live4today

I'm sure every woman experiences sex differently whether they've had a hysterectomy or not. I shared in my other post that I did not experience anything different after the hysterectomy (sexually speaking), and 30 yrs later, there is still no difference. For me, orgasms increased, more frequent ones, and I wanted sex just as much as I did before the hysterectomy. I never had a loss of sensation. God was good to me in that department!

I didn't understand it either, but that is what my doctor told me would happen. I did not believe him until the reality of what he said proved true. I was not a nurse then, and did not understand a lot of things at that time. We're talking thirty years ago, mind you. I was a very active woman before and after my surgery, but all of a sudden by midday, I was whooped. The naps needed were brief mostly (catnaps), yet still needed. I felt like I was in my first trimester of pregnancy...the tired feeling all of a sudden midday, the need to sit or lay down and close my eyes even if I didn't go to sleep.... It was true for me. :)

I'm sorry to hear about your current health situation. I was 28 yrs of age when I had a hysterectomy. I have felt great since having it although I have always felt sadness due to not being able to have more children at such a young age when I wanted more children (I had three healthy children, but always wanted seven...yes...seven). I still have my ovaries, so never had to suffer early symptoms of menopause. At my age now, they must still be working for me since I still feel great! If the doctor plans to leave your ovaries, you should be just fine. Or, if they place you on hormone replacement therapy, you should be just fine. The only thing that changed was I no longer had a uterus, and no more periods. It did not affect my sex drive, it increased it. Problem was, my husband at that time no longer satisfied me. Sex was boring before the hysterectomy, and even more boring afterwards, so it is not true that just because you have a hysterectomy, your sex drive decreases. I hope all goes well for you. :) As for how it will impact your return to work, my doctor told me I would experience tiredness for up to one year, and not to fight the afternoon need for a nap. He was so right about that. If you return to work six weeks post-op, you may feel tired a lot at different periods of the day, but ask your provider about this. It was true for me, but it doesn't mean it is true for every woman who has a hysterectomy. I was not working the year I had my surgery, but I was raising three small children, and the naps sometimes did not correlate with their naps.

I voted no...Allnurses has not made me a "better nurse", but it has been quite informative on many levels professionally and socially speaking. Although I do not have the chance to participate on Allnurses as much as I used to in years past, I still maintain a paid membership for those few times I have visited the site over the past two years. I used to visit allnurses and participate on a huge level years ago, and wish I had more time to continue that relationship here, but life has called me away for a time to do other things of more importance. Great site...glad it's available for us. Thanks Brian for Allnurses! :)

Wishing you the same tolerant girl. (((hugs)))

Sue...so sorry for your loss. May God be with you and your family during this time of great loss. :icon_hug:

I am saddened by statements in this post. Some people don't care to hear or listen to "what is", but only care to "stick to what has been for so long" that the need for serious change never enters in for all people. Very sad day in America indeed.

I am all for healthcare reform. I watched and listened intently to President Obama's speech on healthcare, and love love love what he said. I am in one hundred percent agreement with the way he explained healthcare reform. I don't care if anyone agrees or not. I've never in my life been a "follower" or one to be bothered by standing alone when I feel something is right to support, and healthcare reform as President Obama explained it was right on target, and wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy overdue in America. I did NOT hear him say the only healthcare reform would be "government owned", and if any heard that...they really didn't care to lend the speech one hundred percent of their hearing power. Listen to it again. "Government Option Healthcare Plans" are another option for those without health insurance, and for those who simply cannot afford the ones of "free choice". Anyone who has been in nursing a very long time, especially inpatient nursing in the civilian sector knows full well the "division in healthcare" based on "what insurance you have or don't have" and "how much money you have to make yourself smell good to the ones you seek care from. If you didn't know this to be a reality in America for years and years and years now.........you've been living in a plastic bubble. Carry on. :)

I voted that I would very much encourage those who have a desire to become a nurse to attend nursing school. If they have a heart of caring for people, and can handle the down and dirty of the job...why not. Go for it! Just do it from a passion point of view, and not just for how much money they think they'll make. You'll burn out before the money arrives if you don't. :)

