you even get report? Put me on it, I'm the discharge queen! Edited to add: all appropriate candidates for discharge of course
3. 

   New Grad & Scheduling Difficulties

   SilleLu replied to 02468's topic in First Year

   Sounds like a hard decision if they won't change your preceptor. I recently accepted a new 12 hour position at my hospital and at no time did they bother to mention that during the three months of orientation I would be asked to work 5 8 hour shifts a week. Three months is a long time when it's your life that is impacted. Luckily I was able to talk to the educator and work it out to work 2 8s and 2 12s for 2 months, then 3 12s the last month. I agree it's wrong for the hiring manager/HR to not be clear about the difference in schedule between orientation and regular. It's irritating to be expected to just "suck it up" when you may have taken a different opportunity had the expectations been clearly communicated. If and when I move on, it will be a question I always ask before accepting a job offer.
4. 

   New at Charge, HELP!

   SilleLu replied to JcorbinRN's topic in Nursing

   I was asked by my manager to do charge after 1 year, was new grad to boot. This was in a 40+ bed med-surg unit. I told her I didn't know enough yet and I still went to my seniors with questions. Her reply was that I would learn a lot as charge, so I reluctantly said I would try it. She was right, I learned a lot and though some days were crazy busy, it was mostly good. Give it a good try, if you really hate it after 6 months, opt out.
5. 

   Questioning a doctors order

   SilleLu replied to MrsJt's topic in Relations

   Not questioning doctors orders can be dangerous. Dr. ordered toradol for my patient just last week. Patient's chart clearly states allergy with anaphylactic reaction. Doctor missed it, pharmacy missed it. Nursing didn't miss it luckily. It is so common for doctors to miss things, they make mistakes and they count on nursing to question them. In two short years I can't tell you how many times I've had to question lasix orders with no potassium replacement when potassium is already low, IVF at 150 ml/hr for the dyspneic, wet sounding lungs who is eating and drinking fine, two different docs ordering electrolyte replacement the same pt, same day, Coumadin with no INR check for days, etc. And plenty of things that I've questioned that Dr had a good reason for ordering that I just wasn't aware of, but rarely have they been upset with me for asking. I've learned a lot from questioning, no matter if the outcome is to confirm or dc the order in question. If the culture where you are is "don't question," I wouldn't want to stay there long personally.
6. 

   Orders from hell...

   SilleLu replied to marcos9999's topic in Nursing

   "Walk this patient in the hallway without oxygen and then figure out how much oxygen he needs and record it to satisfy hoop-jumping to get patient what he needs."
7. 

   4th semester nursing student and feeling doubtful

   SilleLu replied to ns808's topic in Student Assist

   to OP...we've all made mistakes. Yes, your nurse should have checked. Yes, you should have clarified. Learn from this mistake, and from the next one (yes, you will make another one). If every nurse that made a mistake quit, there wouldn't be any nurses :)
8. 

   4th semester nursing student and feeling doubtful

   SilleLu replied to ns808's topic in Student Assist

   Some pumps don't...we have Alaris and if the drug is piggybacked, it will draw from the primary without alarming. That is assuming the primary is already running and it's the secondary clamp that wasn't opened.
9. 

   Switching back to primary IV

   SilleLu replied to Jenny9292's topic in Nursing

   On our pumps you could just disconnect the piggyback bag and tubing from the primary, no need to change anything, other than new VTBI as PP stated. The primary solution is programmed separately from the secondary, so once the secondary is complete, the primary programmed takes over. On our old pumps, they had a cartridge where the piggyback tubing connected, so if you disconnected, you would need a sterile cap on the cartridge, and those were impossible to find for some reason. So your question may depend on the type of pump you have.
10. 

    delete please

    SilleLu posted a topic in Urology

    delete
11. 

    Why don't you just read the chart?

    SilleLu replied to hherrn's topic in Relations

    I do both. I review the chart but also expect a verbal report as many times all the charting hasn't been done before they try to send the patient. Have caught several inappropriate placements this way. For instance, ER physician charting states patient had HISTORY of shingles. Nurse calling report says, you're not pregnant are you? This patient has active shingles. Um, No, I'm not pregnant, but the patient in the other bed is! And I've caught things the other way too, where the charting shows something but the reporting nurse isn't aware of it because maybe she just came on shift or is giving report for a coworker, etc. So for myself, I always do both. That said, if I know ER is slammed, or I can tell nurse is in a hurry, I briefly state what I have reviewed ("I've reviewed current orders, labs, IVF and access, and it looks like you've given abx and pain meds) and ask "what else do you need me to know about this patient?" I get exactly what I need to know and ER nurse is happy with a quick report.
12. 

    Strange stethoscope question

    SilleLu replied to Username invalid's topic in General Students

    I was going to suggest MDF brand, I don't have one, but used a coworker's and was impressed by the quality vs cost.
13. 

    Questions for a Registered Nurse?

    SilleLu replied to Allienya's topic in Student Assist

    OP, you will not get anyone to answer this here. Go out into your community, that is the intent of the assignment. You have no way of knowing if a random internet poster is an RN or not.
14. 

    Can I still take the PN exam if I fail a class?

    SilleLu replied to BorelliY's topic in General Students

    That depends on your school, you should ask your counselor or program director.
15. 

    When did you last see a nurse wearing the old school garb?

    SilleLu replied to DesiDani's topic in Nursing

    My mom going to work, probably 35 years ago...I wore her cap for my pictures. It was a big deal when she switched from the white dress to white slacks.
16. 

    new grad RN with 2 job offers, what would you do??

    SilleLu replied to zumbaRN4's topic in First Year

    Take the RN position. Current hospital can string you along as long as they feel like once you give up another position.