1. I've decided to keep a tally of most critical labs in one admission, starting today (not including renal failure patients): hgb, glucose, potassium, chloride, PT and INR
2. Farawyn's what I learned thread was way cooler than mine are.
Adding an 80s song makes any thread way cooler.
3. Don't trust a 0600 portable chest X-ray to tell you if pulling a chest tube at 1600 is a good idea. It really sucks to tell someone they have a pneumo still.
4. If someone has q4h benzos and opiates, bring both when they ask for one because they'll just ask for the other after you've already run to the med room twice for them.
5. When someone's paracentesis site is still actively dripping rather steadily, it makes me want to squeeze that sucker and see how far I can shoot the fluid out.
6. This week, it actually was sarcoidosis.
7. I know what sarcoidosis is now.
Sarcoidosis sucks.
8. Doctors really need to stop saying, "we're going to go ahead and discharge you," without adding, "this afternoon", especially when they know full well they won't be putting in discharges anytime soon.
9. I think I've realized that the best docs we have actually enjoy my unit the best because they chart there.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Fall term hasn't started yet, but I learned:
A lot about ECGs. Depolarization, p wave = SA node, each block on a strip is .04 secs, 5 blocks is .20 secs, the thick lines on a strip = 3 secs, you can count the HR via counting the g
Qrs wave points.
That as a nurse, I'm prone to yell: no don't give that 17 y.o. 4 aspirins. And then ask does he have a viral illness? At a party. #imnotcool #imtheweirdo
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
What I've learned:
When a pt is on elopement precautions, it's a good idea to put the bed alarm on.
Pt's who are inclined to elope can manage to get quite a ways away from the hospital at night, even in a pt gown. And when the local police department calls and asks if you are missing a patient, don't assume it's your elopement precautions patient. It could be that sweet man who flipped at midnight.
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
1. I hate E text books
2. Don't trust anyone who says " oh the a-line overshooting, i just redressed it and it was fine" - peel back the dressing and see for yourself.
3. its easier to make friends with annoying patient family members, they are less annoying that way and wont purposely aggravate you.
4. Good Docs are worth their weight in Starbucks
5. I love the feeling when you go into work and its your favorite people on (bliss)
6. I will never get over brain death...so sad... just a ventilated/titrated shell left
7. I need to work out more... this job is hard on the body
I 100% agree that great docs are worth their weight in Starbucks. We have some really fantastic hospitalists, Onc MD's and a couple of pulmonoligist who are worth 2x their weight in Starbucks. It makes a shift go so much better. I say 2x their weight due to having to deal with 1st years and med students.
When a pt is on elopement precautions, it's a good idea to put the bed alarm on.
Pt's who are inclined to elope can manage to get quite a ways away from the hospital at night, even in a pt gown. And when the local police department calls and asks if you are missing a patient, don't assume it's your elopement precautions patient. It could be that sweet man who flipped at midnight.
If you don't laugh, you'll cry.
If you picture it with this song running in the background, it won't seem so bad.
enuf_already
789 Posts
Eleanor Rigby! ðŸ¶