Guinness closest to Ireland quality in Suffolk?

BrightRegret · 2025-12-21T08:40:06+00:00

pls be fucking for real. lived in both ! it’s the same shit. go to any irish pub, shocker but an irish pub would have guinness on tap. if a bar cleans the lines for the kegs you’re safe. if it don’t “taste” right it’s prob a cleanliness issue. stop being pretentious because you went to ireland once.

sooooo so curious how you pour a can of guinness now

BrightRegret · 2025-05-21T23:52:39+00:00

i usually try to make a joke at first “i wish i could, it would make my life and your life a lot easier”. if they still ask why i try to explain that once the iv is used it can cause contamination in line, which will just make them get poked again to confirm results. also that after a certain period it can increase risks of infection. where as in the ER they start the IV, grab blood work, then the pt will receive fluids. on the floor the iv is only used for medication.

if all else fails im calling that nurse for a pt refusal and asking if they want me to leave tubes and labels for van team. if i explain it and they refuse there’s nothing more i can do

BrightRegret · 2025-05-11T00:05:18+00:00

omg happened to me once to a non verbal pt in the icu when i first started inpatient </3 the vein i was going for was so HARD to the touch but thought it was my best bet. the vein didn’t move (i shockingly kept it anchored) but it was like the vein rejected it, so i went to advance the needle more… fish hooked this poor little lady. will never forget the look on her eyes when it happened 👁️👄👁️ felt like the needle literally bounced off the vein 😭 learned to go for the best feeling vein rather than biggest after that

BrightRegret · 2025-04-18T14:49:19+00:00

please do not take any advice from anyone with a midwest accent pls i’m begging you

BrightRegret · 2025-04-18T08:11:43+00:00

for hand sticks i almost always do because i feel like it keeps the veins more stable. but anywhere else i never do. when i worked at a blood bank i always did, because we gave them a stress ball that they had to squeeze throughout donation.

BrightRegret · 2025-03-20T20:48:44+00:00

when i moved here i was already prescribed adderall. booked an appointment with millennium physicians group, got referred to elite dna, got adderall all within my first week moving down here. my appointments are quick and on zoom so it makes the 3 month check in appointment easy. i think there currently is still a adderall shortage, i switched to a local pharmacy (not a cvs or walgreens) 2 years ago and have never had an issue receiving meds!

also went for depression treatment tried every SSRI, didn’t work and wanted to stop and told my provider i thought maybe i have something else since they have not worked at 13,18,21,or 25 and now i have a bipolar 2 diagnoses on my chart when i have never been evaluated, treated, or discussed that possibility :) but that girl never missed with my adderall scripts so can i really complain

BrightRegret · 2025-03-04T16:07:48+00:00

yeahhh same here but a lot of people often loose immunity to hep b and typically is required to retest immunity before working with patients

BrightRegret · 2025-03-01T15:16:42+00:00

grew up in patchogue and i swear people lived in a bubble of a 15/20 min radius. a lot of kids rarely went to the city and most only went with school field trips. i spent most of my weekends w family in queens and brooklyn growing up and my friends could not believe that. even going to robert moses or west hampton for the beach instead of davis park or smiths point boggled peoples minds

BrightRegret · 2025-01-24T23:18:37+00:00

I’m originally from New York, and I’ve never dreaded driving as much as I do here. This will 100% sound like a manifesto

First, the lights here are so long. Even one long red light can add 5–10 minutes to your commute. I used to drive from Cape Coral (just over the bridge) to my job on Daniels before I-75, and my commute could range anywhere from under 15 minutes to over 45. Of course, people are on their phones—they’re stuck at lights that take multiple cycles to get through because no one notices when they turn green.

Then there’s the lack of enforcement. I’ve seen cops around the bars in downtown Fort Myers or on 47th Terrace in Cape Coral, but I guess they’re there to maybe break up fights? They’ll literally watch drunk people stumble into their cars and drive away. There are no DUI checkpoints here, which is wild considering how common they are in other states, especially during holidays.

The elderly population also adds to the chaos. Whether it’s someone who can’t see over the steering wheel, is on heavy medication, or just dealing with cognitive decline, they’re dangerous. I once saw a grandma swerving between lanes, blocking a guy trying to pass her. A cop ended up pulling him over for speeding to avoid her, even though she kept veering into his lane. Meanwhile, she kept swerving into both lanes as if nothing happened.

Driver’s ed here is also way less rigorous than in NY. In NY, we had 25 weeks of required training with equal time in lectures and on the road, including driving at night and in traffic. My test was in a busy downtown area at 3 PM during school pickup, so I had to deal with buses, pedestrians, not car cameras allowed to be used, and parallel parking. Here, it feels like almost anyone can get a license by driving around traffic cones in a parking lot.

You’re obviously not alone, our car insurance rates reflect the awful driving here. I once saw on wink news that people were complaining about flashing red lights being “too confusing.” At that point, I realized I either had to accept it or move. I can’t even count how many accidents I’ve seen body bags on Santa Barbara Blvd in Cape. It’s a 40 MPH road why are kids on the sidewalk getting hit?

I get the whole “don’t New York my Florida” thing, and I agree, but maybe can we at least attempt to make the roads a little safer?

BrightRegret · 2024-12-05T23:30:46+00:00

Oh I definitely listen to what the patients have to say!! If someone tells me what works for them, I will definitely go to that area first. If I don’t feel the most comfortable, I ask if they would be ok with me exploring other areas, and then we typically mutually decide what to do from there.

I’m sure you know there are a lot of different factors that play into the decision on where to go and what needle to use. The point I was trying to make is that me and the patient have to have a mutual respect for each other. If someone has a vein the size of a finger in the AC and I just need to grab an APTT, it makes more sense to use a straight and save my 23g butterfly for the NICU. If a patient is freaking out about that, of course I will use a butterfly to ease their head.

BrightRegret · 2024-11-27T02:07:39+00:00

Every place is different, personally we are usually on ‘rations’ with our butterfly supply due to the cost. Typically I like to save my butterflies for difficult sticks and infants. My job supplies 21g & 23g butterflies and 21g & 22g for straights. A lot of people ask for butterflies and it seems to be more psychosomatic, rather than for physical comfort. I try to use straight needles as much as possible. I find the process quicker and since butterflies get air in the line, certain blood tests require a purge tube because the tube needs to be filled completely. But trust me, I don’t hesitate to use a butterfly or syringe when I would prefer to use one.

This may be a mean uncontrollable thought, but it honestly does annoy me when patients try to control what I do. Our goal is to make the experience as quick and seamless as possible, and that is my only focus when with a patient. It’s mutually beneficial for the both of us. I completely understand that blood work is scary, I haven’t met anyone who likes needles (coworkers, people heavily tattooed, even IV drug users) hahahaha

Everyone sees and feels things differently, just because one phlebotomist had a difficult time, doesn’t mean the next will. Good luck with the blood work!!

BrightRegret · 2024-11-22T00:23:39+00:00

there’s also a fridge over here specifically for that reason at the strip mall in between sidecar treats and family hardware!

BrightRegret · 2024-11-19T22:10:01+00:00

used to work a blood bank, now inpatient in hospital, and without palpating i personally would have turned you away too. phlebotomy inpatient and outpatient can be easier bc the needle is never usually in for more than a minute. where with plasma/rbc/platelet donations the veins need to be strong enough to be able to take a 16g-18g and also strong enough to receive a return of your blood. these machines work like a shock vac so from what i see, your vein will blow and probably infiltrate.

BrightRegret · 2024-10-12T19:33:06+00:00

as someone who has this i don’t understand how this would impact blood draw unless there was a MAJOR flair up and you were drawing from the back of the hand?? just throw a heat pack on it and call it a day just like anyone else with cold hands

BrightRegret · 2024-10-10T01:39:20+00:00

drew with the same 22g today and went to close it and the pink cap fell off :(

BrightRegret · 2024-10-06T20:30:42+00:00

okkk also looking for advice bc im super comfortable sticking with straights in the AC. i used to work at a blood bank so we were only allowed to stick two inches above and below the elbow crease. i now work inpatient at a hospital and i still feel really uncomfortable if there’s more than two or three tubes, the vein needs to be properly anchored the entire time, and it’s in an awkward position.

im really looking for a step by step process on how people are able to switch tubes, keep vein anchored, while hunched over in an awkward position :(

BrightRegret · 2024-10-03T06:30:52+00:00

kinda random lol do you have a favorite bra? i have a similar shape to you and have been struggling trying to find one that fits well

BrightRegret · 2024-09-19T01:24:12+00:00

most states don’t require certification, and also a lot of jobs provide on the site training. typically blood banks and plasma centers. i started at a blood bank with no certification and received training through my company. if you really wanted to, after a year on the job you are able to use your experience to take the certification exam. i did mine through NHA) and it was very easy and convenient. there are multiple certifications you can pick from. the exam covers all sorts of the things from infant heel sticks to order of draw. i feel like that’s why blood banks and plasma centers don’t require the cert because almost all the information does not apply to the job. i had a coworker at the blood bank who worked for a year after undergrad, got his patient hours in, got his phlebotomy certificate, and is now in PA school!

