Estateboy

As an RN with paramedic experience, I put my EMS assessment skills to use all the time. I can recognize a pt in resp distress or when something is just not right because patient assessment is what paramedics do! I was floated to the ER where I work, helping with a code when we lost the IV! We had an IO but no one there ever used one...except me. It's an EMS skill we have to know how to do. Same with IV's and EKG's and EKG interpretation and advanced airways. You're right, EMS experience is very valuable in a hospital setting.

Hi folks, I want to travel to Alaska this summer but have never had a travel assignment before. I got my Alaska license in preparation to traveling there and would like anchorage area. Question...Can I travel to Alaska as a first time traveler? Some hospitals don't take first time travelers I guess. Thanks all!!

Update. I've been at a small hospital for 16 months now and have been floated to the ER almost a dozen times and told by staff that the ER is were I should be due to my experience and calmness. I am also on the code team, chair the hospital sepsis team and the DON has asked me, last week to apply to a NM position...after only 16 months an RN. The large hospital that rejected me due to my EMS experience has lost out.

CNA's on my floor DON'T do BP or accuchecks but if they can answer call bells and free a nurse for med passes or other duties that's a great thing. From a cost point of view, they are probably half the cost of a nurse and greatly reduce the stress on the floor.

Yep enjoy the wine. Some pt's have a "Holiday Inn" mentality where you are there to serve them and some pt's don't. You and I have had both and and we will have again..

I spent 22 years in the Army and 9 of those as a recruiter. I'm now an RN. The ROTC path is a great choice. If not, get your 4 yr degree then go in as an officer. You will get more experience and meet the best people as a military RN! Good luck!

After being a med-serg RN for over a year now, I find my assessment skills come in handy for identifying sepsis and other cardiac issues that other RNs have missed.

Rude, unprofessional 'professionals' exist in every field. Get used to it...unfortunately. it does sound like a baby abduction to me as well. I would go to a supervisor and report the incident for the breach of policy.

Chill I had the worst 2 days of my life after NCLEX...second guessed every freeking answer an was too scared to try to reapply . Sitting with the wife at the YMCA after a workout and checked on my phone after paying a fee. I cried like a baby for the next 5 minutes after I saw I had passed...Yep shut off at 75 questions.

Ummm Male here. 75 and pass first time.

She is a proven fool

Started RN school at 50 got multiple job offers at 52 no worries

I made a med error. Not only was I embarrassed because I caused a error-ed (med was prepared wrong and wasn't given), but the charge nurse made the error "announcement" while the nurse supervisor and the DON and two other nurses, were huddled around the station. Now I'm embarrassed AND i'm being being humiliated. What is it called when your charge nurse (whom you never got along with) goes to OTHER nurses in OTHER departments, to inform them of your dumb med error you made that day?

STOP!!! You passed! Congratulations! I had exact same experience and passed! Good luck on your career.

Being on both sides of the fence, I've had the "God complex" attitude from ER nurses directed at me personally. They lighten up when I tell them I'm also a Med-Serg RN but that attitude can come anyone. It doesn't matter the profession... bad attitude is bad attitude.

Went to nursing school at 50 years old! Started my first Med-Surg job at a small hospital 5 months ago. You got this. Just bring your running shoes to work because it can get busy but options are endless for different types of nursing. PS I also have a bachelors of business degree and ran a successful company for 9 years before selling it to my largest client.

Having owned a successful business and been an employer (10-25 employees) and now an employee (I've been an RN for only 4 months), the two most important factors to job satisfaction are: What you do and who you work for/with. Money and benefits are number 3 and 4. Your boss and the pressure they bring are vital to retaining good employees. All is well, now, working at a small Med-Surge unit but I don't know if I will be here in 2 or 3 years. Best thing about this career is ...if you don't like your job, find another.

WOW! I could have written that post! I've been an RN for three months and am so glad you posted your thoughts. I also work at a very small med-surg floor and find myself asking experienced nurses lots of questions and have never been given grief for doing so.

Nice job on both! IN EMS, no neck pain or shoulder pain means no backboard (unless you're the only survivor in a multi-fatality MVA then consider mechanism of injury). I'm actually interviewing for a school nurse job on Tuesday as a substitute. I work med -surg now but I'm also a new nurse but paramedic for 20+ yrs prior.

I've only been a RN for 3 months and have made 2 errors. Missed a scheduled eye drop once and didn't give a scheduled, oral medications to a pt being discharged to home. Spoke with my manager about it and she said she had made more than one error. One involved giving the 20u of Humalog when the order was for 20u of Lantis. Far more mistakes are made than are reported...I've seen it. Until we are replaced by robots, errors will occur. And if robots do replace us, the robots will make mistakes. You should be fine.

well.... I actually know here husband. LOL not gossip.

Correct..and I love learning new things and I think that is evident to most of the staff there.

the top three reasons people stay in a job is because they: 1) like what they do and find their work meaningful. 2) enjoy the people they work with 3) benefits and money. I, like you, want a job where I enjoy going to work and the people we work with (and for) are the largest part of that. I'm disappointed not because I was looking for kum-bi-ya moments with my co-workers, but I was hoping for an adult atmosphere and unfortunately where I work, ain't always it. NO workplace is perfect but I would have thought the leadership of the unit would deal with the pettiness or maybe not. All good advise JKL33 and I already do much of it thanks

Her hubby walked away from her for a younger and thinner woman. She also told a male pt that if he didnt want to swallow a pill she can shove it up his %*$. That got reported to the supervisor. I was told she treated another male nurse the same way. He quit.

"patients" ****! maybe I am an idiot. The original post has been edited. FYI