clee1

You did the right thing, for ALL involved. Rest easy, Nurse.

Thank the dear Lord I don't work with you! A NS classmate and coworker was diverting for nearly a year when I busted him in the act. He ultimately lost his license. MY PATIENTS suffered due to his actions, and I sleep very well at night knowing I don't have to deal with him anymore. I would do it again in a second, and I have no pity for a person diverting narcotics. If I have a strong suspicion of diversion, I'm reporting it. Period. For the record, I was a street drug abuser at a younger age. Thank God pharmaceuticals never were my thing. Addiction is a terrible thing - causing additional suffering to patients is inexcusable.

Thank the dear Lord I don't work with you! A NS classmate and coworker was diverting for nearly a year when I busted him in the act. He ultimately lost his license. MY PATIENTS suffered due to his actions, and I sleep very well at night knowing I don't have to deal with him anymore. I would do it again in a second, and I have no pity for a person diverting narcotics. If I have a strong suspicion of diversion, I'm reporting it. Period. For the record, I was a street drug abuser at a younger age. Thank God pharmaceuticals never were my thing. Addiction is a terrible thing - causing additional suffering to patients is inexcusable.

That doesn't matter. If I'm armed, I have options I wouldn't otherwise have. My gun is for self defense FIRST. If I'm able, I might defend you if the opportunity arises.

I am an LPN in Home Hospice. I have been a CC permit holder since I was 21, over 27 years ago. I have a concealed firearm at all times; in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, personal care homes, and in private residences. I carry to Church, in stores, in banks - basically everywhere except the rare occasions when I'm in a government building. Very few people besides myself and my wife have ever discovered that fact. I served in the US Army, and was briefly a police officer, so I have been well trained and stay in practice. I'll just say this: I'll never be a helpless victim - ever. I might lose a job if I'm caught carrying, might even face prosecution. So what. I'm a (mostly) law-abiding, caring person that would never harm another person without justification and extreme provocation. It is my RIGHT to defend myself and my family. I will do so regardless of the preferences of other people. I am legally empowered to carry a concealed firearm and will do that as well, again, regardless of the wishes of others. I'm a nurse, and proud of that fact. That does not mean there is some moral imperative that I be defenseless in the face of lunatics.

No need at all to feel guilty. If economic conditions at your facility worsened, they would not feel the least compunction about laying you off; if you stay there so long that your salary "maxes out" I can guarantee that you'll be the first to be let go; and lastly, your workplace is a place of employment - not a family. Employment is a two-way street. The employer needs your body and your license to service their customers. You need their paycheck. PERIOD. I know you consider that they have been good to you, but you have worked hard for them. Neither of you owe the other anything else. Life is what you make of it; this is NOT a dress rehearsal! YOU are responsible for your own life, and "loyalty" to an employer should never hold you back from your dreams. I can promise you that your employer does NOT factor loyalty to you in any of their plans. If you want to go - go. Keep in mind that it is much easier to find a good job while you already have one. My recommendation is to a) Find another position that you want to accept. b) Get their offer, including ALL conditions, in writing. c) Find out how long a notice period you are expected to give to your current employer, so that you get any owed vacation time, are eligible for rehire, etc. d) Accept the new offer and set a starting date. e) Write a resignation letter listing your last date to work that is at the end of the expected notice period. Turn in your resignation in to HR, not your department head. e) Only agree to an exit interview if it is a condition of rehire eligibility. If you do have to do one with either HR or your boss, tell them as little as you feel like you can get away with. DO NOT tell them the name of your new employer. It is not necessary to specify a reason for leaving. Your resignation letter should be short and generic. I, (NAME), do hereby resign my position with (EMPLOYER) effective (DATE/TIME). All company-owned property in my possession will be returned to (EMPLOYER) on or prior to that date/time. I appreciate the opportunity to have worked at (EMPLOYER), and will remember the experience here for the rest of my career. Sincerely, (NAME/SIGNATURE) Best wishes to you!

