kellerpatty

Thanks to both of you for your helpful responses. I appreciate that you've taken the time to fill me in on some of your observations as nurses in the psych nursing field. I've started my position, and yes, it's very different from the burn ICU. However, there are a couple of similarities and those are just that people suffer and struggle with challenges whether it be more physical through trauma and injury or psychological through trauma or circumstance. Thanks again for your thoughts...I haven't gotten many responses to my post, but what I have received from you guys is invaluable.

Hi Everyone: I'm moving to a job in an in-patient psychiatric facility (acute care) from a nursing career in a Burn ICU. What would be most important for me to learn or what qualities can I work on that would help me to be successful in this field? I went into nursing school with the intent of being a mental health nurse, but got into the BICU right after graduation and learned a ton about everything there. I loved the BICU, but I'm very excited to be starting in the psychiatric field. Any and all suggestions would be most welcome and appreciated! Thanks!!

Hi: Our Burn Techs ROCK! Couldn't do without them!

Dear Dear 3535: Thanks for the note, I'm glad I'm not alone in the way I feel. I worked hard to become a nurse and also enjoy being one. I also really want to help my patients and their families get better. I'm sorry to hear that one more nurse has become disillusioned and unhappy enough to leave. I really I wish you the very best in whatever your future holds. Maybe someday you will reconsider nursing and return...maybe things will have improved, or you might even find a better area of nursing. Anyway, take care and good luck!

This is a good example of why nurses leave: negativity...someone goes out of their way and writes a nice, sweet, and completely non-negative note...even goes so far as to thank all us nurses...BUT THERE IS STILL SOMEONE OUT THERE who is so negative that they have to rip her a new one...dang!

Give me a break! Of course, most people who become nurses do so because that's the kind of person they are. There are realizations that this profession will be different from many others they might have experienced before, but the few things that I specifically didn't expect were: 14 hours shifts, no time for food of any kind even though they dock your pay 30 minutes every shift for meal time, peeing once a shift because there's just no time, managers messing around with your schedule without asking or even telling you, patient families that threaten you, coworkers that don't show up or show up and do nothing, co-workers that reek of alcohol, co-workers that leave patients in terrible condition and no supplies in the room (at all), no recourse to any of the above because the "bigshots" go home at 17:00, being hit, spit on, kicked, changing unconscious patients' bedding at least twice a night, no techs to help, six critical patients with two "experienced nurses" and one newbie..CRIKEY, who said anybody is asking for anything except a slight degree of understanding, respect and a BREAK! Again, get real...you obviously have NO IDEA...flowers and a foot massage, sheesh...

Hi: Intern Neurosis can be a serious malady in the nursing world. I know my own case of Intern Neurosis manifests itself every morning (I work nights in an ICU at a university/teaching hospital), when: They all come around taking my charts and nursing documentation while I'm trying to give report; They resolutely take up residence in my chair to pretend to intently scan said documentation after I've been running around for about 13 or 14 hours with no food and a full bladder; They start asking me lazy questions about things when the answers they seek are clearly given in the flowsheet that they've just taken from me (see above), and When they are walking around talking and acting like they know what they're doing (while quietly pumping the nurses for info before the attending gets there)! If that's not Intern Neurosis, I don't know what is...ha!

Hi: I can relate...I graduated in May and was extremely glad to do so! Prior to nursing school I was a straight A student (I'm in my 40's). When I started, I was completely taken aback to find my test grades just weren't what I was used to...meaning not always in the 90s. I was uptight, irritated, and confused as to why. Happily I discovered that when I gave up the idea that I always had to be "perfect" with "perfect" grades, my grades started to improve. Once I began to relax and realize that nursing school was a whole new game from what I was used to, my test grades started to improve and I graduated with highest honors. The secret I learned is that worrying about my test grades only took up space in my brain that was better used for other things. Studying intently and being willing to close my mouth and open my ears to any person that wanted to teach me something was (and is) the way to get what I needed to succeed. I'm now working in a Level I ICU, and no I don't always achieve "A" level success, but the lessons I learned about myself in nursing school have stayed with me and things are improving every day. Hang in there, and try to think less singularly about a "grade" and more well-roundedly (is that a word?) about what you're actually trying to achieve in nursing school and you'll do wonderfully! Best wishes for your continued SUCCESS!!! : )

If its not charted...it never happened. End of story. If a nurse is sued, then they'd be crumb out of luck, because they'd have no legs to stand on.

