TAB_RN

I cannot see where liability insurance has anything to do with this situation. The only advice I can give, is NEVER EVER EVER sign for something that you are not fully aware of what you are signing. If you are signing for meds, then make sure you open the bags, look, and compare to the list the pharmacy is having you sign for. That is just common sense. They wouldn't have somebody sign for it if they didn't want to hold somebody accountable. Lesson learned. ... oh, just FYI -- ALL NURSES should have their own private liability insurance.

Where I work, it is against HIPPA to look at charts of patients that you are not directly caring for... She should not be going through your charts if she isn't directly precepting you.

PPPLLLLEEEAAAASSSSEEE!!!! How the heck can you get someone in trouble for "looking" at you. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. She is going to look like an idiot when she files that complaint. I don't remember seeing anywhere in the original post that he made any snide remarks or harrassing remarks. I am ashamed that our society has come to this. If she has a problem with people looking, maybe she should dress more appropriately. sorry for the rant.

I understand staying home for our sick children, but your sick time is for you - if you are sick. If your children are sick, my hospital says you have to use vacation time or not get paid to be out. Sick time, by policy, is to be used only if the employee is sick. Whether or not people agree, it is understandable. If you work in an "employee at will" state, your employer essentially does not need a reason to fire you. It stinks, but it is true. If you work at a union hospital, maybe you should contact your union rep. Good luck!

Well if you deserve a raise for that, then I deserve a raise for all the times I have to be in the room as a "witness" for rectals and pelvics! LOL!!!

How about "2L O2 NC" for the tetraplegic patient that has a trach and vented.

I worked on a cardiac thoracic surgical floor for a year. Our patients were up and out of bed the evening of surgery (in a chair). Typically, the patient feels better than before the surgery on day 2. They stay one day in ICU, then back to the floor. The chest tubes usually come out by the afternoon of day 2. The wires (pacer) are usually out also on the afternoon of day 2. Day 2 is typically the first day for walking. AMAZING how well these patients do. By day 4 the patient is going home. I LOVE CABG patients. It is one of those surgeries that is like "instant gratification" - the patient looks amazing after regaining their circulatory system!

I would let them know, to be sure you are not put in a position to be exposed to medications/illnesses that would put your baby/pregnancy at risk. You will be doing clinical work in hospitals and can be exposed to things you really shouldn't be exposed to. They cannot ask you to leave school because you are pregnant. Good luck to you!

Actually, you actually gave less than the ordered dose. If you drew up 2mg/1ml... then added 10 ml ns, and then gave 5ml - that is slightly below the 1mg order. It should have been 5.5ml :) No worries....

Well, I would have to question that order anyway... Oxycodone has tylenol in it - not less than 325mg/5mg pill. That would be 7800mg of tylenol in one day given the full dosage.

Well if you put it that way, we can also say that nursing is comparable to waitressing, working at McDonald's, a department store, etc. I actually had somebody tell me that their job (a Correction's Officer) was very comparable to a nurse. Maybe we can also say that a daycare job is the same as well... Please... It is nothing alike and it irks me when our Management wants us to treat the patients as if they are "customers". I guess what I am saying is that if you are comparing the pace, you can say the job is similar to just about anything. I suppose we will agree to disagree. :)

I was a bartender for many many years... and I am a nurse now. I have to say, with all due respect, the professions are nothing alike. NOTHING.... I find it absolutely mind boggling that you can say that they are at all alike. First off, you don't have to know anything about who you are serving, and if you don't like the person coming in the door, you don't have to serve them. You don't have to know how to make every drink in the world, because as long as you have your bar book with you, you are all set. Nursing now, you have people's lives really in your hand. I can assure you that your choices in nursing will be taken much more seriously if you do harm. You have to know how to assess and what you are looking for. You have to be sure that what you are giving (for meds) is safe... I could go on and on, but I won't. I am just really shocked that you can say that the professions are anything alike, unless you are joking.

I graduated last December in Massachusetts, as well. It was a bit easier for me because there are very few nursing graduates in December. 42 schools just gradated nurses this past May in Massachusetts. I had worked as a PCA in my last year of school, so I had a better chance getting in the hospital as a RN than somebody off the street with no experience... however, it still took a lot of frustration and persistence to get a job. I was really nervous that it wasn't a slam dunk to get in. I am not sure I would say that MA doesn't have a shortage, but I do believe that many nurses are re-entering the field due to the hard economic times we are in. I am finding that the per diem nurses in my hospital are finding little work these days. We are in tough times, and let's face it, oil is expensive, health insurance is rising, groceries are outrageous and people are nervous of what the winter months will bring financially. Be persistent. Follow up when you send in a resume. Talk to the Human Resources Nursing Recruiter. It is easy to have a resume end up in a pile on a desk. Walk the darn thing into the HR office... you have to be persistent. Good luck

I feel so lucky that I work in a hospital with such a supportive staff. I am a new nurse and working on a Cardiac/thoracic surgical floor. We deal with the CABG patients, valve replacements and a fairly high acuity level of cardiac problems. I think I would sink if I didn't have the support I have had. I have learned more in the last six months on this floor, than I ever did in school. Every nurse I work with (there is a team of 6 nurses on my shift), is supportive, helpful and will always work with the "patient first" attitude. Some of the nurses are new (under 1 year) and some have been there for 30 years. I have never, ever gone through a shift where somebody hasn't offered their assistance. When a nurse has caught up on my floor, it is customary for them to walk around and offer assistance. I cannot imagine what it must feel like for you to work with the people you are describing. On our floor, we actually like each other and we also try to find time periodically to schedule a lunch together (including nurses, PCA's, unit secretaries, and anyone else that works with us) just to have time out from the workplace. Everybody's birthdays are celebrated and when somebody has an achievement, that is also celebrated. I love my job and feel even more lucky to work in such a cooperative environment that I just wanted to let you know that not all places are like you are describing. If I were you, I would look around for a place that has a reputation for camaraderie. Good luck to you... and your patients.

Being a parent takes the highest level of "critical thinking"... doesn't make you a good nurse. Just because you served in war, and was a police officer doesn't make you a good nurse. When I state that experience as a nurse will season you as a great critical thinker, I didn't mean And, because you feel nobody will respond to your whole "I would bet my left kidney" statement... AGAIN, more than 80% pass the NCLEX on the first try... your statistics are merely opinions... strong opinions, but merely opinions. It is silly to think that you want people to respond to that statement. Second, with that statement, you are also insinuating that you probably would not pass it given the chance to take it again. If I remember correctly, your posts show tremendous anger when you were waiting for your results. You were going to give up, not become a nurse... and I do believe you also said that you were going to go back to your job as a police officer because they would take you back in a heart beat. Everyone offered you help, especially Suzanne, which you didn't embrace very well. You need to get past this. It is sad. If you want to change the system, do it in a positive way. You will not change the system here on a message board. Write to the NCLEX, get involved and stop belly aching here - whining will not change the system... And using questions as ridiculous as your "homeless man" example is not using educated examples - it will not help the case you are presenting. Using exaggerated examples weakens your argument. Show some maturity and learn from your experiences.