shellsgogreen

I vote for both. I think days is maybe more ideal for a new nurse, considering you actually see and get to know all the support teams and attendings, and can be a part of rounds. I started on days, although now I work nights and I do love it - I feel as though I can spend more time figuring out what is really going on with the patient without interruptions, and I am able to get to my charts without having to search the unit for them.

I would also do some reading on post anesthesia nursing - you tend to get a lot of patients directly from the OR. I worked in PACU before the ICU, and am very thankful for that experience.

I'm not sure that I ever feel like I'm doing enough either, so I can relate. When it all feels too much, I do three things; first I allow a period of time to reflect on what I could have done differently (I set this time, or else I will get caught up for hours and even more stressed) then I go home and hibernate for a bit, just to come down from the sensory overload, and lastly, I recover with something to balance out the sadness, such as meeting up with friends. Hope you feel better.

i don't write no new orders received, i usually write "no intervention indicated at this time" along with all the info pertaining to the patient issue including s/s, md notified, and general nursing f/u monitoring. i agree it is cya. it certainly is not an attack on the md from where i stand, as just as often i see in the notes, "notified by the rn" it is all just telling the picture like it happened.

i was wondering about that too. as for rn's lying, well, we don't have the corner market on that - everybody lies. md's right through to pa's and social workers, which is appalling but it does happen. it will come back to them, one way or another if they are not documenting correctly.

there was a similar case on my unit awhile back - the patient had expressed his wishes, and signed a dnr/dni - he was ultimately intubated, as per family, and he extubated himself three times before coding again, and by that time, he did not make it. the nurse who was taking care of him got into a screaming match with the md, as she felt he was not honoring an alert patient's wishes. his response was, "well, he got his wish in the end anyway"

kiz, sending many blessings your way for the new year shells

can't even remember the last time i was sick (knocks on wood)

racing-mom4, i have three things to tell you; 1. those kids probably had more fun that day with you than they would have with their regular class teacher, good for you for volunteering your time. 2. before we all know it, physical education classes will be online too, and kids will have even less of an opportunity to get some real exercise or even interact with other students in a fun way. 3. that school nurse is an idiot

i hand over the requisite $5 - just glad that i wasn't the one selected to do the shopping for that gift. our manager's gift to us - more paperwork, meetings and new rules.:icon_roll

How about the security guard who asked why the heck we had called them when a pt was flailing a bedpole at the nurses. :uhoh21: He insisted this was a nursing responsibility only.

what a wonderful post to read first thing in the morning - and more importantly, can you come and work at the hospital i'm at? i agree about this site - i learn something new from here everytime i log on

there's a few things you can maybe do ; 1/ quit being hard on yourself - moving to a new position is never easy, and it takes time getting used to computer charting, new faces and just generally the way that unit does things 2/ maybe keep a record on when you do things, like start/stop meds and review it at the end of the day . or start the day with a to do list with time frames for each pt and check it off as you go along (things will always interfere with that, but a general list so you know what your day's plan is) 3/ look at what you're delegating - are you doing things that maybe your tech could help out with? hope all goes well in your next shift

i wanna work with the op - sounds like he really cares about his patients:d

the people that cast judgmental remarks about bipolar people being druggies probably make the same narrow minded remarks about all patients. :uhoh21:

we have bracelets and stickers on the charts - the order is one of the first things i check in the am when i go through my charts.

are you part of a union? i would question the leaving without pay thing - seems to me that if you've clocked in, and taken care of people - whether it's for two hours or twelve, it's still work, and it should be accounted for. these two hour time frames add up, and before you know it, you've worked the equivalent of a whole shift - without pay. in my hospital if something like this happens (ie, "accidental" overstaffing) then they are required to pay us for four hours, whether we stay or not, so it's not surprising that they rarely overschedule:uhoh21:

.....you finally change districts, and have FINALLY escaped that annoying pt plus the thrity eight family members who were on top of you, only to find that during a room switch the night before, they are now moved into the room in guess where - your district!

yes, in a hospital there is a high risk, but you have just as much risk contracting tb on the bus or train where people cough and don't cover their mouths i try not to dwell on what can be transmitted - i always use the necessary precautions and am careful to protect me and my pt.

well, i have quite a few, but the one that springs to mind at the moment is the 85yr old dancing man - he had his little radio, and would dance around the nursing station, or his room or wherever he could find space. still makes me smile thinking of him - with all the sadness that goes on in the hospital, it was nice to see such joy in a person

Maybe it's for "Vitamin F" (aka vitamin feelbetterfaster) :)

this is definitely the thread you want to read after a crappy day.

ask her if she'll be kind enough to intubate him too - no doubt he'll need that soon enough if she keeps up this crazy behavior. sounds like both you and the op had a very challenging night - hope the next shift is better:up:

heh:lol2:

i would pay it if we had it on my unit, as usually when there's a function, i always feel like it happens when i'm short of cash. but that's just me:twocents: