DosmoRN

Your professor could have gone on to explain to you that there are reasons for the dress code beyond just "optics". But you might have considered that too elementary, if not insulting. But remember, long nails of any kind can scratch a patient...or does an R.N. never slip a bedpan under a patient without gloves on? Does she always call someone "less skilled" to do this? As you should know by now, broken skin is an invitation to infection. And how well is the skin cleaned under those nails with a perfunctory hand washing? Long dangling earrings will lose some of their fashion appeal the first time a patient grabs them, accidentally or not. More broken skin. Yours this time. Or perhaps a patient simply finds it unpleasant when said earrings rake accross his face and O2 apparatus as his nurse leans over him to cancel his IV alarm. Hair, which is also loaded with hair spray/gel and bacteria is not something patients like falling in their face. However, some agitated patients have been known to grab hold of any thing handy, whether or not it is attached to a nurse. A clean uniform coveys the idea that the nurse is also clean. When I was in nursing, some areas of the hospitals provided hospital laundered scrubs for those contacting patients directly. No thought was given as to whether these garments were "cute" or not! Patients still, many of them hold the antiquated idea that a hospital is a "clean" and "safe" place to be. This is true whether or not they have ever heard of "nosocomial" infections. Tattoos, though they never seem really clean to some folks, should not detract any more than possible from this image. Facial piercings are similar and are often distracting to patients, Hopefully this hardware can be removed before entering the hospital (but never having had any I really wouldn't know). Now you will probably think, I have gone "way over the line" in making this point. But remember, a professional nurse is not on the job to "express her individuality" (which no one else cares about) but to help patients be as healthy and comfortable as possible.

I went to nursing school ages ago and am now retired. But some things seem not to change. My class was told from the beginning that half of us would not make it. They were precisely correct. Some instructors were kind and encouraging, some told us regularly that we weren't "cut out" for nursing and would never pass the licensing exams.. I felt from the start that our training was deliberately designed to be sort of a "trial by fire". And it was. But the smaller our class became, the more we counted on each other for encouragement ... to help us dry our tears or even see the humor in some situations. Those of us who did graduate WANTED to become nurses. And the more difficult things became, the more determined we (at least I) became (not that we didn't all have days when we wondered if we had chosen the right career). If you make a couple of good friends in school who are experiencing the same sort of hurts and insults you are, do whatever you can to support each other! That's how I really made it through school. As others have mentioned, you must learn not to be thin skinned, because you will encounter Phyiscians who are rude, who yell at you in front of patients and family. Patients families, due to the stress they are under, can be impossibly demanding (some are probably just demanding people anyway). They can belittle you and the institution for which you work. There are other nurses who are unfair, unforgiving and highly dysfunctional. But if you are going to work closely with people, even outside of nursing, you must realize that PEOPLE ARE that way! And nurses see hurting people who are definitely not at their best! If you complain about every injustice, you will get very little work done. Learn to concentrate on what you are trying to do for other people and how you can advocate for your patients instead of how you can heal yourself. This makes a lot of your unpleasant experiences seem less consequential. Oh, There are rewards. I don't want to make it sound like nursing is some kind of unending torture. You will encounter a few patients and or families who thank you, who boost your spirits beyond high and whom you will remember the rest of your life. And maybe you will decide that nursing wasn't such a bad choice after all. (If you do go into another field, please expect dysfunctional people and some inequality there as well).

