Nurses With POSSIBILITIES: Changing Our Perspective on Disability

As a nurse with multiple physical and mental health concerns, I've spent much of the past few years focusing on what I'm no longer able to do. But thanks to an old friend, I'm learning to view my life and career in terms of their *possibilities*, rather than their limitations. Here's how you can, too.

The light from the front porch lamp filtered through the sheer drapes as I sat in the dark dining room, chatting on the phone with an old friend I hadn't seen in years. As we were catching up with one another, he mentioned his work as a live-in life coach for a man with multiple medical, psychological, and developmental disabilities. His love for the job, and his client, was evident as he spoke at length about his outlook on caring for this gentleman: "I don't think of him as a guy with disabilities," he said. "I think of him as a guy with possibilities." Read More

Is nursing really that bad of a career choice?

I'm 18, I'll be attending college next fall, and I was planning on majoring in nursing. I've always been interested in medicine, I'm very much a people-person, I want a meaningful career, and I also want something with a lot of excitement and change. Nursing seemed like a really good choice for me ... but then I discovered this site. It seems like a lot of nurses are on here are tired, miserable, trapped, and just don't like their jobs. It scares me because I don't want to end up like that! I mean, I know that every job has its bad days, and obviously nothing is going to be perfect. I just want to make the right decision. Read More

[Toon] Does your workplace have a Suggestion Box?

Love this one! Does your workplace have a Suggestion Box? I'm guessing most places don't have a Suggestion Box because they are afraid of the amount of ideas coming from nurses. What do you think? Do you have any ideas to share? Read More

Patients or Clients?

I got an interview today at a teaching hospital in a step down unit. They asked me if its better to call them clients instead of patients? Odd question. What do you guys think? Read More

The benefits of therapeutic hypothermia in a comatose pt after arrest?

I have done some research and found that there is good evidence that therapeutic hypothermia improves outcomes for pts with unwitnessed arrests, but not so much on witnessed and not a lot on the reasons why, and as the rest of my night was spent checking and re-checking labs, supplementing electrolytes like it was going out of style and generally being busy. I didn't get to ask.

So my question is do any of you have the reasons behind why we cool comatose post-arrest pts after return of ROSC? Is it to protect the brain/heart tissue by lowering metabolic/oxygen demand or is there some other cool (heh, heh) reason? Read More

Question: AMBU vs. Ventilator

When a ventilated patient's oxygen saturation starts dropping, or if a patient is experiencing respiratory arrest, an important part of our interventions is to immediately disconnect the ETT from the ventilator and connect an AMBU-bag to manually ventilate.

I understand that this is to have more control over the pressure and rate so that we can adequately perfuse the lungs. I am simply not sure how that is the best method, though. It seems to me that a mechanical ventilator would be able to have much more control over a pressure through PEEP/vT.

I guess what I'm asking is: how is AMBU still the best method vs. a mechanical breathing apparatus that can be 'tweaked' to any specification? I understand that before an RT arrives, it would not be appropriate for nurses to try and mess with the settings, so we simply bag. However, once the RT arrives, I believe that's their first move too. Read More

Playing to my strengths - sometimes having "job ADD" isn't always a bad thing!

I'll admit it, I get bored easily. This is not to say that I get complacent at a job, but once I'm doing well with my job duties, I start finding other things to do, in addition to my own responsibilities. I started organizing and stocking the treatment cart, making sure medications were ordered from pharmacy before we ran out and when they re-modeled our medication room and it looked like a disaster zone, I organized the supplies and threw out empty boxes before someone was able to find the time to actually sort and organize everything, sifting through the details. Not only was my behavior noticed, but it helped me move up the chain of command! Read More

How to get back basic nursing skills and knowledge?

I've been recently hired as an RN Med/Surg Intern for an observation unit. It's been a long time since I've had my clinicals. I graduated in 2011 and passed the nclex last year. I've forgotten most of my studies and skills. Although, I'm very excited to finally work in my dream job (as an RN!) and I'd like to feel very confident but I'm afraid that I'm gonna be let go on my first few weeks. What can I do guys? What could I study or practice? I have 1 month before my life starts! Read More

Question on dopamine infusion

I have a question on dopamine infusion practices. This may have already been covered. I have been away from the bedside for 6yrs now, I did NICU in Level III for 7yrs. How often dose dopamine drip have to be changed? I seem to remember it being every 24hrs, but I can't seem to pull from that part of my brain right now.. Read More!

I feel truly sorry for new grads

Just wanted to say that. I've been a nurse since 2008 and did ok, first in sub-acute rehab and now in med-surg, did not experience any unemployment and had very stable finances that whole time. I guess I got lucky because I graduated just as the industry was going down the toilet.

I just want to share my observation that this is no longer the industry of opportunities it once was, it has really changed for the worse, the attitude of employers has changed for the worse, and opportunities for young people have disappeared. Read More

A personal brag

I've been a nurse for a very long time. I don't need constant acknowledgement. However twice in the last week, I made a nursing "score". I don't work in an environment that really acknowledges these type of scores without it seeming like bragging self promotion. So I came here to share...

One lady came in after a ft surgery with extreme unrelieved pain. It was obvious it was real. I suggested to Dr complex regional pain syndrome. And yep it was. No one had considered that... Read More

What are the nurses' protection against patient accusations?

I have worked with different long-term care facilities and it seems like every complaint or accusation made by a patient, the facility seem to favor the patient. I have seen some co-worker's fired from the job without further investigation or questioning. What is our protection against these situations? Are facilities required to do some legal process before taking action against its employee? Read More