ncriverrat

Tazzi- That's exactly the response we were looking for- something from the BON, and official, not just opinions like hers, or mine. Thanks a ton!

I told her something somewhat similar to that, and her response was something along the lines of... "If I had marijuana in my system it could have been from 4 days or 2 weeks or longer ago, and of course I would not use at work" I told her that her employer would have NO idea when she used last- and therefor it would probably not be a very cool idea lol. It just seems odd that she would have to change a practice of her lifestyle for her job, but on the other hand it makes sense as well. Thanks for the input!

I hope I don't start any arguments/debates with this....if so, please feel more than welcome to delete! I have a friend who is in the first year of nursing school(finished pre-reqs and is in the junior year). She is originally from Jamaica and she is Rastafarian. Now that she is has been accepted in the nursing program, I had to ask her a question. As part of her religion and culture, she smokes marijuana, and she says it is part of the way she lives, just like other traditions she adheres to. We had a discussion regarding this and her future employment possibilities. She told me that since this was part of her religion, that no employer could discriminate against her. I told her that most(if not all I've seen) nursing jobs have some statement about being "drug free" or a "drug free workplace". So now we're both wondering- can they not hire/fire her for something that is part of her culture/lifestyle/religion? She has told me that even though she has is in the program, that she would in no way change her beliefs for a profession. So I don't really have any information for her on the subject, and thought someone on here may- any Rastafari nurses out there or have any input? Thanks!

Well as far as my own opinion, I think it would be fine pulled back. When I was in nursing school, dreadlocks were a big no-no, no matter how clean they were or if they were pulled back. I had wanted dreads for a long time, but knew it wouldn't fly in nursing school. Also, I live in the western part of N.C. In other areas they may be a little more lax. My friend actually dropped out of the program because they told her that either her hair could go(she has had dreads for years) or she could go. However, I have since graduated nursing school and have had dreads for months. My hospital policy states that hair is to be clean and pulled back, and that's what I do. I would just ask. I did at work, and they were fine with it.

Thank you both for the replies! I live in a small town, and there aren't really a lot of options here besides the hospital- esp. for a new grad(most places here mean it when they say "experience required") but honestly, I think nursing just isn't for me. And I really hate to say if, after the years of school and effort put into it. I want to go back to school for Parks and Rec. and give up nursing in general. I feel like I've learned a lot that will always stick with me, and I don't feel like I need to be "stuck" in a career where I'm not happy. However, no one else sees it this way. I feel like everyone around me will be disappointed if I give it up, and in a way I feel guilty because my mom paid for my school, and tells me I "can't quit a job I just started". I feel like when I tell my husband or mom how stressed and unhappy I am, they don't take me seriously, and just think I had a bad night.

Hi, Thanks for the reply! I think I'm just not happy nursing. I don't know if I can take it for 8 more months just to see if I start to like it. I'm constantly telling myself that I made the wrong career choice. I am wondering if nursing is just too high-stress for me(I'm probably the most laid-back person you could ever meet). Thanks for taking the time to read my post and the words of advice, they're appreciated!

Hi All!, I know there are a lot of posts like mine, with people saying they're burnt out, etc., but I've only been a nurse for 4 months, and I already feel this way. I work on med-surg, but we are more like a ICU step down really. We have some complex pt's that demand a lot of care, but the nurse to pt. ratio is usually ok. I just feel REALLY stressed out, ALL the time. I come home, with no one to talk to, when I tell my husband or my mom the response is mostly "it'll get better, you're doing fine" or something to that effect, constantly. I feel like they don't take me seriously when I tell them I don't know if I can handle nursing. I feel like I was not cut out to be a nurse at all, and I want to go back to school for a different major. Whenever I tell my husband or mom this, I get a lot of flack about needing to stay a nurse. I find myself crying when I get home because I'm so unhappy, I feel like I'm in the worst health of my life(i work nights)- whacky sleep patterns, unhealthy eating, fights with my husband(we never fought before, now I blow up over small things), I smoke more than I ever have, I quit exercising, my stress level is through the roof, no time for my friends, etc. I'm so tired of having these mini-emotional-breakdowns when I get home from work. I just don't know what to do. Maybe I'm just looking for people who've been in my shoes, or have a word of advice, or just took the time to read this. Thank you!

