Patrick M6

We used stuff like this as Combat Medics in the Army. They're pretty cool and don't take a lot of skill to use. We've even used a couple 14g. IV catheters for a short-term quick-fix. I doubt this is very effective (no pulse oximeters or anything handy at the time), but it's better than nothing, in a pinch. I don't recommend this in a hospital, but in combat, you roll with what you've got (and save lives doing it).

Does the nasal intubation seem strange to anyone else? We always just "slammed" them in the ER and in the field.

I used to be a survival instructor. My understanding of this is, because of the impurities in urine, it would actually take more water to re-filter it and would end up dehydrating you more. There are ways to "clean it up" though, by evaporating and collecting the water portion, while leaving behind all the other "stuff."

I got comfortable with traumas as an EMT. Some places have agreements with different ambulance companies that will allow you to ride along and do stuff. I guarantee that will help if you get to do it. If not, watch what the EMTs do when they come in, eventually they're going to have to leave the patient, so someone will likely have to take over what they're doing. That will help you get more comfortable with everything. Watch what others are doing, too. Just be really observant and get some practice. Preceptors are good at being rude and obnoxious, if nothing else, so don't sweat that.

Some state (FL being one of them) are looking at making public records for health care professionals "classified." Currently, I think Law Enforcement is the only profession afforded this protection. The other option is you can all go become the police! Then, you're information won't be public, and you can lawfully protect yourself!

Is it wrong that I'm actually vaguely amused by that? Maybe it's just that I come from a culture where hazing is a sign of affection. Anyway, who wants to help me write a song about inept med students; perhaps the resident who would've cut off the entire tip of an infant's member, if the nurse hadn't been there?

I wish it was going to be like the SEALS. There's a reason why they do what they do. In the military I've learned a lot...we don't wear our dress uniforms much, but every medal, patch, pin, and button on there, we earned. It may seem like small stuff, but I'd get it and hang on to it proudly. Others may not know what it is or what it means, or even care, but you will. One last thing... When I applied for my last law enforcement job, one of the interviewers noticed my tie tac from my old Sheriff's Office. Based on that, I was able to build a rapport with him, which I'm sure helped me get that job. You never know...

If you think about it, there are pros and cons to almost everything we do in nursing. I don't kiss my patients, but why not? I can see the infection control perspective, but in LTC, in my experience, there are not so many communicable diseases as there are things like dementia. If anyone has ever seen somone else "catch a dementia" from someone else, please let me know. Some of us have unorthodox "gimmicks" or techniques that work for us. For example, I like to get in good with dad before I do my assessments on my OB/GYN patients (not usually a problem for female nurses, but I don't want a fecal impaction r/t dad's boot). Finally, he's got his own license. You're not going to lose yours because he kissed a patient. Roll with it.

MRSA is S. aureus. It's just a strain that's resistant to antibiotics. It's pretty common, but mostly as a nosocomial infection. I have a powerpoint presentation I prepared for a group of students, if anyone would like it.