I totally agree. :)

great post! you should send it to as many publishers as possible. it deserves to reach millions, and it deserves a standing ovation of which i am giving it. :yeah:

Change of shift report should NOT consist of what is already written for the oncoming nurse to read and take note of. It should only consist of patient stats for the nurse who may have not cared for that patient before, and any changes in orders. Every nurse should be viewing the patients chart whether paper or computer charting for meds due and the times those meds are due, and any labs or other tests that need to be done by the oncoming shift. Report should be kept as brief and pertinent as possible giving respect for the offgoing shift's precious valuable time, and the oncoming shift's ability to begin their patient care as timely as possible. :)

Elvish gave a very reasonable suggestion that I would implement if it were me. :)

I agree that "it is ok to leave the restraints on as long as you do ROM and skin integrity assessment?" Also, a CNA could be assigned to the patient at all times to assure safety while in restraints. I believe the rule is to assess and unrestrain the patient every two hours during use of medically necessary restraints in place on a patient.

I commend your professer for having his/her nursing students take part in this very worthwhile assignment! When you go before your state senators, DO the nursing profession justice by NOT just mentioning "numbers" when talking about "safe staffing ratios". DO emphasize the necessity to keep those staffing ratios flexible based on needs of the patients being considered. It only takes one patient going sour, or one patient to tie up a nurse for various reasons to send those "numbers" crashing...rendering them meaningless in reality, no matter what's on paper. On Med/Surg, it should be mandatory to have NO MORE THAN five per nurse, BASING THAT RATIO on the ACTUAL acuity level of each patient...not based on acuity levels we do today with such a broad range for "Acuity Level III" stats we have today...which makes MOST med/surg patients "fall into that level III category" which most Med/Surg Nurses know is hogwash. :icon_roll It should be mandated to have one nurse per every three to four patients on inpatient units at all times...even on evenings and nightshifts. Patients are sicker today than ever before. Patients take up much more time than ever before thanks to the "the patient is always right rule" and "the patient calls, the nurse jumps YESTERDAY" rule, then add the "Visitors can stay 24/7 rule, and wait on them to keep the entire clan happy" rule. In order to offer excellent service -- minimizing patient wait times, visitor/family/patient complaints, and patients need to have their nurse more up close and personal.........more...not less...nurses per patient are needed. Does that cost money? Absolutely! Hospital Owners/CEOs know that BEFORE going into healthcare businesses, so the pressure needs to start at the top before the hospital is even built and opened for business. They want to make money and stay afloat? Do it right from the planning stage, and not take it out at the cost of the patients and the staff that care for those patients. Patients equal dollar signs to healthcare business industry folk, BUT...to nurses......patients-R-our-business...we expect to give them the best care...not half-azz backwards care.

First...you need a hug -- (((meeppeep))) :icon_hug: Second...as a new grad of three months, you should NOT be on your own on a specialty unit in the first place. My question to your nurse manager is: How the heck did that happen under his/her watch? When nurses choose to not start out on med/surg floors, and yet choose to start out on critical level specialty units to begin their learning as a nurse out of school, this is often times what happens to them...not all new nurses...I said "often times...for some...". Now that you are there, perhaps you should stick it out, but ask the union for help in extending your orientation under a preceptor who knows how to orient new staff...especially new nurses. Cardiac is complicated enough when you have experience as a nurse in other departments let alone as a new grad. If Cardiac is NOT your first love of nursing, seek a different unit to orient on. I recommend Med/Surg. On Med/Surg, you get a variety of diagnoses to learn from, a variety of pharmaceutical meds to master, and patients who will be admitted with histories of old cardiac diseases secondary to their admitting diagnoses. This will give you the variety you need to ease your way into the nurses profession. Med/Surg is a specialty in and of itself...always has been, but many new nurses will avoid Med/Surg because they think it won't be challenging enough. Believe me when I tell you this..........it is DEFINITELY challenging enough, especially if you take on med/surg in a university hospital. I wish you well. Let us know how things go. :icon_hug:

