ashley_michelle

I graduated last may.. took my boards June 6th and failed. My hospital allowed me to work as a Nurse Extern until I was able to retake my test. After that time period.. I was demoted to an aide. So, when I was able to.. I retested and passed. The nurse extern wage was inbetween an aide and a nurse.. about the same or more than LPN's. Good luck and keep studying!

I've recently gone through about the same thing. I had been on a unit for 9-10 months.. and absolutely hated every second. Like you, I had stomach aches, sleeping problems, and TONS of stress. Days before I would have to go to work again, I'd be worrying about it already.. practically sick to my stomach. I asked if I'd be allowed to transfer before my allowed date ( which is 1 year at our hospital ) I think I asked again at some point..and was told no again. So, I applied at another hospital and got the job I wanted.. turned in my two weeks at the other one.. and they all of a sudden wanted to keep me. Whether it be on that specific floor or on another unit in the same hospital. And I explained that I had asked a couple times and no one was willing to work with me. They basically kissed my butt to do anything to keep me in their system. .. But anyways, I'm at the other hospital across the street and I've been SO much happier the 2 months. I don't hate going to work.. and my orientation has been wonderful. I'm in the CCU.. so it'll be another 2 months before I"m off. But so far, so good. Good luck with whatever you do! And seriously.. no job is worth the stress that I had.. so hopefully you can get out asap.

I failed because I didn't trust myself! Have confidence. If you got through school, you can pass this test! I was also graduating, moving out, getting married, starting a new job.. But I think my biggest thing was just not having any confidence that I CAN pass! Trust yourself. Do lots of questions.. and do absolutely NOTHING the night before! .. the second time around.. I didn't study the material. I did about 80-100 questions per day when I could.. tried to gain some confidence and started trusting my instinct when I would do the practice questions. I reviewed all my answers (wrong or right ) and tried not to second guess my answers. Good luck!

I took the nclex back in sept.. it took about 2 weeks to get the news. Time isn't an indicator of if you passed/failed. It took nearly two weeks for them to tell me I passed. Actually, it took longer. I saw on the state licensure site that my status had changed before I got my letter.. Don't stress, I'm sure you're okay. =) Find some fun, relaxing things to do in the meantime!

Our managers definitely just give us the run around about everything. But, instead of giving us low census... we staff the whole hospital instead. On a regular night, we have at least 2-3 other nurses working on other floors. You're not supposed to be pulled to another floor until you've been on your own for 3 months... but that definitely doesn't happen. The thing that's really starting to make me mad is... that we give low census or pull other people.. (from 7-11) and then at 11 people go home and we end up working SHORT because the other floors refuse to give our people back. So, we have the staffing for our floors..but end up working short because our people are getting pulled. frustrating.

I'm pretty much in the same boat as everyone else. I graduated in May, started working in June... and then started the RN-BSN program in September. Though, in this program.. the classes are only one night a week and they're set up where it's pretty much one class per month. So if you already have that class, then you don't have to go that month basically. I started in Sept, but had off nov and dec..and then just started back in Jan. So I've had a good 7 months working before I really start into the program. But like a lot of you on here.. I knew I wouldnt' go back if I didn't stay in the groove.. so having the summer off ( which hasn't happened in a few years) and then a good break for christmas.. it's worked out. It's still a very stressful time. So, take it slow.. learn as much as you can.. and get ready to start doing work and studying. =( bleh! ...the hardest part for me is going to get my BSN and thinking the whole time that it doesn't make any difference because there is no pay differential here for a bsn and adn's. So the BSN is just go get ready for the masters or NP... hopefully. =) One step at a time!

I usually don't do anything differently other than take a nap before I go to work. .. My husband works a regular day job.. so when I'm off I try to fall into his routine. =) Tonight is my first night back this week.. and I woke up with my husband.. and then I just took a nap from 2-330. I think you'll be surprised at how easy it is to stay awake.. We are always busy.. so there's no time to sit down and get tired! And then tomorrow I will sleep from the time I get home until 530pm... in enough time to get up and get ready to go to work again. On my last 12.. in order to go to sleep that same night.. I usually just take a nap.. and sleep no more than 4.5-5 hrs. It's worked pretty well so far. Sometime's I"m dragging on the day after my last 12.. but I'd rather sleep with him than be up all night! Every once in awhile I take a tylenol pm to just make me a little sleepier. I agree with trying to eat as regular as you can. I'm finding myself with the same GI problems... and my body not wanting to stay regulated. So drink plenty...and don't forget to eat! Just a week or so ago.. I had a few bad nights at work.. very busy and hardly any time to eat.. or no appetite to do so... and I weighed myself and was shocked that I'd lost 5lbs... And I don't really have that much to lose to begin with. So.. eat regularly even if you aren't hungry.. and try to stay healthy!

