ChronicNurse

When I was working as a house supervisor and an aid said to me "that's not my patient". I would reassign that patient to the aid for the rest of the night. It would make them mad but it is very effective. After I did it a few times I rarely ever heard that phrase again in that facility. If I tell an aid to take care of a resident they WILL get up and do it right away or they will punch out and go home. When aids don't do their job it's a poor reflection on the nurse running the unit. Just my .02

I agree with Chaya. It is highly unlikely that the girl would catch anything from this. The condom had to be at least hours old by the time the girl got to it. I can however understand how the Mom must feel being a parent of three daughters myself. I feel so bad for her that this happened to her child. Give her my regards. I hope all turns out well for them.

Agency runs hot and cold. The holidays are the worse time for agency. Staff picks up so there isn't much work to go around but during the rest of the year there are ways to stay very busy with agency work. First, agencies almost never offer benefits. And yes you can and often do get canceled without much notice. But if you get in good with the agency they will always offer you work. Don't ever call off and the more shifts you accept the more they will offer you. Also, if you get in good with the facility they will ask for you and often offer you first dibs on available shifts. As for contracts, sometimes those are few and far between but it can be done. I did 18 months worth of contracts on a tele unit. Set it up with the nurse manager. But you pretty much have to be a stellar nurse for them to agree to a good contract. The only way you could end up getting set up for multiple shifts at the same time is if you work for more than one agency and agree to the shifts at the same time. So you need to be carefull and keep an accurate calender. Most agencies do not pay over time unless the facility agrees to take you under those conditions and most places won't unless your super nurse. I have been canceled at the last minute many times but often sent somewhere else. When I did the hospital contract it was rare that I was canceled. I hope this helps.

I live in Louisville, KY area. I have seen pay rates ranging from $16-$22 an hour depending on facility and experience. I do a lot of hospital agency work and get 24-26 for telemetry.

I was tired of dating waitresses, thought I'd give nurses a try.

Yep, many times in ten years. Mostly by psych & geriatric Pt's. I had to take a 22 year old boy down in an elevator once. He was on a psych hold and assaulted three others and tried to leave the unit. I let him throw a punch, then stepped in and took him down to the floor. 2mg of ativan in one butt check and 4 of haldol in the other.

I am an LPN and have worked tele for 5 years. It's great experience and if you stick with it you will be able to work just about any unit if asked. Some of the mistakes you say you have made seem to be new grad forgetfulness. Pay attention to detail always no matter where you work. That's first and foremost. Second, most places I know of (at least in my experience) will allow new grads some leeway when it comes to orientation and grant some extra time. I would go to your nurse manager and in a very diplomatic way ask 1. for more orientation. Say you want to provide the best care possible for the pt's and you feel you still have some learning you need. and 2. Request a new preceptor. Don't bad mouth the current one but explain that their my be some personality conflicts and you would like a fresh view from someone else.