Pumiky

Hey, It all depends on the hospital you are working in. If you are in one of the English hospitals then charting and doctor orders are written in English. If the Doctor is more "French" then they might choose to communicate with patients and nurses in French but you can always ask them to say it again in English and after a while you should make yourself comfortable with the French language. Most floors also have rounds with the doctors and if the doctors prefer speaking French then the whole thing is done in French. Don't forget, if you are planning to work in Quebec you need to pass a French exam. Hope this helps you a bit Best of luck pumiky

I have a second interview on the palliative floor at the hospital i'm working on. I'm very nervous because I really really want a position on that floor. I've already had one meeting with the head nurse, did my readings before but apparently wasn't prepered enough, or at least that was my feeling as I left the interview. We're meeting again on Tuesday for a more formal interview in which she told me she's going to ask me questions to evaluate my critical thinking. Can anybody share with me the experience they had when they went to their job interview? What type of questions should I expect. Please, any tips will be much appreciated... Thank you and have a great weekend pumiky

I'm a new grad, started working on an oncology/haematology/acute medicine floor about a month and a half ago. I find to work stress levels extremely high, but challenging at the same time...In other words it's not the work that's going to make me quit, it's the people around me. I've had several incidents with some of the other nurses that make me question my future on the floor. They are all very stupid things but it's the little things that bother me. A few weeks ago the nurse that goes around and do the bloods said she's going to do the CBGM for everybody (to help out). She has the habit of yelling out the results down the hall to the nurses responsible for that pt. She did the same to me but being as busy as I was I had other things on my mind and didn't listen, when later on I asked her for the results she lashed at me saying I didn't pay attention when she told me the results and now it's my problem and that if I want to check the results I should go to the room and check for myself. I was shocked by her reaction....a few days later the charge nurse for the afternoon saw me walking into the nursing station and started yelling at me for not filling the afternoon report. Needless to say there were other people around. Later on that day I approached her privately and told her that I know I make mistakes but next time if she wants to criticize me I would appreciate her doing so in private and not in the middle of the nursing station. She then told me that she wasn't speaking to me she was talking to everybody and the only reason she said what she said in English was b/c I don't speak French...(I guess I was thrown off by the fact she was looking at me the whole time she was speaking) later on that day, the same charge nurse took each and every new nurse aside to explain to them the importance of writing in the report, she then turned to me again (in the middle of the nursing station) telling me "you see, I told each and every nurse in private about how important it is to write in the report, I have my reasons for asking you to write in the report" I never doubted the importance of the report, I just didn't like her method of criticizing me in front of everybody. The highlight of my experience on that floor was when I was told by another nurse that I'm sitting in her sit and was expected to get up. At the time I thought she was actually sitting there and I took her place but she just basically told me to get up and didn't even sit there!!!!! Just put her stuff and walked away!!!! Am I being too sensitive??? I come home crying, the only good time I have there is when I'm with my pt. and yesterday the charge nurse told me that they think I have an attitude problem but what can I do??? With that type of behaviour all I want to do is be left alone do my thing and minimize my interaction with the other nurses. I realize it's not going to make my life any easier but that way at least I won't get burned....I tried to explain that to the charge nurse, told her everything, but I don't think she understands me. Any advice? Did any of you experience something like this before

At first I was like that too...couldn't understand how nurses leave the hospital with their scrubs still on...I'm a new grad and have been working for a month and that's how long it took me to understand why nurses do that...by the time I finish my very hectic 12 hrs shift the last thing on my mind is going into the tiny bathroom on our floor and changing into street clothing....all I want to do is go home...I do take off my scrub top and change into a normal shirt but that's about it...sucks I know but I can't help it. as for going out to eat in scrubs, never had a chance to do that and I doubt I will...unless it's in the middle of my shift. I just feel too exposed wearing my scrubs to eat out...it's like everybody knows your a nurse...I just don't like that

