Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Meriwhen

    Choosing b/w Psych. Center and Veterans Nursing Home!!

    Meriwhen replied to Macann's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    The only way you'd be in psych--or LTC--forever is if you let yourself be pigeonholed. Many nurses have made the transition between specialities. It may not be instantaneous to get out of psych or...
  2. Meriwhen

    Detox med protocol

    Meriwhen replied to Topaz7's topic in Addictions

    I like that...blue light special :) We would often use phenobarb in place of the Valium, particularly if the patient is to start suboxone down the road. Benzos and Suboxone are a nasty combination...
  3. Meriwhen

    Best way to ask HR which position they are calling you back for???

    Meriwhen replied to worf's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Say, "I just want to confirm; which position is this in reference to?" Sometimes the best question is the direct one. IMO, they shouldn't be offended...if anything, they want to make sure they're...
  4. Meriwhen

    When will people learn NOT to say the "Q" word...

    Meriwhen replied to OnlybyHisgraceRN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I owned a black cat for 16 years and she crossed my path many times. I can't say all 5,844 days of that time were all bad and/or required purifying rituals :) Some days definitely were...but I'd...
  5. Meriwhen

    Blogging---what crosses the line?

    Meriwhen replied to itsnowornever's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    That's true. Even if you follow the NCSBN guidelines, you may still be running afoul of your employer's social media policy and could lose your job. Some people know that it's acceptable to post...
  6. Meriwhen

    Scared ill be kicked out of school :(

    Meriwhen replied to missa8182's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    Yes, you did violate HIPAA. People HAVE been fired/dismissed for browsing in friends/family members charts. Fortunately, you had the sense to stop yourself. Given you immediately realized it was a...
  7. Meriwhen

    New Graduate RN Just got a new job in a county Psych hospital!!!

    Meriwhen replied to lyttlemomma's topic in Psychiatric

    To get medical experience for the corrections position, see if you can get a PT or PD job in med/surg. If that is too hard--and it may be since many hospitals have new grad programs and won't...
  8. Meriwhen

    New Graduate RN Just got a new job in a county Psych hospital!!!

    Meriwhen replied to lyttlemomma's topic in Psychiatric

    Congratulations! Keep in mind that in the real world, psych conditions aren't always as clear-cut as they are in your nursing textbooks, nor do they always wrap up as neatly. You're going to see a...
  9. Meriwhen

    When will people learn NOT to say the "Q" word...

    Meriwhen replied to OnlybyHisgraceRN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Yes, yes we are. Because far more often than not, we're proven right. The Q word brings nothing but trouble :) For the record, it doesn't work in reverse: saying that this will be the shift from...
  10. Meriwhen

    Surveillance cameras in pedi patient's home?

    Meriwhen replied to lovelane78's topic in Private Duty

    I agree. Parents have the legal right to videotape the care in their home. You (generic) have the legal right to refuse to take the assignment. And neither party is the bad guy in this instance....
  11. Meriwhen

    How many years back does the California Board's DMV background check go?

    Meriwhen replied to billybobthornton's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    I contacted the BRN about tickets once, and I was told that any ticket in excess of $300 has to be reported regardless of what it is. Whether that means you are off the hook because your tickets...
  12. Meriwhen

    Job NOT via new grad program?

    Meriwhen replied to Calinurse4's topic in First Year After Licensure

    When I was a new grad a few years ago, I got hired right into a RN position. The problem is that the facilities that do have new grad programs are the ones that are much less likely to hire a new...
  13. Meriwhen

    Nursing assistant uniform color

    Meriwhen replied to chariot's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Wine and maroon look similar enough to me. Unless they told you to order the uniforms from a specific store, I think they'll be OK with the wine. However, for the most accurate answer, ask your...
  14. Meriwhen

    Friday the 13th - Any madness?

    Meriwhen replied to canned_bread's topic in General Nursing

    I was in the psych ER, and it actually was a good shift. It started off as crazy for the first few hours but then leveled off and was smooth except for a couple of problem patients...and even then...
  15. Meriwhen

    Referral

    Meriwhen replied to darren_callcareer18's topic in General Nursing

    OP: it would help us greatly if you could clarify your question. This quoted suggestion wouldn't fly in psych nursing because that can lead to...you guessed it, staff splitting. Among a whole other...
  16. Meriwhen

    Washing those scrubs?

    Meriwhen replied to johnny depp23's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    After each wearing. I bought some new scrubs a few weeks ago to replace some of my more worn-out
  17. Meriwhen

    An Outsider Looking In: My Student Experience at AA

    Meriwhen replied to decembergrad2011's topic in General Students

    I know people that have been sober for 30+ years with AA, and people who have been sober for 30+ years without AA. It works for many, but I'll admit it's not the answer for everyone. Only the...
  18. Meriwhen

    Do i need that state's licenes before applyin for work?

    Meriwhen replied to Inori's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Some parts of Texas, namely the West and the border towns, may still have the welcome mat out...then again, it is West Texas. Breathtakingly beautiful, and that's all there is out there. Same for...
  19. Meriwhen

    Pregnancy & PRN

    Meriwhen replied to Art_Vandelay's topic in General Nursing

    All the hospital has to say is, "we selected another candidate with better skills", and the burden would be on her to prove that the pregnancy was the reason she didn't get the job. And while the...
  20. Meriwhen

    Expungement and Job Applications

    Meriwhen replied to malamud69's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Your criminal history is not a protected class, and many employers do exercise the right to withdraw job offers based on the background check. As far as whether it's legal given you have an...
  21. Meriwhen

    Which non-hospital job is best for a new grad with hospital aspirations?

    Meriwhen replied to UGADawgs's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Psych is good because you will encounter psych patients in ANY specialty, so you will pick up valuable skills that will travel. If you can land in geropsych or psych medical, your will also pick up a...
  22. Meriwhen

    Do i need that state's licenes before applyin for work?

    Meriwhen replied to Inori's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Technically: you do not need to have the license in order to apply to jobs. Reality: you are a much weaker candidate w/o one. Employers don't know when or even for certain if you would be able to...
  23. Meriwhen

    Tidewater Community College 2012 Hopefuls?

    Meriwhen replied to virgolove34's topic in Virginia Nursing

    I never once used the TCC bookstore for a nursing program textbook...I was able to get them all from Amazon.com or BN.com. As long as you can get the ISBN number--or at least the book's title and...
  24. Meriwhen

    Psych Outpatient ...

    Meriwhen replied to delerben's topic in Psychiatric

    That would...it definitely makes you a stronger candidate than the average new grad :) Definitely play those skills
  25. Meriwhen

    Psych Outpatient ...

    Meriwhen replied to delerben's topic in Psychiatric

    I'm not in St. Louis so I can't tell you how hard it is there...but it was fairly easy for me to get a outpatient psych job where I live. I got it a lot faster than I did the inpatient job :)...