Nursing Career Question

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I have considered becoming a nurse, however, I have a question. As a nurse, do you bring work home with you? I am thinking that you would not, but I thought I would ask just in case.

Also, if you are asked to work over your shift are you black listed it you can't work over or extra shifts other than what you are scheduled for?

Thanks

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

Well, first off your questions are very unit specific. I work in ER, med surg and ICU. No, I don't take my work home with me. If you are referring to emotionally, then yes, sometimes I have a difficult death that I have a hard time shaking but for the most part it is left at the hospital. However, with that said, I've also recently been appointed as chairman of our Shared Governance committee. Since this is a brand new committee for our hospital, I am often working on stuff at home for it although I try not to.

As for your second question, I've only once or twice been asked to stay "over". And it is also not a matter of being "asked". If your relief doesn't show up on time, you can't leave. period. If you do that is abandonment. In my units, we report off to the next shift. If there is no shift to report off to then there is no one BUT you to take care of these patients. Luckily, this has only happened once during a snowstorm and relief showed up a couple hours later and a second time when my relief was just running late.

Being "blacklisted" doesn't happen in my hospital either. Due to low census, it is very rare that anyone gets overtime. Even if there was a need overtime is discouraged and monitored. If working another shift is going to put you into overtime you are not asked. On the rare occassion that they may ask you to work overtime, they are desperate and in turn they will take you off a regular scheduled day to avoid the overtime.

My hospital is very understanding about people saying no. If we are asked to switch a shift or change things around and its just not possible, they are ok with it and will always come back and ask next time a need arises. I wish we had overtime available but unfortunately with todays economy this just isn't possible anymore.

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If you are thinking about doing pharmacy stick with that. Nursing is great but pharmacy is everything.

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Specializes in cardiac/PCU.

No, I don't bring literal work home, other than the occasional studying for extra classes or courses, but you do have cases that touch you emotionally. Some will affect you for a couple of hours and some you will never forget.

As for staying over ... I agree with pharmgirl, most hospitals monitor overtime closely. However, I was recently on a travel assignment that was desperately short almost every shift! I frequently stayed for 16 hr shifts, but other times I told them no. They never made me feel bad for not staying, they were always very appreciative when I could, but they didn't expect you to stay longer than 12.

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NurseFinders;is global. If you like agency work. Have your physical, PPD and MMR, Mumps, Rubulla

tiders ready.

Go online a fill out an application, when your finished, be prepared to take

two timed test. Med-Surg and Pharm. You get two chances to pass with a score of

80%. There are lots of calculations, rate and drip factor questions. It is a challange and when

complete the staffing assignments are worth it.

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