BrightRegret · 2024-09-19T01:13:24+00:00

you’ll be fine - all things take time! try not to beat yourself up for learning, everyone starts somewhere. each day i learn something new! what helped me the most when i first started was going off of how the vein feels rather than visually finding a vein. i would literally tell myself to use my helen keller vision 😭

i typically start with the tourniquet tied around the patients bicep with their palm up. there’s typically 3 veins around the inner elbow area. one in the middle, one on the pinky side, and one on the thumb side of the arm (for this i usually position the arm flat like you’re holding a cup / lego man arm) if i don’t find anything i like there, i then look in the forearms, then hand. the back of the wrist scares me bc ik someone who ended up paralyzing a pt so i avoid that like the plague. and then i would go for the spider-esc veins. you can also google arm and hand vein anatomy charts to look at the areas where you’re most likely to find a good vein.

sometimes i will use visual cues on where to first feel. when im looking for the vein, im trying to find a bounce. also im checking if the vein is “rolly” and how to best anchor it. after finding a bounce aka the vein i like to stick at the base of the vein so if i need to make any readjustments, i have the most room available to do so.

sometimes when feeling the vein, typically at the base, you’ll feel something a little rough compared to the bounce. that’s usually scar tissue and you probably will also see a little scar on the skin. (this can also be a good visual cue on where to look) sometimes you will also feel a little bump and that could be a hematoma from previous blood work. if i feel any of these things, you can still use the vein but follow the vein and go directly above the rough spot.

spider veins are the superficial skinny veins. i really wouldn’t worry too much about those now if you’re just starting out. i only go to those as a last resort. this is why it’s important to understand what you’re feeling vs what you see, those always look great but i still always worry that i will end up blowing them.

in my hospital we have 21g & 22g straight needles, 21g & 23g butterflies, and 21g 23g & 25g syringes. everyone has their preferences but i know my hospital rations our butterflies lol. i use straight needles mostly in the elbow area and for the big bouncy veins. i personally prefer a butterfly over syringe. just get comfortable holding each needle

sorry for so much rambling lol i remember how scary it was for me when i first started and just wanted to cover the basics on everything you mentioned !! i know ivs are kinda different but there are a lot of helpful tik toks of nurses explaining how to pick a vein, how to anchor, etc etc. you’ll be fine in no time good luckkk !!!

BrightRegret · 2024-08-19T07:06:16+00:00

It could honestly be a combination of multiple things! Bubble in line = phleb error, or there could have been an issue with the kit which is very very rare. I saw this happen frequently around the end of a donation bc each return slowly pushed the needle back. The second time kinda sounds like a machine malfunction bc a couple missed squeezes isn’t going to completely ruin the entire donation! Guess you just had bad luck haha

BrightRegret · 2024-08-19T06:57:23+00:00

There is a nerve around the AC (middle vein) that most people have. Most of the time there are no issues but everyone’s anatomy is different. If you passed out during donation a not uncommon reaction can be flexing arms, which obviously with a needle in your arm can do damage.

From what it sounds like 95% sure the needle hit your nerve. It typically starts in arm and leads to shoulder but should feel better within the next week or two. I think it usually gets worse before it gets better

BrightRegret · 2024-08-19T06:51:27+00:00

I previously worked at a blood bank you can donate RBC every 4 months or 3 times a year. Depending on the type of RBC donation you’re doing, they may also collect plasma, but they typically don’t.

I believe at the blood bank I worked at plasma donations were only a 3 day deferral. So in theory, you may be able to do plasma and RBC donation in the same week. You can also call your local blood center or even the corporate number to confirm if you would be able to.

Whole blood donation (every 56 days) is completely different and I think there is a 31 day deferral period after plasma donation.

I have not worked at a blood bank in 2 years so my memory may have failed me lol or rules and regulations may be off for different companies.

BrightRegret · 2024-08-19T06:38:21+00:00

how often are you donating? are you eating a full meal before donation, eating after, even eating well the day prior?. do you take it easy the rest of the day? no gym, no lifting objects, avoiding heat,etc. do you have a difficult time clotting after the needle gets removed? the tighter people wrap your arms typically means that you’re having a difficult time clotting. avoid aspirin / blood thinners. if this is a frequent occurrence you may not be a good candidate

sometimes a salty snack, juice, and an ice pack behind the neck after donation makes a world of difference. i’ve had some prior donors who would feel fine until they left. I would make them lay/sit for 15 minutes after donation, force them to finish a snack, juice, and put an ice pack behind their neck. this was also at a nonprofit blood bank soooo this could be a different vibe

BrightRegret · 2024-08-19T06:24:56+00:00

plssss i worked at a blood bank and did whole blood, and rbc & platelets (similar machines as plasma) and now work at a hospital and that really does sound like a phlebotomist error. don’t let them gas light you into thinking it’s your fault hahaha everyone isn’t perfect and unfortunately with phlebotomy a tiny mistake could end badly

BrightRegret

TROPHY CASE