epipusher

Yes I agree. Ignoring this dosen't clear my mind. It is still happening! I like the Sheriff idea and am looking into it.!!

Too funny. Thanks. It is like someone telling you you have green stuff in your teeth. Others may have just let me ramble on.....I wonder if she quit

Before you decide to quit. Make a list of the pro's and con's of the job. The grass is not always greener. My current place of employment is rough at times. I am sure that the management team is living on another dimension for some of the rules they put into effect. I stay because I love the people I work with. If you put your feelings on paper and can stand back and look at it objectively (let the anger go for a minute) the answer may become crystal clear. Good Luck!

Just having a positive PPD does not mean you have TB. It indicates you have been exposed to the antigen. Some childhood vacinations given in the islands willl cause the same reaction.(I think it is BCG--but am drawing a blank for sure) The CDC states a positive is greater than 10 mm of inderation. You will have to provide a sputum test and they will grow out the bacteria. The culture can take up to 8 weeks to come back. If your X-ray is positive they will start meds. Medications can be obtained for free. The CDC has a program to prevent the spreading of the disease, so they give the meds to those who can not afford it. Call your local public health office if you need assistance. They will ask you about your history and try to figure out where you were exposed. It is really a hard disease to contract unless you are immunocomprised. You have to be in close proximity with an infected person for a prolonged period of time. It is carried on water droplets in the air. ie. talking, singing, sneezing, and coughing The symptoms include: night sweats, fever, cough, unexplained weight loss and perhaps a cough. If you have any of these you should see your doctor. Good luck!!!

Thanks. I like the idea of safety in numbers. We are a small unit so the next step up is pretty big.

Ok...I have been a nurse for almost 20 years and thought I had seen it all. My current employer seems to be a becon for impaired nurses. We currently have 3. The latest one is causing loads of issues. She was a great nurse that worked with us for 1 year. It was found out that she was removing approximately 40 percocets per shift for patients she was not assigned to. Management aproached her and sent her for a drug test. Since she had a personal prescription for the drug, nothing was done. Many of the staff were very uncomfortable when she was around. (She was not signing the MAR--you had to look in the pxysis for the last dose given) Management pushed the issue and she up and quit. Well 6 months go by and she is back (rumor has it that she was terminated from the last place). I questioned my manager about this and she said there would be stipulations. I see none. Her first day back was today and I snooped around in the pxysis. She gave 10 percocet in one shift and once again failed to sign them out on the MAR. None of these patients are alert enough to report that they had not gotten the medication. What can I do? Does any one know what actions I can take if management continues to turn a blind eye? I know we are short on RN's, but this is crazy. We already have a tough enough job without worrying about team members stealing drugs! A group of us are really upset and not sure what steps to take next. Help!!!

I can't believe how much has changed since I graduated (1989). As a new nurse I had to work 6 months in tele prior to even being considered as a new SICU nurse; then I had to prove myself on dayshift that I had critical thinking skills before I could transfer to nights. Today we place new grads in every specialty in nursing. The few seasoned nurses working on a shift are expected to handle their own patients, assist the agency staff on the unit and mentor the "young'ns". I wish I had an answer to this worsening issue, but with fewer resources and higher expectations it is no wonder the experienced nurses are looking outside of the bedside patient care arena.

O2 First. Never lose sight of the ABC's. Many doc's want a 12 lead baseline EKG before you start giving meds.

Never let anyone take away your achievements! The longer you wait the more difficult it will be to acclimate. Lots of single mom's manage, you can too. If my husband did not go into work until 10am he would help out. I wouldn't even need to ask. Stand up for yourself. Who knows where you will be 10 years from now in your marriage (He sounds selfish). My mom always preached to me that as a nurse, I would never have to depend on a man for income. You are only hurting yourself, nursing school was too hard to throw away. Being a new grad is tough. Nursing school can only perpare you for so much. You need to work the way the hospital's orientation program is set up. (Trust me, nursing school did not prepare you as well as you think) Find a way to manage for 1 year, then work per deim when it suits you. Be firm, make a plan and stick to it! Good luck