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We have two teams in main OR and one team in Trauma (we're a Level 1 trauma center). One of our main OR teams acts as trauma backup should multiple level 1's come in. We also have first and second call for general surgery should all teams be tied up, and an open heart team.

Another pet peeve of mine... I've stocked my room and grabbed all of the supplies I need for my entire line-up... then one of my cases finishes late, delaying all the TF's. To "help me out," the charge decides to open my next case in another room. I like to open my own cases and get my own equipment so I know what I have in the room. The new room is usually NOT stocked so I end up running for things I shouldn't have to run for (mastisol, 4x4's, rays, etc.). Opening a new room usually doesn't save much in turn-around time, so just leave me where I am!!

I signed a two year contract which stipulated a $4000 payback clause should I leave prior to contract end. However, the contract was at the hospital level, not the departmental level, meaning I am comitted to working for the hospital for two years, not the department.

How about the charge nurse who forgets to assign lunch relief for you and your tech?? This happens all too often ....

I realize this answer comes to you 1 year after you posted it, but I was hired after completing the perioperative practicum (it took over 6 months to get hired, tho). The job consists of a 40 hour work week rather than 3 twelve hour shifts (I miss that... I LOVED my 12 hour shifts). The orientation process is 6-9 months, depending on your competency. I completed mine in 6 months but was put on my own with general cases (lap appys, hysterectomies, burns, etc.) after 5 months.

I had to chuckle at your comment.... thanks :) I'm a "new grad" (graduated last May and worked as a gyn-onc floor nurse for 8 months) who was just recently hired in the OR. I'm 48 years old. Am I too old? Of course not! Am I as physically fit as I was in my 20's? Of course not! Can I withstand the rigors of OR nursing? Of course I can! I'm used to working 3 or 4 12-hr shifts in a row... so I think I can do 5 8-hour shifts. As for longevity, I hope to remain in the OR until I retire!

I re-read this post months later and wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded! I am starting my first RN position tomorrow (I was previously a NAP) and I want to remember what being a professional is all about. While I may develop my own ways of coping, I pray that I will always treat my patients with dignity, respect, and compassion. I vow NEVER to publicly disrespect or humiliate a patient as was done in the example posted. That's not just psychosocial "babble" but respect for human dignity. Again, thanks to all. Christy

And if I couldn't work at NIH or CDC, my next wish would be to work as a travel nurse in Europe. That's something I may one day be able to accomplish!

I also notice nurses label many, many patients as drug seekers when I don't agree with their assessment. Why do so many nurses feel that if a person asks for pain meds, they are a drug seeker?

In answer to some of the questions... yes, my daughter would rather I take care of her than home health. And yes, home health will still be out to draw labs twice weekly. And finally, my daughter's husband will help her hang the last dose each day because I'll be at work.

My daughter, a 25 yr type I diabetic who is in CHF, recently had her Pacemaker/ICD moved to a new location. She has since developed an infection in the site and now has a PICC. She has been discharged to home after 4 days in the hospital and will be on IV Vanco TID for 6 weeks. My dilemma: I want to make sure her PICC dressing changes are done correctly and that her vanco is hung correctly. I prefer to avoid the use of a home health nurse because I am capable of taking care of her myself. Is it ethical to treat my own daughter? Any input would be appreciated!

The patient, a 23 yr old type-1 diabetic for more than 20 yrs, received an inadvertently high dose of insulin when the night shift nurse "primed" the insulin pump while the catheter was in place (he later said he was not familiar with a pump... no kidding!). The patient experienced a hypoglycemic seizure three hours later. The accucheck received an error message and was unable to read the glucose level. A serum sample tubed off to the lab was later reported as "less than 5." This incident happened to my daughter while she was in the hospital recovering from a cardiac arrest and emergency thoracotomy during the birth of my granddaughter.

Sunrise is an HCA facility and is the largest hospital in the state of Nevada. Sunrise has Nevada's only children's hospital and only Gamma Knife. It is a certified stroke center, has a nationally recognized neurosciences institute, and was recently voted one of two best hospitals in the city. The hospital is an "inner city" hospital, meaning it accepts all types of payment, including Medicaid, so the acuity level is high. Staffing ratio is quite high but nurses work on a team approach.. 12 pts to 1 RN, with one LPN and one CNA reporting to that same RN. Everyone I work with is quite happy at Sunrise and I've not heard many bad things about the place. I've been there for about 6 months and love my job (I'm a nurse apprentice). Hope you find what you're looking for!

Your "unsanitary" remark automatically assumes these people have just left work. Perhaps they are on the way to work! I, personally, head straight home and change immediately. After taking care of people with C-Diff, MRSA, and many other nosocomials, I refuse to walk inside my house with my shoes on! One trait of a good nurse is that she never "assumes" something. Use your critical thinking skills and don't "assume" these people have just left work.

If you could choose any medical institution in the world to work, where would you choose and why? (Your dream job... not necessarily realistic) My answer: I would love to work at a cutting-edge research facility, perhaps NIH or CDC, when a cure for diabetes is found! Why? My daughter has had Type I diabetes all of her life (she's now 25) and I can't wait to see her cured!

I had A&P II and Microbiology in the same semester; got A's in both classes. Time consuming but not impossible to do. Good luck!

