newohiorn BSN, RN, EMT-P

1. A good CNA is a lifesaver for the nurse and sometimes the patient. 2. Say thank you to the co-workers who are helping you and/or just doing their job well--lab, phlebotomy, dietary, techs, transport, MRI. All of them. All of these people can a...

I'm pretty lazy about this but I see from skimming a few of the above posts that I'm not alone in my post-work hygiene habits. I do not change shoes or scrubs when I come home and can even be found lounging on the couch in my scrubs after work, and ...

As others said, look into Vetbond. Very similar to Dermabond and about half the price. This was a lifesaver for me last winter when my hands were very badly cracked. I was able to use it many times without the bottle tip getting glued shut like su...

If talkativeness wears you out or is draining, you may very well be an introvert. I am in introvert and too much chit chat and general noise makes me crazy. I self isolate (stole that term from one of the posters above) all the time and I don't ca...

I'm per diem float at my hospital and I am required to work a minimum of 24 hours a month. At the beginning of the month I give them days and shifts that I want to work and they put me on their "schedule" but I am not guaranteed to work. I find out...

Don't panic. None of us retained every bit of information from nursing school. Cram, take those tests and pass, retain what you can. The truth is most of us really learn how to be a nurse on the job. Commit yourself to being a continual learner. ...

It certainly sounds like you are judging. Exactly what would you "confront" such a nurse about? How is it your business to know why someone chose to be a nurse? Do you ask your doctor the same question, your attorney, your grocer, your mailman/wom...

Regarding lay and lie: I finally learned this one with the following tidbit. Lay means to put or place. Lie means to rest or recline. In general (I think), living things like people and animals lie while inanimate objects lay. This thread is cra...

I love perseverate! To me it sounds just like what it is. :-) My pet peeves: Advice vs. advise. People often come on AN asking for advise when they mean advice. Also loose vs. lose. A person can lose ten pounds and then their pants might be lo...

Report! Get to it. I float, so every four hours I'm going to another unit. I find the night shift staff coming in at 7p to be worst about this. I recognize that they are just starting their shift and they want to chat and maybe don't care if repo...

I enjoyed your posts, but I understand. I have disappeared from AN for months and possibly years at a time. Every now and then I would come to post something knowing it was the only place people would "get" it. Please return if and when you like.

To answer the original question, looks, of course, do matter. I have an acquaintance who had a difficult time getting hired which may or may not have been due to the fact that he had a lot of tattoos, including all the way up on his neck. I also w...

More money makes it more tolerable for me. I was working more or less at the bottom of the pay scale at my hospital since I'd only been a nurse 2.5 years when I decided to bump myself to the top of the pay scale by going to per diem because I didn't...

Definitely doable. I graduated with a 4.0 while working full-time. I did not, however, get 100 on every test nor would I ever spend the time necessary to do so. In my opinion life is far too short to waste valuable time studying more than necessar...

I worked full time and went to school full time. It was very difficult with the first few quarters being the most difficult. I really did nothing else for myself. I didn't cook for myself, didn't wash my own dishes, etc. My husband pretty much di...

I remember having a lot of trouble finding them when I was a new nurse too! Had forgotten that until I saw your post. Now I can pretty much walk up to someone and know where they should be. It comes with time and practice. Feel pulses on every pa...

There are three major adult hospital systems in my town. The only one that charges employees for parking is the university hospital.

These are amazing! Keep them coming!

My husband and I are also on opposite shifts four days of the week. Wish I had some good advice but I don't. I hate to cook and especially hate to cook for one. I eat out A LOT. I'll be watching to see what suggestions you get. I do occasionally...

My only way to recharge at work is if (big if) I get to go to lunch, I go to the cafeteria and eat by myself and read the paper, the news on my phone, whatever. I do not enjoy eating in the break room with everybody chatting. The only other thing I...

I am not a mom nor have I been in a position to support or care for my parents so I won't speak to that as others have already provided some very good insight. I can, however, imagine the hurt caused by your mother's comments. It sounds like she ha...

I think it probably takes about six months to a year to get used to working as a nurse but, at least for me, you're still always learning. I'm eight years in and still wish I could buy the 20-years of experience out of a seasoned nurse's brain. My ...

I did not state a hypothesis, which would imply that I am conducting a study on this topic. I stated what I believe, my opinion. As to what the research shows, Aiken appears to be the primary researcher in this area and even she is quoted as stati...

I've been a nurse for 8 years. I've worked the following positions: Spine unit Neuro critical care Float pool--all med-surg, intermediate and ICU units Community Outreach working with the homeless Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Ortho ambulatory surge...

Degree in Business Administration (majored in Transportation and Logistics). I never worked in that field for even a minute. I've always worked in medicine in some way, insurance, doctor's offices and eventually medical transcription, which I loved...