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Tales From an ED Nurse

Celebrating One Year
August 11, 2008 8:39 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
At the young age of 13, my passion for nursing was born. The second I stepped into a hospital, I knew what I wanted to achieve. When I turned 23, my dreams began to take shape. My nursing career did not start the way I had imagined it; it has ended up Read More...
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Having "The Talk" about Sexual Assault
July 22, 2008 11:30 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
Working in the ER, I see a lot of life altering events. I frequently realize any one of these could happen to me or my family. I try hard not to bring my work home with me, but sometimes the feelings are hard to leave behind. I can see my family members Read More...
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Five 'Ps' for Improving Healthcare Costs
July 1, 2008 9:54 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
I am thankful ADVANCE for Nurses has political coverage on their home page; I am not sure how well informed I would be about our current Presidential candidates without it. This winter my son and I kept up on the happenings because of his interest in Read More...
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Extreme Moments
June 9, 2008 2:27 PM by Lorettajo Kapinos
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting the guys from the country music band Emerson Drive. Their song "Moments" has had an impact on me greater than I was able to express to them that night. It is difficult for me to put into words the emotions I have Read More...
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Reconsidering my 'Trauma Daze'
May 19, 2008 12:09 PM by Lorettajo Kapinos
The trauma room was once an elusive place to me where lives are magically saved and miracles occur every day. I waited anxiously to receive notice that it was time to take the Trauma Nurse Core Class (TNCC) and orient to the elite status of trauma nurse. Read More...
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The Power of a Smile
April 29, 2008 9:19 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
Sometimes the ER can become a hum-drum shift of pacifying angry people. Working in triage can feel more like being in the penalty box than any other place on earth. In 2003, our triage and waiting area was redesigned with large picture windows to increase Read More...
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Open Forum for Change
April 7, 2008 9:54 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
I mentioned in a previous blog, "The RSV Blues ," the pediatric emergency department has had a very busy winter. The adult area is even worse. One day last month, we had over 90 patients registered and being cared for in our 31-bed unit. How can this Read More...
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Fear or Good Judgment: You Decide
March 18, 2008 10:50 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
A few days after I read Kathleen Bensing's Media Watchdogs blog , an article appeared in my local newspaper. The headline read "Emergency Care Crisis." It starts with a vivid story of a parent fearing for his daughter's life and leads into the current Read More...
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The RSV Blues
February 25, 2008 12:27 PM by Lorettajo Kapinos
It is almost the end of February. Spring can't come soon enough as far as I am concerned. I am undoubtedly experiencing the RSV blues. This has happened before, so at least this time I am better able to recognize it. I'd like to share it so you can be Read More...
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Learning to Lead
January 14, 2008 10:52 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
In November and December, I had the pleasure of orienting new graduate nurses to the Pediatric Emergency Department. They are bright, hard working, and driven individuals. All three have different skill sets, personalities, and approaches to nursing. Read More...
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Listening to Change
December 27, 2007 9:29 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
Looking back, I am surprised at how quickly 2007 came to an end. In January, I read an article in Real Simple magazine about a woman who decided she did not need to be "right" all the time, as a New Years' resolution. This idea sounded intriguing, and, Read More...
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Refreshing Integration
December 3, 2007 11:20 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
Fall is upon us, bringing a multitude of coughs, sneezes, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Needless to say, the volume and acuity of our ER patients has changed yet again, creating a gridlock of unhappy patients and family members. Just a few weeks Read More...
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Cruising Through Life
November 13, 2007 10:24 AM by Lorettajo Kapinos
I was blessed to spend last week on a cruise in the Caribbean. On November 3, 2007, I boarded one of the largest cruise ships on earth: Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas . I was amazed at the staff's desire to please, the perfection in atmosphere, Read More...
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