Sunday, September 20, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Small rant.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/09/17/mb-body-bags-butler-jones-manitoba.html?ref=rss
Shipping body bags to First Nations reserves isn't a crime, people die there too and health care workers need proper materials to prepare the body. Sending them in larger numbers along with influenza supplies... I can understand the upset, but come on people.
Were they to ship all other supplies at a different time? We'd be complaining about Health Canada wasting resources next.
I highly doubt that the people of Health Canada were thinking: "Wow it's a First Nation community, we aren't going to help them fight the 'flu, so we're just going to send them body bags".
Asking for an apology: appropriate. Asking for their job? Not needed.
Shipping body bags to First Nations reserves isn't a crime, people die there too and health care workers need proper materials to prepare the body. Sending them in larger numbers along with influenza supplies... I can understand the upset, but come on people.
Were they to ship all other supplies at a different time? We'd be complaining about Health Canada wasting resources next.
I highly doubt that the people of Health Canada were thinking: "Wow it's a First Nation community, we aren't going to help them fight the 'flu, so we're just going to send them body bags".
Asking for an apology: appropriate. Asking for their job? Not needed.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Dudes in nursing
The same reader (wow I have a smart following of n=1) asked some more questions so I'm responding. First I am not a 'dude' so I don't have first hand knowledge. However there are 12+ guys that work in my department as RN's so I have experience working with them. Here is the question:
First, stereotypes abound. You would constantly be correcting people and say that you are a nurse when you go to talk to a patient (they will think you are a doctor). That must be annoying. You will also be known as the 'male nurse'- and people will know who you are in both classes and in the workforce. You are one of the few (although growing in numbers) men who are willing to tackle a challenging job.
Second, I don't think there is anything against male nursing, but men tend do things... well... differently. In my experience I find women nurses to be 'mothery' - even I catch myself doing it sometimes (and believe me I am not maternal). Men tend to think practically and logically- it's hard to explain and I don't think I'm communicating it well, but it almost seems as they are more decisive and less coddling with their patients. Again a stereotype.
I know that having a male working in the pod oftentimes changes the nature of nurse interactions- for the better. Whereas group-think and interactions in a bunch of females can be quite catty, in my experience throw one man along with the women and it tends to be much more neutral workplace. As for fitting-in with a majority-woman workforce, I guess that would be up to you and where you choose to work. Set boundaries about dating coworkers and stick to them. Keep an open mind and be ready to listen to 'girl-talk'. It sucks but that's sometimes what my colleagues have to put up with.
As for interactions with the physicians, I really couldn't say because that is fairly individual. Most MD's that I work with prefer nurses to be knowledgable, inquisitive, on top of things, and keep them informed of what's going on with their patients. Male vs female... I guess it depends on the group of doctors. In my department there are quite a few women doctors, and I haven't really noticed any male/female nurse differences.
One area that you probably will never work as a nurse will be OB/Gyn. No matter how "PC" some women are, when it comes to their vajay-jays, they prefer female nurses over males. You could be the best nurse ever when it comes to labour and delivery, but you probably will find that it will not really be an option for you in the workforce.
I also find that men seem to congregate in certain areas of the workforce- ED, ICU, or critical care. I'm sure there has been a study on this- but why they tend to work in those areas I do not know.
Finally, similar to female doctors in a male-dominated role- there will be some resistance from patients. Most 60+ year olds are not expecting their nurse to be male, nor are they expecting their doctor to be female. Anecdotal evidence (n=1... me this time) has told me that some little old ladies do not feel comfortable with a male helping wash her private parts. Although this is few and far between, as a male nurse I would assume you would need to not let it bother you if a patient requests a different (aka female) nurse. That being said, I have yet to hear of anyone doing this (exempting some cultural practices where they requested females for EVERY part of their interaction with the staff at the hospital).
Overall if you feel like tackling not only nursing school, but nursing itself, you probably have the right attitude. However if you hate working with women, perhaps you could find yourself a male dominated department, but otherwise nursing may not be for you.
There are some great male-nurse blogs out there, I'm thinking they would be a better resource than me!. Here are just a few:
http://disappearingjohn.blogspot.com/
http://ermurse.blogspot.com/
http://www.impactednurse.com/
http://nursesean.com/
http://nursewilliam.blogspot.com/
http://nursinghole.blogspot.com/
http://mystrongmedicine.com/
http://www.nurseinaustralia.com/
I'm sure they could be a great resource for you.