Wow!!! this sounds so hard...I would go and talk to the supervisor...what do you have to lose?? what's the worst thing that could happen? Bring up your concerns in a polite and professional way, you're not there to blame anyone but you are entitled to have some consistency during your orientation... All the best pumiky

Hey everybody, I need some work advice from those of you who've been on the oncology for a while now. I'm a new grad., took my last exam 10 days ago and started to work 5 days ago. I accepted a position on what I thought at the time to be an oncology/hematology floor. I was hoping for an oncology/palliative floor like the one I did my internship on and when I spoke to the head nurse of the floor that i'm on now, she made it sound like they do have some palliative pt. but the main thing on the floor was oncology/hematology. I started last wednesday and found out that yes, it is an onco/hema floor but also an acute medicine. The nurses there run around from place to place, and when I asked my perceptor how often she get to sit down and talk to her pt. she replied "not that often". I'm disappointed, and scared that I got myself into something that is too big for me. I know I shouldn't judge based on the two days that I was there, but i've been coming home crying and I feel cheated. I don't want to give up so quickly, sometimes during my shift I feel like I can do this and that everything is going to be fine...then there are times I feel like just going home...to top everything, I already had two incidence with not so kind nurses....Is this normal...to feel like this? any words of wisdom from you guys would be appreciated....I have to go back on Monday to do a 12 hrs shift...I was so upset on Thursday that I actually left the floor with tears in my eyes...my preceptor came after me to ask if i'll be back on Monday, I said that I will b/c I'm not the type of person to give up...but still...So confused...

Hey there, how long after you started the new job did you have the first incident report? did you get any orientation to the unit? how long did it last? and does it match the length of time you're suppose to get? I don't think new grads are suppose to know all the protocols b/c these change from one floor to another, however, after 6 month on the floor you should have better knowlegde of the protocols. That's why i'm asking when did those incident reports happen? Anyway, i'm sorry you lost your job...what is the market like for nurses there? Shabat shalom pumiky

wow, it's like I wrote this post myself. I'm also a new grad. and starting to work on oncology/hematology unit May 22. I've done my internship on oncology and palliative floor and loved it but i'm also very scared starting my new job. It's in a new hospital and it's coming up soon. I find that looking in the different forums for tips on how to handle the first year in nursing gives me some comfort but other than that i'm just like you...sometimes I can't wait to start and then there are days where all I can think of is "what the hell did I get into??" so I know I didn't help much but here's a :icon_hug: and good luck to us both. pumiky

hmm...I wish someone have told me before starting school, that "there are things that are nice to know and there are things you need to know" that would have saved me a lot of time and stress. On our very first day in school, we had two third year students coming in to talk to us. One of them said "Always do you readings" and that was framed into my mind during the whole first year. I went crazy trying to read hundreds of pages which is just not reasonable. So my advice to you is, yes, do the readings, but do it the smart way. Before coming to class go over the chapters assigned for you to read BRIEFLY, so you'll have an idea about what class is all about, but mainly focus on your notes when studying for the test. DO NOT miss classes because this is were you find out what questions will be on the test. If you don't understand something ask, ask, ask (that also goes for clinical). One thing I would have changed would be my studying habits. I found the prefect study group during my second semester in second year and that really helped my grades. If you find that studying in group helps you too, form one. Just keep in mind to keep it small and have serious ppl to study with. Good Luck !!!! pumiky

