I am going to get some clinical hours!

caliotter3 · Feb 24, 2009

Good! But don't let anyone get any ideas now!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 24, 2009

That is a good thing, now that you are an RN...I always thought that hands on experience (especially for an RN who needs to hone in on her assessment skills) is the best way to go. In addition, if there is a disaster, you do need to function at optional best under your circumstances. Those periods of time will be so chaotic that there may be no one to guide you in safe practice. But, like caliotter3 stated, let's hope that suddenly, they are not pulling you when someone is late coming into work, from lunch, etc...because you do have your own regular functions you are responsible for. Another thought is that it is usually during those times that you'd come across a situation that you have no experience to pull from with a patient that is not doing very well...leading to your license being compromised.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

I don't think pulling me will be frequent - but frankly, I wouldn't mind. I would love this job to turn into a couple of days clinical, more systems.

We'll see. She has to get buy-in from my boss, anyway.

:)

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 24, 2009

i don't think pulling me will be frequent - but frankly, i wouldn't mind. i would love this job to turn into a couple of days clinical, more systems.
we'll see. she has to get buy-in from my boss, anyway.
:)

like i said, getting a chance to 'play' with your newly acquired rn license is a good thing...i mean, you did earn it, and should be able to practice, even if it is occasionally. if your current position were to ever disappear, you can work as a nurse until you obtain a position more of your liking. i have just seen some situations go south.

my best friend (the one i mentioned is bipolar) was in the same nursing career ladder program i was in. her prior experience was as a secretary to the don. upon obtaining her rn, she started working med-surg, and she was a phenomenal bedside nurse. she has the memory of an elephant and has an excellent way of applying and collaborating all of her knowledge. she started working as an admission nurse, and had been off of the floor for more than a year. with two major hospitals closing, the staff has become overworked and started calling in sick a great deal and suddenly, one day last week, she was pulled to work a floor she never worked before and also had to be charge with an agency nurse, one cna and 30 patients on a post-surgical floor. imagine the scenero...most of the ivs were not working, patients screaming for pain medications, they recently stopped the aides from doing fingersticks (which my friend told her she is doing fingersticks that night!!), whatever could did go wrong. not enough time to document properly (in fact, she could have used you, because she didn't remember the computer system-which had also been revised since she left the floor). she just prayed for the patients to remain alive. what sort of saved her was that she has heavy assessment skills from being a consciensous admission nurse and that she would still try and start ivs and do little things every now and then). but, it was scary.

this is not to put a negative slant in this proposition at all, sue...you know i want only the best for you. if this does happen, i hope that you are able to do at least a few days a month to keep those skills current in case there is no time later. and, it will make you a stronger nurse! :up:

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

Thanks, deva.

One of the things going on now is that we have in our entire facility three union RN's. One decided she has a back injury and got a doctor's note. She's been working off the books as a hirdresser but her spot can't be filled - and she can get a note every six months if she works two weeks. We have no 3 - 11 RN on the unit. The DON's been covering, other people have been getting pulled - and we are, as you know, a teensy CAH.

There's a chance I could be laid off from my informatics spot here. Not high, but it exists. The more useful I am in as many capacities the better the odds of my staying on in some way. I know, at this point, that I would be snapped up by the DON. She trusts me, even without a strong clinical background. I keep my counsel and have her back - and we know how exposed they can be in nursing!

A day at a time.

How is your friend, anyway? Sounds like she's back!

nursemike, ASN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

Good luck!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 24, 2009

Thanks, deva.
One of the things going on now is that we have in our entire facility three union RN's. One decided she has a back injury and got a doctor's note. She's been working off the books as a hirdresser but her spot can't be filled - and she can get a note every six months if she works two weeks. We have no 3 - 11 RN on the unit. The DON's been covering, other people have been getting pulled - and we are, as you know, a teensy CAH.
There's a chance I could be laid off from my informatics spot here. Not high, but it exists. The more useful I am in as many capacities the better the odds of my staying on in some way. I know, at this point, that I would be snapped up by the DON. She trusts me, even without a strong clinical background. I keep my counsel and have her back - and we know how exposed they can be in nursing!
A day at a time.
How is your friend, anyway? Sounds like she's back!

Multitasking is the wave of the future! At least, if this happens, you'll have a gentle introduction, one that is not marred with intimidation and fear because this time, you have earned their respect. Of course, learn all that you can! This is why I am crosstraining. In our situation, with unions, they lay off by seniority, however, just because you can keep your job does not always mean that you determine WHERE you will work. I want to remain in the clinics because I think it is safer there and my conscience is clearer. I still plan to do per diem, but when I can control it.

My friend is fine, more stablized. They found the right combo of medications for her and she is my best counsel once more. We laugh about some of her behaviors...when I think she can handle it, I remind her of some of the things she said when she was sick and we hold each other laughing. She said "Wow...I was really NUTS, huh?".

chicookie, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

Does this mean you are finally going to get a chance to practice IVs?

I know you really wanted to..........

YAY FOR WORKING LIKE AN RN! Even better cause its not full time. =D Better adjustment I think....

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 25, 2009

Just to show how things can turn quickly...

Thank goodness I asked to be cross trained! I worked in Eye Clinic and GYN so far. Not many of the nurses in Ambulatory Care worked in that clinic, and today, the Associate Director called and asked me to float there, and goodness, I did not know until I got there that there was not an RN available that knew the clinic, and it was just myself and another LPN that recently completed her RN course. She had not been in Eye since last year, but had been working there since last week. Every RN that knew that clinic was either on vacation or had called in sick out of spite. We had to swing like we had been there all of our lives. I had not been there for over a month, but I never threw my notes away, thank goodness. I went the doctors and told them that I do not know anything and would be counting on them to assist us. The eye technician dilated the eyes when we were backed up, had to figure out what to do with the walk ins, and we handled it well. The head nurse was on vacation and the other RN called in sick out of spite for whatever gripes she has going on with administration. Had I not taken the initiative to cross train, it would have been worse!

So, Sue, get whatever training you can! If you can get a gentle exposure, it can do nothing but benefit you, because even with training, you can be scared to death if you have to suddenly fend in a whirlpool on your own. Do it, girl!

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2009

Does this mean you are finally going to get a chance to practice IVs?
I know you really wanted to..........
YAY FOR WORKING LIKE AN RN! Even better cause its not full time. =D Better adjustment I think....

YES! And our disaster chief/emt type is teaching me on the super duper fake arm and then I'll practice on people!

Deva, I want all I can get. I know that should I lose the IT job that I have a clinical spot in a heartbeat. And that, my friend, is comforting!

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 25, 2009

Yippeee Sue!

You got my tips on how to control those MD's! LOL :trout: