-
Marketable Nurse
read more »I am an LVN that currently markets for a DME (durable medial equipment company). One of the great things about being a rep is all of the people you get to mee...
-
Become an RNFA: Make $$ for yourself and save money for surgeons
read more »[This is a guest post by Heather Pennington.] I have been a RN for 16 years with experience as an office nurse (cardiology, oncology, general surgery), emergen...
-
7 things you need to know about nursing school.
read more »7) Not everyone gets in. This means you have to be better than other people. Yes this includes better grades. There are numerous pre-requisite classes and the m...
I’ve had 3 colonoscopies. The insurance company was more painful.
I have now had two experiences with colonoscopies….I am only almost 32 but I have a very extensive family history of colon cancer and would like to stay healthy. My father died when he was 50, and he had a brother that died at 40 of colon cancer. His other brothers also had cancer and I believe a couple sisters that were diagnosed with different forms of cancer…I never knew this side of my family so I am not that well informed.
But I try to stay healthy by exercising, not smoking or drinking (too much) and eating….well a semi balanced diet. Colon cancer has always been a fear for me though. I had my first colonoscopy at 24 because of symptoms which I thought were concerning but it turned out normal. I remembered everything and could feel the scope inside of me. They said I fought terribly and was not a good patient. That experience was absolutely horrible though and I waited almost 8 more years to have another one done. This last one at 31 was much better. I remember nothing and everything turned out fine. I do wish there was a way to make the prep a bit more pleasant….
I was upset though that this time for my colonoscopy the insurance company didn’t want to pay for it because they do not pay for screening colonoscopies until the age of 50. I guess they would rather pay for colon surgery and chemo for me when I am 40 than a screening colonoscopy. My dad was dead at 50, and his brother had been for 10 years by that time…so I am thinking that 50 would probably be just a bit late for me….but the insurance companies do not care about such things. My doctor recommends I have another one in 3 years…and every 3 years…that is about 6 more by the time I am 50. Luckily I have a good job and can pay for procedures, but those that can’t like my father are just at the will of the insurance companies…
- 4 Comments...Your thoughts?
7 reasons I loved being an operating room nurse
1) I could go to work in my pajamas because the hospital provides the scrubs, so I got to change when I got there. I could take a cute outfit to put on after work for any about town errands or about town bar hopping afterwards.
2) I did not have to fix my hair because I would be wearing a surgical hat. A ponytail knot and I was out the door. There was an ample supply of hair essentials in my locker such as: hair dryer, curling iron, hairspray etc.
3) I did not have to put on make up, my patients only saw my eyeballs. I would usually put on mascara but there was no reason to put on my full face only to be in a mask all day. Now, if I woke up a little earlier I would put my face on as not to scare my co-workers but, as far as my patients went, they didn’t see my face.
4) I didn’t have to buy scrubs. The hospital requires that surgical scrubs be processed in a certain way, therefore they provided them and we put on a new pair each morning. If we had a patient that had any type of infection, the scrubs were changed in-between cases. Tell me that does not save some major cash!
5) A guarantee in the operating room is a fast paced atmosphere and almost always an adrenaline rush. Even if the surgical case was an elective, scheduled case, trying to turn the room for the next case in a quick manner is a must. If you are slow at turnaround, not only does your boss yell at you, your surgeon will not make your life easy. If you bust your butt then not only do your supervisors notice but surgeons will start requesting you personally.
6) You make some awesome friends because, the operating room is it’s own universe. We may bicker amongst ourselves but let an outsider try and jack with one of us and we would stick together. There are no float nurses in this field because it is such a specialty. The benefit of that is you are with the same herd most of the time. It’s like a family, a dysfunctional family per say but, still a family.
7) A guarantee you would do something different, every day. You never know what traumas will roll in. You never know what surgeon is going to throw a fit and you never know what new drama has arisen since last shift. The operating room is notorious for some good drama, hehee.
The operating room is a fun place to be, I think it’s a pre-requisite that you be a little off your rocker to work in this environment, I obviously fit in just fine. One thing you better have is, a skin made of steel because; you will be yelled at on numerous occasions by different surgeons (most of them apologize after their sphincters relax). I always enjoyed yelling back, there’s just something that makes you feel good about standing your ground. Actually, we didn’t yell at each other all that much, only days that end in Y. Then we would go drink a beer an laugh (if we were not on call of course).
