wfperseus

I've recently been asked whether I'd be willing to fill a seat on our hospital's IRB. I don't know whether any of you out there have ever served, how much of a time commitment this is, whether you've ever served as a primary reviewer, etc. I'd like to know before I answer yes/no. Thanks!

This question came up yesterday in a mtg. -- one of the head pharmacists explained that the exact prescribing info. that usually appears on meds purchased outside of the hospital is missing, and that this is why we aren't supposed to send meds home w/ pts.

Hi -- I currently work on a Med-Surg/Telemetry floor that has seen a growth in high-acuity patients. We've been going crazy trying to justify increased staffing/find a solution to the craziness that happens daily on the unit. I've been searching the literature and internet for acutal samples/worksheets that other hospitals use to determine acuity/workload but haven't come across the actual tools. Can anyone supply an example of what their unit has been using? Thanks!

Here's a link from yesterday's Boston Globe about a 59 yr. old who's just become a med-surg nurse: http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/articles/2007/05/27/she_was_destined_for_career_in_care/

If the pt's been there for a day or two (not just admitted), it probably makes sense to draw labs early (our hosp. usu. does draws at 6am) so that the MD can rewrite the order for the PM dose (it's given at around 22:00), or decide to completely hold the dose for that day.

Hi - I've been feeling the same way as a new nurse on a med-surg tele floor. I'm incredibly insecure and feel anxious on my days off (really spoils the time off!). Do you have access to Employee Assistance at your facility? They could probably put you in touch w/ a good counselor. Good luck!

You are all so helpful -- thanks for the insight!

Hi -- this discussion is really helpful! I'm a new grad nurse on a Tele. floor, never worked as a CNA, but am feeling confused as to how much, in particular, I'm supposed to be adding to my list of nursing chores (e.g., giving meds, answering call bells, emptying urinals & recording output, checking labs, paging docs per critical lab values/clarifying orders, completing paperwork, putting out fires, etc.) to help the CNAs give bed baths -- or even get to them before the CNAs do???? Last night (after three days straight of 8-12 hr shifts and no time for lunch), an aide mentioned that she and the others had just now been assigned by mgt. to additionalling record pt. vitals and I/O's to the flow sheets (nurses are responsible for charting these too), so she asked if I could also help out w/ bedbaths in the future to make it more equitable. I felt so guilty -- am I being a jerk for putting bed baths at the bottom of my list of duties and leaving it to the aides unless they specifically ask for help (which they do) or I need to check pt. skin quality? Should I be jumping in there ahead of them? I'm feeling confused and guilty. Thanks!

Hi -- I decided to search for med/surg positions in area hospitals and found a new positions/new hospital w/in about 2 wks. All recruiters were very understanding that my "new-grad-in-the-ICU" situation didn't work out, esp. after I explained the poor orientation that I recd. Good luck!

Is there any possibility of changing your shifts to something like three 8 hr. shifts and one 12 hr. per week (total 36 hrs)? I also find that taking a multivitamin, vit. B complex, iron, and vit. C help . . . and don't give up on your exercise! Good luck!

Hi everyone -- sorry for the title, but I'm a newish grad, looking at various hospitals (big city, smaller community) and was wondering what people have to say about starting out in a smaller community hospital (135-beds)? Do you think new grads can learn just as much in smaller vs. bigger hospitals? Thx!

Hi -- everyone seems to be reliving the same nightmare -- getting hired as a new grad but getting a poor orientation and ending up feeling confused, alienated, and losing all confidence in their ability to ever measure up. I just resigned from a new-grad ICU position last week after being told that I wasn't getting up to snuff quickly enough. I couldn't take the criticism, began feeling incredibly anxious, dreading to go to work, feeling like a total failure and disappointment to the unit. I ended up resigning thinking that I wouldn't be able to "turn things around" in time. My supervisor said that she'd give me a great recommendation and was sorry that things turned out as they did, but that I probably needed to develop basic skills on a Med-Surg floor. My question is -- how do you hold your head up, go forward, and try again? How do reply to the question, "Why did you leave?" Any suggestions?!

