Since ixchel is taking a much deserved break, she was gracious enough to allow me to fill in for her. Here's hoping I don't blow up her thread.
My next door neighbor is a retired nurse. She frequently comes over to visit me, which leads me to the title of the thread: where two or more retired nurses are gathered, the talk eventually turns to nursing.
Sharon (not her real name) has a son who works at a local hospital. He frequently fills his mother in with his experiences. She'll often share them with me, and many times the two of us end up shaking our heads in disbelief at how nursing has changed, sometimes for the good, often for the bad.
So what did I learn? I know that now, with greater certainty than before, that I dearly miss nursing, but not what it has become.
I've also learned that I must have some sort of invisible "Welcome, Free Lodging" sign over my head that only respiratory bugs can see. Every year like clockwork these invaders turn me into a coughing, sneezing, snotting host for them. It will get better, but by Oct/Nov. it will happen again.
And when a doctor gives you abx. for a sinus infection from Hades and tells you to make sure you take it with a probiotic, believe. him/her.
So, what have you learned this week? Hope you had a good one!
I learned that my schedule can really be feast or famine. I normally work about 40 hours/week, but last month I only got about 20 hours/week (unusual). This week, I have 7 shifts in a row, and all but one is least 10 hours long.
I learned that I LOVE menstrual cups. It took some getting used to, but now I am a convert.
I am irritated that a habitually tardy, lazy classmate of mine has the audacity to ask me to help her study. We're not even close, so I was surprised that she asked me. This person rubs me the wrong way frequently.
Patients who have septicemia can't be a donor, as well as pts in prison shouldn't be considered for organ transplantation.
HIV is less transmissible than hepatitis and is indicated by high viraal load and CD4 T cell counts fall.
AIDS can be diagnosed when CD4 T levels fall below 200.
Septic pts are at risk for DIC - treat the underlying cause. Administer heparin or LMWH.
I learned that I LOVE menstrual cups. It took some getting used to, but now I am a convert.
The adjustment period (hehe) was so worth it. So much easier. Also - TMI - but my cramps are probably less than half as bad as before! Definitely a win-win. The longer time frame is also really more convenient for me.
Patients who have septicemia can't be a donor, as well as pts in prison shouldn't be considered for organ transplantation.
Prisoners are generally not allowed to donate for persons other than family members (aka living related donor/recipient procedures - generally kidney though some institutions do liver living relateds too). However, they still get listed on the transplant list if they would otherwise meet criteria to be listed (if they were not incarcerated).
The adjustment period (hehe) was so worth it. So much easier. Also - TMI - but my cramps are probably less than half as bad as before! Definitely a win-win. The longer time frame is also really more convenient for me.
Prisoners are generally not allowed to donate for persons other than family members (aka living related donor/recipient procedures - generally kidney though some institutions do liver living relateds too). However, they still get listed on the transplant list if they would otherwise meet criteria to be listed (if they were not incarcerated).
I haven't had any problems with leaking, which was my largest issue when using other methods. I was able to go running and didn't have any issues. Hooray for innovation.
Thanks for the clarification. I should've specified incarceration. I just couldn't think of the word.
I haven't had any problems with leaking, which was my largest issue when using other methods. I was able to go running and didn't have any issues. Hooray for innovation.
Leaking never really was my problem. But it is nice to be able to "forget" about it at work - sometimes I don't get lunch until 2-3pm (I've clocked out after 10 hours with no lunch before).
Thanks for the clarification. I should've specified incarceration. I just couldn't think of the word.
No problem. Right or wrong they generally get all their healthcare needs taken care of while in the system. Not that things are always managed best for them - but there are some patients who have done something and pleaded guilty to get put in jail/prison and get medical care they otherwise couldn't afford. Transplants, dialysis, cancer, all kinds of things. They get listed, even if on death row, because withholding medical care (or the opportunity for care) would be cruel and unusual punishment.
I had just returned from lunch and this was a surprise procedure. I think maybe since I hadn't been expecting it that it threw me off?
I'm always impressed with the amount of equipment you all bring when you come for a bedside surgery and how quickly you clean it all up when you're done!
Probably so! That could do it!
Haha, we do usually look like a traveling caravan show when we have to travel to the ICUs. Sometimes we bring everything including the kitchen sink when we won't need it all but it's generally easier to have too much then have to have someone run back to the OR or ask the OR to send someone with something to us...
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
This is me, every day, sans the cool, effectively blunt accent.
"Was the pregnancy planned or was it a surprise?" (one of our required questions on the initial OB visit)
"A surprise." (90% of the time)
"What had you been using for birth control?"
"Nothing."
"So...not a TOTAL surprise then, right?"
Sometimes puzzled/sometimes sheepish stares.
Don't mean to sound judgmental, I love my patients!!! But...c'mon.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, one night when I was working in the ED, a 16 year old girl, her boyfriend, and her mother came to the ED for a pregnancy test. (Because, of course, we not only have nothing better to do, but the ED is actually code for "Free Pregnancy Clinic.") The happy couple and delighted Grandma-to-Be looked at me with narrowed eyes and scowls when I suggested that they go to CVS or any drugstore of choice to get a pregnancy test to confirm, then they could follow up with the OBGYN of choice.
"Oh, no!" said the patient. "I know I'm pregnant, because my period is late. I just want to make sure, and anyway those tests are expensive."
