AR_RN

Suction canisters are never emptied at my hospital either. Once installed, they're only replaced when full or when needed. Nothing in the canister will backflow, especially as long as the filter is left in place (I've worked with nurses that remove the filter...that bothers me). The vacuum is a one way flow, so when turned on and hooked up you aren't introducing bacteria back into the patient. Having said that, if a vacuum tube is to be left unattached, I do cap it to keep it closed.

As a med-surg nurse at a busy hospital, I understand and sympathize. I cried what seemed like every day after work most of my first year. I was exhausted. I never felt I was doing as good a job as I wanted to because I was constantly running, chasing my tail and never getting done. It does get better with time. However, as others have pointed out, nights may not be something you're cut out for (I'm not for sure), and med surg may not be your thing either. The beautiful thing about nursing is that you have so many different specialties to choose from. As a bit of encouragement, I've switched to Staff Support at my hospital, allowing me to work different floors and manage my work schedule around my life. That's taken a lot of the stress out of working for me, and I'm still in med-surg and love it. My time management and organization is finally, mostly, under control and I finally feel competent most of the time. It's taken me a long time to get to this point, but it feels good. Whether in med-surg or another specialty, you will find your groove, and learn what works best for you. You worked hard to get that license. You will find your niche.

I've done team nursing some. I prefer not to though. As said above, it depends on who you're working with....I've had nurses use "team nursing" as an opportunity to sit on their backside and order the others around. That's not how it works. If you work with good committed coworkers, it can be good, but it's a crap shoot.

If I feel that the number pain rating I'm getting (say from an elderly patient) doesn't mesh with what I'm seeing, I'll FLACC them, while also making a note of the number they rated it. I also do this on occasion with that patient that rates their pain a 10 while giggling on the cell phone and painting their nails.

I'm fortunate enough to work in a Catholic hospital. I'm not Catholic, but the nuns that visit each patient daily are a great comfort to many of my patients, regardless of their faith. Have I talked about faith with scared patients? Sure. Have I prayed for and with patients at their request? Of course. Would I ever refuse a patient the comfort of a prayer? Never!

Obama here. My reasons are mine, but I do pray for the future president either way. It's not a job I'd want!

There are so many factors to consider, and you recognize most of them. After 5 years in a hospital setting with 12 hr shifts, I need to point out that 3 12s is a lot of time away from your child. On those days, if you work day shift you won't see her at all. If you work nights, you need sleep during the day to stay safe and alert at night. Then for me at least if you work 2 or 3 days in a row, you'll need a day of "recovery" before you feel your best again. You'll have the flexibility of scheduling which is wonderful, from my perspective having time with your daughter every day with guaranteed time off on nights and weekends is worth a ton. You'll likely make more PRN, as mentioned, but hours are less reliable. Could you afford to not work for a week if hours are scarce during a down period? I'm off work right now caring for a family member, but I'm about to take a prn contract which will only require me to work 2 12 hr shifts per week. A decent compromise for me between having to give up time 5 days per week or working full time. Good luck with your decision. It's a tough one with pros and cons in each direction.

As said before, more info would be helpful, but humiliation is an emotion you may just have to tame. I was crushed and embarrassed and on the verge of tears the first time I was called into my mgr office. Now, I take it in stride. Not only does she call people into the office all the time for all kinds of things (good and bad), but no one but me knows why I was in there, and rarely is it even something worth stressing over. I calmly defend myself when needed, sometimes just nod and let her say her piece so I can go on about my job, whatever the "crime" requires, but bottom line, have confidence in yourself don't let a scolding get you down.

I had a great one last week. The family pushed the call light and said the patient needed help with her IV. I went in and they informed me that they had unplugged the IV and assisted the pt to the bathroom, then gotten her back in bed, but now weren't sure what to do with the IV. Ummm.....how about plug it back in? Seriously?

Oh, I forgot one of my other faves. The call light goes off and we answer it from the desk. "May I help you?" Instead of a response we hear this: Did you hit the call light? No, why? They said you hit the call light. No, why would I hit the call light? I don't know why. Do you need something? No, if I needed something, I'd hit the call light. Well did you hit the call light? No! Then finally to us, "no one hit the call light." Oooookkkaaaayyyy..... This about 3 or 4 times in 15 minutes. After that we called their nurse to the room to "FIX IT!" I think she moved the call light up by the pillow instead of down by his hand. :-)

I'm loving this thread! My favorite call light story was a man who was aox3, generally very polite and no trouble. Suddenly his call light started going off constantly. He'd deny pressing the button and I'd go in to check on him only to find the call light laying on the bedside table. It was in reach, but nowhere he might hit it accidentally. I'd no more than get out of the room and it would go off again. He seemed as confused as he could be. After about 10 minutes of this I had a brainstorm and traced the call light cord. The previous pt had been a quadriplegic and had a modified call light he could press with his cheek. This gentleman still had the same modified light and the quad's button had been placed under his pillow when the PCT remade the bed. Guess she didn't know what it was! The poor guy was only trying to get comfortable in bed and kept pressing the button with his head.

One I've learned that I don't think I've seen here.... Don't take your girlfriend's psychotic meds thinking they will help you sleep, then wait three days for the resulting erection to "get better" before you seek help. It gave new meaning to the term "blue balls".

I do both med-surg and peds. I hear it more on the peds side, but often on the med-surg side too. Frankly, I typically consider it a complement, whether they think they're giving me one or not. :chuckle If they couldn't do it, it's a good thing I am, right? I am usually chatting away with the patient or family while doing whatever I'm doing to prompt that response. My response is usually something along the lines of "it's all part of the job", but the truth between you and me is that not everyone's cut out for it. I'd have to be hogtied and medicated before spending a full day in, say, a preschool however, so we've all got our preferences!

I have to weigh in here with something worth thinking about. While I was in nursing school, I said the same things. I did NOT want med-surg. I was willing to do nearly anything but, and the thought of being stuck doing med-surg nearly bored me to tears. Once I graduated, I hired on at the pediatrics floor of our hospital. That floor is half peds and half urology/med-surg. Nearly a year into working there, I have to say I've learned so much and gotten practice with such a wide range of things working med-surg so much that I don't regret it at all. My suggestion would be to choose whatever you think you want to do most, but don't write off med-surg. I scoffed at those that told me that med-surg was a good place for a new nurse to start. Now, I realize that I've had experience in nearly every aspect of nursing, nearly every gadget, procedure and technique commonly used. I was lucky enough to get a job that allows me to do peds as well, but wherever you end up, use it as a learning opportunity and a springboard to bigger and better things later on.

I have to laugh at this one. Normally I have no problem here....it's pretty clear which is which. But last week, my grandmother was in a critical heart surgery, I was worried about her, major short on sleep, was charging for only the 3rd time in my life, AND had a patient with a colostomy who needed a colonoscopy. I couldn't keep the words straight all day!! :chuckle:chuckle