neurorn6

I absolutely refuse to watch this piece of trash. I did see the trailer, and that was enough for me. I want to know what company hired them, so I can avoid them like the plague. Traveling is hard enough without having to overcome the picture that these fools paint. I would love to take the young nurses under my wing so to speak. They wouldn't have enough energy to go out and drink and make fools of themselves. I can't believe that a real hospital would hire these fools and what about HIPPA. Most not be much of a concern at the hospital in Orange County with all those cameras.

I remember a time when nurses were fighting to become recognized as a profession. They were shouting from the roof tops about how important we were to healthcare. Now we are forced by administration, politicians and the media back into the role of glorified waitress. Once healthcare became a money maker, healthcare went to hell in a hand basket. It is beyond belief that 30% of Medicare reimbursement is based on patient satisfaction. What other industry can say the same. Excuse me, if I go to a restaurant, I don't get 30% off if I don't like the service or the meal. Excuse me, if I have to utilize the skills of an attorney and he loses my case, I don't get 30% off his billable hours. Nurses need to come together under a national union banner. We have so much power because of our numbers but yet all we do is ***** and things keep getting worse. The ANA and state boards of nursing do nothing for us or the profession. I feel sorry for those just going into the industry. I am glad I am on the tail end of my career. Once upon a time I loved going to work, now I just want to get through the day.

Stand up, pull up your big girl panties, and instruction one of the tech's to go check the day room. If need be, just ask someone to go with you. This is what we do, we instruct, teach and help not only our patients but our co workers. It gets easier with time. Long ago, in a land far far away I was a tech. You never know, you may inspire someone to become a nurse.

I tell every new nurse and even a few more experienced nurses that it is a must have along with your license. Don't ever trust your employer to cover you. You need someone in your corner to help you.

I really believe nurses need a national union. We have nursing standards that we have to meet, why not a national union for all. If we don't do something then we are just laborers, not professionals.

If you a true non believer then you should stand by your convictions, just as this faith based organization. Even though you are offering your medical skills, you are representing this religious organizations and they may feel that Faith is an important part of what they offer. Lying to them about what you believe or not believe does you no credit and may come back to bite you in the butt. Karma is a you know what. I also thinking handing them your own statement of belief is disrespectful. It may be in your own best interest to look to a different organization or volunteer in another capacity then a nurse.

It all comes down to money. Businesses can easily start to hire part time employees only and therefore not have to provide any form of insurance (this includes nursing homes and hospitals). I have been around long enough to know that nursing is not recession proof and that we are expendible in the eyes of our corporation. I would not be surprised if there is a return to the charity hospitals that at one time was dominate in this country.

Once upon a time I start my career working in a state mental instituation. In fact, I was working there in the late 70's when it became popular to "deinstitutionalize" these patients. The hospital was clean, our patients wore clean clothes (their own), their had clean beds, good food (we ate the same), dental care, medical care (even specialized), there were birthday parties, holiday parties, religious events, they went shopping, they could work and get paid if they were capable. They went to the barber, the beauty salon, and oh yes, they recieved medications and help from trained personnel for their mental illness. They weren't sleeping on the streets, eating out of garbage bins, covered with bugs, made fun of, they were treated with respect and care. So you tell me, how did closing our mental hospital help our society? Closing these doors helped no one. Yes, there are horror stories, but not as many as you may think. Sometimes, we must rethink a position and return to an orginal idea to help those in need. A 72 hour hold in a hospital does nothing. Too many times, these individuals are released, just to return without getting the help they need.

Slow codes used to be come place in hospitals. Physicians would write or verbals tell us to do a slow code. Usually due to the patient's condition and the family's inability to come to terms with the finality of the patient. Then about 15 years ago, in the Northeast, JACHO announced that every patient had to be either a full code or DNR. No half way measures. It helped. Our social workers were availabe 24/7 and able to speak with patient and/or family members. Slow codes happen, but often if we are proactive, we can educate patients and family members get the advance directive completed before any thing happens.

Ok, everyone lighten up. This is a site for nurses. So what if we have a dark sense of humor? It sure helps when you have a dying infant in your arms, or a patient bleeding out, or you are choking on your own bile from the smell of a burn patient. With nurses I feel like I should be able to vent and be Non PC. Who else would get where I am coming from. Maybe I have a few miles on me, but please people lighten up. Our jobs are hard enough without us bitchin at each other on here. I'm just saying...

I have worked both 8, 12 and 16 hour shifts. Currently, I work 6 12 hour shifts and have 8 days off. It isn't easy but you do what you have to do. While we are entitled to a 30 minute lunch break, often it doesn't happen. It is all part of nursing.

I have a feeling that only a few of us, who have few years under our belts will really appreciate this. Sometimes you have to find humor in weird places. If you don't you will lose it. The stress we live under takes it's toll. My husband refuses to have dinner with me and my colleagues because of our dinner conversation. We ruin his appetite. LOL

In answer to your remark about being able to pay rent or pay for medications. The answer is yes! Some of us have gone hungry (and I mean for more than a few hours) so our children could eat. Yes, some of us have gone without insurance, but made sure that our children were taken care of. We worked 2-3 or more poor paying jobs, while we went to school. We paid our bills, including hospital and doctor bills and made due with what we had. Unfortunately, over the years, we have become a nation of "give me" instead of "I will do". Generations are being raised on welfare and government hand outs. While I love being a nurse, I have seen a decline in personal responsibility. Helping people does not necessarily mean giving them money. You can feed someone from your own kitchen, you can give them clothes, you can teach them to stand on their own two feet. Once upon a time our parents and grandparents survived the Great Depression. I find it sad that if that happened today, most Americans would be unable to do the same. So by the Grace of God, I have grown and have been able to become a nurse.

