Recent content by CurbDoc70

If you work for a private service, they fall under the 40 hour week rule, which means they have to pay you overtime for anything over 40 hours in a 7 day work week. By having 8 hour shifts, they get to work you more days. I imagine that 8 hours is scheduled during peak time. 12 or 16 hour shifts...

Actually, I just told you. A few patients. My medical director, and a highly respected ER physician is the one who showed me. Suggesting that is is unethical or illegal is like saying slapping the top of the skin to raise a vein is assault and patient abuse.

Well, actually, she did if you want to be picky. While wasting time shocking a rhythm that gets no response from defibrillation, she could have been focusing on something that might actually save the patient. Treating possible causes and efficient CPR. Both of these are more beneficial than...

I've heard a little nitro spray will pop up a vein, but the few times I tried, I got little effect. Also, using a saw and cutting off the opposing arm works. All of the blood comparments over to the other arm and BINGO, veins a poppin'.

Yep, the biggest advantage to Vaso I know of is the 10 minutes it buys you to get your *** to the truck.

I seem to recall some long ago deal with WITNESSING a pt go into PEA and shocking..but either way, it's obsolete now.

Not much else to be done. Anything more, and it seems pushy and people get more on the defense. One trick I learned was to say something like " Just make sure you have someone with you later on tonight to call 911 when your heart stops." It's evil, sorta mean, but sometimes it shocks them...

This all started when a fairly new EMT asked me about this. I make it a point to give an educated answer when I get approached. (Sadly, I guess I'm an "elder", being in it 15 years). Far too often, I see medics rattle off an answer of what they THINK is right, rather than what is ACTUALLY right...

The experiences I've had is that most of the staff at the nursing home only guess at what the rules are. If a patient has a history of dementia or such, I factor it in, but ultimately if they are aXox4 and refusing, I'm going to support their decision. Having episodes of anxiety or forgetfulness...

I've been doing some research and have yet to find anything concrete on this issue. This may well be another gray area of the law. I know about pt. rights to refuse care. Where it gets cloudy is, who, if anyone, has a right to make that decision for them in a nursing home environment? Does...