CMarie,RN

My experience has been different. I have not experienced the "Nurses are backstabbers everywhere" environment. I believe it depends on the unit you work on. There are good team players out there - I work on a 33 bed Medical Intensive Care unit, rarely have more than 2 patients at a time, and love the people I work with (most of them - a few of them are burned out and should quit nursing, and a few of them have God complexes and like to display their "superiority" on a daily basis). I am casual pool only on this unit (no floating) and work with the nurses on all shifts - night shift I care for less - but most everyone helps each other out. Sure . . . there are a few nurses who sit all shift and play computer games despite the rest of us running around like crazy trying to keep our noses above water and our patients stable, but the rest of us - the majority of us (on my unit) help one another out. If I look frazzled one of the other nurses will ask if I need help and if I say I need help then they jump right in - sometimes without me having to actually ask them; and visa versa - even if we are all busy we tag team our patients when possible (I.e. I'll help you get your stuff done and then we will move on to my patient) - it usually winds up that we team up with whoever we are working next to. This is the only nursing job I have ever had so maybe I just lucked out to be working where I am. My unit does have the reputation in our 800 bed hospital of being the best unit to work on (known for the team work and wonderful nurse manager - I think the nurse manager is what makes all the difference!). Anyway - I am certainly grateful for where I work after reading the previous posts.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to home health? I have been told that home health might be a better fit with my personality.

I have worked MICU for almost 5 years; rarely have 3 pt's, mostly just 2 - yet have struggled to keep up, had to have a "moment" behind the linen cart so I could release sobs after my 24 yr old cancer pt (mother of two toddlers - same ages as my boys) died on my shift; have gone home countless evenings at 2100 hrs when my "shift" should have ended at 1900 because I was too busy with high acuity pt. care that I had not done my narrative charting since 0800 that morning . . . then cried all the way home (45 minute drive) because I fell so inadequate, etc., etc. I am one of those nurses that will stay and help bathe the pt if they just stooled at change of shift because I want my pt handoff to go smoothly - it is the patient that matters - and if I was to just leave because "my shift is over", then it is not only the nurse taking over that starts out rough but the patient that suffers . . . I hate it when my patients have to wait to be cleaned but sometimes that is the least of the priorities - although there are a few night nurses I work with that need reminding of that. Nursing is 24 hours - an unending cycle - and we should all be forgiving of one another when things aren't wrapped up nicely for the next shift (then again - there are those 1 or 2 nurses we all know about that NEVER get their stuff done - but amazingly have played Sudoku all afternoon, never take care of their alarms and can't be found when I need help turning my pt's - it just burns me up!!! But then there is the little COPD'r that is bitchy to all the other nurses but tells me that I am "alright", and the family of the DNR pt who had cried on my shoulder and confided in me, the families who express sadness that I won't be working the next day, who tell me that I am the first nurse that has explained things to them, the priviledge we have as nurses of being present and instrumental during someone's most vulnerable moments (emotionally, physically and sometimes spiritually) and be able to meet their personal physical needs with respect and dignity in their last moments. . . I really do consider it a priviledge to be a part of that. After having worked in the banking industry for 12 years prior to nursing and the hospitality industry for 2 years - - at least I am making a real difference in the lives of others. If you are in the profession to help others then you will do fine - if you are in it because you want recognition or money, then maybe another profession might be better. Best Wishes to you.

I am shocked - my husband (a Lieutenant/Paramedic/Firefighter) teaches First Aid/CPR to Daycare centers when he is not at the fire station. His class (approved by the State of Florida Dept. of Children and Families) is an abbreviated version (specific to Day Care Center environments) and still takes 4 hours to complete (he typically teaches by himself with a class of 10-15). EVERYONE in the class is personally tested on CPR manuevers/technique and he will not give certification until the Day Care Worker can return demonstration with rationale (I have been to many of his classes just to observe - I thought I wanted to be a BLS instructor while in nsg school but it is a very heavy responsibility that I realized I was not ready for). So I find it very hard to believe that anybody could legitimately use the excuse of . . . too many students . . . in the class to justify making a quick buck at the expense of safety and integrity . . . there is no excuse for that. If those instructors cannot properly teach CPR - but pass out certifications like they are candy, then they SHOULD be reported. Please find yourself a reputable American Heart Association BLS Class to attend - usually community colleges will offer classes on a regular basis.

