WAheartnurse

I understand the PCAs to be ED techs? Someone who does EKGs, vitals, urine dips etc? I am fairly new to the ED and am having trouble getting techs to do much for me that they don't want to already do. They love splinting and EKGs and blood draws so t...

I have never heard a tech ask me if I want help with anything- I would love that. Many techs want to focus on the cool stuff- ekgs, wound care, splinting, etc and get resentful if I ask for urine to be dipped or to bring a bedside commode to a room a...

I know that I (as a nurse) give cops special treatment if possible. If they are sitting with a prisoner, I offer coffee/drinks/food (from our own supply as our ED doesn't have coffee or really any food). We know they put their lives on the line and t...

I have never worked in LTC or a SNF but I have friends that have. From what they tell me it is a very task oriented job- you have so many residents that you are often just focused on passing meds because you have so many people to pass meds to that b...

Yes, this is where I make an exception. An elderly (but still VERY strong man) thought we were attacking him and wanted us to call the FBI etc. He was angry and frightened out of his wits. We were doing an excellent de-escalation but he was just too ...

yes I would

I have noticed that many of our patients that receive amiodarone in a peripheral line have extravasation problems. A lot of patients. I have no ideas on numbers- I asked if we could track it to find out if it was worth making it a central line drug b...

I have heard about this in the NW. We can look at it in several ways: 1) Addicts need (deserve?) to experience the consequences of their addictions and giving narcan is no long term solution. (BTW I do not agree with this). 2) Liability involved in p...

Footballnut- I think you might have misunderstood her posting. She is not going to receive minimal orientation with some support and training from others. She has no experience. From my understanding, she is to start day one expecting to be part of t...

This is what I have seen: the patient fits sepsis criteria so we are bolusing with fluids to keep BP/MAP up. The pt develops flash pulmonary edema (hence the wheezes from nowhere) and they crash quickly. I would suspect the death could be more attrib...

I think that if RNs were utilized MORE in offices, pt outcomes would improve. For example, at our hospital we have a Heart Failure clinic with RNs giving education teaching pts to manage their CHF (similar to diabetic teaching). The goal is to reduce...

I am new to the ED also (from floor nursing) and I take a blank sheet of paper at the beginning of my shift and fold it into quarters. Then I take a patient sticker and stick it on the paper and then leave about 2 in for any pertinent facts (RM#, rea...

Now I feel itchy

Are you talking about Gonzaga's RN-NP program or BSN-NP program? I already have my BSN so I thought that was 3 semesters (full-time)? I am pretty sure I will be applying for the Spring start BSN- Family NP program but that means I need to hurry and g...

My hospital pays an additional $1 per hour for BSN. We are union. I guess that means my school payback will take about 7 years but I think that it opens doors in areas that otherwise you may not qualify for. Like changing from floor nursing to someth...

OK- on the bad breath. I have had patients with bowel obstructions who have been vomiting up what is basically fecal matter. Combined with cancer and they literally have a death smell coming from their mouth. I had to get up close and personal puttin...

The only thing I feel comfortable not diluting are things that come in a carpuject- obviously they are meant to be pushed without dilution. Even so, you avoid a lot of problems by diluting meds out, they just don't seem to hit the patient as hard. I ...

I would be very interested in hearing about these programs too, especially Gonzaga. Looking into Gonzaga- is it all done in one year (BSN-FNP)? It looked like you could do fall, spring, then summer and be done but that seems too fast. Also, it looks ...

I also tell people this important lesson (that I was never told during my younger days and visits to the ED for me or my family)- just because we have run a few tests that ruled out the most emergent and dangerous causes of your symptoms- does not me...

The policy for every facility that I have been at is that it is absolutely not acceptable (like a fireable offense) to push the PCA button for the patient. We can manually give boluses but we cannot push the PCA button (nor can the family).

I am training in the ED after being on a cardiac floor for almost 2 years. I think that was a good time frame. Dont worry about how fast you can throw a foley in- that will come. You just need to know that if your patient can't pee and you need to gi...

I would just put it out there for people. I tell everyone I work with and most of my patients about my hearing impairment and we make a joke about it. I remind people about it all the time "Hey remember I am half deaf!" (I have very little hearing in...

Please folks, if you cannot advocate for your patient get out of nursing (or at least bedside nursing). For those who might EVER give narcan when the family "changes their mind" you have utterly failed your nursing duties. You are the patient's only ...

As I read this, I saw red flags going up. Perhaps you are surrounded by juveniles who should be working at McDonalds. I am worried that you are just above them all. If this is the vibe you are giving off- that somehow the folks around you are just no...

I talk about my day to my other nurse friends and my family. They would have no way of identifying anyone from what I say. No full details but something that would be applicable to any patient in the situation. For example- to say that your patient h...