Cosper123

The important thing is we have each other. lol.

Yeah you can and I would. I chose to wait until after my boards as I didn't want to get a job and then not be eligble for it. That was a huge mistake as many got a jump on me and by time I was ready to apply I was behind the curve.

Was there a way to validate that the pain medication was given? Who ultimately was responsible for this patient? I'd chart it as you did with just sticking to the facts and not adding anything additional to the info. For example I wouldn't put "screamed in pain like I've never heard before." I'd put it as "patient expressed pain" and then put anything they may have said verbally if it is pertinent. I'd have asked the patient to rate the pain and inquire if there was pain AFTER that needed to be addressed still. But yeah basically how it happened short and sweet. Name the nurse that removed it since it wasn't you like such - I cut suture. Janice RN removed drain. The only hangup I really see is that the other staff verbalized that pain medication was given. I wouldn't put that they merely stated it, I would make sure it was actually done before charting as such. But I'm new, and look forward to the input of those more experienced.

Actually no way in any form was I ever an accomplice. I reported it verbally to a supervisor and that is the extent of my responsibility per the BRN. More is expected of the Charge Nurse as I understand it. Because it wasn't my job. Between three tele patients, two FTT, three dementia and one detox (6 pt total, not nine separate conditions fyi) I was busy enough with my load. A more senior Nurse was answering his call lights. The complete and total extent of my responsibility was in telling the Charge Nurse who notifiyed the Nursing Supervisor who did nothing. I've got enough to worry about as a new graduate keeping my head above water and ensuring that my patient's are safe and well cared for. It is not my responsibility to keep track of what everyone else is doing. It was the Charge Nurses choice to wake him or not, and I don't hold myself accountable for what they did or didn't do. Yes very regular. And he's been very unpleasant about it all when woken up in the past. He's even filed harassment complaints in the past. He's a manipulative bully. This the rock and a hard place senario. On one hand he really deserves it...on the other hand the Manager is going about this is totally the wrong way. If not for the threat from NM....well I'll take the very wise advice given to me here and not talk to anyone about what my choice was or what else all is going on :heartbeat And yeah...next time someone is sleeping I'm at least going to take the time to throw something at them

She pulled me into her office and said that someone else had told her that I and a few others witnessed this occure, and asked what I saw. Did not realise at the time I'd be pulled into this nonsense simply by doing the right thing. In any case yeah I'll simply contact the board and worst case senairo write the most benign-yet-honest letter I can come up with and wash my hands of it. One step closer to becoming jaded, grrr

Yeah good idea Castlegates. And good advice all around, thanks everyone.

Reason I am uncomfortable writing it is that this person has been here awhile and has friends up the chain. He's already gone after another person after learning they had reported him for a similar incident. This is a bunch of immature nonsense and I really just want to do my job. Not looking to backpedal, I would admit what I saw to anyone that asked....but putting something to paper is entirely different. Which is why the question was is this an incident that could get me reported or have I already done what I am legally required to by telling the NM what I honestly saw?

There's a fellow RN on the job who is suspected of sleeping on the job. NM calls me into the office the other day and says that my name was given as a witness to this incident. I told her yes that it appeared as though he was sleeping. She states that she would like me to write up a report on it. On one hand fine...the guy's eyes were red and puffy and he was sitting there for two hours with his eyes closed. I do believe he does deserve to get fired but she's gang-ho about reporting him to the board. Then she tells me if I don't write him up then she's going to report me too, and that the BRN would take away my liscence for it. Her reasoning was if I didn't I would be an accomplise(sp?) and that it is the same as if I saw him stealing drugs. I am not the guys supervisor, so feel as though by reporting to her what I saw was my only responsibility. I am a new graduate with limited experience and this creates various problems with me...having a family to support and various other issues. Quite frankly I don't feel comfortable writing this report, and feel insulted by her threat to report me. Would the California BRN see it as a reason to take away my liscence, or was reporting what I saw to her enough?