Feeling your pain, so wanted to give you a big warm hug :icon_hug:a bouquet of balloons :balloons: some chocolate for emotional comfort:BDCk: and flowers :flwrhrts:------ all to wipe that pain away at the end of your day. Welcome back to nursing, and welcome to nursing today. I've been a registered nurse twenty-two years, was out for five for health reasons, and upon my return, my first thought was "What the h*ll happened to nursing!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: As a nurse, the shift ends for you, but the nursing continues. Nursing is 24/7. Stop beating yourself up. During your shift, give it all you've got. At the end of the shift, pass the care on to the oncoming shift as best you can. No beating yourself up. It is what it is today in nursing. No one is going to make it better except the nurses collectively. Help each other. If anyone isn't helping as a team, call a meeting of the minds and discuss it. Patient care today is much more challenging than years past because "someone in authority" took all the authority away from the nurses, and started treating nurses like robots that are not required to feel, to potty, to eat, to breathe, to receive respect. So.......it's up to us nurses to bring caring back into the profession. Help a nurse...heal a nurse...heal nursing again.

P.S. And I might add that my college always had a 97 to 100 percent pass rate first time around. All of our instructors were required to be master degreed; even in my non nursing classes. The college ran a sharp program no matter what the major. I applaud them for giving me the best education ever. :)

I graduated 22 years ago this month from the best community college in the entire world. Throughout the years, I've compared other schools to the one I attended, and to other colleges and university nursing programs, and still believe I entered nursing at the right time, and graduated from the best school ever. Now that says a whole lot about my school. I have no regrets for going to that college. I graduated with a great GPA, and had 133 credit hours when I graduated (that's enough credits to have landed me a masters degree, but my second major was psyche). If you really want to be the best nurse you can possibly be, make sure you get a great start at a great college regardless of whether it's a community college, or a four year college. Your first two years at the four year college are mostly college required classes any major needs; plus the sciences you'll need to get into the nursing segment of the program. When I went to college, there were students who were single living at home with parents who went full time, and stated many times how challenging the program was for them to do in a two year period of time. Some students attended part-time due to having to work as well, and struggled with trying to complete the program in two years. It's next to impossible to do it successfully...on the average...because there are always those few students who master academics with no trouble at all, and can easily get through the program in two years. I'm not sharing from that perspective because it's not your average situation. Full time at my college was 15-16 credits per quarter. I was married with children, so my plan (and I stuck to it) was to complete all of the non-nursing classes first. Then, when I entered the actual nursing classes, my total focus was on nursing lectures, labs, and clinicals. All of that took me two and a half years, but I had already completed many of the college required classes before the actual science courses for nursing, so that helped shortened the time. I think it helps one make up their mind better if they hear a nurse share this way where you can get a better visual than just telling someone to do this or do that. You have to do what is best for you. Plan on continuing your education until you receive your BSN though because that is what hospitals and most healthcare businesses are seeking today (depending on where you live). At my age, I'd like to return, but I'm more interested in returning to becoming a psych major to get involved in counseling rather than more nursing. You still have many options to choose from today, just don't stop until you at least have your BSN. I didn't use to be so gung-ho about this, but I am today. I have three daughters, and I encourage them to do the same because this is the way of life for many young adults now. I wish you well no matter which route you choose to begin on. :)

Then I guess that would have to be the course taken...to establish a country-wide law that states any employer found guilty of abusing their employees by not seeing to it they get lunch and potty breaks will be fined a substantial penalty. :yeah:

I am so sorry you have had a hard time to date, but let me assure you, you WILL land a great job in nursing, and not necessarily in a nursing home. Do you live near a military installation that has a hospital? If so, apply directly by going straight to the hospital nurse recruiter. No good nurse will be turned away. Also, try the agencies that hire nurses for military and veterans hospitals. If you are not picky about whether you work for the civilian sector or the federal government, then count yourself hired not long after you apply. Now get busy. Times a wasting.

