Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Meriwhen

    Ever feel "spacey" at work?

    Meriwhen replied to chenoaspirit's topic in General Nursing

    Nursing school doesn't prepare you for the real world. Nursing school prepares you for the world of ivory-tower nursing that you see only in textbooks and on the NCLEX. NS does gives you the...
  2. Meriwhen

    Ever feel "spacey" at work?

    Meriwhen replied to chenoaspirit's topic in General Nursing

    Sometimes, but it's usually due to having a rough start to the shift, such as walking right into admissions/discharges/some other crisis. Once I get my bearings though, the feeling
  3. Meriwhen

    I have the interview, now what?

    Meriwhen replied to StangGang92's topic in General Nursing

    1. You can never be too dressed up for an interview...unless you're wearing a ballgown and tiara, that is. A suit is perfectly acceptable 2. Yes, always bring paper copies of the resume. Cover letter...
  4. Meriwhen

    Alert patients who refuse meds.

    Meriwhen replied to Caffeine_IV's topic in General Nursing

    Not much you really can do. Unless they're court-ordered to take the medications (can't you tell I work in psych?), a patient has every right to refuse medication. Doesn't matter if they're AO3 or...
  5. Meriwhen

    Experience at the ER today, did I do this wrong? (long)

    Meriwhen replied to GeauxNursing's topic in General Nursing

    I hope everything's all right with your FIL. As far as what to do, the only advice I can give is to echo GilaRN's. Best of
  6. Meriwhen

    Think I may have blew it.

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

    If you didn't sign a contract, then no one can force you to stay if you don't want to. If you're in an at-will state, you don't even need to give them a reason should you decide to quit. That being...
  7. Meriwhen

    The daycare dilemma

    Meriwhen replied to cmonkey's topic in General Students

    Mine was in full-time care. It was easier that way than constantly tweaking his schedule. Fortunately, my childcare provider also covered him during clinical days, so I didn't have to worry about...
  8. Meriwhen

    On vacation..can't stop studying!

    Meriwhen replied to MEDICJOHN's topic in General Students

    Actually, I never ever have. For both nursing programs, I have an ironclad rule the first time around in NS that vacation time was just that: vacation. It was my chance to recharge my batteries and...
  9. Meriwhen

    New Grad RN no job thinking of being a CNA

    Meriwhen replied to Gem0607's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Most places won't hire an RN as a CNA for two reasons: liability, and the fact that they know the minute an RN job opens up you're leaving for it. They don't want to waste the time and money...
  10. Meriwhen

    new nurse, cna with attitude

    Meriwhen replied to mandakaye03's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    After all, we're often blind to ourselves and how we act. If you are having difficulties with your staff, then you do need to step back and consider how you are interacting with them and how you come...
  11. Meriwhen

    new nurse, cna with attitude

    Meriwhen replied to mandakaye03's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Anything that doesn't directly involve the patient's care, such as the television watching during downtime, should not be included in the patient's chart. The OP should document that seperately--one...
  12. Meriwhen

    new nurse, cna with attitude

    Meriwhen replied to mandakaye03's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    1. If things don't improve, document everything the CNA does/says and let TPTB know. Patient safety is priority at work. If she's too pregnant to be doing her job appropriately, then she needs to...
  13. Meriwhen

    School favoring its own grads?

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

    In my area, the two hospitals who have their own nursing schools do give preference to their own graduates. They do not guarantee a job for them, however (not counting "years of work in exchange for...
  14. Meriwhen

    Is working as a CNA considered experience when looking for an RN job?

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

    Healthcare experience, yes. RN experience, no. Most facilities here won't do the X years as CNA = 1 year RN as alizae06 mentioned because honestly, it's really not the same thing. That being said,...
  15. Meriwhen

    Volunteer counted as experience?

    Meriwhen replied to secondattempt's topic in Nursing Career

    Is volunteer work experience? Yes and no. It is not paid, so many facilities would not consider it as work experience. You HR department may or may not accept it as work experience--you need to ask...
  16. Meriwhen

    Need advice.

    Meriwhen replied to prudence09's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Stick with the truth and tell them what you just told us. You can't undo what happened, and no story you can make up will put you in a good light (neverminding that you will be fired if you do lie...
  17. Meriwhen

    The 1st check as an rn....yay!!! Or nay!!

    Meriwhen replied to Serrano2886's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I threw the first few checks at the bills...so now I have zero credit card debt, which is much more enjoyable than any toy I could get
  18. Meriwhen

    abuse and neglect

    Meriwhen replied to dsharonjr's topic in General Nursing

    Agreed. The BON is not your friend--they're looking out for the patient's interests first and foremost. We can't give legal advice here, so a lawyer would be the best person to talk to for...
  19. Meriwhen

    I have given Nursing my best is it not for me?

    Meriwhen replied to chocolateskye's topic in Nursing Career

    If you were let go during or at the conclusion your orientation period, then I'm afraid you may not have strong grounds for legal recourse. Orientation is the "test drive" where they see if they like...
  20. Meriwhen

    staffing/scheduling

    Meriwhen replied to scrn68's topic in General Nursing

    If we have a low census, those who are in OT or would enter OT with the shift are called out first, then PRNs. It's rare that we've had to call out FT
  21. Meriwhen

    How often do you get drug tested?

    Meriwhen replied to mell260's topic in General Students

    Can't blame you. It sucks even when you have the scripts beforehand and they want to call to clarify things--you still feel like you're under suspicion, especially when you're on a schedule
  22. Meriwhen

    How often do you get drug tested?

    Meriwhen replied to mell260's topic in General Students

    Not entirely true: a lot of places will ask you before the test to list all medications you are taking. I'm guessing the policy varies by laboratory/facility because I've had tests where I couldn't...
  23. Meriwhen

    How often do you get drug tested?

    Meriwhen replied to mell260's topic in General Students

    During school, I was never drug tested though they had the right to do so at random. They wouldn't have found anything anyway
  24. Meriwhen

    Today's job numbers

    Meriwhen replied to want2banrn's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Neverminding that it may not even be 8,000 nursing jobs they're talking about: it could mean 8,000 jobs of any position so long as it's in the field of
  25. Meriwhen

    Finally gave a doc what-for, and got praised for it!

    Meriwhen replied to AngelfireRN's topic in General Nursing

    Good for