Rogue1

When you are changing diapers, feeding, etc, you are doing important assessments. Think of it that way, as your opportunity to observe and chart carefully. And try to empathize with the parents--they are in a very alien environment both physically and emotionally.

At my facility we have small 50ml NS bags that can be connected to the primary line, and there is usually always an order in for 'NS flush'.

Why battle with large amount of air in the line at all? Better to just put your small NS bag on the primary tubing and add secondary tubing to run the abx.

Excellent overview. I don't think the average (non-nurse) person--or even school administrators--has even a whiff of a clue about what school nursing involves. Hats off to school nurses!!

Interesting article--thank you! I work in peds so I see this on a regular basis, but I did not realize recurrence can be so tenacious. From the outside it can seem like not such a big deal but for the patients battling it (especially the older ones) it is horrible.

Yes I do. People forget that the purpose of lockdowns was to prevent the collapse of our healthcare system. Everywhere would have become like NYC, and quickly. It would have decimated our health care system.

But how many pizzas did you get?? Joking aside, it amazes me how management STILL ignores adequate retention incentives.

Report it. Surely you can do it in a way that keeps your name out of it, but for the minors' sake you cannot just look the other way. Imagine if this were your kid.

There is a big difference between what you do and how you are expected to do it. I think we have to be really careful in separating those. On my med/surg floor we have lost many long time staff, and they were all very conflicted about leaving--loving the job but not able to justify the working conditions anymore. We have gotten new staff, but I would not be surprised if the attrition rate becomes even higher than before (it was bad enough baseline pre-covid). Also, it is funny to see this post on the same home page as several 'quitting bedside' type posts. IMHO, if we want to continue doing what we love (and if we want the health care system overall to be healthy), it's up to bedside nurses to identify the stressors and to articulate to upper management proposed solutions in terms of altering structures, systems, and processes. (Or unionize, and force the changes that way.) Nurse/patient ratios are a big one, but there are others, too. I have had enough of being told to take care of myself as the solution. It's not. The solution is to change the structures, systems, and processes.

So sorry to hear of your situation. It is not acceptable patient safety (let alone care), and it is not a sustainable work situation for you. Not only are the patients in danger, you are at risk of loosing your license. I assume appeals to upper management have been met more or less with crickets. Time to go up the food chain--probably way up. Is there a state agency that you could contact? (PS--I also suggest starting to write EVERYTHING down!)

Solution: Unionize. Pool together to get your workplace needs met by admin. And reject anyone who tells you that 'recharging' and 'regenerating' yourself individually is the way to solve this problem. The problem is with the system therefore it is the SYSTEM that has to change.

Most professional nursing organizations advocate more for patients then they do for nurses. And, as many have already mentioned here, workplace administrations advocate for the bottom line and see nurses as obstacles to that. I am thinking the only way nurses can gain bargaining power is through creating local unions. Curious to hear others' opinions....

Excellent article. This topic needs to be discussed industry-wide. Meanwhile, bedside PRNs at my hospital have been waiting 4 1/2 years for a raise....

Follow your heart and gut--try peds out! There are many different types of units/jobs within a peds hospital or clinic--you can move around until you find the one that appeals most to you. I have been working in peds (acute care, med/surg floor) for 5 years and always deal with the 'oh how can you bear to see those children suffer' comment from outsiders by reminding the commenter that these kids come to us already in some type of distress and we are the ones who get to participate in relieving their suffering and guiding them on their path to healing, so how could I not love this job?

Ways to afford pricey things on an RN wage: 1) inherit a ton of money 2) go into debt up to your eyeballs (and enjoy the feeling for a lifetime) 3) win the lottery/find a briefcase full of money on the street 4) get an advanced degree and/or leave RN nursing altogether