Long, sad story. I graduated from BSN program as a second-career nurse in December, 2017. Passed NCLEX in 75 questions in Feb. of 2018; secured first job in ICU at a Level I trauma unit in a residency...
Okay, total tangent, but I laughed out loud at this. I hate the term "self-care." It sounds so touchy-feely (and almost a little bit Mediaographic.) Whenever someone asks me what I do for self-care,...
Thanks! I'm focusing efforts on outpatient and research right now, but I'll see where the road takes me. With regard to the stress nurses endure, I'll say this. One of my last conversations with the...
I think you hit the nail on the head. This has become such a "hot topic" that anyone who even raises a (very valid) question about safety and efficacy is swiftly labeled a wacky anti-vaxxer, which...
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I've found that the nurses I've worked with have not been particularly kind. In fact, they've been pretty nasty at times. They're also very stressed and anxious. I...
The first part of your post describes me exactly. At least in the role of floor nurse. Judging from the string of letters after your name, you've thrived as a nurse, so that gives me hope. Since I...
So, newbie (kinda) nurse here with a quick question...what's the point? If you woke me up every hour of every night, I'd be A&OX0 by the second night. If you wake someone out of REM sleep, you...
Many, many thanks for all of your thoughtful suggestions and insights. In answer to the question about clinical rotations, again, my education was woefully inadequate. Technically, the number of...
I tried to delegate and was told that I wasn't helping the PCTs enough, so I went back to doing all the patient care myself. I really felt like I could not get a break at this facility. Every move I...
I really hope not. Yes, I was focusing on certain tasks that needed to be mastered, while trying to keep the big picture in mind. "Task-y" is almost the worst thing anyone could ever say about me, in...
This is something else I've learned. My school (and others, from what I've heard) does not prepare students for nursing jobs. It prepares students to pass the NCLEX. That's a piece of advice that I've...
Yes and yes. I know I have at least moderate anxiety and I'm pretty sure I have ADHD (my son, brother, a niece and a nephew have all been diagnosed too.) I have considered medicating for the ADHD and...
This is such a fine line. I've dealt with situations like this before. A parent of one of my psych patients actually asked me to give her child a placebo and tell him he was getting medication. I did...
Hmmm...trying to remember almost two years ago now. Role transition was on a general med surg floor with a few tele pts thrown in. Want to say maybe three or four? I don't remember what the regular...
I would welcome an opportunity like a new grad residency and some of my friends have suggested it as well. Although technically not a new grad, I guess it can't hurt to try. Thank you so much for your...
Just, fyi, I left the psych facility of my own accord to take this most recent job, which I thought was my dream job. And it was, in many ways. This is why the loss of the job is so difficult for me....
I did an accelerated BSN program (16 months) with no prior medical experience. That was probably my first mistake. A program like this is fine for the student who previously worked as a PCT or EMT,...
First, thank you for taking the time to put together this response. I know the questions are meant to elicit personal reflection, but thought I'd throw the answers out there: 1. YES! I had trouble...
Actually, that was another piece of positive feedback that I received. I was told that I was very good at developing relationships with patients and family. And, yes, probably most people would...