schoona

I have been working permanent part time night duty for 18 years (up to 70 hours per fortnight) in a small Emergency Department (about 26K presentations last year). Initially for the family and now because I'm just use to it. When I go onto days off, and that can be after 1 or 4 nights depending on the roster, I tend to "muck around" the house till 12 -1 pm and then have a 2-3hr afternoon nap. This nap is enough to get me through the rest of the evening, even if going out like I did last Fri night having just finished 3 nights. As I said earlier I have been doing this for quite a while and I'm not chronologically young, mid 50's, though the brain is! This system works for me and before I start nights I usually have a 2hr sleep before I commence; the shifts are 10hrs 21.30 - 07.30 hrs.

It may be able to work that way in the USA, but in Oz (NSW to be particular) it doesn't. I wish it could. When I worked in the Northern Territory 20 + years ago, it did work that way. Schoona

I also think the ability to cope with minimal sleep when you get cr...py rosters but still be on top of everything. Also a good massage therapist helps when your back,legs and feet are about to give out. Cheers Schoona:cheers:

We actually have an afterhours GP unit right next to the waiting room (it's a shared waiting room). It started in August '07. We as triage staff are NOT allowed to suggest pts see the GP, rationalle of Admin is they have presented to triage, they are seen in ED. Also dependent on the GP on this can actually increase our work load. I will often let pts know how many pts are ahead of them but remind them that if an emergecy comes in this will delay them more. Often pts will give the threat (so they think) that they are going to "Write to the Minister of Health" at which time i offer them a pen and paper, most times it stops them in their tracks. Cheers :cheers: Hope '08 is a good one Schoona

Thanks for that post, after the New Years Day Night I had (which rated as one of my worst in 10yrs + in ED) that was great. I have copied and sent to all my ED friends. Hope everyones New Year is a good one Schoona[/FO:cheers:NT]

Way back in '81 at my Graduation we recited it with one of Flo's lanterns beside us. I trained at a hospital where the first "matron" Lucy Osborne was one of Flo's girls. Lots of history!!!!

Dear Hearlover07, I still remeber the name and diagnosis (fungating CA Breast) of my first patient death, that was in 1979. You always remember the first. i also remember my first cardiac arrest, then going back to the nurses quarters (trained the "old" way), debriefing with some of my peers, we were 1st years students and then one of the 3rd years taking me aside to give me some sage advice, so I thought. It was actually a double scotch neat. It helped but so did the debriefing. Now almost 30 years down the track, I don't remember all their names, but the first one stays with you always. Just remember, they are someones loved one. Regards Schoona:paw:

This year I was initially rostered N/D 25th,26th and 27th. No real biggy. However, one of my collegues ( a part timer ) was allocated 24th N/D and 28thN/D. She also had a bit of a hissy (though not as dramatic as the first) so now i'm doing 24th, 26th and 27th because her celebrations are on christmas eve. The roster for that period ceases on the 29th and I was asked to do the 30/12 to 26/1 (I think I might just have to have New Year off!!!!!!!!) Any way a happy and safe festive season to all!!!

Most of our regular docs are ok, but it's the locums or o'seas trained that are an issue. 6/12 ago I got stuck buy a needle that had a safety cover, but the doc didn't take the micro second to flick it down or the whole second to put it in the dirty sharps container. However, the orthopods are the worst, when they come down to do a plaster and leave the plaster room in the greatest mess. I refuse to clean it and let the ED reg sort it (his peers). Just have to get the docs though:beercuphe to get their coffee mugs from the docs office to the sink, I may be a mum, but not theirs!!!

:chuckle Whilst our wait time is not quite as bad, the cattle prod on the residents works well. But obviously this is an international issue, I don't know how many times I've heard "..But I came in by ambulance!" (Dah ! I know I triaged you)

Not sure about Qld but would presume similar to NSW, must be employed for 12/12 before becoming eligible (Public Sector). In NSW when on maternity leave you can also convert leave over to sick leave if unwell during time off, also should you fall pregnant on maternity leave you can go back to back maternity leave. the other thing is you are entitled to return to work on reduced hours in your job, ie/ an NUM (Charge nurse) can come back at 2 or 3 days weeks in normal role. If moving to Qld, don't forget the sunsceen!!!:welcome:

Hi Tina, I'm a few days behind and you've probably started, but as the others have said, know your antibugs, also anticoagulants eg/ heparin, clexane etc., antiemetics and pain relief both narcotics and simple analgesia. This base knowledge will cover you not only in surgical areas but also in medical and areas such as ED. Have fun, and remember that the RN's were students once themselves.

