Just a quick post to explain why this week’s Thursday article is late. One, I was in the Emergency Room as a patient, not a nurse. I need a Code Neuro punch card. Complete 5 CTAs, get the 6th free!
No stroke, though I was a bit worried for a hot minute. Thunderclap headache, left facial numbness, my BP in triage was 155/95 (!?!?!?!), and I’m a white woman around 40. All hallmarks of the subarachnoid hemorrhage population. (No, I do not get migraines.) (Also, normally I have perfect BP.)
Imaging was all clean. Now I get to go down the trigeminal neuralgia rabbit hole of endontics and neurology and steroids and ugh. My face hurts and I’m tired of smoothies.
But, NSAIDs on board and I can write what I meant to write yesterday. I’m changing a few things up with this Substack. Still free, still snarky. Just adding a few things that I think y’all might enjoy.
Nurse Files continues. I have some good posts planned for ABGs and reading EKGs. Also, the stories of the oddity that is humans admitted to the hospital. I will be looking at nursing and medical news, both cool research and political stuff. Last, some test prep, both for NCLEX and advanced certifications. I haven’t done much research into the new NCLEX structure, but it is sure to be interesting.
Sidenote: when I took my NCLEX I was 9 months pregnant, big as a house, and the poor exam proctor looked like he feared I would give birth right there in the testing room. Luckily, it would be two endless, muggy, swollen ankles weeks before I begged the OB induce me. The little man was in no hurry to arrive, that’s for sure.
He didn’t even cry, other than to squawk at the chill air and the noise. Unimpressed with the world from the first:
He still has a mean side-eye when he’s in a mood. He also listens to EDM and Beastie Boys and I am already exhausted from imagining his teenage years. Send help.
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Enjoy!
Anna, RN, BSN, CCRN
Necessary disclaimer: I am discussing medications and medical conditions in this article based on my personal experiences as a nurse. Your facility may have different requirements and resources. Use your own nursing judgement to assess and treat your patients according to your governing body and facility guidelines. All information within this article is correct to the best of my knowledge, but should be confirmed through verified evidence-based sources. I am not responsible for any clinical decisions made based on this article.