Thank goodness the majority of respondents feel as I do! I've met other nurses who have become somewhat calloused to their patient's situations, and I do NOT want to become part of that statistic. I have to wonder what caused this patient's circumstances? Perhaps she lived alone, fell, and was unable to get up, causing her to soil herself. Our view of this patient would certainly change were that to be true, wouldn't it?? Unfortunately, I can see how years of exposure to drug addicts, alcoholics, gang members, criminals, and other patients who care nothing about their own health, can make some health care individuals (or any public servant) view humanity in a very different manner. Since I started nursing in an inner-city hospital, I have seen sides of humanity I never knew existed....and that terrifies me! I only hope and pray I can retain my rose-colored view of nursing that all new nurses possess, and continue to provide unbiased, compassionate care to my patients for many years to come.

I recently floated to the ER and witnessed such poor ethics in two nurses and paramedics I was astounded! The EMT team brought in an extremely morbidly obese woman in respiratory distress who was “caked” in feces. Their heads were wrapped in towels because of the odor she emitted! The EMT’s placed her in the bay while I started her vitals and placed her leads. They walked over to the nurse’s station and two RN’s and the EMT’s began talking about how filthy her home was and how disgusting the patient was. Their conversation was loud enough for the patient and the surrounding patients to hear! I was mortified and embarrassed for the health profession! Sure the patient was disgusting. Sure she was filthy. But aren’t we taught to deliver healthcare in a non-judgmental manner?? Yes, I am new to nursing (and healthcare as a whole), but is this what happens to healthcare providers after years of witnessing these types of incidents? I said nothing, but delivered the type of care I was trained to deliver without judgment of the patient and with the compassion I show other patients. What should I have done? How do I handle this type of situation in the future? Any input would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks in advance!

My daughter, now 25, has been diabetic since 22 months of age. She also seizes when her glucose levels drop below 30 or so. Thankfully, she has only seized four times. I highly advise you to obtain a prescription for Glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone that stimulates the liver to release it's emergency reserves of glucose. It should only be used when the patient is unconscious or seizing, because it can be hard on the liver. The drug is administered via an IM injection. Good luck.

I am a 47 year old grandmother who, three years ago, made the decision to end a lucrative career in computer programming. At the time I re-entered college, I was making an annual salary of $72,450. My decision was obviously not a monetary decision (my starting salary as a nurse will only be a fraction of what I used to make); it was based on a love of medicine and a lifelong desire to become a nurse. Before you enter the field, ask yourself if you will be truly happy as a nurse. Do NOT base your decision on the amount of money you may or may not make. I know from first-hand experience that working in a job you dislike 8+ hours a day can be torture, even when the salary is excellent. Go with what makes your heart happy and monetary rewards will follow. I am currently working as a Nurse Apprentice on an oncology ward and will graduate as an RN next May. Although nursing is extremely hard work, I look forward to going to work when I wake up each morning...and THAT is my biggest reward! :D Good luck in whatever you decide!

Sunrise Hospital is the largest hospital in the state of Nevada. It is an HCA facility and is home to the state's only dedicated children's hospital. Sunrise has a level II trauma center, but is a level I center in all respects but the academics (no interns). The acuity level of the hospital runs about 1.8. A nice plus for floor nurses includes a PC in each patient room for electronic charting. You can see more information about Sunrise at the following link: http://www.sunrisehospital.com/cpm/Splash2.htm By the way, I am a NAP at Sunrise and will graduate next May. Mountain View hospital is another HCA facility in northwest Las Vegas. This modern hospital is only a few years old and quite innovative. Although I have not worked in this facility, my husband was a patient there and received outstanding treatment! You can see more info about that facility at: http://www.mountainview-hospital.com/

Three years ago I made the decision to leave computer programming (iSeries/AS400) with 15 years experience and become a registered nurse, something I'd always wanted to do. I am in the last year of study and am working as a NAP (nurse apprentice) on an oncology unit. Being familiar with my background, one of my clinical instructors suggested I look into the Nurse Informatics field. I have not yet decided on a speciality in nursing, but combining my computer knowledge with medicine certainly sounds appealing. After reading some of the posts in this forum, I assume the nurse no longer provides patient care. Does the informatic nurse remain involved in clinical areas? Is the position more of an I.T. position than an R.N. position? Can anyone tell me a little more about this speciality field? Additional information would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance! :typing

Disregard.

I'm currently a NAP (nurse apprentice) on an oncology unit but I haven't decided yet where I'd like to specialize. My plan is to establish a good basic foundation in med/surg nursing (minimum of 1 yr) and then move on to advanced life support and critical care (again, another 1 yr or so). Once I've gained experience in these two areas, I believe I'll be able to transition to most any speciality. My daughter was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at 22 mos of age so I have many, many years experience in that arena. She is now 25 yrs old and in CHF (with implantable pacer/defib) after the birth of her daughter, so CCU is another option. Of course, I may end up falling in love with oncology! I, myself, have experienced a bout with cancer (thyroid) and can offer honest emphathy with those undergoing radiation txs. The world of nursing is at my feet.... I just need to decide where to step!

I am a student nurse who will gladly perform "menial" tasks such as bed baths and wiping behinds. Not only am I able to better "connect" with the patient, I also gain the opportunity to better "know" that patient's body; afterall, what an opportunity to look for skin integrity issues, edema, skin turgor, cap refill, etc! I hope these tasks are never fully allocated to the non-licensed individual. I pray I find a position that demands total patient care when I graduate!