ms_orion

Are you working at a VA Hospital? I have never met so-o many physicians that accuse nurses of "diagnosing" as I have at the VA. Yes....the post above..."respectfully ask for a written plan of improvement". Geeze! I have had better learning opportunities and teamwork in clinics; hospital nurses---act like Jr High Students with their BS.

Personally...My Hospital experience sucked! BUT..it was at a VA Hospital, substandard care and disrespect!!! More skills are learned in a physicians office....except the use of lifts and all the back-breaking stuff.

Renee ... RELAX! If a medication is prescribed for you by your physician and you do not experience any side-effects that may compromise your or a patients safety...THERE IS NO PROBLEM. NO. You do not give this information to Human Resources (or anybody else for that matter). The Employee Health Nurse will interview you. THAT IS THE ONLY PERSON YOU NEED TO TELL. I was concerned as well, when I applied at my first hospital job. I was taking anxiety medication, and Hydrocodone (I had been taking for about 3 years due to spinal injury). It is confidential..it goes into a seperate record with the Employee Health Nurse. NOW: I was worried. I asked the Nurse if taking these medications were going to disqualify me for the job. She smiled at me and said, "Honey, if taking (prescribed) medications were an issue WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY EMPLOYEES HERE". It is okay. Relax. My advice is do not discuss any of your personal health issues with anybody except the Employee Health Nurse. Nobody else has the right to know. Some of the (many) gossipers will just take information you provided to them, just in general conversation and the whole unit will know. Then, if you are not in the "clique"..just like Jr High School ... they will try and use the information against you at somepoint. (I also am diagnosed with OCD, PANIC DISORDER, DEPRESSION, and SPINAL STENOSIS). Relax. WE (caregivers) ARE HUMAN TOO. I hope this helps you. If you are indeed depressed or have a diagnosis of any psychiatric issue (anxiety, whatever...taking the medication is IN NO WAY a "HAPPY PILL" like some people believe). The problem stems from lowered Serotonine levels. If you are not depressed...you will not feel any difference. Sort of like taking an aspirin...if you have a headache, it may work...if not....no detrimental effects to your health. My advice to you: Take the medication...get any counseling you need. If the medications somehow make you have unpleasant side-effects, discuss this with your physician. (I have been there too- - A LOT of us have been there). Take care of YOU first...ALWAYS! I had the tendency to work to provide for others and neglect myself and right now, I am on leave...physical and mental exhaustion. So, take care of YOU...then you will be able to take care of everybody else and enjoy doing it. Okay? Good Luck!

You have WSU in your post...assuming Washington State? I made $26.00/hr...it depends on your experience and the clinic.

The usual advice in school - - Med-Surg - - I started out as a float nurse in a Primary care clinic (which I despised in nursing school, because "they weren't real nurses") HA. I loved it, also did urgent care. Since I have re-located... I'm working in a hospital. Let me tell you, all I was missing in the hospital was the chaos and gossip. If you are in a 'good' place..you will learn as you go. Usually, excellent team work. There will be 'boring' days, but those days are used for catching up on things you didn't have time for during the "rush"..cleaning, paperwork etc....but you will see a variety of things. Truthfully, I practiced more skills and had more autonomy in the clinic than I do in the hospital. The main thing..is your co-workers, staff members (schedulers, etc..) and the attitudes of the physicians you work with...that is what will create the environment. Best of luck. (I have respect for hospital nurses..of course..but it isn't for me. I have learned how to care for ventilator pts and other things you dont see in the clinic... but honestly, I worked with a great group and physicians who loved to teach. You will do alot of injections, see alot of uri, uti, etc....patient teaching? You have more time in the clinic than in the hospital. Ridiculous, huh? Bedside nursing is definitely NOT what it was.