Good luck!
Have you found that the guys in your classes or at work are any less competent than the women? Do they get treated any differently at work by patients, nurses and doctors? How are they managing to fit in with the overwhelmingly female workforce?To start off with I think there are going to be 'bad apples' in any nursing class and workforce, so to say that one person was bad based on their gender wouldn't really be appropriate. I can tell you one thing, I think it would be harder to be a male nurse than a female one.
Or is it (like the nursing theory you mention) that the male gender is just something you bring into your patient interactions, and you can make masculinity a positive part of the nursing experience?
First, stereotypes abound. You would constantly be correcting people and say that you are a nurse when you go to talk to a patient (they will think you are a doctor). That must be annoying. You will also be known as the 'male nurse'- and people will know who you are in both classes and in the workforce. You are one of the few (although growing in numbers) men who are willing to tackle a challenging job.
Second, I don't think there is anything against male nursing, but men tend do things... well... differently. In my experience I find women nurses to be 'mothery' - even I catch myself doing it sometimes (and believe me I am not maternal). Men tend to think practically and logically- it's hard to explain and I don't think I'm communicating it well, but it almost seems as they are more decisive and less coddling with their patients. Again a stereotype.
I know that having a male working in the pod oftentimes changes the nature of nurse interactions- for the better. Whereas group-think and interactions in a bunch of females can be quite catty, in my experience throw one man along with the women and it tends to be much more neutral workplace. As for fitting-in with a majority-woman workforce, I guess that would be up to you and where you choose to work. Set boundaries about dating coworkers and stick to them. Keep an open mind and be ready to listen to 'girl-talk'. It sucks but that's sometimes what my colleagues have to put up with.
As for interactions with the physicians, I really couldn't say because that is fairly individual. Most MD's that I work with prefer nurses to be knowledgable, inquisitive, on top of things, and keep them informed of what's going on with their patients. Male vs female... I guess it depends on the group of doctors. In my department there are quite a few women doctors, and I haven't really noticed any male/female nurse differences.
One area that you probably will never work as a nurse will be OB/Gyn. No matter how "PC" some women are, when it comes to their vajay-jays, they prefer female nurses over males. You could be the best nurse ever when it comes to labour and delivery, but you probably will find that it will not really be an option for you in the workforce.
I also find that men seem to congregate in certain areas of the workforce- ED, ICU, or critical care. I'm sure there has been a study on this- but why they tend to work in those areas I do not know.
Finally, similar to female doctors in a male-dominated role- there will be some resistance from patients. Most 60+ year olds are not expecting their nurse to be male, nor are they expecting their doctor to be female. Anecdotal evidence (n=1... me this time) has told me that some little old ladies do not feel comfortable with a male helping wash her private parts. Although this is few and far between, as a male nurse I would assume you would need to not let it bother you if a patient requests a different (aka female) nurse. That being said, I have yet to hear of anyone doing this (exempting some cultural practices where they requested females for EVERY part of their interaction with the staff at the hospital).
Overall if you feel like tackling not only nursing school, but nursing itself, you probably have the right attitude. However if you hate working with women, perhaps you could find yourself a male dominated department, but otherwise nursing may not be for you.
There are some great male-nurse blogs out there, I'm thinking they would be a better resource than me!. Here are just a few:
http://disappearingjohn.blogspot.com/
http://ermurse.blogspot.com/
http://www.impactednurse.com/
http://nursesean.com/
http://nursewilliam.blogspot.com/
http://nursinghole.blogspot.com/
http://mystrongmedicine.com/
http://www.nurseinaustralia.com/
I'm sure they could be a great resource for you.
Good luck!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Comments from the peanut gallery
A commenter asked a few questions (gotta love when a person gives you a post... I have been feeling very non-writerly for quite some time):
Most compressed RN schools in Ontario have been introduced only recently as the need for RN's has increased. Because of this they are oftentimes working out kinks for the first few years. Also, most regular BScN classes are fairly well-established. My particular class was quite segregated from the 4-year program- because it was new and the student councils (etc) weren't used to including us. We received no 'pinning' ceremony or ritual nursey events, oftentimes the dates for fundraisers/events were planned the nights before major exams or while we were in clinical, we were forgotten for induction into special nursing organizations, and we weren't part of the general nursing graduation planning (this was our choice- by that time we just excluded ourselves from regular BScN stuff). I don't know if this has changed- it probably has as the program becomes more established. To be perfectly honest I pretty much preferred the way we kept to ourselves... I'm not one for the nursing fluff that is often generated surrounding 'social events'.
