BoopRN

It sounds like your patients didn't have any specific complaints and you seem so caring, so I am guessing it was a language barrier. We have had parents request not to have a certain nurse back where I work. This woman is a wonderful, kind nurse. The parents said that they were already so overwhelmed with all that was going on with their baby and the ICU environment in general and the nurse's accent just made it more difficult to comprehend everything. They said they thought she was a good nurse and even seemed a little embarrassed at their request. Some people just have a hard time understanding foreign accented English; others have no problem. I wouldn't take it personally. Keep your head up! At 8 months in I am sure your supervisor's would have let you know if you weren't cutting it!

I am sensitive to the soap and to the contact isolation gowns on our unit. Our soap is chlorohexidine gluconate based and we have no alternitave that I am aware of. I get a light red burning rash up to my elbows on days that I wash more than usual (like when I have a baby that requires frequent attention). When I wear the contact isolation gowns for 2 or more days in a row it looks like I have a farmer's sunburn. Our CNS checked and there is no latex in our gowns. Our hand sanitizer is CalStat and I don't have an issue with it that I know of. I'm sorry you are having this reaction...crossing my fingers that mine don't progress!

I'm 5'9" and I don't have a problem with the isolettes. The cribs and bassinets make me ache though!

I got my license in June of 2008 and it expired in December of 2008. In Oklahoma RNs renew in their birth month on even numbered years, LPNs renew on odd years. My birthday is in December.

I don't think you should feel bad at all...its not like you planned to burn yourself. I was scheduled to work this Christmas Eve. My Grandpa passed away on the 23rd. I called within a few hours of his death to say that I would like to take a bereavement day the next day (Christmas Eve). I was dreading making the call already but knew my head wouldn't be in the game to work the next day. When I called and talked to the charge nurse. (17 hours before the scheduled shift) she said "Oh! You're killing us!". It was so inappropriate. I was already feeling sad about my Grandpa and guilty about calling in. She just made it worse! I told her that I was sorry that the timing was bad. I shouldn't have apologized. Anyways...my point is that you shouldn't feel bad about a situation that is out of your control. I hope your hand heals nicely and that the rest of your holiday was joyful.

Good luck! I hope the wait for results is not too long for you!

Oklahoma BON allows certain military medics to challenge the LPN boards.

My father had this 2 years ago. He ended up being in a burn ICU over Thanksgiving and Christmas. He had a spinal fusion at a small orthopedic hospital on a Thursday. On Saturday he started developing blisters over his body. Monday he was moved to the hospital across the street in the morning then to the burn icu about 15 miles away in the evening. They were not able to pinpoint what caused his. He had a angiogram a couple of weeks prior to the surgery and he had antibiotics and pain meds and of course anesthesia for the surgery. He was also treated with IGG initially which caused his spinal fusion not to fuse. It was such a horrible time, I remember hearing him scream during dressing changes. He truly looked like he had been in a fire. There were several times that they told us to be prepared for him to pass...but he has no lasting effects now other than some very slight skin scarring, needs glasses, and a need to have the back surgery repeated. He is now so weary about taking medications. They said that it could have been caused by antibiotics or even something as simple as ibuprofen!

On our unit if the kiddo has feedings ordered (PO, NG or OG) then they are either 8,11,2,5 or 9,12,3,6. If they are not on feedings then they are scheduled for hands on at 8,12,4.

NewYorkGirl, I just came across your thread. Sending a prayer up for you and your family. Bobbi

Oh my!!

I am a new grad in a very large (80 bed) NICU that usually has 3-4 Unit Clerks on per shift (one front desk and 3 others). Our clerks are so smart and several of them have been there for 20+ years. They can be a little cranky, but I totally understand. The last couple of months before I graduated I filled in as a clerk a lot when one was out on maternity leave. I HAD NO IDEA HOW STRESSFUL THAT JOB WAS!!! We recently got a new clerk that is sooo quiet and sweet. Everyone is taking bets on how long it takes for her to get crabby. God Bless Unit Clerks! We couldn't survive without you! Bobbi

I got dinged for not calling a fire code when a mattress was on fire! I guess that's not too bad since it wasn't nursing related.

I have a small (1.5" x 1.5") tattoo on the back of my neck and sometimes the one on my upper back peeks out of my scrubs. It is not a problem at my hospital. I wear my hair up about half the time and I am not required to cover it. I work in Neonatal ICU at a university hospital. Bobbi

I graduated May 2nd and I do not have an ATT yet. One of our instructors took our transcripts to the board on the 21st and was told we should have our letters within 2 weeks. I can't imagine why they waited 19 days! I wanna get this over with already!