Science is so amazing these days.
According to a recent BBC article, bladder cancer in men may be detectable by using a urine odor test. So, if you have folks with smelly urine, they could, according to researchers have cancer.
If smelly urine is not enough, how about those folks with the purple catheter bags?
Definitely a sight to be seen....stay tuned.
Showing posts with label catheter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label catheter. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Thursday, June 9, 2011
I'm sorry
Due to the nature of rehab nursing I occasionally have to do things I really don't like. For those things, I am sorry.
I really didn't want you to be in pain when I put in that catheter, but the fact that we had orders to catheterize you every four hours made me lobby with the physician that perhaps a Foley is not inhumane when you have a horrific case of prostatitis and an equally neurogenic bladder. No one needs that trauma every four frickin' hours when you're pushing 80 years old and are otherwise in good shape.
And yes, Dr. So and So, if you get your derriere chewed because you gave me an order for a lidocaine urojet so I could at least alleviate a little of the pain when putting in the catheter, please call me, and I'll offer to cath the non-impaired culprit WITHOUT it.
I'm not the greatest IV stick in the world. Thanks for understanding when I had to poke you twice to get you that IV for your infection, since we had no oral meds that would work equally well. I'm a "three strikes you're out" kind of girl, so if I don't get you in three, you're getting a nurse who's better at it than me.
Finally, folks, don't make fun of me giving patients suppositories and relieving impactions that come from having to take lots of narcotics to at least knock the edge of your pain for you to function in rehab. I'll order lidocaine for this too, if you need it, because I'm sure it hurts.
And I'd want someone to do the same for me.
I really didn't want you to be in pain when I put in that catheter, but the fact that we had orders to catheterize you every four hours made me lobby with the physician that perhaps a Foley is not inhumane when you have a horrific case of prostatitis and an equally neurogenic bladder. No one needs that trauma every four frickin' hours when you're pushing 80 years old and are otherwise in good shape.
And yes, Dr. So and So, if you get your derriere chewed because you gave me an order for a lidocaine urojet so I could at least alleviate a little of the pain when putting in the catheter, please call me, and I'll offer to cath the non-impaired culprit WITHOUT it.
I'm not the greatest IV stick in the world. Thanks for understanding when I had to poke you twice to get you that IV for your infection, since we had no oral meds that would work equally well. I'm a "three strikes you're out" kind of girl, so if I don't get you in three, you're getting a nurse who's better at it than me.
Finally, folks, don't make fun of me giving patients suppositories and relieving impactions that come from having to take lots of narcotics to at least knock the edge of your pain for you to function in rehab. I'll order lidocaine for this too, if you need it, because I'm sure it hurts.
And I'd want someone to do the same for me.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Firing on all cylinders
Yes, it was a little strange, but it was a decent day. My patients got rolling and I got them out and going.
I had students to work with again today and it was a joy. I sent one on a field trip to the SU after I called my buddy Sue. She had loads of patients for procedures and she was happy to have the student. The doc was very complimentary. I think he just likes the nursing students better than some of the residents.
The end of the semester keeps the students hopping, and thankfully, we have lots to do at the Hotel. I got to instruct one on how to change a suprapubic catheter, then have him/her do it with my instruction and standby to help (this was a large patient and he/she really needed someone to hold the pannus).
Next, I helped to hang blood for another patient and brought another student along so he/she could learn how that's done. It was pretty satisfying.
Finally, I calmed one of the worried rascals who was dropping one too many f-bombs. I calmly asked him to stop, and he complied. The other nurses were pretty happy, too.
And now, it's back to homework as the semester winds down. I can't wait! More later...
I had students to work with again today and it was a joy. I sent one on a field trip to the SU after I called my buddy Sue. She had loads of patients for procedures and she was happy to have the student. The doc was very complimentary. I think he just likes the nursing students better than some of the residents.
The end of the semester keeps the students hopping, and thankfully, we have lots to do at the Hotel. I got to instruct one on how to change a suprapubic catheter, then have him/her do it with my instruction and standby to help (this was a large patient and he/she really needed someone to hold the pannus).
Next, I helped to hang blood for another patient and brought another student along so he/she could learn how that's done. It was pretty satisfying.
Finally, I calmed one of the worried rascals who was dropping one too many f-bombs. I calmly asked him to stop, and he complied. The other nurses were pretty happy, too.
And now, it's back to homework as the semester winds down. I can't wait! More later...
Monday, March 21, 2011
I need track shoes
On some days this is true and recent shift was one of those days. My two patients were slow, so I read up a little on them, got things going, then my admission (one of several, so all RNs got one) shows up almost 2 hours early.
It was just run, run, run after that. One catheter works, one doesn't. Had to call in the catheter cavalry (our resource nurse) to get the last one in. Not sure how the patient's home health nurse got a non-Coude in him, but I went with the resource nurse's suggestion of a Coude. Happily, we had one in his size. Much joy!
At least, I wasn't ordered to get urine drug screens on a few of our folks, like some of my coworkers. Apparently, the weather was so nice this weekend, a few patients found some interesting "herbs" in the nearby forest area. The doc on call was suspicious yesterday and he/she decided to make it a fun Monday by requesting the drug tests.
I also got a couple of other tasks since one of the nurses went home early, but got them done and out the door I went. It was just stupid.
Bubba decided not to go to baseball practice this afternoon. With the beginning of spring, we are now getting into the beginning of allergy season here in RehabLand.
More later...stay tuned!
It was just run, run, run after that. One catheter works, one doesn't. Had to call in the catheter cavalry (our resource nurse) to get the last one in. Not sure how the patient's home health nurse got a non-Coude in him, but I went with the resource nurse's suggestion of a Coude. Happily, we had one in his size. Much joy!
