nialloh

I've worked nights for many years. I love my 12hr shifts. I have to admit I plan my sleep pattern the same way. I go to bed after work at aprox 9:30 and get up at 4:30. If I'm off the next day I stay up until aprox 7-9pm. I then proceed to pass out. I wake up at about 8am, and my internal clock is reset to days. I do try to nap before work. Doesn't matter if I don't manage to as its a mental trick to tell my body I'm going to be up all night. Works for me.

Firstly, the thing that makes you a real nurse is the RN after your name. That is one of the most important things, and is respected all by its self. That being said, I would recommend at least 1 year of floor nursing. This will sharpen your assessment skills, and will help with time management. You said you are interested in school nursing, you will need it there. Also, if the research market falls through, you will have something to fall back on. In this field, experience is king.

For my Psych pt I had a few weeks ago. If you want to hide your candy bars (4 of them), don't hide them between your butt cheeks. 1/ We will find them. 2/ We Will remove them. 3/ We WILL dispose of them. And NO, you can't eat them. I know its your butt.

If you want to take my post apart line by line you might at least get it right. You will note that I was responding to another thread and think I ran into a thread merge. I never mentioned other nurses (fertility clinic nurse), and was actually talking about other industrys. I don't think I whined even once. By taking a post line by line you can make it say things you want it to, and that were never ment. Try reading the whole thing, and speak to that.

Everyone is focusing on education. If a teacher messes up, a student might get an F. Can be fixed. If a nurse messes up, a pt can die. So we are also being paid for responsability. We also have to carry insurance, and always have the risk of losing our license. We see and help people at the lowest times of their lives. We also work under constant pressure, changing techknlowogy and increasing standerds. 1. Do we get paid enough for what we do - No 2. Is it worth it anyway - Yes :) (If this post seems out of place, I was answering another thread and got placed here)

The main reason I tend to disagree with some of your posts is that you mostly aim high. I agree with a lot of what you say, but remember, a lot of the fraud and abuse is committed by those at the bottom. There is a lot of people thinking "what's in it for me", or "How can I get the most out of the system". People are relying on the state too much, and not trying to work things out for themselves. To fix the system you have to aim at both top AND bottom. It won't work trying to fix only one. I can't speak for Canada as I have never been there, and don't know anyone from there. But I'm from Ireland, and there is a lot of abuse in that system. If you don't have to pay for it, just go in for any little thing that you might not even go to a Doctor here with. There are waiting lists for most treatments, not enough nurses, and poorer outcomes then those in the US. I know people who work in the UK, and its the same, if not worse there. And there is no shortage of money being pumped into the system. When I came to The US I had $1000 to my name, a bed in my brothers place and what I could carry with me. I worked at slightly above minimum wage, and had a little above high school education. I moved from job to better job, and got myself an education. I'm now an RN with my own house, and doing OK. I say all this to show, if I can do it, anyone can. I am nothing special. I believe in the strength of people. Let them do it, and kick others in the backside and force them if they won't. If they are spoon fed, why should they move on. All that said, those who truly can't do it should receive help. That is what a safety net is for. Lamaze, I'm going to stop here again. I don't want to get into another tit for tat as I believe you truly believe in what you say, and care deeply about the needy. I even agree with much of what you say, and respect you for it. But I think people should be encouraged to stand on their own two feet where they can, and be helped where they truly can't. See you again on other Threads.................. Nialloh

I thought I was finished replying to this thread but have another point to offer. Lamaze, I find myself agreeing with your last post with one exception. There is a lot of abuse. I have seen it on my floor, and treated patients who had no need to be there. It is also not just patients and Doctors who abuse, but medical suppliers. That alone costs the system a lot. I have no fear of being judged, and am sure, neither do you. :)

Fungez, I don't think this is an option. As she is so close to term no-one will hire, and she will lose her insurance. Also, in this jobmarket you don't want to burn any bridges. imho It is a nice thought though :)

I agree with Jessy. If it is harming you go out early. or you can let it be known that you are thinking of that route. That will be one really big hole to fill, and maybe your manager will take the hint. The other way is to pick a shift. get your DR to write an order for that one and do it. Your manager can't argue that its not specific enough. And if she doesn't like the one you chose, she should have made the choice when she had the chance. It sounds to me like your manager got spoiled with you flipping shifts at her whim. If I were you, I'd put a stop to that. Its not healthy, and you need time to adjust your body. Tell your manager you are no longer willing to switch shifts like that (unless that was what you were hired for), and that you want a regular shift.