- 3 Comments...Your thoughts?
Thankful for modern medicine
Before diving into yet another dry, overcooked holiday fowl this week, I am going to give thanks for getting to attend an old fashioned, rockstar-worthy, hotel-room-destroying party last Sunday night.
We arrived kind of late and the two other party goers with me kept staring out the car window pouting because they thought we’d arrive too late to join in the fun. But after pushing my mommy-mobile close to the speed of sound, we finally made it to the parking lot of the hotel. The girls composed themselves admirably as they walked past the front desk trying to affect a bored, nonchalant look. “Who us? No, we’re not yet another group going up to room 213. Please don’t call the police or the fire marshal……”
Through the hotel room door, I could hear muffled screams and giggles which were quickly squelched when we knocked. The door was slowly opened a crack as the hostess peeked out to see who was in the hall. She swung it open wide when she saw us saying, “oh, good it’s you guys! I thought it was the hotel manager, telling us to be quiet….again.”
We walked in to chaos. There were empty pizza boxes littering the tables, half eaten and abandoned pieces of pizza and drinks lying on every other available space in the two bedroom suite. TVs were blaring, ignored, while the guests ran around jumping on the furniture, acting like they were wired for sound.
Despite being late, we arrived just in time to catch the chauffeured car over to the hotel next door, where the management, in deference to the star of the gig, let our group swim in their heated indoor pool, since it was about 40F outside. After the pool takeover, the ensemble then headed back to the room, where the party continued late into the night with everybody eventually crashing on the floor.
You may well ask why I’m thankful for such a wild bacchanal at the almost rocking-chair worthy age of 41. Didn’t I get the memo that drugs and wild parties were sooooo 1980’s? Yeah, I did, but when the drug of choice is leftover Halloween candy and all the crazy party people in the house are under 4 feet tall, I’ll make an exception to the rule.
You see, this party was to celebrate my five year old daughter’s best friend finally being finished with treatment for a scary tumor her mom, a doctor just finishing her training, found accidentally back in February. Both of the girls had a little cold, but when our little friend had some nausea in addition to her headache, her mom took an x-ray of her stomach and found an advance-stage cancer in her four year old little girl. Nine months later her chemo/surgery/radiation are completed and her blonde hair’s just starting to grow back in. She describes her scalp as feeling like a horse’s nose, soft and a little fuzzy.
So this Thanksgiving I want to pause and appreciate the miracle of a little life saved by modern medicine. I am thankful for all the people who slave away doing unheralded bench-work in basement labs to create medications that heal us. I am thankful for specialized hospitals that have the knowledge and trained professionals to support us when the bottom falls out from under what we thought- just that morning!- was an otherwise normal life. I am thankful to have friends like the moms in our little group, who have never thought twice about doing many special things, big and small, for a family faced with the ultimate horror. And last, I am thankful for my two daughters and the reminder not to take them for granted. Every smile, every pout, every lost tooth, every trip to the principal’s office, every dance recital, all the trips to the overpriced doll store, the long car rides with 50 potty breaks, the weekday mornings filled with frantic searches for books and folders. I am thankful for each and every one.
- 1 Comment...Your thoughts?
VIP patients
I do not know if this is a practice in most hospitals, but where I work it is. Some patients are considered “very important people” when they come in to the hospital and this allows them to pretty much do as they please. There really are no rules for these patients or their families. You might say…but that is unfair…everyone should be treated the same…what makes them more important than grandma? Well, apparently money and influence go a long way. I personally do not agree with this practice. Administration rarely show face in the units….but when VIPs are present…look out cause they will be in your room all day. They are catered to and given special privileges when it is others that could use the help more. I noticed one of the administrative team took a VIP patient’s husband to lunch one day…and I was thinking… but that other young girl down the hall has been eating off extra trays because she doesn’t have any money to buy food. And I am not blaming these patients for receiving this treatment, most of the time it has nothing to do with them asking for it.
I know hospitals need money to run and these people have money and influence and are possibly contributors to the cause…but still it just isn’t right to treat one patient one way and another a different way just because of an income difference.
- 4 Comments...Your thoughts?