I so agree with SionainnRN. I wish there was a list of things to say that WOULD be helpful for healthcare workers to say in a situation like yours, CountryMomma. I don't believe anyone meant to be hurtful. But people are not all alike in what they consider "comforting". Some people would feel encouraged, hearing that bleeding at X number of weeks may not mean a hopeless outcome. It was not the place of the ultrasound tech to give that information. But I can imagine her being so eager to make you feel better, but not knowing exactly what to say at the moment...that she did not think of that being disturbing to you. She probably did NOT want to "just say nothing"... and be perceived as being uncaring. Have you never been in such a position, yourself? It's the kind of awkward situation health care workers often face. After being around so much tragedy, we may (or may not) become a little more adept at reaching out to those who suffer emotionally. Personally, I believe in presenting the facts that are known. I don't think I could be as stoic as the doctor who unceremoniously announced "your baby is dead". But that is the reality. That IS what a mother must deal with. Expressing sincere sorrow to a patient is fine. And even better, is seeing that she has a reassuring friend or relative with her to provide comfort. And whether a grieving mother will react with shock, denial, anger, depression, guilt, embarrassment or some cobination thereof, I can't predict. But, in the end, she must deal with these in her own way and her own time. I hope that you, CountryMomma, will be able to forgive those healthcare workers who hurt you. They have training. That does not make them perfect. And I hope the healing process for you is on going.

Missingyou, I know this thread is for students, but as a nurse of many years, I felt perhaps my perspective could help. I imagine you were told that working as a CNA would teach you alot about nursing. I think you HAVE learned a lot...not necessarily about nursing care, but about the kind of situations one must sometimes deal with as a nurse. And I commend you for your wisdom in speaking frankly and directly with your co-workers and finally the DON (Instead of just putting up with rudeness and neglect of your patient.) Your main goal was, and always should be, seeing that patients get appropriate care, not "fitting in" with other CNA's. Fitting in with them would probably entail adopting some of their bad attitudes, which are not, unfortunately, so uncommon. The floor nurse might have helped you more, but evidently she was busy or didn't want to get distracted correcting bad behavior.(I'm just guessing here) You did the best you could do, without giving up your principles. So DON"T get down on yourself. The patient who waited 2 and 1/2 hours will survive, despite missing out on care because of over-extended dinner breaks (unexcusable) and bad attitudes. And she may well get better care in the FUTURE because of you! If I had been the DON, I would have been impressed that your concern was patient care, not just complaining about your co-workers. You won't be working there long, but I hope you remember this experience when you encounter something similar in your nursing career (as you probably will).

Working as a CNA prepares you for one important aspect of nursing that should not be overlooked! It involves supervising and teaching those for whom you are responsible (since they work under your license as an R.N.) And that involves CNAs. When you are in charge, don't forget that feeling of being "the toileting stooge" and having to "change about half a dozen people's diapers at once". The CNAs you supervise may well have the exact same feelings. And if they say, "OH, you don't understand what it's like", you can say, "yes, I do. I've been where you are. I worked as a CNA before becoming a nurse"

Heathermaizy, What people think of you now or after you become an R.N., is a totally invalid reason to work as a CNA. You think you know what nursing school and being a nurse is about, because you did your "homework" and had your "eyes wide open". That's like saying you know what riding a horse is like, without ever having actually been on a horse. (pardon the country analogy, y'all, I'm a Texan) Nursing schools today barely scratch the surface of what it is like to be a nurse. It is like studying horses and sitting atop a horse, but never riding anyplace. No "homework" can prepare you for nuses training. And being a nurse is much more complicated than you imagine. The RESPONSIBILITY of being an R.N., is something you must experience to understand.. Being a CNA first, before nursing school is not essential. And once you are an R.N., nobody will care. Working as a CNA is like taking a course your school cannot give you. It's called real-life health care 101. You will learn to do things and learn ABOUT things your teachers never thought to teach you. I'm glad you are approaching your career with so much self-confidence. Just don't become over-confident. Overconfidence in a health care setting can be dangerous.