I am not a NP but...you are correct..."How do you really, really see a patient in 15 minutes"? It is a disgrace that healthcare has become an 'assembly' line. How often do you get checked out in a grocery store in 15 minutes? I have worked mainly in primary care clinics. EVERY provider was behind! Schedulers MUST take into account the problem (as well as the pt) when scheduling a visit. 15 minutes for an earache, acne whatever...and BEING A NEW PROVIDER, they should be allotting extra time for you until you get into a routine. You are new and need the extra time to get to know your clients as well. A good nurse should also be helping you. Type out your expectations. Talk to management. It doesn't mean your a 'loser'..it means you KNOW your limitations and need to be respected. Hang in there. I don't know where you work, but stand up for yourself. Wishing you the best of luck in your profession.

Where do YOU work? 5-star? I thought I was at a n excellent place as well..until I worked there for awhile....substandard care and people showing up just to get paid. Whatever happened to this "caring" profession....Caring?

No, It is not too much to ask. We are all in this together, or are supposed to be anyway. I don't know the answer to how to get people to help. It isn't any wonder why people get so burned out.

I cherish my time alone as well .

Welcome to Nursing! I graduated in 1993...took a positionin a family practice clinic until I could obtain a hospital position. Well, I ended up staying with family practice until I moved to another state (family) in 2006. WOW, Im working in a hospital where all the "real" nurses are---NOT! All I was missing all those years were skills that can be learned whenever. I had more independence, worked with PROFESSIONAL people who respected each other and our patients. I have done more "skills" in the clinic that I ever have done in the hospital environment....okay no IV's or ventilators in the clinic...but I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED SUCH DISRESPECT among co-workers as I have in the hospital environment. Youre right..thing are 'pencil whipped'... co-workers are not a team and eat each other up. Too much to do and no time to do it (if you are doing it properly). I have been told all hospitals are like this. Scary, isn't it? I'm ready to throw in the towel myself. If I could turn back time, I would never have left the clinic. In this state, nurses get paid much less than where I came from...especially in the clinic. If I can find a position in a clinic, that is anything like the one I left...the pay won't matter...peace of mind is priceless. Best Wishes.

I worked as a "clinic"nurse for years and always felt "less than" a "real" nurse. We moved out of state and I applied at a hospital. I have been there 3 years now. Oh, yeah..I have learned skills I hadnt done before. Truthfully? I learned and did more as an office nurse than I am doing as a hospital nurse. In the clinic I worked side-by-side with physicians. I gained so much knowledge from them. I aquired their trust and respect and they taught me things. In the hospital environment, only a select few are trusted and respected by physicians. I dont get to spend quality time with patients....its almost factory like... "production" .... continuing education is offered, but the only people who can attend are those who are on light duty and are not able to work anyway. No, I used to be on of "those" who thought a clinic nurse was not a "real" nurse. HAHA....No way.....Clinic nurses work hard..we get to use our brain..(YES...hospital administrators and arrogant physicians..NURSES DO HAVE BRAINS!)... interact and really help our patients I am going back to the clinic. Just as soon as I find the right fit.

It ain't NEVER going to end... if you do one thing well .. you will get reamed for doing another thing poorly -- and the thing that you did well -- you will get no credit for that. LTC... sucks! Not because of the patients, but because of the lack of staffing and the certain amount of people that work in the environment that really are there to get a paycheck for showing up. It's my opinion (I know, everyone has one)..but, to survive in this environment a person HAS got to have a certain amount of 'I Don't Give a Damn' in them, otherwise... eventually a person who doesnt have that...will lose confidence in themselves, in others and begin to lose their own minds. I am at that line right now. You wrapped an emergence bleed in the dining room? OMG! ***! Ya know? Be real! I would pat you on the back for taking care of it. You cut a sandwich without wearing gloves? Did you wash your hands first? Your hands were probably cleaner than the gloves anyway....who is doing all the reprimanding? Techs? Nurse busy-bodies that sit on their ass and gossip watching what YOU do instead of lending a hand. Relax...be the kind of nurse that you want to be. Remember what you have learned. Continue to learn. DO NOT LET THEM BURN YOU OUT!

amazing: a man who had never ever been sick, never been to a physician or hospital...had a stroke. difficult to understand him when he spoke...as he recovered and was able to speak "better"...he reached for my hand. i held his hand and listened..."you are a great nurse, the best". "why do you say that", i asked him. his reply (i will never forget).........."because you treat me like a human being".

hmmm....did I write this? LOL....**** happens everywhere I guess!