I love to mentor new nurses! :) My stock speech, 1st day is: 1) I do things my way within the P&P of the facility, and keeping in mind pt safety always. You'll have to figure out what way works best for YOU. 2) I don't care how your textbook or school instructor said to do it. 3) I'll answer any question you have; if I don't know the correct answer, I'll be sure to find out for you or help you find out for the both of us! 4) Until you are off orientation, you are operating under my license AS WELL AS YOUR OWN. Be sure to ASK ME if you aren't SURE about something. 5) Now, WE have alot of work to do - let's get to it!

Being proficient with IV starts and in the maintenance thereof improves your value to a facility. You'd be amazed at the number of people that cannot start an IV on even a "simple stick".

This needs to be nipped in the bud; one way or another. One off-hand comment, even if inappropriate, is one thing: doing it repeatedly is indicative of a problem brewing. Deal with it now.

That is why you need to write this aide up, regardless of what he/she may think of you in the future. It protects YOU, and, it sends the message that people WILL do their jobs or will pay the price.

My mother had GBS when I was a senior in high school. The compassion and care given to her greatly influenced my desire to become a nurse. Best wishes to you in school! You are going to make a GREAT nurse!

Relax, nurse. You WILL get it; but it does take time to develop "the knack".

... when you walk in the door and the Charge asks if you'd be willing to take a "light load" (3 instead of 5 pts) because they are shorthanded. There's your sign!

Totally unmitigated bullsqueeze... brought to you by the "you want fries with that" school of management.

There is one per unit in my hospital, in each med room, and opening a PCA is a two-nurse job, like checking off blood or verifying insulin.

I highly recommend a book: "Everything you need to know about EKG's". Makes the most complex rhythm a breeze to read. Good luck! Telemetry nursing can be fascinating!

Follow the $$$$$

true... but i'll tell you this as a semi-young, health male: no way will i hurt unnecessarily when modern pharmacology can significantly reduce my pain. if i have a pain issue, it will be aggressively addressed. i guarantee it.:chuckle

That's what I was thinking. I'm wondering where that poster works?

Find a new doc; yours is an idiot.

That's why I now work in the ICU. I did not come into this business to run from room to room harpooning people or shoving a few pills down their throat before rushing to the next pt.; Assessing on the fly and charting hours later; ALWAYS staying late to finish something! Having two pts, with plenty of help, means I can give excellent care without "running" everywhere. I also work nights, meaning it is rare for the "day shift headaches" to interfere. Floor work is what gives this profession a bad name: one of these days administration will figure out that their pee-poor "customer satisfaction" scores are 99.9% due to short staffing.

Myself.... I have and do frequently give doses like that to 170lb male fresh post-ops; but I don't think I want a student to wander around with a dose of MS and pushing it w/o me being there.

If I am awake, I answer the phone. (my ringer is OFF when I sleep) If not, I reply to their voicemails when I do awaken. I get called alot, either to work in my home unit (ICU) or to sub out on my old M/S floor. If there is any way I can make it work will all my other needs, I try to accommodate them. It is always for a minimum of time and three-quarters, and usually for double time. Add differentials and float pay, and I can hardly refuse! However, it is ALWAYS on my terms - shift, pt load, compensatory day off - whatever I need or want for that shift. Either they deal; or I don't go. This happens occasionally. There have been times when I was too tired or had prior commitments. Then I just say "no" - with no reasons attached. They will cancel you in a heartbeat if census is low. Why should you feel obligated to give up your day off? I'll be damned if I give up free spot in my schedule unless they really make it worth my while.

No reason to feel guilty: your FIRST responsibility is to YOURSELF. Sounds like you work in a pit - find a new job, then GO!

Your screen name says it for you... you're dream'n. Without taking a moral or ethical stand on this issue, the fact of the matter is: here in the USA; $$$$$ talks! My hospital is planning to install luxury rooms with 1:1 staffing, special meals, concierge service, etc. I am all for it is the customer (pt) can pay for it. If I could pay for it, I'd want that kind of service too.