I would LUV to be your charge nurse when you graduate. I'd LUV to be your preceptor, too. What I'd love even more is to build the hospital I've always wanted to build now that I know what a hospital should deliver to not only its patient population, but to those who sweat drops of blood 24/7 to make it happen...and that is the nurses, the doctors, the nurses aides, the student nurses, the unit ward secretaries, and let's not forget our housekeeping departments, and every department that contributes to the safety of those we serve. Everyone is important enough to care about. Not one of us deserves to be forgotten. Talk about change coming to America...to the world. Positive healthy caring encouraging change needs to come inside every hospital in the world, and America could be the nation to show the world how its done because we can afford it more than any other country can IF we start living right, treating each other right, and focusing on positive change as a nation.

hello kurious rn, you are not alone in this situation, and it has very little to do with your being a new nurse for three months. it has a lot to do with the flow of the unit you work on, and the way your unit is managed from one shift to the other. this area in hospital healthcare today is one of my pet peeves. somewhere along the line, we - as human beings - have lost track of what it means to look out for one another, and see to it that breaks are taken, meals are honored for the staff, and helping one another when we are not busy with our own patient care. sitting more than helping is not good sportsmanship! managers and charge nurses need to take note of staff who are not utilizing their "idle time" well. the managers and charge nurses should be free of taking patients themselves so they can monitor the flow of the unit better, see to it that everyone is giving their 100% during their shift to one another as well as to the patients. team effort is what is needed. there should be "no martyrs" in nursing...only team members caring about one another from the start of their shift until it is over. staying late, missing meal breaks, and poor team effort should never be tolerated! there should be a "zero" tolerance level in those areas. good management/charge begins at the beginning of each shift...not as things get chaotic and the staff is looking for help where there is no help, breaks when there is no one to watch patients assigned to allow those breaks to take place, and meal partners to relieve one another to ensure everyone's body is replenished with nourishment mid-shift, and have an opportunity to take those breaks without interruptions. staff need to get in the habit of taking their half hour meal breaks off the unit where they can have their uninterrupted time to breathe, relax a bit while they nourish and hydrate themselves. no wonder nurses health is declining. we are not robots, but if you overuse a robot, it will even break down. when we are at home, women have a tendency to work 'nonstop'. there are always tasks that need to be done, errands to run, kids to take care of, spouses having you do things they can do for themselves in most cases. we come to work in that same mode with the same frame of mind not taking time to take care of ourselves in our work environments. doctors don't mind because when our health declines and fails us, that's one more patient for them to make money off of. waste not...want not, so staff needs to take a step back, take a looooooooooong look at the abuse of self and one another, and do something to correct these measurses for our health's sake. when i'm charge nurse, i ensure my staff get their lunch breaks. if they don't want to take a break, that's on them, but they should not complain that they never get a break. it won't happen on my watch. and, yes, i have nurses who have that "i can't stop now syndrome". we are all some doctor's patient. are we contributing to the decline of our own health, and that of our fellow co-workers? or, are we ready to take action to ensure we all remain as healthy as we possibly can by looking out for one another when on duty? nurses abuse nurses! it's up to us to stop the abuse!

i will never understand how any human being could hurt a child, especially raping them. this really pizzes me off! i feel anger - even hate for the animal that raped her. makes me want to beat the crap out of him. i hope they caught the s.o.b that did this to this poor innocent little girl. i shivered when i read the title of this post, and almost didn't click on it to read because of fear i wouldn't be able to stomach what i might find here. there isn't a swear word, or punishment horrid enough for monsters that harm little children in this way. yet...even these jesus died for because they need salvation, too. we're not asked to "feel" love for those who cause pain to others; we are asked to extend to them the love of god (it's a commandment and not a feeling, thank god for that), and to pray for them...so that's what i will continue to do as i've had the need to pray for psychos like that throughout my own nursing career. :stone

merry christmas and have a blessed day today no matter if you are alone, or with family, or with friends, or at work taking care of patients! take a few moments to reflect on what christmas truly means to you, and send up a prayer of thanks for all the gifts that money cannot buy or replace. and, to all of our allnurses friends of the jewish faith i've shared plenty a holiday or special event in past years with long-time friends of the jewish faith, and know what a feast i am missing at your tables this hannukah/chanukah season! ya'll can serve up a feast of 'dee-li-shus' food! wish i were in ohio at my friends home this season feasting with them. she is one great cook and a very dear friend (so is her entire family), and they are forever loved in my heart. :redbeathe to those who do not fit in either beforementioned category, may today prove special to you and your loved ones in the way that it means most to you!