i'm a nursing student. At the moment i'm doing my internship on oncology palliative floor. Since this is our last semester we are expected to take up to 4 pt by the time we're done with the internship. At the moment I have 3 pt. I come to the floor at 06:30. My shift starts at 07:30. I come early so I have a full hour to go over the chart, review the last MD orders, check how my pt were doing over night and talk with the night shift nurse. We don't have report on our floor (not a verbal one) so I find this to be very useful. At around 07:00 I review my pt. care plans and medications, I prepare my meds for the day and by 07:30 if all goes well i'm down the hall to take a first look at my pt's making sure they are ok. I then go back to the pt. who's high priority with the BP machine to take vitals and then go see the rest. Once vitals are taken I give the 08:00 meds and then I do AM care. then 09:00 meds and I try to do charting by 10:00. After that the day evolves around meds, treatments, dressing etc. On our floor we have a routine of doing rounds before and after breakfast, before and after lunch and right before the day shift ends. During these rounds we reposition pt., change diapers, make sure they are comfortable etc. We have a half an hour coffee break and an hour for lunch, which we take when we can. I try to do charting throughout the day and by 15:00 I try to have everything done so I have half an hour left to go over my charting and make sure I didn't forget anything. Usually (thank God) this works for me, however keep in mind that I also get a lot of help from the other nurses, especially when it comes to AM care. On our floor there's no such thing as "This is my pt and this is your pt" we all care for everybody together so it does make it easier to actually have a daily routine. Hope this helps you, Have a great day pumiky

I am so sorry to hear your story, I'm about to graduate in May and know that there will be a time when some SOB MD will think he can raise his voice while talking to me. I find that the most usefull thing to do at a time like this is take a deep breath look them in the eyes and calmly ask them "why are you yelling?" when you do that people usually tend to hold back and see how unprofessional they look. If that doesn't help I would calmly say "when you're willing to lower your voice we will continue this conversation in a civilized manner" and walk away. I'm not saying it's easy, I admire you for not breaking down in tears, but nobody, NOBODY, should ever talk to you like this. We're all humans and we all make mistakes and to be honest you didn't even make a mistake so you have nothing to feel bad about. Smile, have a good night sleep and I hope you have a great day tomorrow with lots of smiles around you :icon_hug: pumiky

does it ever get easier? No it doesn't, and in my opinion it shouldn't. not when it comes to kids being shot. If it does get easier then we've failed as a society. I work on a palliative floor and I see death all the time, but on my floor death is a "welcomed" thing as it ends the suffering of our patients. What you've described angers me, there's no excuse for a young life to end this way. You are entitled to have all those feelings, that's what makes you human and probably a very good nurse. Take your time, cry if you need to, hit a pillow, don't keep it all in. How did the rest of your nursing staff react? is there anybody there that you can talk to? All the best pumiky

I agree with Miko!! I know so many people who look professional but once they open their mouth nothing smart comes out. Come to the floor with clean scrubs, hair up, short fingernails and minimal amount of jewlery, perfume and make up. For me, a big smile and showing your patients you care and there for them worth so much more than wearing the "right" color. Good luck !!! pumiky

I'm still a student so there's no way we're allowed to go around town with our scrubs and I wouldn't really want to. yes it might be easier not to go through the locker room and carry them with me but just thinking about the amount of germs... I have a locker, I bring all my scrubs in the begining of the week and after each day I bring the ones that I had on home to wash. We have to buy our uniforms and now that i'm in third year I can wear scrubs (I just bought two more ). It's a bit weird here because nurses don't really have to wear uniforms. they can come to the unit with their street cloths as long as they have some identification on them. I don't like it at all, not very professional in my opinion but what can you do. Have a great day !! pumiky

The OIIQ exam is a two day exam that is composed of short answer questions and the OSCE. Each day is dedicated to one part. The OSCE are different situations in which you are being tested on how you do in the practical area. For example you might be given a situation in which you have to do some drug teaching. In the room with you, will be a patient (and actor) and the observer who will mark you for your performance. Things to keep in mind when going to the room in each and every situations are: always state that you've washed your hands, introduce yourself to the patient and the purpose of your interaction with him/her. provide privacy etc. There are no multiple questions and there is a preperation book that you can buy from the OIIQ. It will give you an idea of the type of questions they might ask you, the mistakes people usually do, readings you might find useful, and different situations that might take place during the OSCE exam. I'm taking the exam at the end of the summer and very nervous about it. Good luck to you all. Let me know if you have more questions pumiky