Unless the pt is very fragile, I wouldn't give it. While I have done it, the pt was being closely followed by an Endocrinologist. This doc was being called at all hours with updates (per his order). But this wasn't a permanent order, and the pt was in acute care. Your order is just too dangerous IMHO.

A good family who know good care when they see it. In their eyes they are trying to say thank you, but don't know the problems a cheque can cause. I would think sending it back would cause them to be insulted, or have their feelings hurt. I would think the best course of action is to talk to someone in HR. There are many things that could be done, most of them already mentioned. But before I'd do anything, I would talk to HR. Sending the cheque back could reflect on the hospital too. I think buying something for your workmates, or even donating it to the hospital itself would probably be the best course to go. Just let them know that it was given to the hospital/staff in your name, so they know the gift was accepted. But make sure you have HR's blessing first. I hope you find an answer that works.:):)

Working on a tele unit is one of the best things you can do. It opens up so many doors. From there you can go to ER, OR, ICU, etc.. While you can go to these other places without tele, it looks better in an interview if they don't have to wait for you to become comfortable with your rhythms. Also you will be used to drips, and can hit the new unit running. You have a more valuable skill set.

I would say take the job. If you find it is too much, you can drop it later. Not only will it help you after you graduate, it will help you in school. When you are doing your clinicals you will be more confident, and you will also see a lot of cool things that you might not get a chance to in school. A lot of nurses will also show you things if they know you are a nursing student, and sometimes even let you do it. I was a pca for 1 1/2 years, and it really does make you a better nurse. You have your patient care down pat, and you are more comfortable. Good luck with whatever you decide.

With the way some people write I'm not surprised they need help reading a chart. Glad you didn't have to do anything. But it was a learning experience. Without any danger or risk to yourself, you now know how it feels to be in the sights of the legal system. God forbid, if you are ever summoned or served again, you won't be starting from step one. I think this might be one of those good things you wish never happened.

Just a thought. Apart from on call pay, Do you get time and a half for coming in on call. In my hospital you do. If she is doing this to save on overtime as was suggested earlier, there would be no point in continuing. Also, are you the only one she does this to, or does she do it to others. If you are the only one, it might be because she sees you as easy. You did say you were new, and she might be taking advantage of that fact.

You have received some very good advice here. The only thing I would change is DON'T hand deliver anything. Just because you put it in writing doesn't mean you can prove you gave it to them. Send any correspondence by registered mail with return receipt. Even if they don't care, doing that will make them sit up and pay attention. It is a paper trail that can't be ignored. The extra effort will also show them how seriously you are taking this. Good luck. I hope it all works out.

68drop: As much as I agreed with your earlier posts, I have to agree with lamazeteacher here. You can only plan for so much, and have at least 18 years to plan for. A lot can happen. I also believe that it's never the child's fault, and that some leeway is needed. Be it tax credits for insurance or whatever, a child needs to be taken care of. That is not to release the parent of responsibility, but until they get back on their feet, the parents should be given a helping hand. This might sound like I'm contradicting my other posts, but I'm not. I believe in a hand UP, not a hand OUT.

I can answer this in 1 word : YES

I have worked nights for many years now. If I'm off for one day between night shifts, I try to keep to my night schedule. If I'm off for a few days, I sleep for a few hours (after a night shift), and then go to bed at a reasonable normal hour. By doing that I switch myself to day shift. In all fairness, I have been told that I'm better at this then most (by other night nurses). I hope you are able to work out your own system. good luck. I'm not going to school, so I can't help you with that one.

I would be more worried about you being left on your own. You are a new grad and I'm sure have little experience. what resources will you have, and will you have adequate orientation. Remember, they will give you as much responsibility as you are willing to take. it is your license, guard it. I guarantee, the hospital won't.