Fine. Girl pees in cup, and while the specimen is ferried off to the lab, the three stooges talk about how exciting this is.
The ED doc got the lab result before I saw it. He came over to me and said, "Look at this." And there it was...incontrovertible proof that the grandma to be was the grandma not to be.
The doc told the happy family the bad news, but nothing could have prepared me for their response:
"You're wrong! She's pregnant...we've already scheduled an appointment with an OBGYN."
Poor Dr. S. tried valiantly to explain that the girl's symptoms, which she mistook for pregnancy, were actually related to a UTI, but there was no way, no how, that this girl was pregnant. Ex-grandma pipes up and says, "Maybe you need to do the test again." Dr. S. demurred, then handed the girl an Rx for the UTI. Here's where I thought the three of them were trying to gaslight us.
Mommy-to-Be (not) asks, in complete sincerity, "Is it OK for me to take this? I don't want to take something that could hurt my baby."
That's the point at which our mild mannered ED doc lost his cool: "THERE IS NO BABY!"
I did their D/C instructions, and believe it or not, the Ex-Grandma asked what her daughter should do about her appointment with the OBGYN.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, one night when I was working in the ED, a 16 year old girl, her boyfriend, and her mother came to the ED for a pregnancy test. (Because, of course, we not only have nothing better to do, but the ED is actually code for "Free Pregnancy Clinic.") The happy couple and delighted grandma to be looked at me with narrowed eyes and scowls when I suggested that they go to CVS or any drugstore of choice to get a pregnancy test to confirm, then they could follow up with the OBGYN of choice.
"Oh, no!" said the patient. "I know I'm pregnant, because my period is late. I just want to make sure, and anyway those tests are expensive."
Fine. Girl pees in cup, and while the specimen is ferried off to the lab, the three stooges talk about how exciting this is.
The ED doc got the lab result before I saw it. He came over to me and said, "Look at this." And there it was...incontrovertible proof that the grandma to be was the grandma not to be.
The doc told the happy family the bad news, but nothing could have prepared me for their response:
"You're wrong! She's pregnant...we've already scheduled an appointment with an OBGYN."
Poor Dr. S. tried valiantly to explain that the girl's symptoms, which she mistook for pregnancy, were actually related to a UTI, but there was no way, no how, that this girl was pregnant. Ex-grandma pipes up and says, "Maybe you need to do the test again." Dr. S. demurred, then handed the girl an Rx for the UTI. Here's where I thought the three of them were trying to gaslight us.
Mommy to Be (not) asks, in complete sincerity, "Is it OK for me to take this? I don't want to take something that could hurt my baby.
That's the point at which our mild mannered ED doc lost his cool: "THERE IS NO BABY!"
I did their D/C instructions, and believe it or not, the Ex-Grandma asked what her daughter should do about her appointment with the OBGYN.
I said, "Sure, it wouldn't hurt."
This scenario makes me shake my head. It's amazing what people think constitutes an emergency these days.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, one night when I was working in the ED, a 16 year old girl, her boyfriend, and her mother came to the ED for a pregnancy test. (Because, of course, we not only have nothing better to do, but the ED is actually code for "Free Pregnancy Clinic.") The happy couple and delighted Grandma-to-Be looked at me with narrowed eyes and scowls when I suggested that they go to CVS or any drugstore of choice to get a pregnancy test to confirm, then they could follow up with the OBGYN of choice.
"Oh, no!" said the patient. "I know I'm pregnant, because my period is late. I just want to make sure, and anyway those tests are expensive."
Fine. Girl pees in cup, and while the specimen is ferried off to the lab, the three stooges talk about how exciting this is.
The ED doc got the lab result before I saw it. He came over to me and said, "Look at this." And there it was...incontrovertible proof that the grandma to be was the grandma not to be.
The doc told the happy family the bad news, but nothing could have prepared me for their response:
"You're wrong! She's pregnant...we've already scheduled an appointment with an OBGYN."
Poor Dr. S. tried valiantly to explain that the girl's symptoms, which she mistook for pregnancy, were actually related to a UTI, but there was no way, no how, that this girl was pregnant. Ex-grandma pipes up and says, "Maybe you need to do the test again." Dr. S. demurred, then handed the girl an Rx for the UTI. Here's where I thought the three of them were trying to gaslight us.
Mommy-to-Be (not) asks, in complete sincerity, "Is it OK for me to take this? I don't want to take something that could hurt my baby."
That's the point at which our mild mannered ED doc lost his cool: "THERE IS NO BABY!"
I did their D/C instructions, and believe it or not, the Ex-Grandma asked what her daughter should do about her appointment with the OBGYN.
This scenario makes me shake my head. It's amazing what people think constitutes an emergency these days.
I had a 24 year old guy come in with EMS at 4 am because he had a splinter in his foot. A splinter. And then he threw a fit when we sent him out to triage and promptly left without checking in. All faith in humanity lost.
And then you'll have the guy whose wife drags him in after he's been sob off and on for several days and he insists he's fine and that he's wasting your time and he's so sorry that his wife is being silly and ta-da! He's in v-tach. Makes you remember why you do what you do.
Kitiger, RN
1,834 Posts
I learned that my schedule can really be feast or famine. I normally work about 40 hours/week, but last month I only got about 20 hours/week (unusual). This week, I have 7 shifts in a row, and all but one is least 10 hours long.