Again, thanks for all the replies. I did find out today that she passed away mid morning Friday. =( I figured she wouldn't make it... But I guess I still held out a little hope. How do some of you leave work at work?

Thank you for all the replies and tips for next time. And I think that I will take a good look at the crash cart..study it and have a general idea of where everything is located. ... and you are right. I should have been the one to stay with the patient. Thankfully, the nurse was sitting in stepdown.. which was just a room away from where she needed to be. Also, the STAT nurse was making his rounds and was on the floor asking us if we needed anything. So I wasn't gone for anymore than a few seconds.. just to pop my head out the door to tell her to please get in there. But, I should've stayed. as ignorant as this sounds, I had no idea that someone was supposed to be recording. We've never walked through a code before... and obviously I'd never been in one.. But someone along the way decided to start writing stuff down. Everyone knew their 'role' in the code and it came together well. People stepped in where they were needed and it was a calm situation. Everything was already set up (thank god)... Suction, o2, etc. The pt was on tele.. but they never called me to tell me that she was off... or um.. went asystole. But they ended up taking those leads off and putting different ones on for another monitor. I had actually just set up suction the day before.. it's so weird how things work out. But anyways, she was 76. I agree that healthy people don't just code.. there was something else going on.. It's just hard not to beat yourself up and go over everything that you could've done differently.. and if you would.. would she have coded. I did have a 'debreifing' .. I had gone into a back hallway to get away after everything was over.. collect myself.. and chart everything that had happened so I could get the charts down to icu. Of course once I got by myself I cried. but I gathered myself and started to chart.. Two of the nurses that were in the code came to talk to me. They were wonderful. We went over everything that led up to that point (mostly for my reassurance) and we talked for a bit and then they shared their first codes. It's amazing how everyone pulls together to work as a team and everything runs smoothly. So anyways, Thanks for the tips and replies. I'm definitely glad that my first is over and maybe I can not be like a deer in headlights next time.. and actually be of some help..or have a clue what to do.

My guess is that the pt aspirated. But they weren't pulling out tube feed... so I'm guessing.. that the tube feed made her nauseated.. which caused her to vomit (whether she had somethin goin on. ie. bleed, etc) and she was aspirating the emesis. ..but that's just my guess.

Where do I even begin? As a new nurse... this is probably the worst thing that could happen. I've had families be extremely rude as well as MD's... but I don't think anything prepared me for my first code. .. The pt has a pretty extensive hx. Bundle branch block, inferior/superior infacts, Ejection fraction of 35%.. came in for a radical subtotal gastrectomy, wedge biopsy of the liver and j-tube placement. I had had the pt for the past two nights and thought that they were looking much better last night when I came on. They were sitting up, talking to me.. and asking for a few things.. ..They were getting tube feeds from 7p-7a only.. and around midnight they started to get a little nauseated and started to vomit VERY little. I turned off the tube feeds.. checked residual (20cc) .. I flushed a little and then clamped the jtube. Told the CA to set them up a little bit further. I was going to help the CA give the pt a bath.. but they called another CA in to help. So I went to get insulin to cover fingersticks (including this pts.) ..and get stuff to draw AM labs. They got them bathed.. and in the time that it took to draw up insulin.. They called me to get in the room asap. I ran in there.. the pt was grey and o2 sats were 40%. Thankfully, the CA was thinking quick enough to grab the pulse ox... so I knew what it was when I got in there.. I told the ca to turn up the 02 and went to get the charge nurse. ..She went in the room and someone along the way told me to get the crash cart. I got back in the room.. setting up the cart and they were calling the code. Of course now everyone is rushing in the room..and everyone knew they're role. I wanted to CRAWL under the table when the Dr asked who the pts nurse was. And I explained everything that led up to this moment. And he tried to make a complete ass out of me infront of everyone.. asking me why I didn't call if the pt was nauseated. If I called the dr everytime the pt was nauseated? .. and what IF i did call.. and he ordered phen. ...then everything they were doing would have been ten times harder. So the pt ended up going into asystole. CPR started.. They got a pulse back.. intubated (and got 200cc of dark dark liquid) and then got ready to transfer them down to the icu. I was told to go report off to the icu nurse.. and in that time the pt started to brady down to the 20's and they ended up pushing atropine. They sent them down and the pt ended up flat lining 4 more times for them.. And the aide that took the pts belongings down said that the pts stomach had gotten huge. ..perforated bowel? or bleed? This night was extremely overwhelming.. and all I can say is thank god I"m not back tonight. I'm surprised I didn't throw up or freak out during the whole thing. I had no idea what to do.. and the only productive thing I did was get a manual BP when the dr asked. The Dr came up later that morning and wanted to know everything that happened. I explained it all again.. and he was asking me over and over again like he was looking for something that I did wrong. And then looking at me for a long time like I was lying about something. I know working in a hospital there's going to be codes. But I'd never seen a code let alone been a part of one. The sad thing is .. the pt was telling me just minutes before all this that if they would have known that they'd be this sick and not feel good they would have never had the surgery. =( ..thanks for listening. ..and ps. I've only been off orientation for a month..or a little over.

