Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Meriwhen

    Unsafe ICU ratios

    Meriwhen replied to Adpresto's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Whoever does the accreditation should be notified. Keeping Joint/Magnet/whatever accreditation is a very big deal to hospitals, and most will bend over backwards to keep
  2. Meriwhen

    I want interactions with patients but not bedside : Suggestions?

    Meriwhen replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Career Advice Column

    No offense taken. I work in psych too, and my first thought for the OP was "come to psych--we're ALL about patient interactions, and patients aren't usually in their beds anyway!" :) But technically,...
  3. Meriwhen

    I want interactions with patients but not bedside : Suggestions?

    Meriwhen replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Career Advice Column

    I did telephone triage and assessment as a per-diem job. It's definitely patient interaction without being at the
  4. Meriwhen

    Inappropriate nurses?

    Meriwhen replied to hgraves64's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    There's a saying popular in recovery circles: if one person calls you a duck, ignore them. If ten people call you a duck, check yourself for tail feathers. Not saying OP is necessarily a duck, but...
  5. Meriwhen

    Quitting without notice

    Meriwhen replied to Summer247's topic in General Nursing

    First, OP: I'm sorry for your loss. Yes. Quitting without notice is one way to be marked Do Not Rehire across the entire hospital. If it's a multi-hospital chain, the DNR usually covers all...
  6. Meriwhen

    100k in loans worth it?

    Meriwhen replied to ravindram's topic in General Nursing

    No no NO. First of all, you're not going to walk into a $100K job as a new grad, even with a BSN, even as a new grad in California or one of the other high-paying states. It will take you several...
  7. Meriwhen

    iv catheter/needle gauge selection

    Meriwhen replied to socoamaretto's topic in General Nursing

    I'm in psych, so IVs are few and far between. But when a patient has to have an IV or a saline/hep lock, it's generally a 20 gauge since it's a good all-purpose size. 22 gauge if it's being placed...
  8. Meriwhen

    Gel nail polish

    Meriwhen replied to listenandlearn's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    I solve the nail polish at work problem by just painting the toenails. They've yet to make an appearance from under their compression
  9. Meriwhen

    Highest Paying States For Registered Nurses

    Meriwhen replied to nursephillip's topic in Nursing News

    And that kind of skews how that list can be perceived. I may make mad money working in CA, but it takes mad money to live here because the cost of living is so high. I've seen lots of coworkers and...
  10. Meriwhen

    Pill packets suck

    Meriwhen replied to Emergent's topic in Patient Medications

    I hear you. A good number of my patients won't take broken pills because they are too paranoid. It seems to be Zyprexa and Ativan that give me the most grief...in pill packet as well as IM form....
  11. Meriwhen

    Inappropriate nurses?

    Meriwhen replied to hgraves64's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I say this will all kindness, but I think you overreacted. A. Lot. Asking about your patient load is not inappropriate. Asking about religion, politics, sex: now THOSE are or can be inappropriate...
  12. Meriwhen

    Nursing school and arrest

    Meriwhen replied to dlk2965's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    I was going to say seek the advice of your attorney...but you already have. And then to talk the BON...but you already have. And then to talk to school...but you already have. So you've pretty much...
  13. Meriwhen

    Wait period after applying?

    Meriwhen replied to joan of snark's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Given that there's tons of applicants for these new grad jobs, the waiting period to hear anything either way could easily be weeks. IMO, you shouldn't stop the job hunt until you have an official...
  14. Meriwhen

    CALIFORNIA Board of Nursing.

    Meriwhen replied to NELLY BLUE's topic in General Nursing

    Doesn't quite work that way :) What you can do is you can apply directly for licensure in the state in which you want to "transfer" to. You don't have to live in that state in order to get licensed...
  15. Meriwhen

    Working as an RN while in FNP school

    Meriwhen replied to yoganurse22's topic in Student Nurse Practitioner

    I work with a couple of RNs who are also NP students. One was full-time (5 8s a week) until their last year of school, then they dropped down to part-time (2-3 8s a week). The other just started a...
  16. Meriwhen

    Question

    Meriwhen replied to dec2007's topic in General Nursing

    I don't think the length will matter so much, as it will (should!) be clear from your ID badge that you are a RN. You could also have it embroidered to say as
  17. Meriwhen

    Job opportunities for new RNs

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

    Plus California has a steady stream of foreign nurses immigrating in. CA is usually their first stop. I honestly don't see California as a whole having a shortage any time soon. Maybe in the inland...
  18. Meriwhen

    Arrest Record & Obtaining a License

    Meriwhen replied to Sam222013's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    That depends on whether the school is willing to accept you based on what they find in your background check. They may be OK with it, or they may not. The fact that a charge is dismissed doesn't...
  19. Meriwhen

    Misdeamor from 7 years ago

    Meriwhen replied to MandM1305's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    I would consult with a lawyer: given that you were 17 at the time of the crime, you may have been considered a juvenile and so may be able to have your record sealed. The lawyer can investigate that...
  20. Meriwhen

    Expunged misdemeanor and nursing career

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

    Expungement may be able to let you answer "No" to certain criminal history questions on job and school applications. You should consult with your attorney to find out exactly how you should answer...
  21. Meriwhen

    taste of medication

    Meriwhen replied to socoamaretto's topic in General Nursing

    I was told by a patient that SL Suboxone tablets tasted like an orange. Didn't stop them from taking it
  22. Meriwhen

    Options for parents and spouses with strict schedules

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

    I was in a similar spot as a new grad. It's one of the reasons I opted for a specialty with 8-hour shifts as opposed to 12s, since 8s were easier to work around. I also did rotating shifts--days...
  23. Meriwhen

    Was the job offer turned down?.

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

    Not that unusual: my first job in California (major hospital corporation) began with an e-mailed job offer. I don't know if/when they were planning to call, as I called them immediately after seeing...
  24. Meriwhen

    Was the job offer turned down?.

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

    You were set free. The employer may not have wanted or was unable to negotiate. Or they did review your chart and didn't find anything in there that would justify (to them) changing their original...
  25. Meriwhen

    Nurses and DUI pending. Please give advice

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

    OK, let's answer the questions. You can apply for jobs at any time. Whether this is on your background check right now, who knows? It may be there, it may not be there. And that's a problem: if...