Dear Miranda (RN/writer): Thanks for the great information on processing feelings. The original poster's situation has not happened to me (yet), but having these tools will definitely help before that time comes (I work in an BICU where people do die). These suggestions will help me not only with death issues, but with the pain and suffering issues that I sometimes must cause in my care of burn patients who actually will survive. It is nice to have a place where I can read really good advice and ideas from people who have been there. Thanks again for taking the time to let us all know your thoughts...I am sure they will help tremendously when the time comes. Also, to the original poster, my best wishes go out to you. Just reading and thinking of your situation and how you had to go it alone, breaks my heart. You sound like a great nurse and have pretty much been thrown into a situation that you will probably look back on as a huge growth experience. Take care of yourself and if you feel like it, let us know how you're doing.

1.) what is your highest level of education? 2.) What type of facility do you work in? (Hospital, homehealth, office, etc) 3.) Is your current facility hiring? Does it offer hire-on bonuses? 4.) Do you feel as though your place of employment is short staffed? 5.) If #4 is "yes," Can you give one or two examples? 6.) How many hours do you work a week? Do you feel valued? Overworked? 7.) Is overtime expected of you? 8.) Have you left a job bc of short staffing? 9.) How many years have you been working in the field? 10.) If near retiring age, do you plan on retiring, or continuing to work? Do you feel as though retiring is an option-or do you feel as though you are "needed" be your facility too badly to leave? 1. ADN degree 2. Hospital Burn ICU 3. Always hiring, only EC nurses (and Resp Therapists) get bonuses at this point in time 4. In BICU, no...other units, probably yes 5. SICU, Med Surg, EC 6. Work about 52 one week, 40 next week (supposed to be 48/36). Feel valued, but I'm fairly new. Of course, I feel overworked...what nurse doesn't! 7. It's not really a topic...you do what you gotta do. Doesn't happen very often that you are actually "requested" to work overtime, it just happens. 8. Not yet. 9. 6 mos Nurse Tech, 4 mos RN 10. Just started, but sometimes I feel like I should retire already! Good luck with your education...

Work nights (18:30 to 06:30) in a Burn ICU and take 1 to 2 patients, with a burn tech until about 23:00. Sometimes those 2 patients feel like 20. Very rarely sit down throughout the night...eating is a treat!

Oops...I guess if 26 is too old, it's a little late for me. Went back to school at 40, graduated nursing school with honors at 44, and am working as an ICU nurse at 45...I wish someone would of told me before I started that I was tooooo old...I could have saved a lot of time and knitted a lot of sweaters on my porch at my decrepit old age! Ha! Good luck to you at whatever you do and at whatever age you are!

I guess I'll just have to quit nursing and become a teacher...where everything is SO MUCH FAIRER!!! ha ha

Hi: Did clinicals at Covenant and UMC. Run, don't walk from Covenant. Large percentage of the nastiest nurses you will ever meet (except in the ER and the Dialysis unit, they were great). Angry, unhelpful, small-minded...are the mildest words I would use to describe my experiences there. I believe they've moved clinicals from some of the floors over there due to the unprofessionalism and hostility of some of the units. I don't understand how nurses can survive in such a toxic environment. Of course, there are good nurses at Covenant and not-so-good nurses elsewhere, just had bad experiences over there consistently. Have you investigated UMC for a scholarship? No matter what you decide, best of luck to you in your education and new career!