I agree Saysfaa. that "liberals dominate education and the media which results in slogans and catch phrases from liberals and explanations from conservatives." Few Liberals, when they ask your Conservative opinion, really want to know. So while you are still trying to explain something, they interrupt with THEIR argument. Then you can't get back to what you were trying to explain because they continue to argue and interrupt until you can't remember what point you were trying to make. Whew! Most of the Conservatives I've met through work (there haven't been too many) are quieter and want to focus mainly on their work. I've also found, by listening to liberals who, by explaining not potificating, reveal that they are more conservative than they might like to admit. I had a roomate, a lifelong Democrat, who explained to me all that she felt about the USA, politics and approaches to defense and social welfare (That was well before the present super heated political environment). I asked, "are you SURE you are not a Republican?" We agreed on so much! Then before I knew it, she registered as a Republican and has been one for 20 yrs now. I'll be glad when members of both parties can once more find the things they have in common as Americans and speak as friends. BTW, Don't worry about your spelling. And know that the latest guides for business communications say it is NO LONGER always correct to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition.. They recommend you simply write in a way that sounds natural and unaffected!

Toomuchbaloney. Sorry. I misused the word "blog". I meant "thread". The original message was about having a " "conservative nurse forum" What if the "conservative" isn't interested in explaining their opinions AGAIN to a Liberal whose only goal is not to have "a reasonable, intelligent discussion" (as they say) but express not only their disagreement, but usually their hostility. I WAS interested in hearing from other conservatives.

I agree, I'd rather just do my job when I'm at work. I don't discuss politics at work because it just doesn't help teamwork as a rule. I don't mind debate when I'm on my own time.

d'cm. If I had time and space I would talk about the "general welfare of the People". I guess you have already decided that the ACA meets that requirement (and probably other things as well). I believe "general welfare" doesn't necessarily mean government meeting all our physical needs. (If allowed to, the community can meet many needs, and enjoy doing it) I think the people are better off when they have incentives to work, proving their worth and abilities thereby. I think the general welfare is enhanced when people are free to create, imagine and produce within relatively few constrictions by the federal government. And I do not consider "profit" a dirty word. Profit is the stimulus for most of the great inventions and achievements of the modern world. You don't believe all the inventions and progress of the United States came from altruistic motives do you? Social programs are needed, as a temporary measure. We provide a better future for the poor, and the country as a whole when we help people become independent in as many ways as they can. (You know, give a man a fish...versus teach him how to fish.) As others have noted, if too many people are riding in the wagon, then who is able to PULL the wagon. A lot of our patients resist rehab. It is hard! but should we let them quit because they don't like it? Why is it than when someone wants to have a "Conservative" blog, Liberals flock to it to air THEIR opinions. You don't get enough chance to do that otherwise? (BTW The WHO is not beyond criticism for their statistical methods.)

Otessa, I agree. I never have joined the ANA for the same reason (and I was a nurse for MANY years) Funny, how normally well mannered people, even nurses, don't mind disparaging (a polite word) co/workers whose politics are different then theirs. This is a highly charged political atmosphere. I remember back as far as Pres. Truman and have NEVER seen such hostility between Political Parties! Every president I remember was very careful, when in office, not to bash the other party. They considered themselves president of the WHOLE country. When they were critical of others, it was usually "some people" who think, want, believe or complain... Every one knew who they meant, but it didn't insult any one personally! Of course, it was a more polite era to begin with. But the poisonous political atmosphere today makes me wonder where our country is headed. Someone wondered why conservatives are more comfortable on a conservative blog. Well, it's just nice not to feel we are facing adversaries all the time.

