puzzler

When I started in nursing we mixed all of our own IV meds, including potassium. The saying was "If you did not mix it, you do not hang it". The theory was that if you did not mix it yourself then you did not really know what was in it. When pharmacy first started mixing the IV's it made me very nervous. More than one mistake was caught only because the fluid was the wrong color for what was supposed to be in the bag. Quite truthfully it still bothers me. Think about it--you are hanging a bag of fluid that will go directly into someones circulatory system. Do you really know what is in that bag of fluid??? Pharmacists are people, people make errors. I would hate to be responsible for hanging a fluid that was mixed wrong, but the way it is today you just have to pray that what the label says is correct. Have you never found a wrong drug dispensed by your pharmacy? I have and in more than one facility. I do not want to minimize the danger of potassium BUT many other drugs are just as dangerous. I have always felt that the big push on not having potassium on the units was started by the drug suppliers--like your facility says--the pre-mixed bags are very expensive and the drug is actually very cheap. They make a great deal more money on the premixed potassium. I, too, work in a facility that does not have 24 hour pharmacy available. My question has always been"If I am qualified to mix the drug when pharmacy is not here why am I not qualified to do it all the time? Of course, on the other hand, it is a convenience and a time saver to have someone else do part of my job for me I guess. Oh well, did not mean to ramble. Maybe I am just one of those "old nurses" that is a little resistant to change for changes sake.

One thing that I have noticed in the last few years is that the students are being shown/taught to do procedures by the floor nurses. It takes a lot longer to show someone how to do something or to watch a new person do something than it does to do it yourself. The nurses are usually short staffed as it is and really do not have the extra time it takes to do the teaching of students. Where are the nursing instructors?? When I was doing clinicals our instructors were responsible for teaching us not the staff nurse. I work in a teaching hospital and we have students the majority of the time. Some instructors are there and help their students, other instructors are nowhere to be found when a student wants to do a procedure. All I can really say is if we want the new grads to have good skills we have to take the time to teach them at some point, either as students or new grad employees. Hope you all have a good shift

Sure did have both. I wore my cap every shift I worked for many, many years. I was so used to having it on that I would forget it was there. Did I mind wearing it? No--I did not. There was not any question about it in those years. We all wore a cap (not many males in nursing back then but they did not have to wear a cap of any kind). I quit wearing a cap when I started working on a unit where I had to wear scrubs. Felt kind of "naked" at first without my cap, pin, and stethoscope in my pocket. (We never wore our scopes around our neck--it was considered very unprofessional). I had my cap until the last time I cleaned out my closets--finally gave it up. I still have my pin. It is 14K gold oval with a pelican and her chicks (Louisiana state bird). It has a bar that hangs off of it that says Registered Nurse-- I think that is what it says--have not worn it in years. The cap was white with a narrow cranberry colored velvet stripe over a wide gray cloth stripe. You would "glue" the velvet stripe on with KY jelly.

To all the questions I feel the answer is "all the above" plus better Nurse to patient ratio. To work very, very hard and go home knowing you have not given the patient all that they need is very demoralizing. As far as pay goes let me give one example that we have encountered today. A position was posted for a "Maintenance Apprentice" the requirement was "no experience necessary". The upper end of the pay range was 13.59/hr (this is more than many of our nurses make). Why would a young person chose to enter into nursing when the pay range for other less physically exhausting, less emotionally draining, less dangerous (exposure to many diseases) areas of employment is as good or even better? I have been a nurse for 25 years and I do love it but would I do it again? I really do not know if I would.

The policy at every hospital I have worked at over the last 24 years has been to discard the "opened" vial after 72 hours. Personally, I would not use anything older than that. I believe the expiration date is for unopened vials. I would expect that you could get some info from the manufacturer on this topic. Good luck

What a wonderful poem! Would you consent to having it sent to a newspaper to try to have it published? ------------------ Sheryl www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

kday I just have to tell you that you are really something. I enjoy your posts immensley. I agree with you on all fronts. Probably amniotic embolis. Was wondering if they checked for a uterine window--good area for amniotic fluid to enter the maternal system. What do you think?? We would have called a "Dr. Stork" (C/Section treated as a type of code). That brings us the help we need to get the baby out really quick. We usually only have 2 nurses on our L&D unit. I would truly be very concerned with the Mom even at this time. And yes, our patients go home way to soon for my comfort. Oh, the fun of working L&D!!! I still miss it though ------------------ Sheryl www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

luvkidsnurse My response is simply "VERY DANGEROUS FOR ALL CONCERNED" Good luck ------------------ Sheryl If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

