flygirls2

I'm interested in working exclusively PRN, but hoping to be able to work close to (or more than) full time equivalent hours. I need to be able to be off completely for ten days every month - thus, I need this sort of flexibility. Can anyone provide tips or info on juggling more than one? Could I run into a conflict of interest? It seems that each role would have me to be available '4 shifts per month' (or per specific contract) -- do they need to be specifically four that the hospital has available, or do I only need to make myself available that often?

Hi! I used to work with a nurse who has recently been fired and reported to the BON for suspicion of diverting. She has asked me to write a letter of reference to character for her to the BON. I strongly believe she is innocent of what she was accused - and want to help. Question is- being that I work for the hospital from which she was fired and reported-- is it a bad idea to get into the middle of this? I don't want to jeopardize my own job, but on the other hand- I want to do what is right and try to help this nurse. Thoughts??

I'm an RN from the US, currently pursuing a master's degree in a nursing field. I may be moving to Canada within the next few years and do not want to pursue a degree I will not be able to use there.. Does anyone know if NP and other advanced practice nurses are recognized there? I've found that Canada does not use CRNA's, so that's out. Thank you!

I'm trying to choose a graduate degree program to go into.. But none of the 'traditional' nursing master/doctorate degrees particularly appeal to me at this point. What other specialties can you get into with a bachelor's in nursing? I.E. I've heard you can go into PA programs, etc. I don't want to pursue a new bachelor's degree, only interested in degree programs that accept a bachelor's in nursing. Thanks!

Ok-- I hope you all can help me with this! I am a PCU/ED nurse and my hospital very recently built and opened a psych transition/holding unit beside our ED. I was eager for a change and got one of the positions. First of all, I'm loving the job. Psych appeals to me so much more than I realized-- at least at this acute level. I love excitement, and thrive on adrenaline-- yet my stress levels have significantly decreased as I don't have the responsibility of keeping people alive each shift(to as high a degree). I am seriously concerned about our safety on this unit. There is a mix of psych and medical backgrounds among our nurses as we are a sect of the ED and have tele/medical components at times. The nurses who have a background in psych are actually fearful of the layout of this unit as well- which concerns me- as they would know.. I'm dedicated to the success of the unit, and am taking precautions as much as I can. I accept that violence is a part of nursing, regardless of specialty. My hospital has an inpatient psych/detox unit, but they do not accept patients with a high risk of violence. So this 'transition' unit has been built to contain patients either holding for our state mental hospital or patients who are not appropriate for our inpatient unit. We can take anything- from children(no age limit) to psychotic violent ex-cons. I'm hoping some of you can tell me about the layout of your acute psych unit? Particularly if you work at a state institution or accept violent patients? We have two RN's working at all times, and our unit has 5 beds. We are situated in an enclosed hallway with locked doors. No windows- no access. Our nursing station has one door- which 'does' lock, but we're told we are not to lock it except in emergency- as it would be better for us to run into the hallway than to hide in the nursing station. The door and the 'plexiglass(?)' windows around the nursing station could all be broken by a patient who wants access. So here are my concerns-- please tell me if this is standard practice for a psych unit holding potentially violent patients. I hope to make suggestions to the powers that be to improve the safety of this unit for our staff(and patients). 1- Nursing station should have an alternative exit and/or we should be able to close and lock the door. We have one doorway- that must remain open at all times. Patients frequently walk up to our door to speak to us- effectively blocking us into a corner. It's very intimidating to have a large psychotic patient in the doorway- when you have no exit. Nurses know not to allow this to happen in patient rooms-- to always maintain the control and never let yourself get blocked in. On top of that, our med machine is located in the nursing station-- motivation for a patient to want to join us in there. 2- Only two staff.. I know two of us could easily get overtaken. There has to be one of us available to call for help at all times. We have portable walkie talkies as our means to call for help-- which I've learned can be difficult to fumble with when there's a patient behaving violently and you're alone with one other person. If both of us are changing a bed together, we could be overtaken and locked in a room. Obviously- we need to be proactive in thinking about these things. But-- the fact that I have one person to depend on is scary.. In one violent situation- my co-worker froze for a few seconds. I guess we have to all learn to really trust each other. 3- Our unit is one long hallway. Three rooms must be walked by before reaching the nursing station. We've already had a patient jump out of a room and pin a staff member against a wall in that long stretch. 4- According to state law- we are not able to lock anyone in their room. We have temporary lock buttons at the nursing station as well as outside each room. We have successfully been able to use these when patients have become violent inside of their rooms, but when they kick the door- it bows out(different problem altogether). But say strong young man becomes violent in a hallway, schizophrenic granny comes walking out into the hallway and then 8 year old child patient joins us. We have no control. Is it standard practice to not be able to lock someone who is known to be violent and allow them out when they ring a callbell as needed? Also- the potential for a patient to open the room to another patient(possibly a child) and assault them? The other patients really have no safety parameters in place. 5- I'd like to be carrying some kind of panic button? I'm sure I have more concerns.. But I'm just hoping you can enlighten me to what is the standard practice- particularly on a unit that does hold violent patients. This may all be the 'usual', and I'm over-reacting as a new psych nurse. Any safety tips you can give me from your experience? I just really feel like I'm working in a jail with equivalent dangers- but no protection or weapons.

What I meant by pick her up and drop her off---- I was thinking if I did something like the home health where I make my own schedule-- maybe I could intentionally not schedule visits when it is time to pick my daughter up so I could do that and drop her off at either a friends or grandmas(still better than the entire night) and then return to work for the last visit.

That's the problem. Only have one living grandparent in the area, no other family. The grandparent that is here is getting dementia- and was watching her at night, but cannot any longer-- she recently caused my daughter to get a severe burn from scalding liquids, among other things.

Hi! I've been working as charge nurse on a stepdown unit for 3 years on 12 hour nights. I'm suddenly in a very bad position with childcare for my 6 year old child. I have to find a new job, but the problem with days is that my daughter's school does not have an after-school care service. Anyone know of any jobs where I might be able to pick her up and drop her off at grandmas and return to work? Or work from home? Anything flexible for me? I was thinking maybe intermittent type home health jobs where I 'think' I can arrange my own visits? Thank you so much!! I'm in big trouble right now..

Hi, I'm in a bad situation currently working 12 hour nights with poor childcare for my 6 year old child. I have to find a solution. The problem with working days is that her school does not have a before or after school program, meaning I have to be there to drop her off at 8 and pick her up at 3. No job offers those kinds of hours. I'm wondering if the 'intermittent' type home health nursing jobs would be a good match for me? Would it be possible to arrange my schedule so that I could always be there to pick her up on time, and then go see another patient after if necessary? Any suggestions? I'm in a really bad spot right now.. Thanks.

Yeah, I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt since he said he was on the Suboxone ONLY at this point. Then again, when has a druggie patient ever been honest with me? Never. So..

How would he get the endocarditis then? Just a result of the sepsis?

Ok- so I found out a couple more details.. Apparently he had a history of IV drug use, but apparently was on the Suboxone for treatment from that. The docs decided he has some sort of infection in a heart valve, and he was flown to a bigger hospital. That's all I know at this point.. But I'm glad they have "A" diagnosis. Definitely an interesting case, hope it turns out well.

That's interesting. It makes sense in this scenario.. As far as I know, he did not shoot drugs-- then again, we were going off of his parent's word as he was unable to tell us much. So no telling.. Why in someone so young, would a UTI get to this point in a healthy young male? Unless he's not actually healthy..

LOL, well thanks anyways! Appreciate the effort~!

I'll update if I find out the end result! He is definitely a very sick puppy. One of the sickest appearing patients I've seen.