tralalaRN You are an example of why some may feel they want a "conservative blog"! We don't need to hear liberal-speak again....and again...and again. We have heard it all already. And it usually assumes that conservatives are so inept that they don't know how to make the "right", decisions run their own lives. 1. Banks and credit cards need money to operate 2.The mortgage collapse was due to Dodd Frank insisting that Banks make bad loans. Other wise threatened they would publically be accused of "redlining" (discriminating against the poor esp. minorites.) SO they loaned to people they were sure could never pay...people without jobs, with very poor credit ratings, with nowhere near 20% down (which is standard) Some of the loans were 0% down. Some had complicated terms buyers didn't understand. Banks get their money from lenders who demand at least a little profit. However, they felt somewhat reassured because of the newly created "Fanny Mae" and "Freddy Mac" which were supposedly backed by the fed. gov't. But Fanny and Freddy also failed 3. Buying out GM. In my thinking, NOBODY is "too big to fail!" That's why we have bankrupsy laws. Every major airline has taken bankrupsy, but most of the public never knew it. A company who is not doing the job, SHOULD fail. If there is enough competition it won't matter. The auto workers might temporarily be out of work, but not for as long... as the American appetite for cars continued. Ford, Chrysler, Nissen, Honda would have to ramp up their production and would need autoworkers to do it. If GM had taken bankrupsy, they might have figured out what they were doing wrong and corrected it. But no, Uncle Sam made that unessesary. 4. Companies pay the higher corporation taxes than they would in any other country. Then they must pay what labor unions insist on...which is often more than similar jobs pay anywhere. A labor union robbed us of "Twinkies" (no great loss, IMHO).Of course the government must regulate businesses within reason. But the gov't, whose lawmakers (lately) have little or no experience in business, can easily pass so MANY and such difficult regulations that businesses can't expand, can't hire. That's the situation now. Businesses must plan ahead, which they can't do with our present administration. 5. health care. The ACA was passed entirely by democrats (not one republican) and it took some bribery and arm twisting to do that. (Remember the infamous Louisiana purchase for Mary Landreau.) Republicans had plenty of ideas despite what Obama said. They passed stacks of health care bills in the House, but Harry Reid would not even allow them to be considered in the Senate. Dems were (and are) so in love with "comprehensive bills" that any bill that addressed one problem at a time was ignored. There are many reasons why ACA might fail, since it is so impractical in so many ways. Education. Who is responsible for your child? You or the government. If you have no time for your child, then it might as well be the government (and that's OK, If both parents work plus having other responsibilities. I'm not bashing hardworking or single parents) then the government is better than nobody... and they will EVEN FEED them. What a convenience. I'm saying that as an educated adult, I have ideas about what and how MY children are taught. If I don't like the "product" of the public schools, I should have a right not to use it. I think I'm a pretty good judge of what my children need to know as adults. I don't need the government to tell me. I should be able to choose any private school that is accredited. Why not just have a test...a glorified GED for kids to get a diploma. Simpler, cheaper, less intrusive.

I think it is a mistake to call mature patients by their first name. It's also a mistake to assume they don't mind (they may be just too polite to object.) I remember my mother, at 88yrs old, chastising a young doctor for calling her "Marie". It was not a pretty sight. It's a memory I always carry with me when meeting patients. Unless the pt. is a child, I often just ask what they like to be called.

Terms such as "Miss Jane" and "Mr. Bob" are very common in the South, as well. Although, this is uncommonly used on first meeting. I've never known a patient who reacted negatively to that, as it's almost a term of endearment.. However, oddly, you won't hear "Mrs. Suzie". An older married or widowed woman is more likely to be called "Mrs. Jackson", unless she requests to be called by her first name, which then may eventually become "Miss (or Miz) Suzie". Those of my mother's generation, (born in the early 1900's),expected to be called "Mrs. Smith" as common courtesy and a sign of respect. I remember her chastizing a young physician for calling her "Marie" .... she was in her eighties then. I was raised to call adults Mr. or Mrs on first meeting, especially. I still, unconsciously, call physicians "Doctor" even though they may not like it. Yet, there is a practical side to this.. Doctors, R.N's, LPN's, NA's all look alike to some patients (esp. if they all wear scrubs).And, of course, many still expect to see a male, not a female, when introduced to their physician. I've even had a patient who mistook a guy from housekeeping as his physician. Don't know who was more embarrassed at the mistake...patient or maintenance man.

It probably was ONE of the hardest nights of your career. It's a good way to begin, because now you know you CAN rise to the occasion when there is a disaster or things out of control in the hospital, outside, or both. You've learned that your patients really do come first, even when you have worries about your own family. You did what you were called to do and trusted that somebody else was looking out for your own kids. Congratulations! One lesson learned: Never "assume" your shift is going to be "routine"!

