jonear2

As an outsider, I am getting mixed messages from the nurses here. On one hand, I hear people demanding respect for a challenging and technical profession and being offended when they are called waitresses (even in jest). On the other hand I see them comparing their situation to that of workers at Blockbuster. Perhaps I'm just not aware of a similar forum for doctors, but I suspect that they would find it somehow unprofessional or unseemly to publicly trash their patients (although I am certain they do so in private). All jobs and professions are fairly similar in this respect. Its almost an "us against them" mentality. Yes the patients are there because they need help and we are the providers of that help, but we cant always feel loving and giving. People who work at blockbuster complain about their customers because they deal with those customers every day. Nurses complain about their patients because we seal with them every day. I dont think you should hold MDs up to such a higher standard of professionalism than nurses. Perhaps we just havent found the venting site for physicians yet. I appreciate the answers to my previous question about where to draw the line. I was quite surprised at the answers and found them very helpful.

OK, Ive read through all the posts and this is my question: Please give an example of a "venting post" that would be considered "just venting" and on that would be considered "over the line" because I think that is the gray area. What one poster considers offensive is what another would consider humerous. But out of curiosity I would like to see the difference please.

My stethoscope, a thousand pens, alcohol swabs (I think they multiply on their own...), gum, water, scissors, hematats, a flashlight (pen light ain't enough on some of those foley inserts), phone, keys, name badge, lunch, excedrin, alleve, ibuprofen, midol, feminine supplies, lip balm, copies of whatever memos and fliers got passed around for the day, deodorant, and whatever other miscellaneous crap that gets collected from my pockets and my car.

Question: why was the family so adamant that the patient not receive dilaudid? Was it because of the drug abuse from the pt? Or did they know that it turns the pt into a crazy eyed pug dog? LOL... No I have never seen that happen before, weird.

Im actually doing much better now. Im 10 months out from graduation, 6 months on my own as an Rn. The more I go to work, the better I feel about myself as a nurse. Of course there are some days that I feel like screaming... My manager and I have a joke. We count the days since my last meltdown screaming that I dont want to be a nurse anymore. Its been over a month since i have sat crying in her office. Im kind of proud of that and I think she is too.

yeah, I was broke during nursing school and I wore the same outfit to clinical every week (we only went on fridays) Olive green short sleeved turtleneck, khaki pants, brown clogs. I twas the nicest thing I owned.

I'm sorry I dont have any answers to your question but what is topical ativan used for?

Oooh, no I dont think I would like that. Sucha large group of patients to be responsible for. Timothy is right, thats all administration. But it would be interesting to hear from anyone who likes it, if there IS such a person.

New grad started at 22.28/hr Day weekend diff= 7.50 night (7-7) = 6.50 weekend night= 10.50 on holidays you get time and a half the only problem is- lets say you do a saturday and its overtime, you only get time and a half you do not get your diff pay, which sucks.

Thank you all so much for the info. It makes total sense. Thank God his pain is being so well controlled. So far the experience at this hospice has been wonderfully supportive for my fiance and his mother. Again much love to all of you who answered.

I work in med surg and even with palliative care pts our PCA pumps are always administered IV. Recently my FIL was placed in inpatient hospice and today he was given a PCA pump with the medication being delivered subq. I asked the nurse and she said that she wasnt sure why but that she thought only hospice did this. I was just curious what the thought process is behind the subQ route. I am very interested in Hospice care as a possible future specialty for myself. Any thoughts would certainly be appreciated.

OK, so you mean I'm NOT the only one having a nervous breakdown after only 6 months? Thank GOD! But for every bad day there is a good day and another trick Ive found is to work 3 days straight and then have 4 days off in a row, enough time IMHO to recover/refresh yourself. Im sorry you feel so discouraged. I would tell you to stick with it and it will get better, but I think only you can know how you feel in your heart. PS You said that you got into nursing to make a difference. There are many other "helping" professions out there to choose from. In all things remember to make yourself happy and satisfied.

What is team nursing?

Awesome. Period.

I have to make a confession, only 6 months ago I was a GN in a busy teaching hospital. And because I have a naturally polite personality, I was the nurse who always asked if it was okay if I did my assessment or this or that and was told so many times to come back later for reasons like The Price is Right was on and such that I had a horrible time with time management. Not so anymore. While I do not think of myself as "pushy" by any stretch of the imagination, I will tell you that once I got to understand that I wasn't inconveniencing my patients, rather I was treating them in a timely manner thus getting them better and back home faster, assertiveness has become a second nature. Patients for the most part understand that nurses aren't trying to do wicked things to them just because the doctor says so. The ultimate goal is to get the patient well and get them home. I explain the reason behind what I am doing and if the patient has any problem with it then they will tell you. I think it is commendable that you want to protect the patient's independence and decision making. However I challenge you to work as a nurse before judging. It is much easier to apply hollistic care and provide hours worth of patient education when you are a student than it is once you have a 6 patient load of your own and might I add, students of your own.