Not everyone in my class had a health science/biomed background, but most did. If you have never taken a science/health course, it may do you well to take at least one credit prior to nursing school (like anatomy or physiology) just so you can see how it goes. However if you enjoy the content and keep on top of things, doing the courses "excellerated" or "compressed" will be ok. It just means you don't have as much time for a social life or a job that you may have had if you were doing the regular time-frame. Most of my class, however, did have a part time job and managed to socialize regularly.
I find my background in health science helped more than my epidemiology when it comes to bedside nursing. It's all what you make of it though. Some days you are the task-completer. But most of the time you are constantly reprioritizing things based on data you receive, and the more knowledge you have, the better decisions you can make. The more you understand the global picture of both the patient and the disease the more I think you will appreciate things as well as provide better care. Anyone could start an IV or put in a catheter if given the training- not everyone could be able to understand why it is needed or what are its implications.
Did I need to have the other degrees to be able to do the job of the RN sucessfully? Quite frankly, no. My additional degree will help me later on when I'm trying to get a job in management or education if/when I go that route. I don't regret any decisions I made when I re-routed myself after a health science degree/masters, but sometimes I wonder where I would be now if I had done a double degree in Health Science/Nursing or gone right into nursing school out of highschool. Probably in less debt, but I would have still done a masters- albeit part time.
I'm not one to quote nursing theory (Gag me, please) but the one thing is true. No matter who you are your previous experience will play a part in your interaction with your patient. Whether it's a biochem/engineering/sociology/languages background, it will be a part of you and will influence you. It just depends on what you make of it.
...were students in the compressed RN program treated any differently from the "regular" BScN students? Do you find that your health sci bachelors and epidemiology master's(?) helped you in understanding the BScN material, and made you a better nurse? Do you feel that one needs a Bio/Biochem/Health Sci background to succeed in the accelerated nursing program?Here's the scoop, and honestly this is just my opinion of my experience so I don't know if that will help you at all but here is my response.
Or does it all come down to being able to successfully shove a needle into someone's veins and a Foley catheder into their bladder with consistency anyway, and all the BScN/Health Sci course stuff doesn't matter anyway?
Most compressed RN schools in Ontario have been introduced only recently as the need for RN's has increased. Because of this they are oftentimes working out kinks for the first few years. Also, most regular BScN classes are fairly well-established. My particular class was quite segregated from the 4-year program- because it was new and the student councils (etc) weren't used to including us. We received no 'pinning' ceremony or ritual nursey events, oftentimes the dates for fundraisers/events were planned the nights before major exams or while we were in clinical, we were forgotten for induction into special nursing organizations, and we weren't part of the general nursing graduation planning (this was our choice- by that time we just excluded ourselves from regular BScN stuff). I don't know if this has changed- it probably has as the program becomes more established. To be perfectly honest I pretty much preferred the way we kept to ourselves... I'm not one for the nursing fluff that is often generated surrounding 'social events'.
Not everyone in my class had a health science/biomed background, but most did. If you have never taken a science/health course, it may do you well to take at least one credit prior to nursing school (like anatomy or physiology) just so you can see how it goes. However if you enjoy the content and keep on top of things, doing the courses "excellerated" or "compressed" will be ok. It just means you don't have as much time for a social life or a job that you may have had if you were doing the regular time-frame. Most of my class, however, did have a part time job and managed to socialize regularly.
I find my background in health science helped more than my epidemiology when it comes to bedside nursing. It's all what you make of it though. Some days you are the task-completer. But most of the time you are constantly reprioritizing things based on data you receive, and the more knowledge you have, the better decisions you can make. The more you understand the global picture of both the patient and the disease the more I think you will appreciate things as well as provide better care. Anyone could start an IV or put in a catheter if given the training- not everyone could be able to understand why it is needed or what are its implications.
Did I need to have the other degrees to be able to do the job of the RN sucessfully? Quite frankly, no. My additional degree will help me later on when I'm trying to get a job in management or education if/when I go that route. I don't regret any decisions I made when I re-routed myself after a health science degree/masters, but sometimes I wonder where I would be now if I had done a double degree in Health Science/Nursing or gone right into nursing school out of highschool. Probably in less debt, but I would have still done a masters- albeit part time.
