TheGerb MSN

Latest Activity

1. Need Help Figuring this Out- 5 Lead Tele

   TheGerb replied to TheGerb's topic in General Nursing

   Oh that's good to know. Always love learning new little tidbits. I was using disposable leads. At tried fresh leads on: dry skin not cleaned, skin rubbed lightly with gotten, and then skin cleaned with alcohol wipes. No reading on any of them.

2. Need Help Figuring this Out- 5 Lead Tele

   TheGerb replied to TheGerb's topic in General Nursing

   That's definitely true. I tried two sets of wires and two different boxes though (and interchanged them) and they were a nicer 1yo Phillips model. I joked with the patient that my next step was going to be to change the patient so the machine would w...

3. Need Help Figuring this Out- 5 Lead Tele

   TheGerb posted a topic in General Nursing

   Hi! My mind is really blown by something that I'm sure has a simple answer that another RN would know right away. Looking for some answers. Last night I had a patient on a 5-lead tele monitor and I kept getting an error that the LL (left leg/red...

4. Tips For Being A Preceptor

   TheGerb replied to pinkdoves's topic in General Nursing

   Such great suggestions on this thread. One thing I used to do while precepting was also to ask them to say something if they saw me deviating from their known standard of care and at the end of the day to both highlight 3 opportunities for improvemen...

5. Secured a job on LinkedIn

   TheGerb replied to Upgrading_Status's topic in NP

   My current employer only posts on LinkedIn, indeed and the hospital site. I've had some really great recruiters message me on LinkedIn as well

6. Post COVID, but COVID related deaths

   TheGerb replied to JBMmom's topic in General Nursing

   Hi! We've been seeing people coming in with more severe community onset sepsis throughout covid because they were waiting. Of course, because of this we're also seeing higher sepsis mortality rates.

7. Need RRT RN On-boarding/ Orientation Materials

   TheGerb posted a topic in General Nursing

   Hi, We started a new position for an RRT RN in our hospital which we're very excited about, in theory, but we don't have anything set up about how to orient someone specifically to this new position. Doors anyone else have this position at your ...

8. I Hurt A Patient

   TheGerb replied to MInurse.st's topic in General Nursing

   Totally agree with this. I work in quality. Mistakes happen and most of them have root causes that are not one person. I'll also tell you what a conscious patient I dropped once said to me, "I need you to stop feeling sorry for yourself and get...

9. What is a reasonable nurse: patient ratio in ICU?

   TheGerb replied to Kitiger's topic in COVID

   I know the agency that staffs our hospital, and just checked. The current posted agency positions are making less hourly than I make staff. Ecarts is an early warning system using AI to predict % chance of patient deterioration. It's really great...f...

10. What is a reasonable nurse: patient ratio in ICU?

    TheGerb replied to Kitiger's topic in COVID

    Agree. Patients tank so quickly and wobble back and forth. We use ecarts as an early warning monitoring system where I'm at, and the majority of my patients the past few months have had higher ecarts than we normally will keep on the floor. Re: pay,...

11. What is a reasonable nurse: patient ratio in ICU?

    TheGerb replied to Kitiger's topic in COVID

    At ours, when your unit transitioned to COVID, you transitioned, too. We had a number of staff who bumped their retirements up a few months when this happened and a few who medically were cleared to transfer to other floors or be furloughed, but for ...

12. What is a reasonable nurse: patient ratio in ICU?

    TheGerb replied to Kitiger's topic in COVID

    Hi! I work on a COVID floor and rotate to a COVID step-down. We use a system with the primary nurse being the only person to enter a room (no EVS, no PCTs, no ancillary staff) with a team member from another furloughed area of the hospital serving as...

13. Soon-to-be New Grad : I Don't Want to Settle for Med-Surg

    TheGerb replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Nurse Beth

    I normally carry a load of 5-6 on telemetry "successfully," (in quotes because I meet all their immediate needs but rarely have time to do additional education or ambulation for high fall risk patients, more time intensive things that no one will cal...

14. Soon-to-be New Grad : I Don't Want to Settle for Med-Surg

    TheGerb replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Nurse Beth

    It sounds like it isn't necessarily the patient type or tasks of the ICU that appeal to the original poster but rather appropriate staffing levels. There are med surg units that staff appropriately (no more than 4 patients during days/evenings). Appl...

15. What do you think? My mother is told she is a drug addict by her primary care physician

    TheGerb replied to lhome's topic in General Nursing

    My mother has a number of drug allergies/intolerance unfortunately including all of the NSAIDs. This didn't use to be a problem for her to get prescription pain meds in small doses to keep around the house for her to use for headaches, etc., but in r...