Re Keith Richards, it was mentioned on a news report down here that when they took him for surgery that he was looking pale and gaunt. When in the last 20 yrs + hasn't he looked pale and gaunt?????????:

This seems to be an international problem, I work in th ED of a small hospital with a 6 bed ICU (in reality a high dependency unit) and 9 bed CCU (mixed soft/hard wired). Regularly we sit on pts, but also we regularly have to have pts mediacally retrieved out to a bigger teaching hospital. The dept of health is /has bought in regulations for how long pts are kept in ED's. The DOH feels that no pt should be in ED longer than 8 hrs after admission (by specialist), if they are there longer there is a monetry penalty that the hospital gets hit with. Of course nusing staff are made to feel that its their responsiblity (HA). All it does is increase the pressure on ED staff from another point.

I always cringe when pts (even some nurses) tell me about their prostrate probs. My ultimate peeve is our staff room, why other staff can't clean up after themselves is beyond me. I work mainly ND and the pile at the end of the day is horrendous. I won't clean it up and if I'm incharge, I won't get other staff to clean it up (unless it's theirs ofcourse). As a mother I do enough cleaning at home without doing someone elses.

Hi whilst yes I am a female RN, I have a brother - in - law who is an RN, a cousin who is a RN and a very good friend who is a Nurse Manger for RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service), none of which you would call wimpy or unmanley. I do find it amusing though as I work in ED and often the male RN's are refered to as Dr by (especially elderly) patients.

That's when you get a chance to see what others in the "World" of nursing are up to and get onto All Nurses. No, but really, it's restocking, re ordering, some fun and games and wait for the next disaster to arrive.

Well done:balloons: ps/ did you get sick of the Aussie anthem in the last 2/52 with the Comm Games???

I think they must have left you jumped on a plane and headed for Sydney. Had similar presentation with mum and 6/12 healthy girl. Mum was crying because the baby had been crying, seems the baby hadn't really got upset before this presentation???? I wish my boys had been like that!

[ I get more frustrated at the smokers. If you smoke, don't take too much offense, but I get frustrated at those who make it a priority to go outside to smoke, while others do not get such breaks (or are at least less likely to take them). Hence part of the reason our hospital is going smoke free next year (don't see it happening well, but it's supposed to). :uhoh21: I have to agree, the other night I was working with 3 nursing staff and an RMO who all smoked and were doing relays outside. I got so p****d off that I took a FRESH AIR break, they thought I was being petty. I just said fairs fair.

I have to agree with the previous reply, always remember the basics and show a willingness to learn. also is the unit a trauma centre, pead etc. If you don't have the relevent background state that you're eager to extend you're knowledge. ED is a dynamic (as in always changing) area, show you're able to adapt to different situations (and cite relevent senarios you have been in) eg/ VF, SVT, EMD pts etc. Also, they (admin) also like to hear that you're aware of your limitations and can build on these. Relax and BREATHE!! This is all Aussie based experience.

But as nurses aren't we at his right hand????!!!!!

As an accidental tourist on the world wide web, but what a fortunate accident! Being from the land down under it's great to hear what's going on in the rest of the "world". Keep it up, Cheers Schoona

There seems to be regular break outs in our local school (luckily my kids have only had it twice each in 7 school years) down under. My 12yr olds male teacher was telling me that he had seen them in one of the students and started scratching as he was telling me, so for part of his christmas present (as a bit of a joke) my son gave him a nit comb, he appreciated it. Just as an aside, but when I went to school I never had lice/nits, and my theory is all those years ago my mother use to have us wash our hair with soap. I think the soap scum left a film on the hair and the little bu**ers couldn't attach - well that's my theory!!

...When the neighbours/friends/school parents ask you advice about themselves/the kids or the pets. .... Your at the soccer gala day and the duly elected first aider and some drops and has a Grand mal less than 5m away from you. ..... and worse still you break your ankle, don't live in your hospitals pick up zone, but the paramedic crew that arrives are an out of area crew that get excited because its one of their ED nurses (trimaleor # and dislocation - shouldn't rush to get out of bed after night duty!!) and yes all the above have happened!!:imbar