Lamazeteacher. So you haven't read the bill either. You have read the Democrats summaries and watched their videos. You also call the New York Times a reliable source when it is one of the most biased papers around. The rest of the main street press is not far behind (with the exception of a few). As to Grandstanding Republicans, more of them have read the full bill then the Dems. You can see this when they are challenging each other, The Republicans know what they are talking about, The Dems don't. You talk about where you think I get my info and the Republican propaganda. You actually WORK on behalf of President Obama. So get off your high horse. As for responding to post #227, you haven't answered any point. Not one. That post doesn't need to know what was in the bill. It wasn't what I was talking about. I was talking about the authority and power of the government. The bill is secondary. I also am through responding to your posts as you are becoming snide and condescending. You normally have interesting and well thought out posts, and I have enjoyed them in the past. I'm sure I will again. I guess you are too close to this one. We will just have to agree to disagree.

That is the only part of post #228 is all I can agree with.Nialloh and Spidey's mom: You've been swallowing the propaganda from the party representing big businesses, that lost the Presidential election in 2008. So sorry that happened. Please be a good sport about that election, read the Reform of health care and insurance Act, and form your own opinions based on truth, not conjecture. Lamazeteacher, I'm sorry to inform you that the Democrat party is the party that is bought and paid for. They receive more money from the insurance industry or Big Business (see Goldman Sacs). I also don't listen much to the Republicans as they are nearly as bad. Just not in this case. As to reading that 2000 page monster of a bill, I don't think so. It is full of double talk and legalise that even lawyers have a hard time reading it. Instead of asking me to read it, why don't you ask congress and the president to read it. Most of them ARE lawyers, and they haven't read it. (If you did, I give you full credit for it) As to my post #227 (your post is 228), please show me where I'm wrong. Calling me a propaganda swallower is not an argument or appropriate response. Instead of trying to insult me, why don't you point to where my post is wrong and discuss that. If I'm wrong I will happily admit it. I don't mind being corrected, I have learned a lot from being wrong. But don't say I'm wrong without backing it up.

The biggest mistake people are making is that they think they have a right to health care. You don't. All the arguments about being poor or pre-existing conditions are superfluous. The easiest way to figure out if something is a right or not is to look at how you pay for it. A lot of our rights have been paid for in the blood of our founders, troops, etc.. But if you have to pay in cash, it's not a right, its a product/service. My main objection to the public Option is that it is unconstitutional, and is being forced on us. The majority don't want it, and have said so. We were ignored. The Federal Government doesn't have the authority to supply health care to the public, and absolutely doesn't have any authority to make anyone buy a product/service. Yet they plan to jail or fine us if we fail to do just that. People have been saying that its not fair that I can have a good health care plan and others can't. Well guess what, I earned it. I work for it. I deserve it. If you want it, go work for it. Its like I can steak, you eat mac & cheese. Its not fair so we both get to eat lunch meat. There are too many out there who aren't even trying, and the result is the ones who deserve help get lost in the flood. There is a problem, and taking my health care from me, and forcing me to buy a garbage plan won't fix it. We need reform, but not this way.

Don't know of he actually got admitted (or even got to the ER) but it happened on hospital grounds. If you get drunk and wander around a hospital multi level parking lot naked during shift change, and manage to scare the heck out of a lot of nurses, expect to be confronted by security, and then be arrested. He was carted off in an ambulance so I don't know if he was taken to the er (we had a few drunks in, and I was watching from the window).

I chose in vitro fertilization and sex change operations as obscene examples, they are not the only ones. But you are paying for them. In a lot of states there is mandated coverage, whether you want it or not. Just because you are 90 years old and going in for a total hip doesn't mean your not paying for it. It pushes up the cost of your premium. You say that technology should be saving us money, it does. But it is the older tech that's cheaper. 50 years ago they didn't have open heart anything, stenting, PET CT, Nuclear Med, etc. This is bigger, better, faster, more. It is not cheap, and has to be paid for. You tell me which tech you would like to drop. And there is newer stuff being developed all the time. As for for profit companies, they don't have a very high profit margin like other companies (not saying they are hurting or anything), but they still have to make something. Otherwise why bother. You could say the same thing about nurses. People need our skills to survive, how dare we charge for it and make money off the sick. You see, we need to survive too. We can't supply the service for free, or even very little. If we did, we would have do leave nursing, and that would be the end of nursing as a whole. It is the same for the private insurance industry. They need to make a profit to pay their expenses and make it worthwhile. They also help to keep the cost down through lower waste and fraud. So they are needed, whether we like it or not.