(8/29) This week, I have learned......

Nurses General Nursing

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(Forgive the early submission this week. Got a busy day tomorrow and last week's thread has just changed its code status to DNR, with a discharge to hospice. Thankfully, most of the family agrees. Unfortunately, one person thinks I'm trying to get more inheritance than Farawyn, but thankfully that's what probate lawyers are for.)

This week, I have learned:

Creatinine can go from 9 to 1.9 in 12 hours. Then 0.65, 24 hours after that, with 13,000 mL out in two shifts.

If you're prepared to ask if your patient group can be split up tomorrow, be prepared to be made out to be an a-hole in front of the rest of the staff just for asking.

My legs are a-holes.

Furry woodland creatures are terrifying.

Metoprolol is a hell of a drug.

Cardiologists should consult nephrologists for beta blocker dosing once a creatinine hits, like, 2.

Some patients would rather walk across the room to pull the code blue button rather then push the nurse call button on their remote they've had glued to their hands for days.

It appears the end of August is "Celebrate Right Before Shift Change Disasters" season.

There are two miserable ladies who post in every thread. But now I'll never know who they are.

There is a person with an STD in their colostomy stoma.

An iPhone can delete all of your contacts in one area code and rename all of your contacts 'Steve'.

I am incredibly frustrated that hospitalists don't clarify code status at admission. Families are SHOCKED to consider that just because their kids know what they want, doesn't mean we'll know.

The State Highway Administration employs archaeologists.

My baby turns 8 tomorrow. I remember feeling impatience at the end of that pregnancy because I wanted to KNOW her. She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and has grown more so with every passing year. As fulfilled as I am by being a nurse (I was one of those disgusting "called to it" nurses. Wear gloves when you read my posts, friends. That icky stuff might be contagious.), being Mommy is my one true superpower. :)

What have you learned this week?

Thanks. I tried daycare & he was pretty much kicked out because he would cry for hours so I had to pick him up. We're trying my husband's best friend's mom since our son has spend time with her. But if today when we went over is any indication of what will happen when I try to drop him off, he won't let me go & will cry just as much as he did at daycare.

I hope it works but I'm not holding my breath. He's a total momma's boy & attached at my hip. I'm quickly running out of options if this doesn't work out. >.

How old is your little kiddo? I hope someone has some ideas for you. I'm not a mom, so I'm at a total loss.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
How old is your little kiddo? I hope someone has some ideas for you. I'm not a mom, so I'm at a total loss.

He's 15 months. I hope so too because I really don't want to have to put school on hold, again. :(

He's 15 months. I hope so too because I really don't want to have to put school on hold, again. :(

Hugs to you :( You're a good mama though. That's really important too.

Guys, I've learned that it's too late for me to exchange my school scrubs. The bottoms are really tight around my bum. Looks like I'll be working out a little bit more. Why do I procrastinate these things??? :facepalm:

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Hugs to you :( You're a good mama though. That's really important too.

Thank you. I know it is I just don't want to have to put off my schooling any more than I already have. :( Plus we could the income from me working as an RN since the oil field has gone bust.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Guys, I've learned that it's too late for me to exchange my school scrubs. The bottoms are really tight around my bum. Looks like I'll be working out a little bit more. Why do I procrastinate these things??? :facepalm:

I know how you feel. :/ Since I started school again my desire to work out went out the window. I was working out 5-6 days a week now it's 0 days a week. But I also think my medication is playing a part in that.

Thank you. I know it is I just don't want to have to put off my schooling any more than I already have. :( Plus we could the income from me working as an RN since the oil field has gone bust.

Yes, that income could make a big difference. Do you think maybe he just needs more time to adjust? Like, what if you went into the daycare on your day off and stayed the whole time with him, just so he could get used to the place. Think that would work?

I know how you feel. :/ Since I started school again my desire to work out went out the window. I was working out 5-6 days a week now it's 0 days a week. But I also think my medication is playing a part in that.

I used to run five miles a day! Now I'm huffing and puffing at 1.5. Boo me.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Yes, that income could make a big difference. Do you think maybe he just needs more time to adjust? Like, what if you went into the daycare on your day off and stayed the whole time with him, just so he could get used to the place. Think that would work?

Well he can't go back to daycare, he was pretty much kicked out cause he was crying & disrupting the other kids. I'm gonna stay awhile when I drop him off at my husband's best friend's place. Obviously I can't just drop him & run.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I used to run five miles a day! Now I'm huffing and puffing at 1.5. Boo me.

If it makes you feel any better I can't even run a mile. :p

Specializes in Hospice.

I learned that when the facility Speech Therapist hears that a Hospice patient is starting to occasionally not swallow and pocket food, the appropriate response is apparently "Well then, she must be made NPO and there must be a discussion about G-tube insertion."

Really??

No. The appropriate response (from me!) is "When she does that, give her more time, realize that if she licks the plate clean at breakfast she might not be hungry for lunch, monitor how often she's doing it and let me know."

Specializes in LTC.
I learned that when the facility Speech Therapist hears that a Hospice patient is starting to occasionally not swallow and pocket food, the appropriate response is apparently "Well then, she must be made NPO and there must be a discussion about G-tube insertion."

Really??

No. The appropriate response (from me!) is "When she does that, give her more time, realize that if she licks the plate clean at breakfast she might not be hungry for lunch, monitor how often she's doing it and let me know."

You know, thank you for advocating in this way. A doctor, years ago, talked my mom into a J-tube for my grandmother. My 96 year old hospice care, late stage dementia, grandmother. My mom was just so afraid my grandmother would starve, that the fear guided her to make a choice she feels she will regret forever. My grandmother died a few weeks after the surgery. She developed pneumonia post-op, and died in an ICU. That kind of thing just isn't right.

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