OK, just have to add my 2cents worth. I have been a nurse for 24 years. Started out with whites and the cap. It never bothered me then--everyone wore them. Once the cap was on, you never noticed it any more, we were used to wearing them. Would I want to go back to them? It does not really make a difference to me, I am not there to make a fashion statement, I am there to care for my patients. Then, in OB, we had to wear hospital supplied scrubs. Were they comfortable? Yes. And, I did not have to buy them or wash them. Both were done by the hospital. Then everyone started wanting scrubs. The hospitals were not stupid-- they save a lot of money on the scrubs they had to supply in the past. At our hospital even the OR persons have to buy their own scrubs and the hospital only launders the scrubs for the OR crew and doctors now. I have seen the attire deteriorate to not only scrubs but now tee-shirts as tops (an ER nurse had a Garfield tee on last night). Boy, didn't that look professional!!! Standardized uniforms?? Whatever, as I said before, I am not there to make a fashion statement but we as nurses should have enough pride in our profession to at least look like a professional. ------------------ Sheryl If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

Welcome Robin It wil be great to have you aboard. And yes, we do all need to have a place to vent. Families get tired of hearing it and you rarly have time to vent at work. I, too, have been a nurse for 25 years. I must like it or I would not have been here this long--right?? It is not my first profession and I do not believe I would care to change. And again--WELCOME ------------------ Sheryl If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

Hello Rita Yes--without hesitation, I would do it again. I got my LPN at the age of 30 and my RN at 40 (54 now). I also had children and a husband at the time. It was not easy but it can be done. I truly enjoy being a nurse. There is great satisfaction in much of what we do. I do believe it will get better, but it will take time. I must admit that the shortage is the worst I have ever seen it. If you really want to be a nurse please join us--we need all the help we can get. ------------------ Sheryl If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

Have not been here for a while--what a posting to see on my return. Guess I could say "been there, done that." Got my LPN in 1976. Three children, a husband, and never enough money. Where I went to school they needed LPN's and the tuition was free. Imagine that!!! After a couple of years of doing essentially the same work (with very few exceptions)as the RNs, I became irritated that some RN's were, shall I say less knowledgable than I but making more money. So I went back to school part time to get my RN. (Still 3 children and a husband) Today, I am in middle management and I thank God every day for our LPN's. I seriously do not know what I/we and the patients would do without them. Our patients require all of us to see that they receive the care that they deserve. I have encountered many, many LPN's that I would much rather have caring for me or my family than some RN's that I have been been exposed to. There are both good and poor LPNs as well as RNs. The problems of LPN vs RN always arises when a nursing glut appears and heaven knows we are not at that point these days. If you are an LPN or know of an LPN desiring to work in a hospital PLEASE SEND THEM TO US--we need and want you. ------------------ Sheryl If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

NurseyK Thanks for that web site--it is one I will bookmark and send to others Thanks again ------------------ Sheryl If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

OK--I know a lot of city dwellers will not be able to do this BUT the best stress reliever/exercise thing in the world for me is horses. I lost over 40 lbs in 9 months and ate everything and anything I want. First the destressor part-- grooming and riding are wonderful. While I groom I tell my horse about all the bad (and good) things that happen at work. He listens and never judges. It really helps just to verbalize. My horses never care what you say, they just like to be talked to. While riding you need to have your mind on what you are doing (not off at work somewhere) Now the exercise part--Grooming and riding again but also cleaning those stalls. A very good work out for the whole body. Then of course there is hauling hay and grain. Also gets you out in the fresh air and sunshine-- I am one of those people that just HAVE TO HAVE sunshine. I had 6 of them for a few years but am down to 3 now. Other things that I do to help myself is create crossword puzzles and do gardening (flowers) I have been a nurse for 24 years now and no ulcers or depression and my weight is within a good range. I also do not believe in snacking but I love good food. Good luck Other things that I do ------------------ Sheryl If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

Hi Duckie I work 3-11P and enjoy it. My children are all grown and live out of state. My husband is self-employed so we see each other as much as we want to. I also raise horses and this schedule lets me work with the horses before I go to work each day. Perfect for me. I am an early riser and just sleep 6 hours a night (absolutely no alarm clock.) After about 5P all the "big wigs" are gone and I can concentrate on my job instead of the politics of the hospital. On the evenings that I can not got right to bed after I get home (you know--too keyed up) I either spend time here or I create crossword puzzles for other nurses and myself. Well there you have it. Most of the reasons I work the shift that I choose over 20 years ago. Of course there have been those times that I was needed on another shift and that just made me remember why I enjoy 3 to 11 as much as I do. ------------------ Sheryl If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com