INwannaB

We are a small hospital outside Houston. I abstract approximately 90-100 charts a month for AMI, PN, HF, SCIP & OP. We are still using paper charts.

I loved being a systems analyst. It was the most fulfilling thing I have ever done. I loved the traveling, working with the developers, helping end users. I want so badly to do it again but from a nursing perspective. I have applied to every single IS position in my area, even if they say they want a BSN or MSN. I have even applied with the vendors directly and willing to relocate. Also applied to several recruiting firms. Not sure what else I can do. I guess you just have to be in the right place at the right time.

hi gang, before becoming an rn two years ago, i spent 4 years as a systems analyst at a financial institution. i didn't code or anything but i spent eight years doing the following: attended system development calls and participated in conceptual design sessions for the purpose of achieving estimated costs associated with the construction of new system enhancements. met regularly with employees of various departments to determine what system enhancements would be beneficial to the department. traveled to multiple locations to validate production screens and programs in a test environment to determine if defects exist. submitted the errors to it to fix in the live database at uat. participated in multi center processing during live production installs and troubleshooting after the install. researched trouble tickets and provided solutions to end users. responsible for staff coaching and development of over 200 representatives in our customer service call center. reviewed and streamlined job responsibilities to reduce costs and increase quality improvement. prepared data, compiled reports, tracked systemic problems and provided research and quality control support to various management teams. conducted audits to assess standards of quality, and developed guidelines, process measurements and controls to ensure continuous improvements in quality standards. creation of learning modules, e-learning and work/life program. application design, validation, testing, staff education and go-live support. after practicing at the bedside, i have come to the conclusion that i may be happier combining my experience in it and nursing. i am not sure what avenue to take at this point. do i get my bsn and then msn in informatics? do i put my resume out there and see who bites? i am 42 and really want to settle into something that fulfills and challenges me. bedside is not doing it for me. please give me your pearls of wisdom. what would be the next step if you were me?

California is no longer a walk thru state. You have to file the complete paperwork and wait the 6-8 weeks.

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We have computer MARS but when you hand write a medication on the paper MAR (that was given over the phone) you are suppose to time them until the next MAR is printed. Well, someone wrote the med order and didn't write in a time so I forgot to give it. We don't have to chart the meds in the computer. I wish we did, then I wouldn't have missed it. By 2009 we will have the computer system where you have to scan the meds and the patient and the computer will tell you if you missed a med.....no doubt the system is intended for dummies like me.

I had to increase my anxiety meds because I am dealing with the same thing. I am at the lowest point in my life right now.

Me too.....I feel like a total failure and so incompetent. The other day, I got confused when someone hand wrote a medication on a computer generated MAR and failed to time the medication so I didn't give it at all. My preceptor told me I should have known better even though I have never seen this before. When I asked how I would have known, she said "you just need to know" and stormed out of the room to report the incident to the nurse manager. Now I am wondering......what else do I "just need to know" that I don't know? New things come up every day and if you haven't experienced them before, how is it that we know what to do? There are so many friggen fires to put out that one does not have time to think. Someone PLEASE tell me this gets better!!!!!!

I am in my orientation period on a cardiac unit. Most nights I have any where from 6-8 patients and I am feeling VERY overwhelmed. My preceptor is a smoker so guess where she is most of the time? When I tell her the way I am feeling I get a lecture about "this being the way it is everywhere" and I just have to suck it up. When I make a mistake, she acts like I should have known better. At this point I hate my job and I am not sure I want to continue being a nurse.