thoughtful21

Travel nursing can be especially draining in some ways. You aren't always fully considered a team member, and sometimes you get dumped on. You are also having to constantly learn new things instead of feeling comfortably experienced. Perhaps you could go back to a hospital job and work 3 12's on a stable, lower-stress floor in a hospital where they would pay for your BSN? 9-5's wouldn't be my cup of tea either. And I hear ya about the back trouble. I'm starting to have some too, and consider myself way to young for it! What other jobs/areas have you considered working that you might like?

Sometimes people with humility tend to get steamrolled by the more confident people though, don't they? Aren't they looked down on and made to look worse than others, because they are asking questions, admitting mistakes, accepting criticism, and listening more than talking?

I know! As I struggle to find my footing in nursing, with about a year of experience, I realize that I am starting to think more in terms of "making my charting look good" than actually taking good, critically-thought-out care of the patient. I can think of a specific example - there was a box I needed to check off - so I did, but it actually didn't make much sense at all in relation to patient care. I feel upset at myself. I'm going to try to do more mental checks and think through things more instead of going on autopilot and checking the boxes.

I also don't like to be touched like this. There are some situations where it's ok, but I'm not generally comfortable with it. I make it clear with my body language, and people usually "get" it. I'm an active, expressive person who frequently "talks with my hands" and such. If you jump a mile high, stiffen up, and turn around and give them a (startled/upset/what-in-the-world) look, they'll get it. Then you can say what you need to say to express how you feel, and be friendly about it. This will be memorable for most people, and I think they'll stop unless they're really hardcore. I touch someone's shoulder, pat, or hug them sometimes, but I try to be really mindful and careful about it, and respect other's space, because I know what it is like to feel uncomfortable. Some people have very serious reasons why they're uncomfortable with it, as previous posters have said. We have someone at work who is always hugging, shoulder-punching, patting and otherwise touching people. A lot of people like her and she has a good rapport. She uses it as a way to communicate, be humorous, and break down awkwardness at times. But I'm not sure if people always appreciate the touches. Sometimes they look annoyed, to be honest, but they still get along great with her, so it all works out. (She does not touch me anymore (and we still get along fine.))

We have to DONATE money and work in teams to create themed baskets that 5 "lucky" people will be randomly selected to win. Just what we needed...giving some of our paycheck back to the company, extra company-related projects to do in our time off, and 5 people being chosen to stand out while the rest of us get nothing. That'll be great for our already-suffering teamwork and low morale. We're gonna feel so appreciated. A lot of us are annoyed about it, but we're being pressured into donating. They've pre-arranged the amount we're supposed to donate and created the teams. I haven't donated yet...still wrapping my head around it. Maybe if we band together we can stage a revolt.

I'm stuck in the middle of change right now. I have about 1 year of nursing experience. Sometimes I feel like I'm halfway in between who I was and who I'm going to be... I do worry less about making people happy these days...but I'm still very much geared toward people-pleasing because it seems like it's part of my job. But in a more detached way. I have more confidence now, and I'm more decisive. Like NightNerd, when I'm faced with a problem, I feel like I can figure it out! I feel like I am able to connect with other people better, and I understand more about human nature, for better or worse. I say a lot more bad words too. ? I have to be careful talking in polite company, so that I don't talk about "gross/intense" things that have become normal to me but freak the "normal" people out. I feel rougher around the edges than I used to be. I feel like I have to take time away and purposely make efforts to stay "me" and not let nursing and my job completely define me. But it kinda does, ya know? I feel like a nurse is intrinsically part of who I am. I've often wondered about how it changes me.

Open mouth. Insert foot. Remove. Repeat PRN/as often as desired. ?

I enjoyed the sim. It was a nice review. Thanks! Feedback: Some of the pictures in the sim could be improved to ensure the best teaching for the students. For instance, you wouldn't take an oral temp on the baby, like the picture shows.

They will no longer allow us to discard meds in the sharps container. The regulations for our facility changed. But yes, we used to do that, and it was very quick and easy!

Just an extra perspective... I have trouble NOT carrying meds in my pocket. We are required to discard all partially used vials and pill halves in the black box in the med room. They don't have these boxes in patient rooms, because it wouldn't be safe. I don't like this, but the alternative is keeping the pill in my hand, and running back to the med room to discard the med right after every med pass, and sometimes I'm just too busy. Patient needs the bathroom before I go, the alarm in the next room is going off... So I end up with half a vial of Zofran or half a metoprolol pill, and I've come close to taking them home sometimes. (From a money/resources perspective, these are completely useless - that patient is only charged for what was administered to them, and pharmacy considers the rest waste and doesn't monitor it.) If it's an unused vial that needs to be returned, or a controlled med, then I'm a lot more antsy about it and take it back ASAP. It makes me uncomfortable to carry ANY meds in my pocket, but it's hard not to. Anyone else have this problem?

