Levitas BSN, RN

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All Content by Levitas

  1. Levitas

    'Marking' for IV sticks, safe?

    Levitas replied to Levitas's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I ended up buying a pretty powerful/compact LED flashlight that has white, and red LED's. It works great! I used it today on a patient with no palpable, or visible (beyond the flashlight) veins, and...
  2. Levitas

    'Marking' for IV sticks, safe?

    Levitas posted a topic in Medical-Surgical

    I've been reviewing different vein finding products this morning, and it seems the cheapest route would be a red LED flashlight. The problem with them is, they work better in lower light settings. So...
  3. Levitas

    'Marking' for IV sticks, safe?

    Levitas replied to Levitas's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Lol. Don't worry, I've got thick skin. The idea of using the light/markings is towards those who are difficult sticks. I've only 18 months experience, but I'm pretty proficient at starting IV's....
  4. Levitas

    Any tips for a new med surg nurse?

    Levitas replied to Sara-Allison's topic in Medical-Surgical

    It seems like most of which you wish to learn more about will come simply from experience. Am I correct in assuming that you haven't had orientation yet? If so, you'll likely be paired up with a...
  5. Levitas

    How to give IVP into a primary line with incompatible medications?

    Levitas replied to Sara-Allison's topic in Medical-Surgical

    If I am ever unsure of what is, or isn't compatible, I simply call the Pharmacist. If they're unavailable, I look it up. As others of said, you'll eventually start to memorize what is, and isn't...
  6. Levitas

    Med Surg Expierence vs ADON Oppourtunity

    Levitas replied to RNGARCIA's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I've seen fellow nurses struggle with similar situations. When asked what do to, I always ask them, which decision would you regret less? Will you, a couple of years from now, regret it more if you...
  7. Levitas

    CMSRN in December

    Levitas replied to ViolinTreble's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Couple of questions: I know that you need to be in Med-Surg for at least 2 years before taking the test. It doesn't matter that 3 months of those 2 years were orientation, right? Meaning, if I...
  8. Levitas

    One Year on M/S In the Books

    Levitas replied to Laurus Nobilis's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I'm willing to wager that a great deal of your experience this last year has indeed stuck, more so than you might realize. I imagine you know medication a great deal more, organization, stress...
  9. Levitas

    New Nurse on Med Surg Floor

    Levitas replied to nurseofdragons's topic in Medical-Surgical

    As many of mentioned, this type of anxiety associated with our position is quite common, especially if you're still relatively new. I've been in Med/Surg for about 18 months now, and though my...
  10. Levitas

    Watching my friends leave :( Question about future.

    Levitas posted a topic in Medical-Surgical

    I've been working at my hospital for over a year now. It was great when I started, because there were so many people I went to school with working there as well! Our hospital and school are linked...
  11. Levitas

    Careplan for acute abdomen perfusion

    Levitas replied to lnxyourxeyez's topic in Medical-Surgical

    There are always the basics that will likely apply to most patients. Risk of Injury Knowledge Deficit Ability to return to previous living arrangements Some others that could apply to your patient:...
  12. Levitas

    2 Job offers in 1 day

    Levitas replied to lulusmom's topic in Medical-Surgical

    If you really wanted to do correctional nursing, then go for it. However, I see an advantage of taking the Med/Surg position, and that is, if you didn't like it as much as you originally thought,...
  13. Levitas

    T-shirts about being SuperHuman an Angel or "sedate stupid

    Levitas replied to qestout's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Nurse glorifying, and nurse cynicism, neither bother me really. Honestly, I think we've earned a bit of glorifying. The idea that what we do every day is thanks enough really is fine with me, but...
  14. Levitas

    Is change a BAD thing? (MS nurses doing vitals)

    Levitas replied to ClaraRedheart's topic in Medical-Surgical

    ^^ What should be, and what usually is, varies in almost every environment :) I don't have a problem getting vitals, I just don't like waking up the patient. And the charting, mang. Nurses usually...
  15. Levitas

    Is change a BAD thing? (MS nurses doing vitals)

    Levitas replied to ClaraRedheart's topic in Medical-Surgical

    If I'm doing primary care, yes. If we have a PCT on the floor, I still wait for my vitals to pass meds... Unless they only have something like Protonix, or Insulin. But pain meds, cardiac meds, etc.,...
  16. Levitas

    Is change a BAD thing? (MS nurses doing vitals)

    Levitas replied to ClaraRedheart's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Good, keep vigilant, it will serve you well. After some time, it'll just be another part of your schedule, and you'll handle it no problem. You'll always have nights where objectives are seemingly...
  17. Levitas

    Is change a BAD thing? (MS nurses doing vitals)

    Levitas replied to ClaraRedheart's topic in Medical-Surgical

    That seems to be a growing trend. More work, less staff, big wigs save money, we reap the consequences. Our hospital sometimes has a low enough census where we do total care, vitals, etc. Usually,...
  18. Levitas

    Why no blood draws??

    Levitas replied to kistigirl84's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I'll draw from a peripheral line if I just inserted it, but only if that person is a ridiculously hard stick. Otherwise, unless a central is present, I just find another vessel. Sorry,
  19. Levitas

    Charge nurse needing suggestions!

    Levitas replied to JustKeepSmiling's topic in Medical-Surgical

    This is why I love my crew on weekends. We work together, help one another, and we're fair with each other. When I'm charge, and we have equal teams, I generally always volunteer myself for first...
  20. Levitas

    Time to vent - my apologies in advance.

    Levitas posted a topic in Medical-Surgical

    Okay, let me begin by stating that I do not like to complain about my assignment at work. I just don't. I feel like we're here to help people, and my preference of patient should never determine my...
  21. Levitas

    Time to vent - my apologies in advance.

    Levitas replied to Levitas's topic in Medical-Surgical

    If they have antibodies, it takes additional time for the lab, as they have to figure out what those antibodies will attack, and then they have to procure blood that doesn't have said element in it so...
  22. Levitas

    I pushed my call light 3 seconds ago, what took you so long?

    Levitas replied to Joe V's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Not always, but a lot of the time... I find that those patients that are especially needy, or those who expect the call light to be answered immediately, are sometimes placated if their immediate...
  23. Levitas

    NPO after midnight

    Levitas replied to withorwithoutyou's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Is it a HIPAA violation to mention a procedure done? I thought that, in order to violate HIPAA, you needed to reveal patient identifying factors, such as their name, age, address, etc.? Don't worry...
  24. Levitas

    Time to vent - my apologies in advance.

    Levitas replied to Levitas's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Funny end to this; the patient involved confronted me the night before she went home and said to me: "Hey, you're married? That's too bad, I was gonna flirt." I can't help but think she was being...
  25. Levitas

    Did anyone judge you for being a male nurse?

    Levitas replied to ddane94's topic in Men in Nursing

    Absolutely!