I have to be honest, I am old school and believe that no new grad should be in any specialty unit, such as ICU. You need to spend time on med/surg getting your feet wet. ICU and ER nurses (any specialty nurse) for the most part have strong personalities. We have too because of the situations that we face. Dealing with physicians in life and death situations are hard enough, being a new grad, we no experience can sit up for failure. I have seen new grads but into the ICU and the ER before they are ready and most if not all burn out. This just my opinion. Wishing you well in your career.

Welcome to the wonderful world of nursing. Congratulations, you survived a night from hell. We have all had them. The time you learn on med/surg will teach you a multiude of skills which will help you grow as a nurse. Just remember, speak up for yourself. Nursing is a 24/7 profession, and if you can't get it all don't then you have to pass it off to the next shift. I will warn you that there is a difference between not being able to accomplish tasks and just passing the buck. You will get your feet on solid ground, the first year can be the hardest. As they say in our field, "Time to get the big girl (or guy) panties on!" Good luck to you.

If you have never worked in an ER, then I suggest that you take the opportunity to visit one. This nation's ER's are overrun with people who don't see a doctor on a regular basis, who come in because they need an excuse for work (called out on friday and now it's sunday night or monday morning), drunks, drug seekers and a few mother's to be who haven't had any prenatel care. I know that I sound hard hearted, but ER's have become 24 hour Urgent Care. People refuse to go to the county health dept and wait to be seen. People can't afford to have a regular doctor because of the cost of the visit, and so on and so forth. Too many times, I have seen patient's who just don't seem to have any common sense. To me, it just seems like we need to get back to the basics.

I grew up poor in Appalachia. No running water or bathroom (I am under 60 by the way). We were raised to work hard, help others and not ask for handouts. Before becoming a nurse, I had a child with a terminal illness and no money. Yet we found away with the help of God and CHOP to give him the best care possible. I raised a family, without insurance for the larger part of their lives. Healthcare is not a right. We are not guaranteed medical coverage. Because of entitlements, we have become a nation waiting for the next handout. Our citizens have forgotten their pride. This is not Canada, Great Britain or another European Country. Basically, if you need the services of a doctor or hospital, then you make arrangements to pay the bill. My daddy raised 5 kids on nothing and managed to pay his bills. Maybe we need to get back to basics and have a little pride.

I carry NSO and have since nursing school (many years ago). Your best bet is to call and speak with an agent. I some states, is you are a nurse, working or volunteer, you still need coverage. The Good Samaritan Act, will not necessarily cover you. If you still have a license then you can be held accountable. Good Luck

Having worked in a small rural ICU, I can understand the issues at hand. You will need to make sure your restraints are for violent and non violet patients and also take in consideration the ages which may be in volved. The restraint orders for violent must have time assessment protocals for different ages. The physician should see a patient with 1 hour of being placed in violent restraints. Look at what your state mandates. Also, suicide patients should have a sitter with them (after being extubated). Has soon as possible get them medically cleared and sent to the appropriate facility. With sucide patient, only paper plates and plastic utensils, no phone, no call bell (this is why a sitter can help), all personally items removed, no visitors. You could look into having suicide rooms with a camera. Find out what you state says you can and can not do first.

I work with a number of nurses who used their LPN as a stepping stone. It is true that most hospitals have stopping hiring LPN's, you can still work and continue your education. So of the best nurses I ever worked with where LPN's. It is my opinion only that if you are a new graduate, then a min. of 1 year on med/surg is needed before moving on to a speciality unit. You gain so many skills working med/surg that you will need in ICU/CCU/ER/Cath Lab. I have worked them all, and the time is spent on med/surg has helped me greatly. Good Luck

I worked in a non union hospital in NJ a few years ago. Nurse patient ration was anywhere from 1-8 on a good day to 1-10. We organized and went union to protect ourselves and our patients. The negoiations were long but eventually we ironed out a decent contract. Then I relocated to a "Right to work state". Big mistake. All that means, is that they have a right to fire you. Pay is poor, insurance sucks, threats all the time. How staff turn over. High nurse/patient ratios. So yes, unions can and do benefit nurses. We are professionals, although in any other professions we wouldn't be treated like glorified waitresses. I beleive that we need a nation nursing union. In my opinion the ANA is worthless. I'm just saying.

As previous writers have stated, most unions are on the east or west coast, with a scattering in other states. Most, if not all of the south are Right to Work States, meaning, they can fire you with out reason. Southern hospitals are low paying, little education and alot of fear by new and old nurses. I have worked at both union and non union hospitals, and miss the support that a strong union can give their members. I has always amazed me that a profession, such as this, does not organize all of it's members, for the betterment of the profession. ANA, which is supposed to me for nurses is a sad joke. No support for rank and file. You have people speaking for nurses who haven't worked a floor in years, if they ever did.

As long as you continue to pay the mortage, tax, etc. that is your tax home. You will need to come back home for short periods of time. Are the utilities in your name or hers? It really shouldn't matter, as long as you don't have a rental agreement in writing.

clarksville is a decent town, alots of military. Gateway is a new hospital and yes they hire new grads. I work both the Ed and ICU here at Gateway. Consider Med/Surg before going to the ED and or ICU. Getting your feet wet will help in the long run. Vandy/Nashville is about 40 miles from Clarksville. Good luck

Georgia unfortunately is not a compact state, so that is were the problem. Boards are boards, Contact the TN Board of Nursing to find out where you need to go for testing, fingerprints, etc. TN is a compact state so I encourage you to go for your lic. there, undersize you have to go through a bunch of red tape. Hope this helps