Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Thanks for the feedback. Since my work schedule for the next month is light, I'm going ahead and trying two classes for the next 5-week session. I didn't think the first two nursing classes were...
  2. Meriwhen

    It's All YOU Baby!

    OP: I had the opposite experience as your new hire: I came from a facility where I had to do nearly everything for my patients (usually because we were chronically short-staffed), to a place where...
  3. It often takes the CA BRN several weeks to review and decide. That being said, giving them an occasional follow-up nudge (not more often than every week or 2) may help. Hang in
  4. Meriwhen

    VA Hospital vs UCSD vs Kaiser Hospital

    I agree. Its tough for any nurse to get a job nowadays, so if you have an offer with a good facility, take it. Besides, no one says you have to stay there forever: you can always pursue...
  5. Usually when a school lists a minimum GPA, it's only to be considered as a candidate for admission. It in no way guarantees you admission should you meet or exceed the minimum GPA required. As far as...
  6. Meriwhen

    When Do I Tell My Boss . . . . ?

    I hope you get well
  7. Meriwhen

    Oh dear . .Audited for proof of CEUs and don't have

    1. Sign up for a new Gmail or Yahoo account. Do not use any part of your real name in the username. 2. Use that e-mail account to send your BON an anonymous e-mail. They WILL answer you back even...
  8. Meriwhen

    Creepy Patient

    if the patient was violating rules (and unless you work at the last smoking hospital standing in the world, i'm sure they were) it needs to be addressed. document thoroughly, then let both your...
  9. Surprisingly, our class held off on a lot of self-diagnosing until we hit Psych Nursing. Then the gloves came off and the clusters came out
  10. I would start applying. Worst case scenario: they tell you "No", which is pretty much what would happen if you didn't do anything. But by applying now, there's always a chance of "Yes." Also,...
  11. Meriwhen

    cna certificate?

    I think a bigger hurdle you may encounter is not from any BON, but from employers. Just because a BON decides to license/certify you doesn't mean that employers will automatically accept your...
  12. Meriwhen

    Just got arrested last week!

    I would think that since you haven't been convicted yet, you could answer "No." I also know that paying a fine doesn't always result in charges being dismissed. But I am not a lawyer nor do I play...
  13. Meriwhen

    Is the LPN program the same as the first year ADN?

    Not quite. There's a lot of similar material (patho, interventions) since both RNs and LVNs are nurses. But keep in mind that RNs and LVNs have different scopes of practices so things are going to...
  14. Meriwhen

    New Nurse-IM injections question

    I personally am not comfortable with giving such a large amount in the deltoid. Perhaps if you split it up between the two deltoids so each gets 1.5 mL, maybe. 3 mL in one deltoid? No. I prefer the...
  15. Meriwhen

    Healthcare Professionals in Recovery

    Oh, there's tons...and not only are they here, you'll find them at Caduceus meetings. And of course, in 12-step too. The support is out there...sometimes you may have to reach out first to find...
  16. Unless staffing laws/ratios mandate otherwise (meaning that they can't give another nurse that patient w/o violating those regs), I think it would be better to give the patient to another nurse with...
  17. Meriwhen

    Online statistics?

    Check your local community college--you may be pleasantly surprised. Seriously, a lot of CCs offer stats online or hybrid (e.g., lectures online but come in for tests/finals). I was able to take...
  18. Meriwhen

    No pre employment drug screen?

    It's a facility's right to decide if they will drug test you before employment. And keep in mind that when you agree to work for an employer, you're also agreeing to random drug screens at any time...
  19. Meriwhen

    Are jobs becoming more available

    Not in Southern
  20. Meriwhen

    I was fired from previous job

    HRs tend to be cautious about what they say about patients because they don't want to be hit with a libel suit. So they'll stick to the facts and (usually) leave opinions, however substantiated, out...
  21. Meriwhen

    Excited about new psych position!

    Welcome (back) to the dark side :)
  22. Meriwhen

    I've made a mistake, and now I need help

    IMO, I would be honest and tell the doc: better you own up to the mistake than for it to be discovered later and the doc realizes you didn't tell
  23. Meriwhen

    PESI Seminars??

    Been to a couple of their psych ones: they were very well done, the materials were great and I learned a lot of new stuff from each seminar. They were definitely worth it
  24. nervous, but not unbearably so. i was more nervous for the psych certification exam. you must be coming to psych :) if you are, welcome! if not, welcome to nursing in
  25. Meriwhen

    hours worked

    When I lived in NYC, I'd work 2000-0800 Fri, Sat and Sun. Then I moved to 8s: 1700-0100 5x/week (various days). Personal and social life never suffered because like SoCal living in NYC made it...