midwestRN

I have been reading a lot about RN's leaving their jobs. We employ 24 RN's in our ER have had at least a 50% turnover in the past year. I have worked for 5 team leaders in 3 years. The reasons I have heard for leaving are usually short staffing, ...

Recently got a paper with 3 different Texas hospitals offering "winter contracts" $39/hr, $500/month housing, completion bonus for 6 month contract. Anyone every tried one of these. Are there any hidden disadvantages? Sounds good, but I know ther...

Laughed out LOUD. Family wants to know what I'm doing. Said I was just thinking about pigs.

After you apply at our hospital, there is a typical 3 month wait until you are hired. They check out everything and by the time they are ready, the RN has another job. Current employees are considered for open positions before outsiders. The nurse...

Sorry, I don't know the answer, but doesn't it just make you tired trying to comply with the government.

I have never seen this form. Wouldn't mind having it handy though. I agree that it is better to lose your job than your license. It's hard to stand up to management, but if something goes wrong, they are going to believe management over 1 nurse ...

See if you can enroll in your local hospitals Basic Arrhythmia class. Our's is only 1 day and non-employees can go for a small fee.

I avoid close friendships at work. I never keep my mouth shut because I'm afraid someone won't like me. It's irrelevant whether my coworkers like me personally, although I do want to be respected professionally. I try to always be friendly, but do...

Inspiring!! What a gutsy, wonderful bunch of nurses. I wish we could thank them personally.

My dream came alive. I was overworked, overstressed working in an understaffed ER. Managed to stay for 3 years. Finally gave up and went to ICU. Only 3 pts at a time, and they can't bring anyone extra and stick them in the hallway. I still have...

Love it. HA AH HA AH!!!

The faster you graduate, the faster you can make RN wages. It's for you and your kids. Hang in there.

I'm sorry you had to go through that night. Reminds me to always watch my own family if they are in the hospital. In my opinion, your supervisor should have stood up and took action, and called whoever it is that is above her unless the pt had disc...

I always reported missed lunches, and we clock out so if we leave late, it is automatically recorded.

When I read this question, I thought in another direction. We once had a IDDM, ESRD, bilat amputee, elderly, confused (normal for pt), with bed sores the size of pie plates, that we coded for 45 min. and got back to live out more painful days. I ha...

Hang in there. You'll never forget her, but the memory will get less painful over time. After something unexpected happens, I still can't shake it for a while, but I talk to my co-workers that were involved in their care. Just remember that she ne...

We had one done. They changed the number of FTE (full time employees hours) they we could have. Now, if we are normally staffed, we are over budget. When people leave the unit, they are not replaced. We are just expected to pick up the slack, per...

I know it's a killed virus, but a co-worker took it at work. Within 3 hours she had 101 temp. Was off work x 3 days. Coincidence? I'm not convinced. I've worked in ER for 3 years. Hadn't had it yet. I think we may build up an immunity due to f...

Darn. Closest hwys are 64 and 69. No fun there.

In the old days on med floor, we had a charge for every 22 pts, they changed it to a charge for every 66 pts about 4 years ago. Pt ratio is 5 or 6 to 1 on day shift. The nearest RN is expected to help out the LPN. Our hospital has closed some need...

My Mom wanted to know about a new med for bone loss called E-Vista. I looked it up and it was hydroxyzine? Mom said it was new. Turned out E-Vista (hydroxyzine) is no longer made. The new med is Evista (raloxifene HCl) to prevent bone loss and th...

I had this done. Terrible shoulder pain for 24 hrs, then nothing. Surgeon sent me home 8 hours after the procedure. I didn't even stay the night. I like the idea of asking another surgeon. This pain sounds too severe 3 weeks post op. By the way...

My advise is to leave for the cafeteria early. It's a half-mile walk from where I work. Don't have medical students. From what I hear, they're a pretty tired bunch which is just asking for mistakes. Good luck!!

Have you ever discovered a mistake made by a doctor, but fixed it before it affected the patient. Like prescribing a med they are allergic to. Wrong med, dose, test, patient, etc. I know you have. But did the patient ever know? I bet not. Becau...

Our ER "locks down". With one button, all doors lock. Then a Code 5 is called and all male personnel available go. We also have security (most are elderly, they like the "fatherly" look). The police are also called if needed. We have had a coupl...