Wow! I am so surprised that I am not the only one!! I too have had the awful experience of "dripping" onto one of my patients - I am thankful the pt. was sedated and no family was in the room - I was mortified but could not wipe my face because I was all garbed up in isolation and was elbow deep in C-Diff. . . It was awful. I am 37, born and raised in sunny, humid Florida, and only just this year am experiencing severe sweating - all over - but it is the sweating on my scalp, face and neck that is so noticable to others. I have recently had to start going into my pt's bathrooms, just so I can wipe my face down b/c I am dripping all over the place. No one else sweats on the unit - just me - very embarassing. When someone says something to me or I am especially self-conscious (like when a Doctor is making rounds on my pt. and I notice that He notices how much I am sweating!!! . . .) I just say "I must be peri-menopausal!"(sp?). Just so they know that I know I am sweating like a pig. p.s. I am on an SSRI - all of them do state Derm: Increased Sweating; Also, it would probably help if I stopped drinking caffienated sodas. Anyway - you have made me laugh - your descriptions of "problematic perspiration" I can so relate to. I plan on checking with my PCP just to be sure there isn't something new going on - Thanks for the unexpected laugh!! :roll

I have been nursing in MICU for coming up on 5 years now and I am still trying to get organized! The one consistent thing that has helped me is "my little blue book." I bought a telephone/address book the size of an index card ("At-A-Glance" is who made the book - any office supply store will have a good variety) that has sturdy tabbies alphabetically. I only write in it using a pencil and add things into the book alphabetically. Since I am always adding information to the book, the pencil works best, in case I need to erase some info to rearrange things. Depending on the information I will leave ample room to add more info directly under that subheading later and with other entries I do not leave extra room before the next immediate entry. Hope this helps - it is better than carrying around index cards and for now I don't have a PDA so this is the next best thing. Good Luck!

This is a great thread. Here are some ideas that I haven't seen in the thread so far . . . 1) Start your own NCLEX Binder: Get at least a 2 inch binder with as many tabbies as the body has systems, plus a few more; Throughout your nsg school semesters you will run across especially good handouts that you want to keep (I suggest buying "Memory Notebook of Nursing," all volumes.) Place the really good ones in the NCLEX binder only after the semester has finished (you want to have all your stuff in one place until it's over). Be picky about what you place in the NCLEX binder otherwise you'll wind up with several 4" binders. 2) Buy a KAPLAN NCLEX Study Guide: passing the NCLEX is more about critical thinking than it is "content". Once you can dissect the question, the answer will stand out. I ended up owning about 12 different NCLEX study books but in the end I only benefited from the KAPLAN NCLEX Study Guide - as a matter of fact - The "Critical thinking" aspect would have helped me out in nursing school had I had the Kaplan book at that time but I only got the book when I took my NCLEX review - after my 4 semesters of nsg school were over. 3) Forget the index cards on a ring idea - buy a pocket sized telephone/address book (I like "At-A-Glance" the best) with sturdy alphabetical tabbies. Use this as your personal customized pocket guide for clinical notes, lab values, anatomical helps, etc. Use a pencil so you can easily modify information (i.e. lab value ranges are different in every hospital), and just make it your one stop guide to help you through nsg school. I am now making a new one again to consolidate info. (I consolidated one after nsg school for my 1st nsg job, and now, 4+ years later am making a new one; some info. I don't need now - and other information I didn't realize I needed is more important than ever. Good luck everyone with nursing school - it is worth all the work!

I appreciate the response - Thank you traumaRUs and mercyteapot for the suggestions.

I read your reply regarding a "brain sheet" or suggested guideline for shift organization. Would you please email me the 6 forms you mentioned? I'll contact you by email. Thanks!

I have been a MICU RN for 5 years and have been tx for the last 8 yrs for depression. Just recently dx with ADHD and OCD. I have been soooo frustrated with myself on the unit when all the other nurses give report and are out the door by 7:30 and it takes me until 8pm to finish report on 2 pts, simple or not, and then I face another 1-2 hrs finishing my notes because I haven't been able to chart during my shift (all because I am checking, dbl checking and triple checking, and then there are the distractions - all those alarms - I can't chart unless all the alarms have been dealt with - mine or not.) All of the other nurses manage to get it all done except for me - it is really shaking my already low self-esteem. I love my job and what I do but am worried that I can't seem to figure out what to do to make a positive change. I especially hate it that other nurses probably cringe when they realize they have to receive report from me (because they know they won't get their flowsheets to start their charting for another hour or two.) p.s. Have been on Zoloft for several years & Strattera for 3 months; changed Psychiatrist's today and will be gradually changed to Wellbutrin XL and increasing Strattera. I knew I was ADHD but the OCD dx was new as of today but makes SO MUCH SENSE. Any suggestions?

I have been a MICU RN for 5 years and have been tx for the last 8 yrs for depression. Just recently dx with ADHD and OCD. I have been soooo frustrated with myself on the unit when all the other nurses give report and are out the door by 7:30 and it takes me until 8pm to finish report on 2 pts, simple or not, and then I face another 1-2 hrs finishing my notes because I haven't been able to chart during my shift (all because I am checking, dbl checking and triple checking, and then there are the distractions - all those alarms - I can't chart unless all the alarms have been dealt with - mine or not.) All of the other nurses manage to get it all done except for me - it is really shaking my already low self-esteem. I love my job and what I do but am worried that I can't seem to figure out what to do to make a positive change. I especially hate it that other nurses probably cringe when they realize they have to receive report from me (because they know they won't get their flowsheets to start their charting for another hour or two.) p.s. Have been on Zoloft for several years & Strattera for 3 months; changed Psychiatrist's today and will be gradually changed to Wellbutrin XL and increasing Strattera. I knew I was ADHD but the OCD dx was new as of today but makes SO MUCH SENSE. Any suggestions?