penguin2

Gee, are there any survivors of jumping out of planes sans parachutes out there to back this up? LOL

How can you catch this person though? We have a similar situation where I work- this RN is stealing employee's belongings & money - we can't accuse her though b/c nobody is 100% sure! Things have been disappearing since shortly after she was hired, but w/out proof what can be done?

I can relate to this-- right now I'm working w/a nurse who is so exuberant (manic) she makes my head hurt.... she can't sit still stand still or do anything w/out stopping & starting several times Adult ADHD?? She comes across as phoney/fake & all of us on her shift are annoyed, but management seems to love it- not something you can really complain about, but no one is that "happy" 24/7. I have to psych myself up to be around her for 12 hrs!!

LOL, I guess a patient could be easily aroused- especially if they've received Propofol.......

OK, Toradol is the correct spelling- yet I see certain docs ALWAYS order "toredol" it makes me crazy!! Just write 'ketorolac' LOL......

LOL, I have to agree, in fact when texting I use so few abbreviations that people joke "first time texting?" I'm still trying to figure out a text my sister sent me this a.m. I am easily annoyed by bad spelling/grammar- it makes one appear uneducated IMO. I have to keep reminding myself that I can't control other people.......

I work w/someone like that-- thanks for reminding me of what's really important.

I was told a long time ago that 'irregardless' is not even a word- I want to SCREAM that at the person using it- & the person using it always seems to think they sound intelligent........

Having worked in Maine as well as many other states, I can tell you Maine pays significantly LESS.

Well if there's nothing "in the wings" or in the ER or OB, we all go home w/the hope that we can sleep the rest of the night and NOT be called back!!-- it happens sometimes- we don't always get called in more than once, and sometimes we don't get called at all! Such is the nature of call- when you don't get called in you think "that wasn't so bad" but then you get slammed sometimes and wonder how much longer you can do it. We've had a high turnover of younger staff b/c call interferes w/a social life!! At first it seemed better than every other wkend and holidays, then it gets old.

Yes, that's right- a day shift would be starting just as my night call is ending. Our manager goes to great lengths to see that we're not there past lunches, and many times I have been sent home as soon as they arrive, depending on how much I was up during the night. If I was there all night- I would stay until day shift arrived, and was not expected to stay- they would float a nurse from another unit to cover pre-op and then send the pre-op nurse to PACU, since we are all cross-trained. However, I was still expected to stay until arrangements had been made. I work in a small but extremely busy rural hospital, so we have no 2nd or 3rd shifts for surgery. After hours call is for emergencies only- but that also includes OB, we also do a large amount of trauma as well. I have been doing this a long time as well, and the only compensation for the miserable call is it's all overtime for any callback, plus shift diff. I feel for you- I know what it's like to be sleep deprived. I was once called on the carpet b/c a 'stat' OR case was called, and I had to leave immediately to come in & help OR- when I got there 30 min later, no one was in the OR- the supervisor had 'forgotten' to cancel the staff!! I was very tired and short w/her and was reported the next day. Fortunately, I had written the supervisor up as well- as had several other members of the team- including our anesthesiologist- apparently the case had been cancelled w/in minutes of calling in the team, and everyone else had showed up as well & was irritated-- so I was 'off the hook'. I really don't think it is appreciated by other depts that PACU/OR may be up 1/2 the night and still have to work the next day. I have been called in 3 & 4 times in one night, and frankly I'm ready for a change! Since I love PACU & pre-op, I am considering transferring to a surgery center now. Good luck to you, and keep us posted.

I never refused to come in for call. I have spent the night at the hospital in blizzards tho, to avoid another drive in! I have been there until 6 a.m. and had to report back at 6:30 a.m. as well, however, our manager would always try his best to get us out of there ASAP- sometimes it would be after lunch, depending on the day. We were expected to come in when called- day shift took over as soon as they got there. We also had an hour response time, but until that day shift is THERE, there is no coverage for that patient. We've had staff with last minute call-ins, car problems, etc. It was always our responsibility to be there when called in- there really was no question. What was the outcome of the meeting w/your manager?

