momRNmy

WarEagled, if it were me, I would do almost anything minus lying to paint a diagnosis of RSD in the most favorable light possible. Be completely upfront about the surgery, but be as ambiguous as possible about the complication. Diagnosed with CRPS a few years ago, my experience was very negative as my employer chose to treat my condition like the plague. Once you reveal the diagnosis, you could be opening yourself up to a whole bunch of bad in terms of jumping through hoops, fitness for duty examinations, and possibly discrimination regardless of your ability to perform the job satisfactorily. Not much is known about RSD/CRPS, and I suppose fear of the unknown scares employers in the healthcare industry enough to justify excluding employees with the condition from working. Good luck!

I work in an endoscopy unit inside of a hospital. Environmental services is responsible for cleaning the unit at the end of the day and for terminal cleans (changing curtains, mopping, etc). But the endo staff handles wiping down cables between pt's, equipment, stretchers and furniture. Trash is collected by environmental services when it's full or stinking up the joint, but we handle collecting dirty linens (gowns, bed linens). As long as everyone does their part, we're a very efficient unit and can turn over up to 6 rooms rapidly at a time.

And another on Balto Natl Pike in Catonsville.

run the opposite direction at the mere sight of poop or vomit. If your unit has a recognition or kudos board, this would be an awesome opportunity to say thanks and recognize this doc!

That's awesome!!! Too frequently we nurses work with doctors who

In all facilities that I've worked, airborne precautions were used whenever the pt is diagnosed with disseminated shingles with at least three dermatomes involved. Pt's with disseminated shingles tend to be significantly immunocompromised as their immune system is unable to keep the infection contained within a single dermatome. It's been explained to me that the amount of herpes zoster is greater with disseminated shingles, and there is a greater chance for aerolization of the virus when the vesicles are oozing. Also interestingly enough, when vesicles were present on the tip of a pt's nose, optic nerve involvement was suspected (shingles opthalamicus) and airborne precautions and IV acyclovir were protocol.

Just a side note: in addition to the meds listed above, I've also given albuterol nebs to help lower a K > 7. The drop alone isn't drastic, but helps to treat hyperkalemia emergently in combination with the other meds.

Hypoglycemia is the first thing that popped in my mind. Not only did the student not eat breakfast, but she also worked out, further depleting her blood glucose. Was she diaphoretic? The fact that she felt the urge to eat something 2/2 not feeling normal just prior to the episode could be a major cue in diagnosing an episode of low blood sugar. If a seizure is suspected, a finger stick is one of the first things to assess as a seizure or altered mental status is a common finding in blood sugars below 30. And the fact that she wasn't necessarily postictal when you arrived might only be related to the rise in blood glucose following the granola bar. Does your school have a glucometer on hand? If not, it might be something to consider. In the meantime, definitely reiterating the importance of eating to your students is definitely an important nursing intervention:)

I've seen the flash pulmonary edema firsthand with just 0.4mg pushed quickly. Even in cases of OD, I'm more inclined to push slowly or at least dilute it in 10cc NSS. Even though the opiate can be reversed, you're going to be dealing with a way worse airway issue if the pt has frothy sputum spewing out of their mouth and nose!

I got my first flu vaccine in fall 2009, my first flu season as a nurse. This was the second flu season of concern for the swine flu, but my employer was only mandating (minus allergies or religious objections) employees receive the seasonal flu shot but offered the swine flu vaccine separately as a voluntary opt in/out. I was stubborn and decided that I didn't need or want a second shot, never mind the fact that I was working in an emergency department. I never got the "seasonal" flu, but ended up sick as a dog by early January 2010. Imagine my surprise when I swabbed positive for the swine flu. My stubbornness got me nowhere besides stuck at home sick for 2 weeks and in the dog house with my manager.... For those out there who still convince themselves that a flu shot is ineffective, a conspiracy, or unnecessary because they never get the flu (based on nothing more than a past lack of the flu), I feel sorry for them and their patients. I went 29 years without "getting the flu", but 5 days after a patient coughed in my face literally as I was reaching for a face mask (whose rapid flu and days later swab tested positive for the swine flu), I was sick. I worked two 12 hour shifts during that 5 day period and passed the flu onto God only knows how many patients. Mandatory or not, it makes no difference to me; based on science, my experience, and conscience, I'll be getting a flu shot (more if needed) for as long as I encounter other people as a nurse or otherwise.

I started the RN to BSN program in July completely motivated and ready to tackle the 32 credits standing between me and a BSN. I finished Nutrition in a little less than 3 weeks just before my daughter's father went on a drug bender and got arrested twice, all of which has forced me to become the sole provider for my daughter physically and financially. The last few months have been so incredibly draining both emotionally and physically which has forced me to put school on the back burner. I started the term with so much optimism and energy, but now just reading a few pages of my textbook is almost next to impossible. On top of a lack of energy, my free time has become nonexistent as when I'm not working full-time or being a 2 year-old's mom I'm sleeping. Is there anything I can do to regain some momentum? My mentor has tried to be helpful and supportive, but I'm not sure if I have it in me to crank out another 6 credits to maintain my financial aid