Ok, thanks for the info! I have never 'witnessed' without seeing the consent(prob cause I was the one getting the consent signed........) Once, when I first started, day shift and secretary both asked me if I got the consent signed during my shift, which I said "no", and from the way they reacted, I thought that i was supposed to, although something in my head remembered learning to NOT to get consents signed, that that is the physicians job. The next time this comes up, should I just refuse, and talk to my charge nurse about it? I have a feeling that if I did this, she would just go do it, but it has me wondering about patient safety- on the consent I was supposed to get signed but didn't, the pt. didn't know hardly anything about the procedure, and said no one had explained the risks/complications.

Hi, I just started working on a med-surg floor a few months ago, and this is my first nursing job. I have a lot of patients that go for procedures, surgery, etc., with consents to be signed. The doctors write orders to have the consents signed, but I thought that the nurses could be a witness to the signing, but that it was the dr's responsibility to get the consent signed. I mean...as a nurse...I don't even know WHAT the Dr. has told the pt.....complications, etc. I have gotten a couple of consents signed, but am now questioning this, so what's the correct way? getting physician to consent? Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for the replies! You all have had some great ideas, thanks! I realize that nursing may pay better than some of the opportunities I would have with a degree in parks and rec. My husband lays tile, and I am hoping that in the next several years we would be financially stable enough for me to pick a job that pays less, if it makes me happier. I would love to combine these 2 degrees. I don't want to totally throw my nursing education out the window! Thanks again for the replies. I think I may try and take a couple of classes a semester and see how it goes.

Hi all! I graduated in May, and work at a small hospital. I work night shift. I was thinking about going back part time to the same university that I graduated from. I wanted to take some classes for parks and recreation management. I feel this way, because my heart is in the outdoors, and I'm not sure if I'm happy with nursing. I'm not sure if I'm just new, and scared of nursing, or something else. I was wondering if any of you have a different degree besides nursing, and how it works out(if you use that degree as well). Anyone out there integrate nursing with another degree? Or work part time/prn nursing and part time/prn something else? Thanks for any input!

I think I may have worded my post wrong about her being an LPN- I wasn't trying to ask if these problems were because of her BEING an LPN- I have great respect for them, and the best nurse I know is an LPN. I should have clarified a little better- what I really mean is that I think I saw her do a couple of things that may not be in her scope of practice. I hope it didn't sound like I was belittling LPN's or anything like that; that was DEF. not where I was going with that, sorry if it came out wrong!

Thanks for the replies! Something I'm scared about is that one of the nurses WILL put my initials down for double checking insulin. Where I work double checking is required, and it scares me to think that someone may just put my initials down and then the amount be wrong and something happen. As far as the assessment, what bothered me is that while she was only focusing on one area, she would document that she did the WHOLE assessment, and of course all the patients were doing great according to her assessment. I work again saturday, and I am with someone else. Hopefully it will go much better, but I am still worried about having nurses on the floor who treat patient care like this.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has been kind of freaked out by a situation like this. I think part of it is that I went in that morning, and in my head I was like "oh yeah, I bet they're going to give me an AWESOME nurse today so I can learn a lot!!" lol boy was I wrong.....

Hey guys! Passed my boards around a month ago, did orientation, all that. Yesterday was my first day on the floor- meg/surg floor. Anyways, all I did yesterday was follow another nurse around. She was an LPN. Is it the norm to give a new RN an LPN to orient with? Honestly, I'm not really sure what LPN can/can't do within their scope of practice, so maybe it is the norm to put an RN with an LPN? But I get there and they put me with her because they said "she is the best nurse on the floor". She's been at this hospital, on this floor, for 11 years. I am scared that they said she is the "best" nurse they have on the floor. She didn't even do a full assessment on ANY of her patients, just checked why they were in the hospital, for example resp. problem- and listened to lungs, etc. She was giving meds WAY out of the hour timeframe- and I mean like even 3 hours late. She was talking to me about another co-workers "hygeine" problem(body odor) which I thought was inappropriate. She kept talking about how nursing students from one nursing school do nothing, and make the worst nurses. just happens to be the school i went to She was unorganized too- never checking meds more than once, taking meds for several patients in one room, trying to keep them seperate, almost giving a patient meds twice, etc. Didn't get anyone to double check insulin, etc. She would just sign another nurses initials. The whole day was filled with "well I know this isn't the right way but....." and things like that. Honestly- I just got out of nursing school and I know that not all nurses do things the right way, etc., but she kept me a nervous wreck the whole day. So, basically, I know, that I am a new nurse, and no experience, and I know things aren't going to be exactly like I was taught in school, but are most floors this way? Some of these things seemed pretty major to me- especially for the "best nurse on the floor". I mean she was nice and everything, but it worries me some. Should I be worried? Thanks for reading, and thanks for any input!!