cmggriff

Why are there no little Clauses? Because Santa only comes once a year and that's down a chimney. Gary

konni is dead on on this. I usually use the IV fluid I'm going to mix in. But it doesn't matter. Gary

I map but I don't pinch. Gary

The way it is supposed to work is you are first seen by a medical professional (MD, RN) trained in triage. I believe this is mandated by the same EMTALA legislation that prevents the tossing of all those patients with the dominant variety of loser gene. I have been trying to get a sign posted in the waiting area that reads "If you were truly sick, you be an exam room now." Gary

Here is one I used with some limited sucess. It is visual but I will try to describe. An attractive woman walks into a crowded room and is apparently looking for a seat. I said "Looking for a place to sit?" I tilted my head back so I was looking at the ceiling and began brushing at my face with both hands saying "Here I'll clean you off a spot." Gary

How do you hide a dollar from an ER doctor? No need most of the patients don't pay. Radiologist; Won't say for sure it is a dollar. Anesthesiologist; Put it in the patient's sock. GAry

I am all for the death penalty. I am also for all the appeals, but not automatically. Some convicted murders have wanted to die right away, but were forced to go through a long series of appeals before they were executed. And for those of you who think you want to be the right hand of death, well killing another human is not as easy as you might think. Gary

Welcome all to my world. I love the ED. Ray, my nick name as a new ER RN was "ofer". Iv starts I was O fer a thousand at one point. I'm still not the best by any stretch unless the patient is pulseless. Then I seem to hit about 95%. Go figure. As Ms. Frizzle says, "Take chances, get dirty and never pass up an opportunity to sterilize a frequent flyer." Gary

Hoolihan, Thanks, it's always nice to receive the accolades of your fellow level headed peers. Gary

Read down a little further and you will see the cost is for the printed version and the online version is free for the down load. As for wildtimes interpretation of the ANA's adoption of this code and the implications for future collective bargaining, I'm afraid I don't read it exactly the same way. And as for there being 93% of the nurses in the nation looking for leadership and not finding any, I would have to say that my experience is a little different there too. I have found that in any crowd of 10, there is 1 doing the work, 2 or 3 complaining about the quality of the work done and 6 or 7 who may join in any ***** sessions but not in any of the work they state needs to be done. I have seen this in every field, not just nursing. So, Lead, follow or get out of the way. Gary

I am no infection control guru, but all the research I have read says the key to preventing infection at the iv site is changing the site at least every 72 hours. That includes all those prehospital IV'S as well as the sterile prep and drape subclavians put in by surgeons. Gary

I've always worked ICU's or ER's. Different policies at every hospital it seems. The thing is we just did things to suit ourselves. I always wanted off Christmas eve so I could be home in the am on Christmas. Someone else always wanted the opposite, so we traded if the sup didn't see fit to schedule that way. I have been indiferent to every other holiday, so I always traded with anyone who asked. There always seemed to someone on the staff willing to do that. As far as the Union thing, man I would think you guys could work that out. Of course it is flu season. Gary

I graduated from an ADN program in 1984. I have never regretted the decision to become a nurse. I have worked construction, in the oil fields and had my own business building houses. I had an opportunity to go to med school. But I don't like most of the Dr's I know. I figure I don't want to become something I dislike. I think if you feel that you might want to be a doc, that is what you ought to do. Otherwise you may become a bitter nurse. Good luck, Gary

What does a pirate pay for a piercing? A buck an ear. German Octoberfest fare: A frank en stein.

ALISHAJO, Beats me why the order. But I would have to agree that it is difficult to do great harm to a dead person. You might want to point out to the Doc that there is no documented case of a patient entering the hospital in asystole and leaving in any other rhythm. Gary

Brandy, This was once my best thing. I could get ABG's when no one else could. This is how I did it. Be sure to hyper extend the patient's wrist, this puts the Artery as close to the surface as it can get. locate the artery with the index finger of your nondominant hand. Center the pulse in the center of your finger. As you insert the needle you should almost hit yur finger. Good luck Gary

Rick, I've been at this a little while. It seems to me that sometime back in the 80's JCAHO came out with some kind of ruling that all critical care areas (this would include ER's) had to be all RN staffed. Several of the LPN's and aides I worked with were to be phased out through attrition. I don't know if this policy is still in effect or not. The problem I have always had with this is delegating patient care. If something goes wrong the SBN will hold the RN responsible. I've never met a paramedic who understands my reluctance to take responsibility for his/her actions in the ER. On the other hand all the good LPN's and aide I worked with fully understood who was responsible. I'm against it. Raise the wages until everyone wants to be an RN. Then the shortage will go away. Gary

My first was in 1984. I was still in Orientation. Unlike kewl I still get the rush. Some go betteer than others. ACLS helps you be more prepared, but nothing stops the pain of losing a pt. Good luck, Gary.

Nice schmice, you people a gonna make me hurl. Here's what I do in these situations (and we all have situations like this). If the person giving me a hard time is a guy, I grab him by the throat and throw him up against the wall. then I explain in my most gentle manner that, in my presence at least, I expect this behavior to stop. It always has. Now if the problem is with a female I have to have my wife do the throat grabbing. You see I can't hit a woman.

Having taken care of the after math of several DUI's, I am always happy to draw the blood and appear in court. I've never been reimbursed for my time. While I don't believe that my efforts will save the world, if I can keep one of these low lifes from killing and maiming, then I have spent my time well.

I think it was in 1987 or '88 that the CDC mandated that hospitals wash the contaminated uniforms of hospital workers. So if a nurse or other patient care worker got clothing contaminated with body fluids, the clothing was not to leave the hospital until it had been laundered. Many hospitals began to furnish scrubs to those working in high risk areas because of the CDC recommendations to do so, and because of the expected expense of laundering various uniforms. I even started to keep a pair of work shoes at the hospital. Never took them home. As far as I know, the CDC and OSHA still re- quire contaminated clothing to be laundered by the hospital. Gary

My wife is also an RN. As many of you old timers recall, years ago we used betedine soap for all cleasing of skin especially in areas of the body consider less than sanitary. One night my young, beautiful nurse wife and I were working on the same unit. As I walked down the hallway I met her coming from her male patient's room. I noticed the unmistakable orange foam of betadine soap around her mouth. She looked like a rabid animal except for the unusual color. I asked her "What have you been doing?" She answered "Cath care of course." But I wasn't worried then and I'm not worried now. Gary

I have to agree with Wildtime, I went through a similar experience with a co-worker who was promoted to supervisor. She exhibited similar behavior and we tried to ignore it. Behavior worsened, some good nurses with experience quit and the new supervisor was asked to resign after several monthes. Confronting her may not help. But letting things go definitely will not help. Gary

I was asked by a DR once why I didn't just go to med school. I told him that I don't like most of the DR's I know and I wouldn't want to become something I can't stand. I'm an RN by the way.

1)RN 2)17 3)US NW 4)No 5)yes 6)Full time 7)Yes 8)somewhat 9)No 10)yes 11)No 12)I work in ER. Breaks occur or not according to patient demands. 13)Nights 14)All of them 15)I am for and am in a union. 16)Unequivically. 17)I have done a lot of things over the years to earn a living. I have never enjoyed anything as much as nursing. But I have never felt we were paid appropriately for what we do.