Ok, I was getting confused there! ? I was like, you do what...? ?

Very true. My posts are observational musings as related to nursing. ? I enjoy your musings too, Emergent. They make me think. Here's my .02: Not trying to get worked up, just donating my $0.02 to the cause. ? Hey, maybe she's just a new nurse trying to fit it and be compassionate? Maybe she's 99% genuine, and really is seeing that patient through rose-colored glasses? Maybe is all gung-ho about her new job, and trying to be empathetic? I guess regardless of the motivations, I have found that demonstrating sympathy to a patient helps us work together better. They'll often be a little more compliant, a little less likely to complain, and some of their psychosomatic symptoms begin to resolve when they feel like they've "been heard." So regardless of my feelings, it does seem to make my job easier when I demonstrate compassion.

Congrats on your new baby, beeker! That's wonderful! It seems like this decision has been taken out of your hands. Sometimes this is 'karma's' way of pointing us in the right direction. A choice that pays your bills and keeps your career safe is also good for your family. We can't always plan perfectly for the future and answer all the what-ifs. All we can do is make the best decision at the time with the information that we have. If this job just doesn't work out for your family, you can quit later, and it wouldn't be the end of the world. No, it's not ideal, but it's not career suicide. People will understand and empathize with your situation. Have peace with whichever decision you make, knowing that you are doing what's best for your family! Things will work out. I wish you and your family the best!

Yeah, it can be tough to have a long commute! It's hard to lose that much-needed sleep and study time. There are some great suggestions above. I only had to spend money on a motel once, luckily. I had an amazing friend that let me spend the night with her a few times. I even slept in a chair in a school study room once or twice. Generally, I just drove. If you have to drive, here are some ideas that helped me: Put everything in the car the night before - all your books and supplies. Lay out your uniform so that you can sleep as long as possible, then get dressed, and hit the road right away. Get a car charger for your phone so you can always stay in touch. Plan an easy breakfast, and eat in the car. Also consider an 'emergency bag,' with extra clothes, etc, in case you have car trouble or have to stay overnight unexpectedly. To study, you can listen to your textbooks on audio or find another app. (But sometimes, you'll want to just chill and listen to music ???) My teachers were somewhat kind and understanding about it, so that helped. I hope yours are too!

@Summer Lack I'm sorry you went through this! ?? Thank you for your insight.

Technicolor yawn!!! ??? That's awesome, Davey! I've never heard that one before. I'm gonna be thinking of that next time I have a vomiting patient.

That makes good sense! ? Now I can see the big picture. Thank you! Also, @Forest2 's advice sounds great. I hope the situation works out well for everybody (you, the new nurse and the techs)!

Yes, please @Davey Do! Maybe a FLACC scale with little vomiting faces? ??????

Yes, we are beginning to be dinged about charting f/u assessments for antiemetics. How do you rate nausea? We don't have an easy way in our system... Plus, nausea comes and goes, and is affected by many different things. Are they gonna come up with a 1-10 scale for nausea too? Puhlease...? I definitely understand following up to see if the medication worked, to take good care of the patient! But.. The charting on our system has become so cumbersome, and it's not even patient-centered. We have scheduled pain checks, and reminders to check pain after every pain med, in several different places on the computer. They end up overlapping, and we double-chart, and we ask the patient about their pain so often that they're probably sick of it and/or over-focused on it. It becomes more about checking boxes than focusing on your patient. I'm already not a fan of the 1-10 pain scale...which is a whole 'nother discussion. Pain doesn't relate to numbers very well for me. And I can just image asking our nauseated patient to give us a "number" for their nausea. I'm rolling my eyes here, but if anyone has a good way to chart on assessing/reassessing nausea, I'd love to hear it.

I genuinely want to learn more about this. This situation seems strange to me. I have a different background - possibly more similar to med surg/psych, like the nurse in your example. I work at a critical access hospital, and we don't normally even use techs in our small ED. Do your techs completely do their own thing all shift, and not take any direction from nurses? Have they been there quite a while, and have a lot of experience? What are their responsibilities? It would really help me to learn more about this. If the original poster doesn't respond, are there any other ER nurses that could weigh in? Thank you ahead of time! I wonder if your new nurse somewhat confused by this, like I am, and needs someone to take her under their wing, and explain how things work. What other dynamics affect the situation? I also wonder, like JKL33, if maybe she is swamped with her new responsibilities and feels like she needs the extra help?

