outbackannie

I took care of a guy who was gently confused. Thought his call light would do everything...raise and lower the head of the bed, change tv channels, etc. Kept me hopping that day!

Our gift???? Joint Commision showed up unannounced. We passed with flying colors, but none of the staff got even a "Thank You" or "Good job" not to mention not even a "Happy Nurses' Day!"

I tried coming to work without any sleep; thought I could make it thru on No-Doze. Actually, over-dosed myself with No-Doze and coffee causing tachycardia. Had to go to ER. Got flushed out and sent home. That was twenty odd years ago and the last time I tried it.

Love my crocs - still feel like dancing after a 12 hr day Found they vary from one shoe to the next and also do stretch out a bit. So is best to try them on. I got 7 pairs

1. Type of nurse: Med-Surg 2. Required 84 hours per pay period of 2 weeks 3. 26 yrs as RN but does not factor into pay scale 4. 12 hr shifts - days 5. Blythe, CA 6. Avg gross $2300 per pay period

A patient was admitted to the floor with cellulitis of the face. The doctor ordered Ampicillin 3 Gm IV q6 hr. Since the patient was close to 300 lbs. this seemed to be an appropriate dose. He also ordered the same anti-hypertensive med that the patient had been on for several months to control her hypertension. Her BP was 240/110 on admission. Our clinical pharmacist refused to supply the medications because she didn't agree with the dosing. The doctor was called and informed of the pharmacists concern. He insisted that the patient receive the medications as ordered. The pharmacist still would not dispense the medications. What would you do as the nurse caring for this patient?

We have a Nurse Hartless. Dr Oh and Dr Pi are partners in Gastroenterology Clinic. Dr. Sunshine is the local urologist, Dr. Rott is a surgeon.

I hate it when an employee comes in sick. Not only does it put patients at risk, it also puts the other employees at risk. Keep your germs to yourself! It especially makes it much harder on the other staff if you come in sick and are not able to give 100% which means they have to pick up the slack and/or the patient doesn't get proper care. If you come in sick, and end up having to go home early because you just can't do it, then it is nearly impossible to find someone to replace you. If you must feel guilty about being sick, there must be something else behind it.

Dixie McCall in Emergency! Now there was a nurse who could do it all!!!

Perfect score! I AM older than dirt - question is...what's older than me?

I love grad nurses and sure enjoyed reading this. This is so true and funny! Grad Nurses are the first on the floor after report. Experienced Nurses take a coffee break first.

Wow! I can usually stomach most things, but sure hate bile and definitely ileostomy/colostomy care. The smell of the burning bone when the drill is in use gets me! But what really gives me the willies is patients with scabies! I itch for days just thinking about it!

I have worked under both systems and find that the Modified Team Concept (a little of both) works best. For example, a team of 1 RN, 1 LPN and 1 CNA cares for a block of 10 patients. The RN and LPN divide up the patients for charting purposes, the RN takes care of the IV's, IV meds,assessments,and new admits. LPN does other meds, treatments, etc. CNA takes vs, I&O's, baths, etc. With difficult pts to bathe, nurse and CNA do together, or dificult treatment like a complex dressing change, RN and LPN perform together. Of course, the team is only effective as its members, but I have always had a good team to work with and usually get to take lunch, go home on time, and feel like our job was done to satisfaction.

Gee, does your story sound familiar! I was in my ninth year of nursing and had received many awards, kudos, etc. from the hospital I worked until our nurse manager quit. It was logical for me to apply for the position however, I was asked by the DON not to because they had something much better in mind for me, but couldn't go into details at the time. What a stupe I was! One of the nurses that I mentored became the nurse manager and from day one she was nitpicking everything I did or didn't do or blaming me for things that happened on other shifts. She really enjoyed "writing up" everyone. When I asked the DON about the position she had in mind for me, I was told "Oh, that didn't materialize." At once, it occurred to me that I had been set up. It also made me aware that the new nurse manager felt intimidated by me as most of the other staff continued to come to me for problem-solving, advice, etc. The hospital had a policy of 3 "write-ups" and disciplinary action would follow. They also had a policy that a person who had been "written up" twice could not transfer to another department. The day I submitted my resignation, I felt the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders. I didn't have one knot in my stomach or a headache anymore. My husband and I went out and celebrated! It also compelled me to wonder that all this may have been a way to cheat me out of being vested in retirement as well as enable them to hire a new grad at a much lower salary. I'll never know for sure, but it wasn't long after I left that most of the other staff left too and the nurse manager was asked to step down. I wouldn't go back there for "any of the tea in China". I found it much more rewarding and lucrative to work thru an agency doing staff relief, making my own schedule, and making top dollar.

I have been in Home Health for 10 yrs and with 4 different agencies. I've never seen an ad or catelog with "Home Health Uniforms". We wear regular dress clothes with a lab coat or jacket during our visits. I've also seen a few CNA's wear scrubs which seems appropriate.

First thing get your GED! You can go through a Jr. college and get an Associate's degree. It's best to get all of your prerequisite courses done before you apply to the nursing program. This will take full time about 2 yrs and 2 summers. The nursing program lasts 2 yrs. You can get your Certified Nursing Assistant at the Juco too and start work in the medical setting while going to school. You need to be real sure that nursing is what you really want to do.

Sounds like you're going to do just fine. Have you looked into any grants or scholarships to help out? I know where you're coming from as I collected alluminum cans, sold my serum, hocked everything just to get through school. I was 25 yrs old with a child to support. Believe me, it was definitely worth all the sacrifices just to get that pin and certificate. Now, I'm an old nurse, without any regrets. Making a difference in someone's life is more fun than a big paycheck. I'm proud to be a nurse!

I have a very unique job and I love it. I can't work 12 hr shifts because of child care problems, so I work 4 hrs a day doing lunch relief for ICU and ER.

I remember testing urines for specific gravity by spinning the weighted glass rod. Testing for acetone in the urine with a little blue fizzy tablet. Rounds and "Grand Rounds". We staffed in "teams". RN was the teamleader and did the IV stuff, notes and teaching, LPN passed the meds and did simple drssing changes-yep, betadine and sugar paste and heatlamp. CNA made beds and gave baths. We usually had about 10=12 patients for our team. I learned how to knit and crochet after all the work was done. I also remember a lovely elderly couple who checked in every winter "for a rest"...they actually changed their address at the post office to the hospital. Wonder how team nursing would work nowadays?

My most incredible ER story is when a very "wasted" young lady was brought to the ER by the police for a pelic exam following a drug bust. They felt she had secreted a small stash. The doc found a parcel all right! A small order of McDonalds French Fries wrapper in all!!! Apparantly, the girl was in a real hurry and grabbed the wrong package! ------------------

Sometimes when a patient gets to the bathroom before you can get the "hat" in there to measure the output you have to use the "tinkle factor". Ten tinkles=100cc Don't believe me? Use a hat and count yourself! ------------------

MD actually wrote the following order: Connect IV to F/C I guess he had recycling on his mind!

Shame on 'em! However; when a door closes , another opens. Perhaps it is God's intent that you devote your work elsewhere. With all your experience clinically as well as personally; sounds like the path is leading you towards a Respiratory Rehab type program, but couldn't you have done Quality Control, Infection Control, or something similar in the hospital where you were employed? Definitely sounds like you are being discriminated against. ------------------

Are you required to use OASIS? Can send nurses notes and admission notes that incorporate the OASIS. ------------------

PPS has caused every Home Health Agency in our area to close. Talk about IMPACT !!! ------------------