speedynurse ADN, RN, EMT-P

speedynurse is a ADN, RN, EMT-P and specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

speedynurse's Latest Activity

1. 

   Getting Flack For Not Getting Covid Vaccine

   speedynurse replied to EDnurseAmen's topic in Disasters

   I think every nurse has to use his or her nursing judgment about getting the vaccine or not. 1. The vaccine was approved for emergency use - pure and simple. 2. There are valid concerns for not getting the vaccine whether it is due to medical reasons, pregnancy, etc. If there is a valid reason, then no - people shouldn’t be made to feel like their decision is wrong. 3. There is always a risk versus benefit with anything like this. 4. I think everyone recognizes that the pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty, demonstrated the faults in the healthcare system that have been there for quite some time, etc. 5. I still think we will need to utilize PPE for quite some time, considering that different research is coming out almost daily with concerns about if the vaccines will truly cover the variants or not. I think the vaccine, covid precautions, PPE, etc require common sense and logic just like everything else.
2. 

   The golden first year?

   speedynurse replied to pinkdoves's topic in Nursing

   A few more things......if you hate nursing, then that’s OK. Trust me - plenty of people go into fields that they realize is not for them and they choose to bug out. I “fell” into nursing.....had every intention of going to medical school then didn’t want to pay the loans and then went into paramedic school and then went into nursing. I do encourage you to really try to find out WHY you hate nursing. Is it the type of nursing, the unit, an unsupportive environment? Do you not like the speciality? Do you not have enough stress relief at home? For me, I have finally found some things that have helped me actually enjoy my job.....I changed specialties, don’t do overtime, work relatively normal people hours (days), don’t stress out or worry about work on my days off (no checking work emails allowed on days off!), and do some pandemic safe hobbies (cooking, watching Netflix, vacation planning, occasionally visiting with friends or family, attempting to train my puppy, etc.) Again....a year ago, I hated my job. I was so done with the ER from working overtime, crazy hours, leadership changes, and seeing the worst of humanity on a daily basis (maybe some of this is my perception but some of it was the characters that the ER attracts).....I am in a job now that honestly is pretty BORING, but if boring means my job is relatively stress free most of the time.....I will take it. And I also have a lot more patience and even enjoy my job many days. 1. Figure out if you truly hate nursing or if there are other issues that are making you just hate the job. 2. You said you like working with kids. Would you want a less stressful job like outpatient? 3. Do you have things going on outside of work to where you are blaming it on your job? 4. It’s OK to not like nursing. Think about what fields you would enjoy and stay in nursing long enough to pay for education to go to that stepping stone.
3. 

   Advice on what to say during performance review

   speedynurse replied to pinkdoves's topic in Nursing

   For the performance review, just say whatever you are working on or involved in or you can just say you are satisfied with your current status. Earlier on in nursing when I was a lot more involved in things 😂, I wrote details and said what my goals were, etc etc. Now.....I usually just say I am working on my BSN and am satisfied with my current status. Once upon a time, I had a manager who really was interested in our goals and aspirations. Now, it’s just a checkbox. But, I also am in a part of my career where I am OK with it being a checkbox LOL. I generally ignore emails, text messages, and anything work related on my days off. One thing, I wouldn’t say is if you want to transfer. If you want to do that, wait until the time is right and then let your manager know (if it’s a transfer within the hospital system). If it’s in a different hospital system, don’t worry too much about it until you are offered the job, then talk to your current manager graciously, and type up a resignation letter.
4. 

   Chiropractors

   speedynurse replied to Davey Do's topic in Lounge

   My insurance does cover a small number of limited sessions. About the same number they would cover for physical therapy. After that, the last chiropractor I went to did work with me with the price and it wasn’t as terrible a copay as people think.
5. 

   The golden first year?

   speedynurse replied to pinkdoves's topic in Nursing

   I do think nursing has become very convoluted and hospital nursing truly does focus on the wrong things sometimes. For a period of time, I thought I hated nursing when I was fried in the ER because I was so frustrated with the abuse of patients and being run into the ground for 12 to 16 hours. Now that I am out of the ER, I actually miss certain aspects. The critical thinking and the teams.....etc. However, I genuinely enjoy nursing now in surgical services. There are definitely some annoying things in this branch....arrogant surgeons and little things here and there. However, I really enjoy taking care of patients. I enjoy hearing about their lives and sometimes meet some really wonderful people that have learned a lot about. I don’t hate nursing at all and actually am not sure what else I would do in life for a job. I have learned there are better nursing jobs or worse nursing jobs though.....much more stressful or less stressful.
6. 

   Changing Specialities... Unsure

   speedynurse replied to sjyRN's topic in General Specialties

   I actually felt similar when I made the move from ER to pre-op/PACU. I had a few people say that’s where ER and ICU nurses go to retire. Now...I am a second career nurse, but I am definitely on the younger side. Quite a few decades before I retire LOL. I felt like I was giving up or that I was less than a nurse by changing specialities. However, I think one thing you need to consider is if things in your life are different to where ICU is no longer a good job for you. Maybe you are dealing with other challenges in life or maybe you never really did like the ICU. And that’s OK! Actually in my department, there is a wide variety of ages. I would say most are on the middle aged to older side, but the younger ones are starting to accumulate. Some made the move because they had kids at home and decided the stress of the job wasn’t worth it....others hated doing night shift and liked the hours better.....others felt their nursing license was on the line in the ER or ICU....or were sick of the verbal and physical abuse in the ER. The list goes on and on. Do what’s best for you - doesn’t matter what others think. You may love PACU! If not, it’s not a big deal changing specialties again.
7. 

