Merry Easter

[thirteenrocks]

I floated last night.

To the Medical Neuro Stroke Unit. Which isn't that bad of a place to work, since they are our "sister" unit, and I know most if not all of the workers. The pt population isn't that bad either.

I find it to be a dis-service that the evening nurse, whom I took over for, failed to check any type of vital signs on the comfort care patient who was busy packing her bags for an early "discharge". Not that blood pressure would tell you much, but a nice PSO2 level, gives one an idea on how soon before she leaves.

Hers was 61%.

OF course I gave 2mg of Morphine IV, and turned the patient.

Any experienced nurse will tell you, that those mere actions speed up the process.

Contrary to MN law, I pronounced her at 2105.

Her son: kept watch, asked questions, and fed his face with 2 hamburgers from the local restraunt. After she "left", he was busy trying to plan a funeral, as to not distrupt family travel plans on Wednesday. I found it to be disrespectful. Maybe its just me.

Comments

[winddancer55945.livejournal.com]

Don't we usually pronounce them when we call the doctor and then inform the MD about how to fill out the forms and who to call? It seems like evey one I have to inform them of policies and procedures.
As for the son. Well, he does sound like he was disrespectful. Surprised he didn't have the funeral planned first. Or how about her property divided up already.

P and P

[thirteenrocks.livejournal.com]

From my knowledge, a Registered Nurse in the state of Minnesota can not LEGALLY pronounce a person dead. Therefore, we listen to the pt's heart (they are dead) call the M.D. (hey Doc, don't hear a heart beat), and then the M.D. has to pronouce the person dead, by legal standards.

More than offten, the resident is clueless as to what to do, and goes with whatever time the nurse says the person died, and is told what to do.

Re: P and P

[(Anonymous)]

Honey, I was being silly. Of course I know we can't sign or pronounce. However I work with first year residents and they are very inexperienced. I have to walk almost everyone through the paperwork and who to call and when. I was being silly because we are the ones at the bedside. We are the ones giving the support and education to the family. We are the ones listening to the patient for signs of life. We are the ones who call the doctor after the patient has left and inform them of their passing. Because that doctor has not been on the floor. We are the ones to tell the doctor what to say to the family. We are the ones to monitor that four hour time limit. We are the ones that coordinate with the funeral home and Lion's Eye Bank. I know that one that has passed classifies as a 2, but they are more work than that.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Talking about rushing mom to the grave. :o He sounds like a boob.
I am not a big fan of the family death watches. :o
Hugs, Jon