Thank you so much for this information!

Question: First let me say I was reprimanded for using a "Clean Cart" because it was open to hallway air in a LTC/CLC Unit. It was ACCEPTABLE, however to walk to linen cart (shared) and retrieve 1 towel and 1 washcloth and WALK IT DOWN THE "open air hall" to each individual resident. I asked to see a guideline (written) and was told it was not written, but "common sense" ? CAN ANYBODY EXPLAIN WHY IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO HAND CARRY ONE TOWEL AT A TIME TO RESIDENTS DOWN THE OPEN AIR HALLWAY, RATHER THAN STACK THEM ON A CLEAN CART DOWN THE OPEN AIR HALL? This does not seem like common sense to me. It was efficient to me actually,, as it was all CLEAN. I appreciate any rational for this. Anybody know WHERE to find written guidelines that satisfy Joint comission and the other inspecting agencies regarding issues of infection control (as well as everything else I need to know) on LTC?CLC/Hospice Units in Federal Agencys. Apparently...people are pulling these things "out of the air"...I would like to be able to see this in writing. THANK YOU!

But...are we covered by the American with Disabilities Act. Are we covered by FMLA? How do you cope without telling everybody (actually just WHO is it that needs to know?)...I dont want to lose my job. I struggle daily. I am an efficient nurse. But...Migraines r/t depression are threatening my employment. Cant just "Cowboy Up"...true dibilitating migraines. Yes..it doe smake you feel like a failure when you are a nurse..and cant make it in because , heck...you need a nurse yourself. Thanks.

This incident occured at our facility as well. The "experts" removed the PICC, placed another and patient had blood cultures drawn as well. Perfect situation for all those germs to get right in there.

Check out VA Hospital web-site...tele health jobs available. VA has the better pay in TN than other business's

H*** NO! Tatoo..so? I work at the hospital..people have tatoos...we have obese nurses...nurses with acne....nurses with hearing problems. GO FOR IT!!

tell them you havent found your "niche"...every nurse eventually finds it :)

Where are you living now?

riverview medical clinic....tri-cities washingon....(pasco-kennewick-richland). they are affiliated with "our lady of lourdes" hospital (ascension health). they now have grown two 2 clinics....outstanding place to be! if it were in the "cards" (financially) i would return in a "new york minute"!!! i live in murfreesboro, tn now. if anybody reading this post knows of a place in this area, with the same values and ethics...(in murfreesboro...i hate driving far to work) please, let me in on the opportunity! peace of mind and the shear joy of going to work is worth more to me than any amount of $$$$ can buy. thank you for asking.:redpinkhe

:loveya::) I have been fortunate in my experience(s) in the clinic environment.....I worked with physician and PA's, ARNP's that were eager to share their knowledge, expose me to new skills....and encourage me to grow. I left state due to family issues....although I left for the "right" reasons....I truly miss all those professional people who loved to learn and treated ALL staff with respect and courtesy. Another blessing....We PRAYED everyday, before the clinic opened...for our day...for our patients...that place was was awesome. I pray I find another clinic that has all these qualities. People truly cared for each other and our clients. If I could afford to go back--I would not hesitate. Very, Very rewarding at the end of the day.:redbeathe

Regret? Nope! Never! Learned so much working so close with the physician. Hospitals' suck the life out of you. Seems they just want "bodys"...go through the motions and suck up the BS that is put out there. I am going back to the clinic just as soon as I can. People can be taught skills....but caring, compassion, and respect...thats something people should have learned a long time ago. I hate hopital nursing. It is dog-eat-dog and they will work you to death to save a few dollars. Definitely NOT where I want to be.