I never thought I'd see the day where nurses had to worry about layoffs! The same thing is happening where I work- outpatient surgery-- they have laid off all LPNs 1st & then those RNs w/least seniority. They have also frozen all future raises, effective Dec. 1st. We're hoping it won't last long!!

The hospital I work at is non-smoking. Employees used to be able to smoke in a screened in porch off the cafeteria, however; last yr that changed to no smoking anywhere w/in 100 ft of the facility. So now employees sit in their cars & smoke. (which makes them come in smelling worse than ever!!) The docs will write nicotine patch orders for pts- they used to be allowed to smoke on benches near the hospital entrance w/a staff person only-- talk about second hand smoke.

doh!!

I agree that everyone who shares your concerns should meet privately & confidentially w/management, DON, etc. I don't think anything you listed is reportable, however, addressing your concerns to management might help, esp. since it sounds like your whole unit is concerned- maybe they would reconsider their decision to have her do charge. BTW, just to clarify-- even if she 'wanders' into your patient's room and causes harm- it is HER LICENSE -- not yours, each person is working under their OWN license and w/in their scope of practice- never do anything you think is unsafe. As long as you're doing what you should, I wouldn't worry about things that haven't happened yet. It's always a good idea to carefully document everything- in a personal journal of your own, to be accessed if problems do arise. Good Luck!

Have you considered Boulder or Denver CO? The winters are surprisingly mild, & altho the summers can be hot, you don't have to contend w/the humidity. I moved here from Northern New England too & was amazed how mild the winters were. You still get the change of seasons here, but nowhere near as severe & miserable as what I was used to! My sister lives in No. CA & that's a gorgeous area too- a lot like NNE.

An IM injection through clothing would be very poor technique- I find it hard to believe that anyone would actually do this! My mother is also an insulin dep. diabetic, and just injects at the table in restaurants. It's never been questioned, and as another poster said, I doubt anyone's even noticed. It would be very offensive & degrading to be hauled off for a drug test b/c of someone's ignorance too-- in fact, it's hard to imagine a policeman who wouldn't believe my neatly dressed articulate mom when questioned about her "illegal drug use"!! People really DO need to MYOB!!

You will need excellent assessment & IV skills. You will pick up these things over time, as well as the innate ability to recognize BS when you hear it!! :-)

You know it's not a good place to work when they offer you the job on the spot & never say "pending references"! This means they don't check references at all on anyone & you get all kinds of problem people & high staff turnover. I found this out the hard way & would never accept a job where they seem TOO eager to hire!! (these are the same employers that lie in the interview & make all kinds of promises & never deliver). Always get everything IN WRITING!!

The first time I took ACLS (21 yrs ago) it was 4 days of classes spread over 2 wks b/f the actual testing/mega code which took place on day 5 on a Saturday. You had to pass, not just complete it & no one got a chance to re-test. One nurse in our ED was suspended until she could retake the class (she was given the option to work Med-Surg since ACLS was not required there yet). We learned it well, and working in the ED we got to practice what we'd learned firsthand- not just go thru the motions. I felt I gained a greater understanding of the way codes were run, as well as the rationale behind the drugs we were given, the drips, etc. We were also required to take EKG & other classes prior to ACLS. Of course I'm talking "the good old days" here! :) ACLS is easier now, that's a fact, but where I work it's the same course the MDs take & we're all in there together, so it's very much a learning experience.

These decisions are made by managers who can't read monitors. What a slap in the face- it's like saying "you have to be certified in ACLS -- even tho you can't recognize rhythms" !!!

I have been taking ACLS since 1987 when it first became a requirement in my hospital. Most of us have seen the changes & 'dumbing down' of ACLS (as well as other courses) from the previous years. However, I think in the process of taking the pressure off & having to learn less details, (under the guise of making it 'easier to learn') something has been lost in the knowledge & skills gained. Those of us who use it daily are at an advantage over someone who just has to have it b/c it's a hospital-wide requirement for all RNs.

I have to agree also. There are a certain few (just like in any workplace) that think their opinions are 'the way it is'- & are VERY condescending. If I get a harsh answer or flamed, I don't justify that ignorance w/a reply. The majority of posts here are not that way, but w/some threads it's like 'walking on eggshells' & you can just imagine what some people are like to work with. Fortunately that is the exception in the workplace too!