   Chiropractors

   speedynurse replied to Davey Do's topic in Lounge

   As I have said to others....I think every profession can be guilty of being greedy or nuts or unempathetic. I know I work with surgeons.....most of whom are great but there are a few that are greedy, rush through surgeries, don’t monitor patients closely, and thus end up with quite a few post op complications. But they don’t change their practices and they keep doing the same things over and over for the money. I know I met a chiropractor as a kid who I thought was absolutely bonkers. However I also went to one when I was older and I did get some relief for a few years. What I have learned through chronic illness since childhood is I don’t think it’s necessarily fair to say one profession is all crazy or all greedy or all unprofessional. In fact, there is at least a small number of those in every profession.
8. 

   Chiropractors

   speedynurse replied to Davey Do's topic in Lounge

   I think this goes in line though with any profession. I have met people who were wonderful and great at their profession....and many who were not.
9. 

   Per Diem pros/cons

   speedynurse replied to kitten0509's topic in Nursing

   Actually I totally understand the flight of fight response in the ER. I think at a certain point it is time for a different speciality - mentally, physically, and emotionally. I am in surgical services and honestly, it’s really nice knowing what to expect coming in.....if you need something different, then do it! You can always go back to the ED if you want to.
10. 

    Feeling Guilt For Being Sent Home

    speedynurse replied to FutureNurse0201's topic in Nursing

    I don’t think tele will be easier as I know I had to work just as hard when I had hold tele patients versus just ER patients! There is often still a ton of lifting with tele patients too. I had some that were total care as holds. I think it’s hard to give you an answer and only you can....Whether you are on the tele floor or ICU, you will still need lifting help and you shouldn’t feel bad about it. I know I helped plenty of pregnant coworkers transport, lift, etc. Do you think you will like the ICU job after you have your baby? If so, then stay.
11. 

    How Long Do You Expect To Be a Nurse?

    speedynurse replied to SilverBells's topic in Nursing

    I plan to stay in nursing with it being a second career for me and a fairly dependable job. However, saying that, I wouldn’t mind to have a change to maybe nurse education down the road or some kind of research. At this point, I am not sure, but the good thing about nursing is that you can use is for many different areas and there are many different options.
12. 

    Chiropractors

    speedynurse replied to Davey Do's topic in Lounge

    I think sometimes chronic illness or injuries does require work.....sometimes a LOT of work to improve.....from all avenues and many second and third opinions. In all honesty, when I did everything from conventional/mainstream medicine only, I actually made very minimal improvement as a child. However, when I started using all sides of medicine....researching on my own and pulling in some alternative forms or holistic forms or simply research and evidence based forms of care, I actually improved. I survived a prognosis modern medicine claimed I never would - except I did. But not without lots of work (and still with a lot of work). I am not saying it’s all about determination, but I do think society wants a “quick fix” and then gets upset when there isn’t one. I can’t change what I was born with or even some of the resulting damage - what I can change is how badly I want to try to improve my quality and quantity of life. I am grateful to have so many forms of health avenues to choose from....and sometimes surgery and medicines are helpful and sometimes other methods are just as helpful.
13. 

    Getting Bored

    speedynurse replied to Curious1alwys's topic in Nursing

    Wow so I am not the only one! I went once from the “fire to the frying pan” in a job.....in my hurry to get out of a job I was exhausted in, I didn’t think things through and went into a job that was about a thousand times worse. I am in a much better job now, but am still trying to get my confidence back from that too fast decision.
14. 

    Chiropractors

    speedynurse replied to Davey Do's topic in Lounge

    I think it’s even bigger than pain management. I am now seeing research hospitals recommend healthier diets for people with cancer, such a low sugar modifications, etc. I think we live in a society where everyone wants a quick fix instead of being willing to modify multiple parts of their lifestyles. I really admire patients that are willing to try different avenues to improve their health with chronic illness or even during their cancer battle.
15. 

    Chiropractors

    speedynurse replied to Davey Do's topic in Lounge

    I am one that think conventional and alternative medicine can often work hand in hand. (Saying that though, I understand there are many types of alternative medicine). I think chiropractors can give very real relief from chronic pain and injuries. Same thing with diet modifications with chronic illness, exercise, etc. I think both sides have to be willing to learn from each other. In fact, many well known clinics and hospitals are incorporating alternative or integrative health with conventional medicine. My theory is do what helps and what works and provides relief!
16. 

    Four 12s in a row?!?! 😭😭

    speedynurse replied to NightNerd's topic in Nursing

    When I was on nights, I liked working my shifts in a row because it was less miserable to try to reverse. Actually, nights were hard for me one way or the other 🤣. At one time I could do several 12s in a row. Not anymore....I generally drag if I do more then a few shifts in a row.