Yeah it's tough, took me an entire year to nab a job. Granted I messed around for awhile, we moved...and for a good amount of time my job searching was half-hearted. Once I got serious it still took six months until I finally lined one up. Firstly you have to be willing to move/travel. I'm currently 3.5 hours from home (in good weather) and it's harsh but I'm working and getting experience. Coming from the Bay Area and working here in Reno it's rough, we have a new baby and all. But it is what it is and it is only a matter of time until I have enough experience and I'm closer to home. Anyhow, the average cost to train a new grad is anywhere from 80k to 120k...depending on the department. As an orientee you're not counted in the staffing, and require the coverage of a preceptor even once you are taking the full load. Some places actually do pay a preceptor more as well, it's usually like a buck an hour (not worth it imo for some departments...or orientees hehe). Add to that all the inservices/classes/training materials/etc. and the cost to train makes more sense. So yeah onto the useful information. Some things really stand out on a resume/Cover letter. Don't be afraid to use appropriate humor...my fav thing to put on a cover letter is that as a new graduate I have not yet had the opportunity to become jaded or develop bad habits. References from clinical instructors hold more weight. And pretty much any thing you can do to stand out is a big plus. Once I got my ACLS I noticed suddenly I was getting calls for interviews. Four serious months of searching with no interview whatsoever...and suddenly I had three. So do yourself a favor and pad that resume with pertinent certifications. Take a strips class, ACLS, PALS...whatever it takes. That really stands out and holds huge weight. Also do some time in a SNF if you have to. Heck I got so desparate I was even applying for CNA positions. Not sure how it works here in Nevada but legally in Cali an RN can work as a CNA...I looked it up Anyhow main thing is don't give up and just keep plugging along. Make sure each and every one of your cover letters is unique and tailored to the facilty and job you are applying for. Every little details matters as for me it was application 458 (not joking, over 100 applications to Sutter hospitals alone) that finally got me the interview for the job I have now. Oh and check out the Reno VA they have been hiring tons of new nurses as GNTs. St. Mary's is hiring a lot of new grads in spurts as well. Good luck folks and hang in there.

It is what it is....and that's all that there is.

Well they aren't basic infection control like what gear to wear in this situation. You're given, for example, a bunch of diseases and need to know how each on transmits. Other ones are you have a patient with this, who do you room them with, that sort of thing. If you used a Qbank or other such program that throws a bunch of NCLEX questions at you, you can expect them to be like the harder ones you have faced.

Yeah I just took it today and feel horrible about it simply because of how it started out. 9 select all that apply before hitting question 18...talk about a quick slap in the face. By the end of the test I had 17 out of 75 that were SATA. Seeing as how I do the absolute worst on these, I'm not too optimistic. Overall had three math questions, and yeah I got a bunch of medications that I had never heard of before and couldn't discern from the generic name. Was most worried because on a couple of "who would you see first", nobody really looked that be in THAT bad of shape...which then gets me concerned with what I'm missing. Overall I'd have to say it was a horrible experience, and I'm really worried that it cut off at 75, because if I do fail, that means I bombed hard. I would feel much better about it all if I had at least made it to 200 questions or so. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. I'll just have to wait and see.

Ditch the fun for sleep. Hang in there, you have worked very hard to get to this point and you're almost there. One more giant education hoop to jump through, then you can move on to the hoops of hospital politics :)

"I don't think it is his obligation to help me out, but I feel he should." You need to switch your goal to politics

I too disagree with the "sad but understandable" view. When I walk into that room, I am a professional and expect to be treated as such. The only thing I found "sad but understandable" during my nursing school rotations were women giving birth who didn't want me in the room. But for routine care on anything else I can't think of anything as "sad but understandable". I see it as a stupid policy that makes me more useless and puts more work on the back of my female co-workers. I COULD understand teaming a male with a female to do the job...that would provide the chaperone and we'd move quicker as a team...not putting any undue stess on my female co-workers. But this as it stands is not understandable by any means. It's stupid, plain and simple. It's as stupid as press ganey, it's as stupid as handing out vouchers for free coffee to people in the ER who had to wait longer than 30 mins, and it's as stupid as any other customer service BS that doesn't recoginize that what a PATIENT needs and wants aren't always the same.