The commuter says: " Another goal of a for-profit school is to generate profits. It is the profit margin that enables these schools to stay in business and keep shareholders appeased." Of course, that's what "for-profit" means! But, they will certainly not profit if the school turns out inferior nurses and gains a bad reputation. The responsibility for that rests pretty much on the instructors. Even expensive advertising on the part of the school, won't help, if clients do not get what they need. In a way, the school must be their own advertisement every day. A for-profit institution must, of necessity, accomodate the students. Thus instructors are more likely to be available to help students and even provide free tutoring (as a previous poster related) As for shareholders, they will be satisfied if the students, and therefore the business, does well. Pleasing the shareholders is a result of running a good business. Nothing wrong with "non-profit" schools (as in a state university), we couldn't do without them. But instructors there, can afford to have a lot less personal investment in what they do. (I'm not saying that they necessarily do). And if they have tenure, they need not worry about losing their job. Even if they don't... there's almost no chance that their University is going to close for lack of funds! The University Nursing program is not going to be hurt by lack of advertising, nor cope with taxes owed, nor other expenses normally required in running a business. Also because the University is well established in the community and has other colleges in connection with it, it does not depend so much on it's nursing program to win a reputation. I do not think that "non-profit" is any more "noble" than "for-profit". . It is not an emotional or idealogical issue with me. I only care about the quality of what is provided to the client (student, in this case) and at what cost.

My opinion may not count for much, because I've been out of school for a very long time. Sounds to me like the for-profit schools are more interested in producing competent nurses. A university will not close down if their nursing program is weak...it can always get more funds and the reputation of the University has already been established for years on end. Neither of these are true of present day for-profit schools. Only a State University could afford to teach such "nonsense" as how the "gay, lesbian, transgender community change our health care delivery" (which you will learn as a nurse, anyway). A University is invariably steeped in politics within and without. Also there are many dignitaries to please and apease. A for-profit school has one goal...to turn out able and respectable practitioners of whatever they teach. Otherwise they will certainly go under. Along with the convenience they offer their students, they must maintain a certain reputation in their field, to compete with other similar schools and Universities. Back in the day... I attended both a diploma school of nursing and The University of Colorado (as well as a couple of other Universities for some classes). I can see that Universities have not changed much, and the diploma school was very b and m, since the Internet wasn't available at that time. My most intense and valuable education came from my diploma school, which was associated with a hospital and not primarily for profit. However, I would liken the diploma school much more to today's for-profit schools. I think their main objective was to produce nurses (which were in short supply at the time), for their hospital and others in the community.

I wouldn't take offense at these questions, if I were you. I wouldn't consider them "negativity" so much as simple ignorance. Many people still picture nuses as young women in white, tending to some ill peson in bed. Many don't realize that nurses may do different kinds of nursing, as well as some jobs that are not even typical roles for a nurse, like legal nurses for example. I think your plan makes a lot of sense. Could you just explain simply, almost as you did in your post. Maybe say something like, "most of my experience has been in insurance", (experience that could be considerable at your age) "but I was attracted to this job because I can utilize skills I already have, at the same time I study for my R.N."? If it was I, I might even add "so many nurses wish they had a better of understanding where insurance is concerned...it just seemeed like a good fit" As for your future, you can always say you are not sure yet or tell them, quite honestly that you'd like to explore being a nurse reviewer. You will have to answer them in a way that seems appropriate to you. But please don't be intimidated by their questions. You are a mature adult, able to plan logically, not a young wide-eyed nursing student. They should respect that. Actually, I did go through something similar, once. I've always enjoyed pharmacology. And if I hadn't been a child of the late fifties, with it's sterotyped female roles, I might have considered it as a profession. After I had been an RN for several years, and was somewhat burned out, I discovered one could train to be a pharmacy tech in a matter of months. I took the course, passed the qualifying exam, and looked for a job. Some pharmacists seemed interested, but though I tried, I couldn't convince any of them them that I wouldn't mind the decrease in pay. However, I ALSO couldn't convince myself that I was ready for the extra years of college I'd need to work in pharmacy.