I'm not one to quote nursing theory (Gag me, please) but the one thing is true. No matter who you are your previous experience will play a part in your interaction with your patient. Whether it's a biochem/engineering/sociology/languages background, it will be a part of you and will influence you. It just depends on what you make of it.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
This sucks...
There was a person in our emerg last night who had taken a couple handfulls of acetaminophen extra strength. Not uncommon for someone who has suicidal ideation.
She did, however, not see us for at least a day- not good. Her acetaminophen level was nil, but her liver enzymes were through the roof.
Despite treatment, they were still going up.
Shitty. Young one too.
F.
She did, however, not see us for at least a day- not good. Her acetaminophen level was nil, but her liver enzymes were through the roof.
Despite treatment, they were still going up.
Shitty. Young one too.
F.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Old Man-crush
This is not some sicko post so please don't get your knickers in a knot.
Have you ever had an elderly patient for whom your rapport was so great that you have a soft spot in your heart for them? I definitely have. Usually it's the stubborn old coot who talks about his wife as if he still is in wonderment, and the sly one who, when on transport and asked where he is, states "the elevator" instead of the typical "hospital". It melts my heart.
It's not gender based either. Sometimes the little old ladies crack you up. Like when an 89 year old talks about her sex life (ew), or when she tells you a story of her youth and how she got into trouble through her escapades.
I'm not a fan of geriatric nursing, but sometimes I do develop a little old man-crush.
Have you ever had an elderly patient for whom your rapport was so great that you have a soft spot in your heart for them? I definitely have. Usually it's the stubborn old coot who talks about his wife as if he still is in wonderment, and the sly one who, when on transport and asked where he is, states "the elevator" instead of the typical "hospital". It melts my heart.
It's not gender based either. Sometimes the little old ladies crack you up. Like when an 89 year old talks about her sex life (ew), or when she tells you a story of her youth and how she got into trouble through her escapades.
I'm not a fan of geriatric nursing, but sometimes I do develop a little old man-crush.
Monday, June 1, 2009
U.S. vs Canada?
I had a patient the other day who came in with pleuritic Lt sided chest pain, with a coughx2 weeks. We were able to get her into the department within a half hour of her arrival, and did all the chest paineur type things like bloodwork, ECG, ASA for the slightest chance that this cough-induced pain could actually be a heart attack.
Her ECG looked great (confirmed by MD), Troponins were negative, and although she was still in pain on deep inspiration/expiration and cough, she was doing just fine.
We were having an incredibly busy night with people needing internal pacing, intubation, ICU-bound-type patients. Thus the doc's were behind on seeing the urgents and less urgents. They were getting to them, and we were letting people know there would be a wait, this particular patient was infuriated.
"Why haven't you done anything yet?" she states, 'Where is the doctor?" This is, of course, after we have placed an IV, drawn blood, did O2 therapy, gotten an ECG, and given her ASA. The only thing we haven't done is done a chest xray (which nurses can't order on their own through the medical directive). After explaining that the doctors were tied up with very sick patients, the lady then states these words: "If we were still in the States we wouldn't be waiting." When I explained the severity of the sick people in the department, and that people DO have to wait for a doctor in the States, she stated "If you have insurance, you do not wait".
I kept my mouth shut, knowing full well that even people with insurance in the States, especially at a busy Emerg, would be waiting just as long as she was. She left AMA, which was fine with me... If she wanted to complain about the 'service' here, she can go back where she came from.
Her ECG looked great (confirmed by MD), Troponins were negative, and although she was still in pain on deep inspiration/expiration and cough, she was doing just fine.
We were having an incredibly busy night with people needing internal pacing, intubation, ICU-bound-type patients. Thus the doc's were behind on seeing the urgents and less urgents. They were getting to them, and we were letting people know there would be a wait, this particular patient was infuriated.
"Why haven't you done anything yet?" she states, 'Where is the doctor?" This is, of course, after we have placed an IV, drawn blood, did O2 therapy, gotten an ECG, and given her ASA. The only thing we haven't done is done a chest xray (which nurses can't order on their own through the medical directive). After explaining that the doctors were tied up with very sick patients, the lady then states these words: "If we were still in the States we wouldn't be waiting." When I explained the severity of the sick people in the department, and that people DO have to wait for a doctor in the States, she stated "If you have insurance, you do not wait".
I kept my mouth shut, knowing full well that even people with insurance in the States, especially at a busy Emerg, would be waiting just as long as she was. She left AMA, which was fine with me... If she wanted to complain about the 'service' here, she can go back where she came from.
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