When your patient flips into atrial fibrillation suddenly, it can be a bit intimidating. These atrial fibrillation tips for nurses are exactly what you need to know, whether you are a new nurse or one with more experience, about how to handle this common clinical situation with confidence and care. There are different levels of urgency […]
patient education
Communication Tips – Patients and Their Support Systems
Struggling with communication with your patients? These communication tips – Patients and their support systems can help.
Neuro Assessment: How to Assess An Unconscious Neuro Patient Like a Neuro ICU Nurse
A neuro assessment is a critical skill for any nurse (not just neuro ICU nurses) This goes beyond simple neuro checks. If you’re interested in improving this nursing skill, this article is for yo
Explaining MRSA to Your Patient
With every single shift that I work;, there is at least one patient that is on something called contact isolation precautions for MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). What is that and why is that necessary, you ask? Because antibiotics were overprescribed for years, organisms developed that are resistant to the antibiotics that used to work on them. […]
Nurses on the Front Lines: How Do You Handle Patients Addicted to Prescription Pain Killers?
Have you seen this video posted on KevinMD this month about drug seekers in the emergency department (ED)? Take a look at this 4:31 video made by an ED physician. Spoiler alert! If you love Taylor Swift, you will totes love this. Disclaimer: If you are someone who does not manipulate physicians and nurses to obtain […]
Insider Info: What Your Nurse Wants You to Know
When you’re in the hospital, it’s easy to forget that the people who take care of you do care. Nurses and doctors have dedicated their lives to helping people like you during moments of crisis, so they can often be quite busy. But they also want to connect with you as a person. You’re human […]
VTE Prophylaxis Basics Explained
Learn exactly what VTE Prophylaxis is and why it’s so important to your role as a nurse. VTE’s are venous thromboembolisms and preventable.
Medication Education: How To Teach Patients About Common Meds
This is how to improve your medication education for patients. Teach them about common/non-scary medications first.
Dealing With Difficult Families
You know it’s bad when the first thing the nurse says in report is that the patient is fine but the family…. Let’s talk about difficult families.
Nursing Blood Pressure Management in Stroke Patients
Did you notice I love talking about strokes? I wanted to expand a little more on my previous post about them. Blood Pressure Management in Stroke Patients: Tips for Nurses Stroke patients are not like every other patient. There is special consideration that must be given for various aspects of nursing care, specifically in terms […]
Nursing Priorities for Post-Op Patients
These nursing priorities for post-op patients will help you keep your head and give the best care to your patients. You are rocking through your shift, feeling awesome because you kind of know what you’re doing now, and your charge nurse comes up to you to say you are getting a patient from the PACU. […]
Nursing Priorities for Ischemic Stroke Patients – From a Neuro Nurse
What are the most important nursing priorities for stroke patients? Oh, these are so important! I love my stroke patients. They have a special place in my heart. As a neuro nurse, I wanted to share what you should do if you encounter a patient having an ischemic stroke. These are the most important nursing […]
Nursing Tips for Heparin and Coumadin – Lab Monitoring
Nurses, I know how confusing Heparin and Coumadin lab monitoring can be. This guide will break them down, explain what they are, and help you understand it all. This is informational only, always follow your hospital’s policies and procedures. Nursing Tips for Heparin and Coumadin Lab Monitoring Something that can be confusing at first for […]