I do not know much about "therapeutic communication" either. But I have had the experience of having bilateral mastectomies, chemo, radiation etc. I've also been sought out by a friend and family member for "advice". I fully agree with toomuchbalony, that people are usually more in need of being heard than being advised. They will collect tons of advice from various people before this is over...,some advice will be good, some will be bad, but the majority will be useless. The diagnosis is so overwheming at first, that the patient tries to take in all available information and make sense of it. That cannot be done. And trying, only adds to the helplessness one feels. But they need to express whatever they are feeling. They need to know that what they feel is understandable (not wrong, weird, cowardly, silly etc.) A newly diagnosed patient is likely to panic and think "Oh, my God, I must be dying!" Then, I usually have to come back again and again to where the patient is now. I may say, "but until the biopsy is done and evaluated, you don't know for sure that you really have cancer". This may sound like assisting denial, but the cancer journey is so long, it's best, I think, to focus on what is coming next...taking one day at a time, one procedure at a time. Of course I have the advantage of having experienced much of what they will. My experiences may not be identical, but they can see that I came through it all OK. When I was going through chemo, the husband of a good friend of mine said to me, " I don't think I could handle it (the chemo) if it was me." I said, with no prior thought, "oh yes you could...you could if you had to". Irony of ironies, he was diagnosed with colon cancer before my treatments were through. So we had a lot of experiences to share from then on out. That seems to help. The very best help, I think comes from fellow cancer patients. Because of the schedule of chemo treatments, I usually had mine at the same time as others and came to know them well. They were of different diagnoses and stages, but we became very close and very informal. Sometimes we got to laughing so hard, a nurse had to check and see that we were ok. I actually missed my chemo group when it was all over. Humor has always been a way I like to relieve stress. So if you have a joking relationship with a cancer patient, by all means, keep it up! Don't get all solemn and sad, as sympathetic as you may feel. Just be yourself. Doctors unfortunately, don't always quite see the humor in things. The morning of my surgery, I said to my surgeon, "man, I'm sure glad to see you. I have a couple of things I need to get off my chest!" (I was having bilateral mastectomies, after all.) The only one that got and laughed at my joke was an OR nurse. Bless her.

As a nurse, it is not your place to judge a patient's religion. If this is an emotional issue for you or if he reminds you of past experiences that make you angry, don't discuss it. You can say you're here to be his nurse, not discuss religious beliefs. Say it kindly,then immediately get on with your assessment or whatever you were doing. Remember, this man is a missionary...has been one for decades... don't bother wondering why he is asking the questions he does. It's his occupation...and I'm sure a call from God, as he views it. Your job is to do YOUR job, hopefully without conveying the hostility you may feel inside. He may even become an interesting person later on, if you build some "non-theological" rapport with him. Perhaps you could think of it like this: If you work in the ER, you are not going to allow yourself to be upset by every patient you do not like personally...the inebriated, the insulting, the physically dirty and odorous, the wife beater, the child molester. Even if they repel you, you realize it is your duty to care for them to the best of your ability. You may have to be tougher, sometimes, but you do not discriminate between the driver at fault in an accident and his victim, when they are both your patients. Is your missionary patient any more difficult than these?

Wow! What does this gem of a teacher TEACH? Is he a professional? If he teaches something beside nursing ( Mud-wrestling 101, comes to mind) maybe this behavior seems appropriate to him. Otherwise, I can't understand why this unsavory seeming person, has the nerve to take your supplies for his personal use and then asks you to do his mending!!! On the other hand, I've met a few physicians (often surgeons) who are shockingly offensive in their personal relationships. They expect nurses to be servile at all times. You handled the situation with restraint. Does he approach other student nurses this way? Or are you the the lone target? It might be worth a little behind-the-scenes investigation...for future reference if nothing else.

