loridoo

I talked to the nurse yesterday and apologized. She was fine with my explanation and apology. I told her I would stop and think before I open my mouth next time.

The nurse in question does get into a bit of trouble on her own. I guess I will try to handle these situations differently from here on out. I will try to approach the day nurse, but I don't know if she will listen. I was overtired this morning, going on next to no sleep, 12 patients including one that wouldn't stay in bed, and my 4th shift in a row - maybe I wasn't thinking as clearly as I could have been at 0615. I think I would have got the same attitude from the nurse and her tech even if I went to them first - that's probably why my first instinct was to go to the supervisor.

I worked third shift last night and received complaints about the nurses who cared for my patients on day shift. I passed these complaints on to the supervisor on day shift this morning. She told the RN from days that she wanted to speak to her about some patient complaints at some point today and the RN pressed her to talk immediately. The supervisor went on to tell her the complaints (while I was sitting next to her). As I was walking down the hall to clock out both the RN and her tech approached me and told me from now on to come to them first before going to the supervisor. The complaints were from a pt who stated that a dose of her phenergan IVP was slammed into her IV site and from a pt (and her family members) who complained she had been left in the chair for entire first shift - she is "bed bound" at home. I thought I handled the issue properly - these patients would have talked to the head nurse today themselves I am sure - I was just giving her a heads up. I like to think I take the patient advocate part of my job very seriously. Any thoughts?????

My husband is a correctional officer and I am an RN. I think it has to do with the shift work and with having to put up with all the crazy things you come up against in both fields that draws us together.

I think what really bugged me the most about Elizabeth was the extremely short amount of time that she was a nursing student, it was like a month between when she chose to go into nursing and when she started working as a nurse. I can't say to much about going from dept to dept, in the last 3 days I worked IMC, then ICU, and back to my home medical floor. (Never mind that I'm only trained to work the medical floor).

I thought I was the only one who got worked up about all of this stuff! I also like how Lucky got hooked on the M/S PCA - how he got a dose EVERY time he pushed the button. Did you notice that everyone referred to the PCA as a drip... All My Children did the same thing with Julia. 10 years after nursing school she took a refresher course and was floating all over the hospital the next day.

I have a tat on my wrist that I cover with my watch when I'm at work. Occasionaly the watch will slip out of place and the tat will peak out. I received nothing but compliments. More often than not, they tend to be an icebreaker - something to talk about with the pt and make them more at ease with me.

That's why I used the word supposed. I go listen or peak at the door a lot, but I don't wake them if I don't have to.

The new Big Man at our hospital says that if a patient has to use the call light that we as staff have failed them. On our 10p-6a shift either the RN or the Tech is supposed to enter the room every hour.

I used to work 12's and I loved them. I switched jobs, and my current director does not really like 12's so I'm back to 5 eights. She is set to retire in the next year, hopefully her replacement likes 12's!

My mom had this combo (fentanyl/versed/diprovan) for a same day procedure and had nausea for at least a week.......

One of my friend's sons decided to stick a pencil-top eraser in his ear. By the time his mom found out about it, the tissue in his ear had began to grow around the eraser - I believe it took same day surgery to get it out!!

I try to give d/c instructions, but 9 times out of 10 they are in such a rush out the door that they don't listen to you at all. I say what I feel obligated to tell them, whether or not they listen is up to them.

I live just south of Decatur and work in Decatur. I consider that central IL, but when I lived in the Joliet area, they referred to anything south of I-80 as "Southern IL"

Sounds to me like the new management is trying to get rid of anyone who had accrued any kind of time (i.e. topped out their pay scale) and replace them with lower paid individiuals. The lady in HR better watch out if she has been there for 20 years she may be next

:yeahthat: What they said You must always remember it's your license on the line when you give a med. Don't worry about what others might think, do what you think in right, and what you are comfortable with.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your friend's family. God Bless

Pretty much every shift.

this is too funny. the last hospital i worked at utilizied press gainey, and we indeed had to wear pins with "5" on them. we were to explain to the patient that we "strive for five" on the survey card that they receive after they are discharged.

oops!! I forgot to mention that she did make it. I stopped in ICU on my way out and she was resting comfortably.

I agree with the last post. Run, Forrest, Run. I've been a nurse for just over a year. In that time I have had about 6-10 patients with trachs and my stomach stills knots up when I have a trach patient, not to mention the feeding tube and the ventilator. These are NOT CNA duties. By taking this position, you may put your future nursing license in jeopardy.

Thanks. Good to know I am not alone in my fears. Another thing that really got me thinking is that the other nurse who serves as charge only has 6 months more experience than I do and she is very hesitant - what would have happened if she were on last night?????

I experienced my first code at 0435 today. I have been a nurse for just over a year. I work on the medical floor in a "small hospital" I was having one of those steady nights all shift long anyway - no time to take a break, chart or anything. Telemetry called and said to get to the room ASAP so the charge and I and the 2 techs raced to the room. There she was slumped over and blue as can be. Luckily, my charge nurse has 30+ years of nursing experience and knows what the hell she is doing, because I was scared to death and couldn't function without someone telling me what to do. Seemed like forever for the code team to get there, although I know it was only about 3 minutes. Since it happened I have doubted every choice I have made in the last 4 years. I felt so helpless and unsure of myself. I had to wonder if I made the right choice coming into nursing. I know it takes time and you get more comfortable with things, but I couldn't even remember the basics. What were some of your responses to your first codes? Am I alone????

i could not have said it better. i would be lost without the "seasonsed" nurses that i work with. we all use each other as sounding boards. it all boils down to respect. if you don't know the meaning of the word, you are in the wrong field of work.

My best friend had a baby boy Thursday afternoon (at 1356). My first Godson:balloons: :balloons: When I got there at 1600 I noticed his little nail beds were purple. I stayed over night with her and kept checking his little hands. I checked his capillary refill and it was fine and I insisted the nurses there check his pulse ox and it was 100%. When I left Friday at 1030, they were still purple. His pediatrician says that they were bruised because he fought coming out?!?!?!?!?!?! Do any of you have any better explanations?