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That's us! I'll never forget the LVAD inservice...we were like "WHAT!!!!!" We've had patient admissions cancelled because the patient...who was supposed to come down to us for 3 hours rehab per day...coded in the acute hospital trying to digest their breakfast. Let's put it this way, we check on our patients VERY often for a rehab. I really love this job in a lot of ways, it's just that the flipping between days and nights and CONSTANT running is getting to me. I as working with two very experienced nurses last night (11-7AM) and we all stayed late finishing our documentation, with only six patients each! (no techs/assistants) It's rehab, Jim, but not as we know it.

Thank you for your response. I am back to work tomorrow, and will start to work on the situation again.

When I was interviewed for Temple's BSN (non-accelerated) program for Fall '05, it was a "group" interview. We partnered up with another interviewee (there were 40 of us or so in that group, and they evetually interviewed all 200 that made the GPA cut), and we interviewed each other regarding what made us want to become nurses. After interviewing each other, we then "presented" the other person to the group. It was very clever, because it showed what we thought would be important to ask the other person, how well we could speak regarding a subject we were not prepared for, and how much we projected interest in the other person. After that, we all were asked a question (we got different questions, and mine related to discussing a Living Will with my family) to give an essay response to. I have no idea whether they still do this format, but I was impressed that they found a way to interview 200 candidates (out of the 600+ that applied) in a meaningful way. Good luck, and congrats on getting the interview!

Yeah, I have read the stories on here! I'm not sure what the deal is, and how different rehabs might be different in terms of demands, but the nurses on my unit are always running. In any case, I had not considered leaving until they switched my hours. Before, if I was stressed, I always thought it was because I was new and inefficient. I never listened to the "so, do you see how difficult it is?" comments the nurses made to me (who had known me for years as an Aide on the unit), until they got me thinking. Now that I'm thinking, well, there is a lot out there. ...and I'm keeping in mind the fact that the nurses reading this might just be a heck of a lot tougher than me, or even my workmates. Thanks for your reply.

Hi - after reading many of the posts here, and descriptions of the patient loads, I feel kind of funny posting this here. On paper, my unit would seem like a dream job, but I am not happy here, and wish feedback about a possible career change (still nurse, but different specialty). BTW, I have been working on my rehab unit for 7 months as a nurse, and was working as a therapy aide on the same unit for years before that. I am in my forties. Well, one thing is easy to communicate...I was moved to day/night rotations without it being discussed with me. This is what really prompted the idea of moving. I was not told that we would ever have to cover 0700-1900 & 1900-0700 in the same week, and they switched me without notice. I just noticed that they were putting me down for Mon 7A-1330P, Tues1900P-7A, Wed2330P-7A, Friday7A-1900P etc. on certain weeks. When I asked they said "oh, that was a mistake, you should have started on day/night rotation". Hmmm. I don't like the flip-flopping, and fee that they did a bait-and-switch on me. The other thing is constantly feeling harried because of our demanding patients. Don't laugh, because we only have 4-5 pt. per nurse when working with a CNA, or 3 pt. per nurse working alone. It's just that our patients are SO demanding, have the 9AM therapies you all know and love, we have tons of paperwork, the CNAs aren't responsive to pt. tioleting needs etc. (nurses do as much NA work as the NAs sometimes in addition to our Qshift assessments, meds, wound care, etc)) and our patients tend to be much more sick than they were years ago. Just when I think I am crazy for not being able get used to the demands, the experienced nurses tell me they are feeling it too. Maybe I'm just not being realistic, but I am a hard worker and don't mind running around. It's just that between the patients riding their call bells, management breathing down our necks over our documentation (we have someone who does little else besides scrutinize our documentation), the tons of meds, the wound care, the variety of diagnosis, the sometimes poor contributions of the assistants, the bathing & toileting, and the getting pulled to committees/projects/etc., I'm wondering if this is where I want to work. The nurses who seem less stressed frankly just don't seem to actually do their jobs - fudged assessments, etc. I was thinking about trying to find work in hospice or home care. I realize there is a ton of paperwork in home care, and other stressors. I just would like to be able to work with patients in a more meaningful way without constantly running. So, look for another rehab job with day/evening and just toughen up, or consider a move to HH or hospice? Thanks.

That list is too funny...and VERY true. I am 39 and just finished year three toward my BSN at Temple University in Philly. During the semester, and this is partly due to working 22-25 hrs. per week, I live/eat/breathe schoolwork. It is much harder than my pre-requisites were, and it was tough to get into the program at all. Having said that, I am having a great time, and am so glad I decided to not only go back to school, but specifically to go for nursing. Whoo-hoo...first post! :balloons: David