Episteme must be about my age, since recording lecrtures on a small cassette recorder was about as high-tech as anybody could get. I learned to be a fast notetaker and printed everything as I would in nurses notes notes. It made me concentrate, first on the lecture and second, on condensing information to make the most important concepts more memorable. My microbiology notes, and many A&P notes, were full of diagrams copied from the blackboard in the classrooms. This took a little longer, but by the time I, and fellow students, had had numerous explanations from the instructor, it became quite clear. But I still had to add a few notes. (And, of course textbooks had good diagrams too). I never cared much for slide shows or other visuals in the classroom, because I couldn't take notes in the dark. If it was a actual live demonstation, that was GOOD! I don't think our instructors tried too hard to guide how we studied. It was up to US to learn by whatever methods produced the best results. Individuals differ in the ways they learn best. If a particular concept was confusing to some, we might form a small spontaneous group to discuss it until those who had trouble could finally understand and explain it to the rest of us who were quicker to get it. This was not "contrived" or "graded" by instructers who probably wouldn't have found our zany memory tactics as entertaining as we did. But in those days, I seldom felt it was the instructors "responsibility" to teach, as much as it was mine to learn. (especially true in the "hard" sciences) for there were plenty of resources. Studies aside, I'm not sure "flipping the classroom" would have produced any better results. Learning clinical skills was different. I considered nursing instuctors the true "experts", as indeed they were. I watched and listened intently, trying to imitate everything they did. Nursing textbooks were helpful. Notes were never enough. ( In some cases, neither was imitation :)) Everything you learn in nursing education is valuable. You appreciate it all when you actually take full responsibility for patients. And this is only the beginning, because almost every day of your career, there is something new to be learned.

My dentist told me once about studies indicating that coconut oil might inhibit cavities if swished around in the mouth for twenty minutes. He didn't suggest I DO it, but I decided it would be intersting to give it a try. Nothing potentially toxic about coconut oil, I reasoned. Some people even use it in cooking. But I predict this coconut oil "swish" or "oil pulling" will never catch on... at least not long enough to tell if it reduces dental cavities. Have you ever tried to hold some liquid (or oil) in your mouth for TWENTY minutes? (by the clock?). I never realized twenty minutes could be so long! Guess I'll go back to flouride toothpaste.

I have a few friends who, occasionally, forward these weird claims to me.( As if I don't already see a lot of them on the internet) I usually respond by giving them a short lecture on research techniques and why a few rumored anecdotal "cures" don't prove anything. I sometimes mention that if the "cures" are actually proved to be that good, drug companies probably would sell them! These messages have cut down some on the health claims I receive by email. I would give the same kind of message to patients who had been given the same kind of advice...but sometimes it was hard to squash a little ray hope they may have had facing a serious diagnosis. About all I could do then was review the treatments and meds they were taking explain why they had reason to be optimistic about them. The more difficult thing to handle is, if you have cancer (I did) or if someone close to you does, these remedies come thick and fast from people who sincerely seek to help. I didn't want to hurt the feelings of any well meaning people. So I was not so outspoken with them. I would always thank them for their suggestions and say that if the chemo or radiation didn't help, I might look into what they advised. That was usually the end of the conversation. But I felt a bit guilty for implying that somehow I might actually try some weird regimen like what they shared with me. Thankfully, the subject hardly ever came up again. I'd like to know how others have handled situations like this in nursing, not just emails.

I don't know what kind of investigation is taking place. But surely this care-giver will not be in serious trouble. I don't see how she would be in danger of losing either her job or her license. As I see it, the policy of the facility concerning CPR, would be completely CONTRADICTED if the patient had a DNR order (as this patient did). Sounds like the care-giver got a bit rattled at the scene, thus her call to 9-11 and the resulting confusion.. But what she actually did was to OBEY the DNR, which in this situation, was the RIGHT thing to do! How could her job or license be in jeopardy when she followed the proper procedure (DNR).?