General Discussion about Filipino RNs currently working in the U.S.

[lawrence01]

for filipino rns currently in the us whether still undergoing the proper documentations or already working please kindly share your experiences on this thread.

topics maybe from experiences at the workplace, impact of the new culture to you and your family, general do's and dont's, and others.

this thread would serve, hopefully, as a general resource thread for would-be u.s. nurses in the near future and to dispel myths and rumors and of course general advice coming from those already in the u.s.

[swtgrl_bee]

thanks.

i personally love this line....

bottom line is you're a patient advocate. if it means irritating the doctor so you can be sure your patient is safe, just do it. -pinoy_guy

sorry i don't know how to qoute a part of the message.

[RNHawaii34]

i love all you're replies here regarding my issue. i'm so happy now.

that's one of the problem i'm thinking in the future, changing iv bags, i guess i should always have a small chair with me. hahaha how about the doctors in your work, how is your relationship with them? if they give orders for example and you can't hardly understand them would they "slow down" for you?

thanks.

there are some adjustable iv pools, some hospital rooms have foot stools too, not for the shortie nurses, but for short patients. don't worry about it. i have a good relationship with the mds. pretty much they slow down, when i start saying, " i am sorry doc, did you say....? ", i repeat the order seceral times, so to make it clear. it is our job to make sure we have the correct order, or at least question it, trust me, it does happens. remember it is your license which is always on the line.

[suzanne4, RN]

I have worked with plenty of nurses thru the years that have been under five foot tall and it never stopped any of them.

That should be the least of any worries.

[dona4jc]

I have worked with plenty of nurses thru the years that have been under five foot tall and it never stopped any of them.

That should be the least of any worries.

I'm 4'11! The charts racks not made for me, I was like, "they're discrimating against short people" :monkeydance: I don't mind being short, tho...I just get a foot stool or a hook, something to reach the charts.

[dona4jc]

bottom line is you're a patient advocate. if it means irritating the doctor so you can be sure your patient is safe, just do it.

:)

definitely!

i was worried about the communication part especially w/ the telephone orders before i started as an rn since english is my second language. but now i don't care if i irritate you as long as i got these orders right, especially w/ the sound the same medications, i'd ask them to spell them for me.

i don't care if i wake you up in the middle of the night as long as i can keep my patient safe.

[pinoy_guy]

i was worried about the communication part especially w/ the telephone orders before i started as an rn since english is my second language. but now i don't care if i irritate you as long as i got these orders right, especially w/ the sound the same medications, i'd ask them to spell them for me.

telephone orders...a different animal.

i've irritated a lot of doctors because of my way of doing this.

"doctor, just to confirm, this is for mr. joe smith in surgical floor room 152, your order is for lasix 20 mg iv once a day?"

"yes, yes, yes. i have to go."

"doctor, i have to confirm your other medication. k-clor 20 meqs twice a day?"

"you're the only one who does this."

"sorry doctor, just doing my job. k-clor 20 meqs twice a day?"

a deep sigh. "yes."

"colace 100 mg once a day?"

"yes."

"thank you, doctor."

before i let him hang up the phone.

after a few weeks they learn to adjust to my way.

one time the charge nurse congratulated me on doing this, which is called "read back order."

few, if any, nurses do this.

so the way you sign the order is "to/rbo/dr. dela cruz/pinoy guy, rn."

swtgrl_bee, i hope this gives you an insight on how to do things in the us, and make you eager to get to the us.

:)

[RNHawaii34]

definitely!

i was worried about the communication part especially w/ the telephone orders before i started as an rn since english is my second language. but now i don't care if i irritate you as long as i got these orders right, especially w/ the sound the same medications, i'd ask them to spell them for me.

i don't care if i wake you up in the middle of the night as long as i can keep my patient safe.

yup, same here :-).

[crossbow]

telephone orders...a different animal.

i've irritated a lot of doctors because of my way of doing this.

"doctor, just to confirm, this is for mr. joe smith in surgical floor room 152, your order is for lasix 20 mg iv once a day?"

"yes, yes, yes. i have to go."

"doctor, i have to confirm your other medication. k-clor 20 meqs twice a day?"

"you're the only one who does this."

"sorry doctor, just doing my job. k-clor 20 meqs twice a day?"

a deep sigh. "yes."

"colace 100 mg once a day?"

"yes."

"thank you, doctor."

before i let him hang up the phone.

after a few weeks they learn to adjust to my way.

one time the charge nurse congratulated me on doing this, which is called "read back order."

few, if any, nurses do this.

so the way you sign the order is "to/rbo/dr. dela cruz/pinoy guy, rn."

swtgrl_bee, i hope this gives you an insight on how to do things in the us, and make you eager to get to the us.

:)

being in a state med ctr....we have no telephone orders. when the new mds start to do this, i say "i'm sorry doctor we have a policy on our unit for no telephone orders"..........that is a good thing. we also have interns and residents 24 hours on call.

[pinoy_guy]

being in a state med ctr....we have no telephone orders. when the new mds start to do this, i say "i'm sorry doctor we have a policy on our unit for no telephone orders"..........that is a good thing. we also have interns and residents 24 hours on call.

maybe i should apply in such a center.

we do have a policy of "no verbal orders."

as soon as the doctor says "start insulin drip--"

we interrupt and say, "sorry doctor, we can't take verbal orders. please write down your order and i'll be back with the insulin drip protocol order."

of course there are exceptions, like in stat orders.

having interns and residents available 24 hours is a good thing.

[crossbow]

sure be my guest...

if you want to move lock,stock and barrel to ny

maybe i should apply in such a center.

we do have a policy of "no verbal orders."

as soon as the doctor says "start insulin drip--"

we interrupt and say, "sorry doctor, we can't take verbal orders. please write down your order and i'll be back with the insulin drip protocol order."

of course there are exceptions, like in stat orders.

having interns and residents available 24 hours is a good thing.