Scrub nurse tips
When I read Rachael’s new post on how to be a better scrub nurse, it got me thinking about how many cases we have done together and she left out something I thought was very important. What did she forget to mention? A great scrub nurse will learn as much as they can from their surgeon. Most of the surgeons I worked with were amazing teachers. I wanted to know why they were using a vicryl tie rather than a silk. Why did they choose the sh needle? Why the 6-0 prolene on a bv-1? I always asked a ton of questions, I studied my instruments and, I did my best to learn my surgeons technique. One thing that would always crack me up is when the surgeon would say “I do this the same way every time”. When you scrub for multiple surgeons who each have their “own way” of doing the same procedure, sometimes your ESP doesn’t always work but, if you read their preference cards you might save yourself an ass-chewing.
Another tip for being a good scrub, learn your surgeons personality, this doesn’t take long. If they don’t like to talk…then shut up. If they like classical music and you don’t then…shut up. If they have been on call for three days straight…then shut up. It’s the surgeons room, not yours, just go with the flow. Your reason for being there is to take care of your patient. My surgeon should be able to focus all of their attention on the patient, they should not have to stop to ask for things that they obviously need. Not a hard concept. If blood is going all over the place, get more laps. If the bovie falls onto the floor, get another bovie. Well, you get the point.
As nurses, whatever specialty we are practicing in: operating room, emergency room, obstetrics, home health, office etc. if we take a little extra time, to learn a little more (and not just those mandated c.e.u. hours), it ensures we are bettering ourselves as caretakers.
- No Comments...Your thoughts?
Lucky Charms/Honey Nut Cheerios
Lucky Charms/Honey Nut Cheerios
Ok, even I was a bit shocked by this….but these two cereals are practically identical if you look at the nutritional information….seriously look for yourself!
|
Lucky Charms |
Honey Nut Cheerios |
|
| Calories |
110 |
110 |
| Calories from fat |
10 |
15 |
| Total Fat |
1g |
1.5g |
| Saturated fat |
0 |
0 |
| Cholesterol |
0 |
0 |
| Sodium |
190mg |
190mg |
| Potassium |
45mg |
115mg |
| Total Carbohydrate |
22g |
22g |
| Dietary Fiber |
1g |
2g |
| Sugars |
11g |
9g |
| Other Carbohydrate |
10g |
11g |
| Protein |
2g |
2g |
All the vitamins and minerals were identical except that Honey Nut Cheerios has slightly more magnesium and phosphorus…but who needs those anyway?
I just thought this was unbelievable, that you might as well have a great bowl of Lucky Charms with all those nice colorful marshmallows instead of forcing down a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios (which I would add sugar to anyway….).
So here is my proof that just because there is an animated leprechaun on the box with magical lucky charms in the shapes of rainbows, stars, and horseshoes…it doesn’t meant they are bad for you!!!
And if you look real close…I think the Honey Nut Cheerios may be a bit harmful to your health…I’m just sayin 
- No Comments...Your thoughts?
Mammogram controversy
As a nurse who has worked in the surgical field for 11 years I am baffled by the new recommendations from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. One of the new guidelines is women should not be taught to do self breast exams. Another is that mammograms are not recommended until age 50, instead of age 40; they are to be done every two years rather than yearly. Herein lies my confusion; the American Cancer Society does not agree with these new recommendations. I have assisted with hundreds of breast surgeries ranging from simple biopsies to full mastectomies.
My grandmother had breast cancer (key word here…HAD), her tumor was diagnosed early from a yearly mammogram. She quickly underwent surgery and a lumpectomy was performed. This is where they remove the tumor and surrounding tissues, instead of removing the whole breast. The removed lump is sent to the lab to be screened for cancerous cells around the margins of the tissue. Luckily my grandmother had clear margins and she did not have to undergo chemotherapy nor radiation. She has been cancer free for over 15 years now.
I realize I am no physician but, I do have common sense. Why as a woman, or man for that matter not continue self breast examinations? It’s a simple concept, whoa, there’s a new lump…what to do? Well, I guess now if you find a new lump, bump or abnormality it’s no big deal, after all most lumps are not cancerous if you are under 50. We sure know that young women or men never develop breast cancer…oh that’s right…YES THEY DO!! So I think I will stick with the advice of the American Cancer Society and go see my physician. I will let my Dr. decide along with the proper measures i.e. mammogram, needle aspiration, ultrasound rather my “lump” is benign or cancerous. I don’t know about you but I would much rather undergo a lumpectomy vs. a mastectomy!! What do you think?
- 7 Comments...Your thoughts?
