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January 3rd, 2009 by Ross
It’s been well reported particularly in the last few years that we are experiencing a shift to an aging workforce in the nursing profession. Gradually the average age of nurses has crept up, and this trend is not exclusive to Australia or America - many countries around the world are seeing similar patterns.
Laura Stokowski in Old, but Not Out suggests that by 2010, 40% of nurses will be over the age of 50. As these nurses retire in the ten years to follow, it can be expected that we will see a shortfall that is much worse than the current situation. Continue reading… »
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December 22nd, 2008 by Ross
Ok, so there’s a title I didn’t think I’d ever read!
However, according to some credible news sources in Australia, it appears that stressed out nurses are quitting hospital work and turning to prostitution as a source of income.
I have to say that regardless of claims that prostitution is safer than ever, it stills stands that these two “careers” really don’t go together! With all that we have learned about looking after ourselves and focusing on holistic care, prostituting yourself is a bad idea. Not only physically, but also emotionally, spiritually. If you really want to have no sense of self-worth, wreck your self-esteem and discover what it feels like to be a pure object used for someone else’s Continue reading… »
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October 27th, 2008 by Ross
There’s a certain group of patients that come to emergency, mostly vague historians with vague complaints, who don’t want to wait around to see any kind of resolution to their presenting complaint.
Many of these people don’t have problems that can be diagnosed, solved and cured within a reasonable time frame, they have chronic multi-dimensional problems that need comprehensive work ups and follow up. But that still doesn’t explain why they want to go before seeing their results, hearing some kind of definitive opinion or at least having a plan for follow up.
Tonight for instance, I looked after a lady who came in complaining of 3 days of facial/jaw pain after some sinus surgery a week ago. While she was there she mentioned Continue reading… »
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October 24th, 2008 by Ross
Today I watched a man die. A few of us stood around as his heart stopped beating, and did nothing about it. It was kind of surreal, but the mood in the room was quite calm - there was no frenzy of activity with buzzers going off and people running: instead there were three professionals standing up at the top of his bed, discussing the ins and outs of his situation. In his final minute or two our talk was mostly academic, about the physiological responses to hypoxia and such other exciting things. But I’m getting ahead of myself a little, let me explain:
A man who looked to be around his mid to late seventies presented to emergency after Continue reading… »
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October 22nd, 2008 by Ross
I was bemused today when thinking about how many elderly patients have one primary doctor for most of their life. They often feel that they need to be loyal to this GP, and sometimes will refuse to see any other doctor.
These long term relationships can actually be a little one sided at times; I’ve even heard some older patients comment on how they feel they can’t leave. I remember one lady in particular who, when asked who her GP was, responded with: *sigh* “Oh Dr Keller… I don’t like him much, but have been going to him for 30 years!” For the most part, however the person is pleased to have Continue reading… »
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October 20th, 2008 by Ross
I’ve been fortunate enough to make it this far in my career without having a needlestick injury.
Correction, as a student nurse I discovered that 23g needles for intramuscular injections have caps that are very tight sometimes! So (pre-mastering of technique) I pulled from the end of the cap until it flung off, and I jabbed myself with a clean needle.
Not such a big deal: lesson learned, technique improved!
But thankfully I’ve never had the misfortune of being stuck with a dirty needle. I’ve come across some terrible, terrible work practices though which have left me quite amazed that I made it through without being stuck!
The last hospital I worked at had one doctor in particular Continue reading… »
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October 20th, 2008 by Ross
There are always patients who try and have a funny comeback for every question that you ask them.
Often after delivering the supposed ‘witty and amusing retort’, they look at you as if they were the first person ever to come up with such an amazing line. The problem is, we hear these lines just about every single day!
What am I talking about? Some examples: Continue reading… »
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October 20th, 2008 by Ross
There has been a lot written on emergency departments and the frequency of patients who attend for frivolous and stupid complaints. Certainly this has become a part of my day to day life, and there have been many times when I have wished that the Australasian Triage Score system had a category 6, 7 or 8….
Here’s a few presentations that actually rocked up to the triage desk this week:
- “I’ve had a sore throat for 2 days…”
- “My daughter fell onto her hand, it’s not sore but I’d like it checked out…”
- “He’s vomited twice in the last couple hours…” (20y/o male)
- “This tooth has been bugging me for a few months, now it’s REAL bad!…”
- “I’m on holiday and my script has run out…”
Continue reading… »
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October 15th, 2008 by Ross
From time to time I have nursing students tail me for two, three, five week or longer blocks.
These are people at varying stages of their studies, but mostly are second or third year students.
While it holds true that there are a lot of factors that make up a ‘good nurse’, there’s one thing that sparks my interest in particular. Some nursing students have it, some don’t. Some nurses who’ve been nursing for a long long time have it - and some don’t!
What is it? The ability to see the Continue reading… »
