lab211

I am retiring in a few months. I would like to give back to the community. Has anyone done volunteer RN work or knows of retirees that have? I would appreciate any leads or advise.

I have been searching for free websites that offer ANCC approved CEUS. But, the ones that advertise free online actually cost a subscription fee. Can someone direct me to the right resources for CEU requirements? If not free, then the less costly ones will have to do.

Hello Nurses, Has anyone had to in person bring corrected name labels to lab to re label specimens on a stroke patient? How did the lab handle the situation? I am especially interested in Blood Bank if patient needs an urgent blood transfusion. I understand recollecting and labeling correct name will delay patient care. What is the best practice??.....

Title: Leaving Nursing. Best wishes on your future career. Life is short, so you owe it to yourself to be happy with yourself and career. I am a nurse, but not working in that capacity. I chose a few years back to work on my other healthcare field. I am currently working as a traveler in different parts of the country. I am happier and healthier now then when I did bedside nursing. I hope that I can use my nursing knowledge down the road. Perhaps upon retirement.

Health care facilities depend on their workers to relieve staff in good or bad weather. I try to stay ahead of the storm and plan ahead. I pack food, clothing, etc. just in case I am needed beyond my shift. Also, I feel safer than having to commute back and forth to work during extended bad weather. From my work experience, administration tries to meet their employees half way. Such as having security pick up staff at bus and train stations, offering private empty patients rooms for sleeping, meal vouchers. etc. Staffing during inclement weather should be the employer and employee joint effort. On another note, if you feel you are putting your safety at risk such as icy road conditions and sub zero temps communicate this to the shift supervisor, etc. Then, maybe they can offer you to make up your shift,etc. at a latter date.

It seems to me from the responses, the nurse to patient ratio is dependent on the location, availability, acuity, risks, experience, finances, management, and the circumstances (which is really in a a nutshell, those that I just mentioned). Let us ask ourselves, do you honestly feel that staffing practices put patient safety as the number 1 priority? Do we leave work each day feeling good about ourselves and our employer? And what about California with their mandated 1 nurse to 5 patient ratio, practical or paranoia? At my institution, there is really a nursing shortage...for experienced nurses. New grads are in a tight job market right now. Nursing school teaches us the "ideal" but not the real world. Every nurse know this. Then why is this the approach? I know I am throwing quite a few questions out there. Just like everything in life....finances dictate practices.

My concerns are the following;A. 30+ million new customers. We need more nurses/doctors,etc.??B. Will the middle class shoulder the majority of the cost, since this has been traditional? B. Diluted service delivery (Longer waits, increase in nurse:patient ratio)?C. Will the bill improve patient safety?D.Will working conditions/environment improve?D. Will the insurance companies dictate less health care delivery and have genuine compassion over saving dollars for themselves? What I am trying to understand, is the bill going to make health care delivery better for the average american? Insights and opinions appreciated.

After working for many years in another medical profession, when the opportunity presented itself (tuition assistance, grants, etc.) I decided to get into the profession that I wanted to right after high school. You see my father was from the generation (and some still do) that men did not become nurses. And since he was the one paying for college, My father and brother enrolled me in a medical profession that they perceived was more male oriented. Now that I am an RN I like talking to people, the autonomy (although limited), the bonuses, more patient contact, the giving of compassion, empathy, understanding, public respect, imparting information to other people, the job security (far better than other professions), interaction with doctors, respiratory therapy, and other supportive and techincal departments, etc, etc. P.S. I read on this website that there is now a national nurses union. I have NO experience working under a union. Let me know what you think. It appears at work, that the majority are pro-union. I get comments like "Under a union patient safety will improve". "We will get better working conditions", etc. etc. Thanks for any input.

When you say nights, do you mean exclusively the 11:00 PM to 7:30 AM shift? I am a permanent 3:00 PM to 11:30 PM shift nurse. Do we do more work than day shift? It is comparable. We get the most admissions to do while day shift get the most discharges. Admissions have more forms plus the assessment for the nurse to complete.We pass just as much medications as the day shift. I can only work evening shift because I need the shift differential in order to keep my head above water. In this area shift differentials are between 5 to 8 dollars an hour.

I am a new graduate RN in the east coast. Only about 1/3 of my class that graduated in May 09 have found a job. So it is true that the state of the economy has affected the hiring of new graduates RN nationwide. I am one of the fortunate ones to have found employment. I talk to my other classmates who didn't. I know it is frustrating for all new graduate nurses. Latest indications are that the economy is starting to rebound. I hope so, so that all these new nurses can be employed. Especially since we all worked to get where we are today. My advise for those that need the income is to take a job to pay the bills, network with other nurses, keep checking facilities for their hiring needs. :)

I found a job as a new grad in an intern program a month after graduation. What worked for me was that I did an externship the previous summer and stayed on as flexi-patient care tech. I was just at the right place at the right time. I see others have advised you to physically go to these facilities with your resume; meet the nurse managers, network with other new grads b/c they may have some leads as to job possibilities, do an inventory of your strengths and your weaknesses and be honest to yourself and whoever interviews you. I'm sorry you took a big hit financially. For right now you need to find a source of income (even if it isn't healthcare). I have seen these times come and go. Fortunately, they pass and then they will be looking for more nurses.....YOU !!!!

I used be in another health-care field before I became a nurse. My story is based in a hospital that has since become a long-term care facility. I worked the 11 pm to 7 am shift. Every morning at about 4 am I did my ICU rounds. One particular morning as I entered the ICU, I sensed something was odd because the 3 nurses at the nurse station were unusually quiet. I asked one in a whisper, "Is something wrong". She replied quietly, "I started with the monitor turning on by itself". She signaled toward an empty room. I watched as the curtain around the hospital bed moved on it's own until it stoped exposing the whole bed. The last patient to die in that bed was a hospital employee who became acutely ill. I still at times run into these nurses somewhere and remind them of that occurence. They acknowledge the experience too. I don't have an scientific explanation for what we saw. Subsequently, I have observed other phenomenon at another hospital I worked at in the presence of others. I wonder.

I am a male and a brand new RN. I am fortunate to have landed a job. I am in orientation as a Geriatric Psychiatric/Medical Surgical nurse. There are 2 other male nurses in the department.

I am it in my household. I don't have a second income. A family member has been gracious in helping me when I am short of funds to pay my bills. Thank G-d for such person. I like to be independent. So as soon as I can get a part time job I will. Like I said, I am grateful for a job, 75% of my graduating class either do not have a job, living at home, spouse is sole-earner, or working in the same job (non-nursing) that they held throughout nursing school. Such is the times we live in!

Thank you for your responses. I have not done it yet, but in the near future, another nurse said I could bid for a shift at another floor for extra income. I need to check our facilities policies. I used to work in another medical field which was 80 hours per pay period. I guess once I get more experience I can bid or fill in for extra hours. What I am trying to find out is that are you nurses who work 12 hours shifts, 72 hours per pay period being paid 80 hours pay or straight hours only??..