The expectations in clinical can be confusing. Each instructor can have different expectations, as you mentioned. In addition, the schedules and requirements are rigorous. Anxiety and pressure can often cause students to "rush into things" and not think/listen well. I wouldn't worry about your instructor taking a little time to stand and talk. I don't know if she's a good instructor or not...I don't know her. But sometimes instructors need to compare notes and support one another. And chatting with the other nurses in the facility builds up goodwill between the school and the facility, helps the instructor learn their expectations, and uncovers new opportunities for students like yourself to get in on a cool procedure or learn something new. I recommend that you start earlier, or prepare the night before, to make sure that you arrive to clinical on time and ready to go. Starting the day off on the wrong foot seems like it was part of your problem. Pack a breakfast to eat it in the car, pack all your clinical supplies the night before, and take your prescribed medications. That's part of being a safe nurse. I understand how hard it can be with the lack of sleep and many other responsibilities to juggle! But blaming in on "brain farts" and making excuses is not the right solution. It seems like the instructor handled it pretty well. She addressed the issues to the entire group without singling you out. (I'm sure the other members of the group have things to improve on as well.) And then she only asks that you admit your mistakes on the clinical feedback tool. It doesn't even sound like she's terribly upset with you. You might be thinking about it much more than she is. I think you have some ideas of what you can work on to improve. Start prepared, listen well, and follow instruction. If you didn't give a med without permission, then overall you didn't do anything too terrible. Don't take this to heart too much! Admit your mistakes, make a plan to improve on the things you can, and go to the next clinical and be the best you can be!

In nursing we still have some manipulative tyrants... some of them are patients! ??? Just throwing some humor into the mix. I wish you the best with your decision and the path ahead.

So... many... buttons to push, and pills to count, and keys needed for high-security med boxes, when I just...want...to...get the meds out! I'm high-energy, so I stand there tapping fingers and jiggling one foot while waiting for the boxes to open. On camera, it probably looks like I'm doing the bathroom dance. ? Our pyxis is always out of things, so we have to push extra buttons and sign extra paperwork and run around looking for the medications in pharmacy or another pyxis. But at least we don't have to contend with techs stocking at busy times, I guess... win some, lose some? Not very fast, intuitive, or user-friendly...but it probably costs a boatload of money, and maybe it's the best option available? If I ever have a mental breakdown at work, it will probably be in the med room, and I'll be screaming at the Pyxis. ????

You're going through a hard time right now, and you're asking for help, and I wish you the best. I also struggled with feeling like I was being treated like a child in nursing school. I also had a background of being a responsible, dedicated self-starter, and it was not my first time around the block in the working world. I'm not sure what the right answer/perspective is for this. I DO think that the culture of many nursing schools could be improved! (Perhaps some of the small, silly rules and actions that make us feel frustrated are designed to cover the school's butt? And maybe another reason they have to do these things is because not all nursing students are self-starters?) I often joke that perfectionism, anxiety and OCD can help you get straight A's in nursing school, ? but the truth is that you have to let the perfectionism go to a certain extent in order to be successful in nursing school. Please don't continue to let it go completely and just do the bare minimum...but you're right, it's impossible to do it all! Prioritize, find study habits that work best for you, and set yourself reasonable goals for grades. "Don't let perfect be the enemy of better." And don't let them get you down. Nursing school really is rough. You sound completely burned out. Please take some time for your mental health. I mean that compassionately, from one ex-nursing student to one who is currently in the trenches! I noticed that JKL33 liked your post but hasn't responded yet. C'mon @JKL33 ! ? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Hi! This is an interesting question. It caught my attention because it's a topic I'm weirdly passionate about, so I wanted to weigh in! I've never cared for white coats in any setting, even for doctors. I think they distance us from our patients, create the risk of us looking pompous or pretentious, and make us look like we don't want to "get our hands dirty" so to speak. Some patients even have negative connotations with the white coats. I have more respect for the doctors and nurses who wear scrubs/normal clothes. To me, they seem more approachable, wise, hard-working, and relatable. I actually tend to associate lab coats with students, because I see more students in lab coats these days than experienced professionals! This is just my 2 cents though. White coats certainly might certainly be beneficial at times, and perhaps they are more popular outside of my neck of the woods. Do other people in your facility wear them?