At least, I wasn't ordered to get urine drug screens on a few of our folks, like some of my coworkers. Apparently, the weather was so nice this weekend, a few patients found some interesting "herbs" in the nearby forest area. The doc on call was suspicious yesterday and he/she decided to make it a fun Monday by requesting the drug tests.
I also got a couple of other tasks since one of the nurses went home early, but got them done and out the door I went. It was just stupid.
Bubba decided not to go to baseball practice this afternoon. With the beginning of spring, we are now getting into the beginning of allergy season here in RehabLand.
More later...stay tuned!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Back to the old grind...
It's always an adventure on our unit on Mondays. The booking agents (a/k/a the NPs) try to get our people in on Monday or Tuesday, so hopefully, they can get someone home by the weekend. This is particularly true in the case of folks coming for tests or general stuff.
I only had two patients and no med cart. Hooray! I know this will change when I go back to evenings, so I'm just enjoying it while I can. It is bliss!
I got to do some fun stuff today...get people up into a wheelchair with a head and shoulder control. It's a little dicey, but it works. Why the patient won't use the controls all the time is another story.
My other patient had an undetermined suprapubic catheter. Since I searched the notes and couldn't find one with a date when it was last changed, and it wasn't on our board, I got the pleasure of changing it. I don't think this is a coincidence. I am noticing that I'm one of those people the docs and NPs ask to do stuff when they want it done. It's so nice to feel wanted! This same character just got put on a Clinitron bed last Friday and his wounds are really healing well. They look incredible compared to the last time I took care of him.
I had to report to the next shift, and my head and shoulder guy came back late, so I had to get him in bed and undressed before I left. Thankfully, one of our new nurses helped me get him back to bed. I finally escaped at 1625 after I wrote my last note. I had all my other charting done, since I did it as I went along, or I'd have been there later.
More tomorrow...we'll see how it goes. Stay tuned!
I only had two patients and no med cart. Hooray! I know this will change when I go back to evenings, so I'm just enjoying it while I can. It is bliss!
I got to do some fun stuff today...get people up into a wheelchair with a head and shoulder control. It's a little dicey, but it works. Why the patient won't use the controls all the time is another story.
My other patient had an undetermined suprapubic catheter. Since I searched the notes and couldn't find one with a date when it was last changed, and it wasn't on our board, I got the pleasure of changing it. I don't think this is a coincidence. I am noticing that I'm one of those people the docs and NPs ask to do stuff when they want it done. It's so nice to feel wanted! This same character just got put on a Clinitron bed last Friday and his wounds are really healing well. They look incredible compared to the last time I took care of him.
I had to report to the next shift, and my head and shoulder guy came back late, so I had to get him in bed and undressed before I left. Thankfully, one of our new nurses helped me get him back to bed. I finally escaped at 1625 after I wrote my last note. I had all my other charting done, since I did it as I went along, or I'd have been there later.
More tomorrow...we'll see how it goes. Stay tuned!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Life's comings and goings
Lots and lots of stuff happening this week...so today on my day off, I'm doing the usual errands including taking our dog to the groomer. He hates getting a bath, but he needs it. He's been shedding like mad and really needs the haircut.
The story of the last few days has involved that famous (or infamous) condom catheter.
They are a real issue getting them on and staying on for men who have what we facetiously call a "hider", or a penis that really, really retracts. One patient got wet, not once, but twice Monday because no matter how I put his catheter on (with SkinPrep or without), it came loose when he urinated. This meant clothes changes, equipment changes and a few transfers for me and for him.
Luckily, my other patient who used these catheters was not spontaneously voiding, so there was no leakage issue with him. If I only had a cath with a removable tip, it would make his intermittent caths a cinch, since I'd only have to put a condom catheter on once a day. (Now I have to put one on after every four hour catheterization.)
We also have a patient who's on our unit while he's completing SATP. He's a relatively quiet fellow, but something yesterday's program spooked him because he came back all breathless and he has an electric wheelchair. His heart rate was way over 100, so I called the doc. She checked him out and declared he could rest for the afternoon (He has several other health issues, too.) He took a nap, ate his lunch at 1400 and vegged the rest of the day in the room. When I read the notes I noticed the topic of the AM session--Grief and loss while giving up drugs. My guess is that he's still on the fence about staying clean. It's going to be a rough road, but hopefully, we can help him get there.
More goodies later....gotta take the dog to his groomer.
The story of the last few days has involved that famous (or infamous) condom catheter.
They are a real issue getting them on and staying on for men who have what we facetiously call a "hider", or a penis that really, really retracts. One patient got wet, not once, but twice Monday because no matter how I put his catheter on (with SkinPrep or without), it came loose when he urinated. This meant clothes changes, equipment changes and a few transfers for me and for him.
Luckily, my other patient who used these catheters was not spontaneously voiding, so there was no leakage issue with him. If I only had a cath with a removable tip, it would make his intermittent caths a cinch, since I'd only have to put a condom catheter on once a day. (Now I have to put one on after every four hour catheterization.)
We also have a patient who's on our unit while he's completing SATP. He's a relatively quiet fellow, but something yesterday's program spooked him because he came back all breathless and he has an electric wheelchair. His heart rate was way over 100, so I called the doc. She checked him out and declared he could rest for the afternoon (He has several other health issues, too.) He took a nap, ate his lunch at 1400 and vegged the rest of the day in the room. When I read the notes I noticed the topic of the AM session--Grief and loss while giving up drugs. My guess is that he's still on the fence about staying clean. It's going to be a rough road, but hopefully, we can help him get there.
More goodies later....gotta take the dog to his groomer.
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