If they are the ones that let you go.. does that mean you're still obligated to pay back the sign on bonus?

I had 14 weeks of orientation.. and by the end I definitely felt comfortable being on my own. I can't imagine being on my own after 3 weeks. ... in response to signing a contract/bonus.. I'm fairly certain that if you decide to leave before the contract is up you just have to repay the hospital whatever is left on the contract.. or repay the sign on bonus. It should tell you on the paper that you signed ...or that would be my guess. I"m sure its in the fine print somewhere. =)

I don't really thing that using or not using a clipboard will have anything to do with you 'being in a group.' People do all sorts of different things on the floor that I work on... it's just whatever is best for you. Some use clipboards... some use one sheet of paper.. some use notebooks ( 3 ring binders ) .. just whatever makes you feel more comfortable. Using a 3 ring binder helps if you want to keep certain numbers ( materials, different units, PAR, etc) so you can get to them quick without searching at the front desk for them. Also, you can keep reminders in there.. policy's or things that you keep getting stuck on. So really, who cares what you use.. as long as it works for YOU. I keep all of my kardex on hand.. and have highlighted sections. (meds, new orders, diets, activity, MIVF, etc) and then I use a cover sheet to make a check list for each patient for the night. .. meds and times, any flushes or boluses, prn meds, fingersticks,dressing changes.. just the things I HAVE to do that night. It works well enough for me. And as far as reports... we record ours and I just pretty much read my full assessment and add prn's , mivf and vital sign ranges for the shift. Another perc for a 1/2'' binder ... you can get a little zip pocket of some sort to put highlighters/pens/scissors/alcohol pads.. etc.. so you're not always scrambling in your pockets for stuff. And of course you can add pictures to the front so everyone gets to see a little of the personal/home life. Everyone likes looking at pictures. =) Just don't worry about what the other nurses are doing.. just as long as you keep organized..

I might not be much help.. but a friend of mine who I graduated with has Chrone's disease... and working has caused it to flare up.. Not necessarily working.. but not being on a regular schedule. She said that working days helps because her body gets used to the hours.. but she's had a hard time adjusting to nights and her chrones does NOT want any part in it. Our employer does know about her condition.. which I think helps when she does have to call off. They KNOW it's not just a headache and she just doesn't want to come in. It's something that she has no control over... and if she could make it.. she'd be there. Unfortunately, the people on dayshift do make it worth while to switch for her. Being a new nurse... i think it comforts you knowing that you have people willing to help you if you're in a pinch. ( which on nights.. our group of people are WONDERFUL in helping if someone needs it ) During the days.. it's almost every man for themselves. So she'd rather stick with nights and be miserable. Like I said, I probably wouldn't be much help. But I would suggest telling your employer about the condition you have... so if you do have to call off.. they'd be more understanding and probably willing to help you in any way they can. Best of luck!