Maula, RN

I am an ICU nurse who had to floeat to the cardiovascular ICU. I had 2 very critical heart patients. This was threatening to me because I work in the trauma ICU and know very little about the heart with the exception of reading EKGs. I simply stated this and I received a more appropriate assignment. I hate floating, but it is necessary. We are a team. Teamwork is a must. If one unit is short and another unit needs you then I think it is our responsibility to float to help the hometeam. That said, I hate floating to the floor. As a nurse that works the night shift in the ICU we have 1 or 2 patients, on the floor we are subject to have 8 patients. But the bottom line is that it is necessary. So I have to thank god each day I don't have to float and pray that the shift goes well on each day I do float. Most units are really happy to have the help. And it reminds me that my unit isn't so bad afterall;)

Hi everyone I am a new ICU nurse with over 5 years of acute care experience. In the unit I work in the nurses are encouraged to be CCRNs after their first year of Critical Care experience. The problem comes in because I have heard how difficult the test is and I want to start studying now because I think it will improve my knowledge of the critically ill patient. What is the best review? Also I work in a Level One Trauma/Neuro ICU and would like to know if the CCRN certification test reviews all areas of critical care or is it be broken up into specialized areas?

I had a similar situation. I was working in a nursing home that was totally out of control and had a reputation for being this way. As a new nurse to the facility I was shocked at what was going on and how the nurses that had been there for a while had overlooked some very unsafe situations. One night I had a CNA come to work under the influence of ETOH. I reported this to the supervisor and her response was "what do you want me to do, she's a tough kid?" I was floored. Needless to say I sent her home and was threatened with bodily injury. I thought better me than one of the patients she was supposed to be caring for. SHe was fired. A new DON was hired and I reported a sexual relationship a 38 y.o. CNA was having with an 18 y.o. patient and she was fired. I also reported a nurse that was openly having an affair with a patient, she was fired. However when I reported that the CNAs were sleeping on the night shift and only doing rounds at 11p.m. and 5a.m. I was told that nobody wanted to work with me and that I was reporting "too much". I was told to overlook some things by this new DON. What I did was document what I had reported and when nothing was done I made a report to the administrator. All of the things I reported were serious patient safety concerns. Other nurses were complaining but didn't want to be the one who reported it. I took on the cause because I thouhgt the infractions were serious enough that I couldn't live with myself knowing that I had let these things go. We are patient advocates and have to look out for the well-being of the patients in our care. I finally left the nursing home after 3 years vowing never to return. I now work in the Trauma ICU and I have not experienced such problems and don't expect to. I think when there is a shortage of good staff facilities want any staff. Any staff doesn't necessarily mean good staff. They are bodies and that's what counts. I still think about the things that happened at this facility and have nightmares about working in another nursing home. RNinICU I have been in your shoes and know how it feels but if you are strong you will survive and if nothing else your co-workers have to respect your ethics.

I don't understand how you can give insulin when yu're not the one who checked the BG, Brownms. Dennie, in Minnesota it is common practice to have the nursing assistants take the blood sugars and the nurses administer the insulin as ordered giving SS if the blood sugar dictates that it is needed. As long as the CNA is trained to do blood sugars they can do it and be held responsible for what they are doing and reporting and documenting the correct information. However in the hospital I work in the patients ID # has to be entered into the machine before a blood sugar can be taken and it has to be documented right away on the flowsheet, which decreases the likelihood of a mistake. Ultimately, we as RN are responsible and accountable for interventions we carry out.

It seems like a vital part of your story is missing; without knowing the whole story I think it's best for you to contact an attorney who is versed in this type of case because forging prescriptions is a very serious federal offfense and document everything that has happened. Good Luck

The fact is that for so long nursing was a white woman's profession. And that was the color of nursing. Today many nurses find it hard to believe I am one of them because I am not a white female. The automatic assumption is that I am a nursing assistant at best. So I understand what Gomer is saying and I sympathize with those who feel threatened although I don't understand it. We are in a severe nursing shortage and our patients are suffering. I don't care what color a nurse is if he, she, or he/she is competent. But many patients still have the perception that nursing is a white woman's profession and take some time to warm up to anybody not fitting that profile. It's up to nurses to open up our minds and hearts to those different from us and join the common accord of providing high quality care for our increasingly ill patients.

Are you kidding? What's fun about children sufferin with cancer?

You are definately in the wrong profession if you can't stomach poop, vomit, and mucus. I mean what do you honestly believe you will be doing? Looking for a doctor to marry? And no, the nursing assistants are not there to do your dirty work. They are there to assistant you. Believe me your work on any unit will be much better if you treat the assistants with respect. You need to really think seriously if this is what you want. I clean poop daily and have even went in search for poop manually removing it when it can't be expelled.

Drug Use I despise drug use. I think as a nurse it's my patients' right to have a nurse in their "right mind". I do believe that if any health professional uses illegal drugs they can't be trusted with the legal stuff. Same for alcohol. I know it's legal, but too much and you'll be the patient hopefully of a nurse that didn't decide to get high before work. I think drug test should be mandatory. We are dealing with lives. Why take the chance? I would want a nurse who uses drugs. But I know we are humans and everyone has a crutch. Do we want our children to think it's okay to do drugs just as long as they don't do it at school or on school days. Ridiculous, huh? Yes. We as nurses are trying to gain respect as professionals. What's more unprofessional than having a staff full of high nurses? But there is a shortage and I believe any nurse is better than no nurse at all. How many of us would want a doc who's high. Not me. I have enough stacked against me. Pot often leads to other drugs that makes it difficult control ourselves. Stop making excuses and clean up your act drug addicts. professionals we are.

I think you should have a positive attitude. Luckily there is a shortage and plenty of positions that are less strenuous on our knees. I would say complete your education and look for a position that suits your condition; you are needed.