Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Meriwhen

    Is this legal?

    Meriwhen replied to ocmama's topic in General Nursing

    Legal? Yes. Fair? Not really. I'm sorry it happened to
  2. Meriwhen

    Invalid drug test?

    Meriwhen replied to Carolinathe3rd's topic in General Nursing

    I had an invalid test once but it was determined to be the testing facility's fault, not mine--they didn't follow procedure and so my sample was compromised. I retested and it came through negative....
  3. Meriwhen

    Can I still apply to new grad positions?

    Meriwhen replied to Art_Vandelay's topic in General Nursing

    I hate to break it to you, but you're really not a new grad anymore. You have the magic year of experience...it may not be acute care, but it is experience. You could apply to new grad positions but...
  4. Meriwhen

    Is this legal? What are the nurse's rights on privacy in the workplace?

    Meriwhen replied to sasha2lady's topic in General Nursing

    I meant that management--the hospital itself--films us only for security purposes, and patients as well as staff are make aware of this before they are admitted/accept employment. We don't allow...
  5. Meriwhen

    Is this legal? What are the nurse's rights on privacy in the workplace?

    Meriwhen replied to sasha2lady's topic in General Nursing

    You are right in that nurses are mandated to report abuse...however, in many states, spousal abuse falls into that big grey area of "the battered spouse has to be the one to file the charges." That...
  6. Meriwhen

    As a patient, is it okay to suggest a vein for IV?

    Meriwhen replied to Lahryn04's topic in General Nursing

    I suggest all the time: I tell them that this or that site usually works the best but wherever they need to stick me is fine. Most of the time they'll follow my
  7. Meriwhen

    Are Hospitals requiring courses to be considered for hire unfair?

    Meriwhen replied to Esme12's topic in General Nursing

  8. Meriwhen

    Any psych/addiction RN's considering to further education

    Meriwhen replied to Vette_gurl's topic in Psychiatric

    I am...I was in the process of getting my BSN but have to put it on hold because I'm moving across the country in the fall. Since I already have a BA, I'm thinking of skipping the BSN altogether and...
  9. Meriwhen

    My narc count was over!

    Meriwhen replied to August10's topic in General Nursing

    Better that you have extra than being short :) That being said... 1. Don't let anyone rush you when counting on or off. Don't let anyone interrupt you either. 2. Pay attention when counting; don't...
  10. Meriwhen

    does anyone out there copy charts to save time?

    Meriwhen replied to lordgregoryrn's topic in General Nursing

    I can see why you did it...however I can see why your DON is upset. If someone decided to sue, a good lawyer can argue that you didn't assess one or more of the patients because you used a...
  11. Meriwhen

    Turning down overtime....

    Meriwhen replied to OgopogoLPN's topic in General Nursing

    I've turned down OT when I was just too burned out to do one more shift. The break away from work was worth more than the extra money...which in my experience doesn't turn out to be as much extra as...
  12. Meriwhen

    Calling a Patient 'Sugar': Abuse?

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

    Actually, you could. You can sue anyone for any reason--people have sued for less. The judge would probably be laughing their rear off as they throw your case out of court and your lawyer would be...
  13. Meriwhen

    Calling a Patient 'Sugar': Abuse?

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

    And if that's what they prefer to be called, then there's no problem. I agree with everyone: calling someone "Sugar" is not abuse. It's not necessarily appropriate though. Mind you, if the patient's...
  14. Meriwhen

    Okay, why do ER nurses think they're so cool?

    Meriwhen replied to gayle_the_RN's topic in General Nursing

    I had an ER nurse call during change of shift demanding that I leave the report I was giving the oncoming shift, in order to get report from her about a patient she was transferring to our facility. I...
  15. Meriwhen

    What is your attendance policy?

    Meriwhen replied to tokmom's topic in General Nursing

    We don't have any official policy on how often you can call in sick...however management does track those whose call ins are suspicious (e.g., weekly, certain days each month, etc.). Also, if you call...
  16. Meriwhen

    In ONTARIO as a unit clerk nurse in my OFF time at night am I allowed to smoke a J?

    Meriwhen replied to newbee3's topic in Nursing Career

    Keeping my personal opinion out of this... I would check your facility's policy on drug use. If they have a zero tolerance policy for drugs and you pop positive on a random or scheduled drug test,...
  17. Meriwhen

    offended co worker

    Meriwhen replied to frost99's topic in General Nursing

    I have to disagree with everyone who is saying that he is uptight, overreacting, a baby, needs to get over it, etc. The fact is that you did offend him whether you meant to or not, and he is entitled...
  18. Meriwhen

    How do you address your patients?

    Meriwhen replied to kool-aide, RN's topic in General Nursing

    I'm in psychiatric nursing, so I never use patient last names. I call patients by whatever name they want to be called as long as the name isn't offensive. In the event we have two or more people...
  19. Meriwhen

    Day shifts hard to find for new RN grad w/i no seniority?

    Meriwhen replied to Gal220's topic in General Nursing

    Putting aside the challenges of even getting hired as a new grad in the first place...:) A lot of it really has to do with facility. Some places are strictly 12s, some are 8s, some are a mix but you...
  20. Meriwhen

    Does interview mean I'm pretty much IN?

    Meriwhen replied to upstatenygirl's topic in LPN, LVN Students

    I think the interview is a really good sign that you will be accepted...but honestly, I wouldn't start celebrating my acceptance until I got an official accpetance letter, because you never know what...
  21. Meriwhen

    Did I doublecross her?

    Meriwhen replied to RoyalNurse2010's topic in Nursing Career

    As long as you didn't speak poorly of your friend to the manager and/or sabotage her application in any way, you didn't double-cross her. You applied for an open position that your friend applied for...
  22. Meriwhen

    Does it mean you are hired when they send you for a drug screen?

    Meriwhen replied to Guest03/15/15's topic in Nursing Career

    The drug screen is a really good sign: it means you're being seriously considered and that an offer is likely. But don't get too excited: even if you pass the drug screen a job offer is not...
  23. Meriwhen

    Full-time Flex schedule position?

    Meriwhen replied to Double-Helix's topic in Nursing Career

    I was a flex employee when I first started at the hospital. As long as I met the minimum requirements for shifts (4 shifts a pay period, with at least half of those weekend shifts), I could put in for...
  24. Meriwhen

    so.... what would YOU say?

    Meriwhen replied to jollydogg_RN's topic in General Nursing

    "If you're a real nurse, then YOU should be able to take care of this psychotic patient by yourself while I go to lunch. Good luck."
  25. Meriwhen

    Any Psych Nurses...

    Meriwhen replied to KJStarling's topic in Nursing Humor

    Just hypomanic? :) The way he's been carrying on lately, I'd say he's graduated to manic. At the psych seminar I recently attended, his name came up...and we all agreed: narcissistic