Hi -- I graduated in May w/ a BSN and had to wait 2 mos. for a job offer (the Boston area does NOT have a nursing shortage) as a new grad in an ICU. Both my employer and I misjudged my ability to get up to speed -- I really need to get basic clinical/organizational skills under my belt probably via a Med-Surg position. I'm starting the job search again and don't know how long the 2nd search will take. In the meantime I'd like to continue building my skills (and regaining self-confidence lost from this disappointment), but don't know whether I should try volunteering in a hospital or whether it would look strange to try finding a position as a tech. or aide in a local hospital (and at least also earn $$). I also don't want to get involved in a position that won't allow enough time to job hunt/interview, but sitting on my butt waiting for calls will drive my crazy! Any input would help!

Hi -- yes, everyone has given wonderful advice about this type of criticism. I guess I'm wondering how patient my own preceptors will be about my getting up to speed w/ organization skills, etc. I'm new to nursing and just started a position in a CCU. I'm older (47), have held positions other than nursing (office/admin. work in academia, etc.), and am not used to asking for help. I was "criticized" for not asking questions (but at other times I wasn't supposed to have asked questions)/not offering help to others (even though I have), and thus not contributing to a collegial work environment. I was also "criticized" for being too tentative (I've never worked as an aide or tech) in dealing w/ patients, such as giving bed baths, etc. I feel ashamed that the other new preceptee who's much younger than myself and who has had tech experience is now handling 2 patients while I'm only given 1. I try to take this as constructive criticism, but I also feel totally useless, foolish, and as though I'm in the totally wrong profession . . . plus I'm now full of anxiety about losing my position and dreading to go back to work on Monday. Sorry for the whining, but I just feel so scared and defeated. Thanks!

Hi -- I took mine on Sun., and it also shut off at 75. I didn't feel certain about a lot of the questions that I answered, but I did pass . . . and you guys probably will too!

Hi -- I just graduated too from a Boston nursing program, and I'm also having a hard time getting many interviews. I think that the Boston area has just been deluged with new nurses graduating from the various nursing schools. I think that the few people in my class who were hired immediately had already worked on those floors as CNAs or students. I know -- it's really frustrating -- it's hard not to feel really rejected by this! -- LJ

Hi -- I've been on 2 interviews so far, and it's standard protocol to meet first w/ someone in HR who gives you a brief rundown of salary, potential start date, etc. She'll then escort you to the floor to meet w/ the nurse manager who will ask most of the interview questions, e.g., why are you interested in this type of position, why interested in nursing, etc. Hope this helps.

Hi -- I just finished my last clinical rotation in an ICU setting and am now applying for similar positions in area hospitals. For the clinical, I was assigned to a young nurse who had never precepted before. He seemed to be annoyed that I wasn't as proficient as he in bed baths, turning patients, etc. He even suggested that I get a job somewhere as a nursing assistant (even though he knew that I would be graduating within a month, have a mortage to pay, etc.). I was very confused and hurt by this. I thought that I did a good job of holding my own in a fast-paced ICU setting, especially since I was given no formal ICU training (new staff go through a 6-mo. training course), and -- as a nursing student who was still in classes and working elsewhere part-time -- was on the floor maybe one or two days per week. Anyway, I interviewed 3 wks. ago for a position as a "new-grad ICU nurse" on that floor and haven't heard anything -- I'm assuming that they talked w/ him, and that he probably gave them a crappy review. I had asked him previously for a letter of recommendation, but he hesitated before finally agreeing that he'd email one to me -- he never did send me one, but told me to bug him if I really needed one. To sum up, I feel kind of ashamed, and also pretty powerless since it seems that my hiring fate is in his hands. I should probably remind him again to send me a recommendation letter, but I'm wondering how I'll get around this in the future, especially since he's the only one who's seen me perform in an ICU setting -- he might feel that I'm "worthy" of working on a med/surg floor, but probably not in an ICU. Thanks for letting me vent!