Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Meriwhen

    Look to change specialties from psych

    Meriwhen replied to Gingerpsych's topic in General Nursing

    Some hospitals offer programs to allow nurses with a year or two of experience to train in a different specialty. Check with your HR to see if your hospital has such a program. Actually, also check...
  2. Meriwhen

    RN, ADN being obsolete

    Meriwhen replied to lovewaves's topic in General Students

    Not true. There was nothing in my BSN program that I either didn't already learn about or was at least familiar with from my ADN program. In fact, my ADN program covered nursing research far better...
  3. Meriwhen

    Holding voluntary patients - illegally?

    Meriwhen replied to SoCal student's topic in Psychiatric

    I know that you can't force anyone to undergo medical treatment unless there's a court order. We regularly deal with patients who will take psych meds willingly but refuse the non-psych ones even if...
  4. Meriwhen

    Holding voluntary patients - illegally?

    Meriwhen replied to SoCal student's topic in Psychiatric

    Sure, you could AWOL--I didn't say you couldn't. But why would the discharge process be any different whether it's med-surg or
  5. Meriwhen

    FT work w/ PT nursing school?

    Meriwhen replied to Beldar_the_Cenobite's topic in General Nursing

    I've never heard of a part-time prelicensure nursing program. I've also never heard of a pre-licensure nursing program where you can go at your own pace. But who knows in this world? If you do find...
  6. Meriwhen

    Holding voluntary patients - illegally?

    Meriwhen replied to SoCal student's topic in Psychiatric

    Look at it this way: if a medically stable med-surg patient decided at 0300 that they wanted to leave the hospital, would you open the door and let them go right then and there? Probably not,...
  7. Meriwhen

    Commute!

    Meriwhen replied to chacha82's topic in General Nursing

    For an 8 hour shift, I'd consider it. For a 12 hour shift, no. You're looking at about 15-16 hours of your day eaten up right
  8. Meriwhen

    Canceled! Jerks!

    Meriwhen replied to Scooter59's topic in General Nursing

    I'm surprised they turned down your offer to work every weekend because most facilities would kill to have nurses volunteer to do that. My facility has some permanent weekend staff, and they'd still...
  9. Meriwhen

    Is Giving 2 Weeks Notice Ancient Practice?

    Meriwhen replied to staple1027's topic in General Nursing

    Given that there's no shortage of nurses willing to fill most nursing positions, you don't want to burn any professional bridges by not giving two weeks (or whatever is required by your HR) notice....
  10. Meriwhen

    I didn't wake up on time and was too late to come for AM shift?

    Meriwhen replied to Surgonconurse's topic in General Nursing

    It happened to me once, though I wasn't a nurse at the time. I was supposed to be at work at 0900. I woke up at 1700. I usually don't sleep through alarms or phone calls, but that day I clearly...
  11. Meriwhen

    Roll Call - Who's Been Around the Longest and Your Accomplishments

    Meriwhen replied to traumaRUs's topic in General Nursing

    The BON is not the nurse's friend. It's probably one of the most frequent pieces of advice I give as
  12. Meriwhen

    I didn't wake up on time and was too late to come for AM shift?

    Meriwhen replied to Surgonconurse's topic in General Nursing

    "I overslept. I'm sorry for any trouble." Seriously, it happens more often than you think. Don't feel too embarrassed about it. Heck, even toss in a joke or two about how they can call off the calvary...
  13. Meriwhen

    Sick of managment but need 9 to 5

    Meriwhen replied to Ashimaly's topic in General Nursing

    Outpatient, partial hospitalization programs, same-day surgery/procedure, clinics, medical practices... Also, look for facilities that offer 8s. There's some that still
  14. Meriwhen

    RN, ADN being obsolete

    Meriwhen replied to lovewaves's topic in General Students

    It is getting tougher for inexperienced (key word) ADNs and diploma RNs to get jobs, so if you are looking at nursing programs, going the BSN route would be the preferable option. That being said, our...
  15. Meriwhen

    A really stupid incident

    Meriwhen replied to Tina412's topic in General Nursing

    You're right. A lot of people divert not for themselves but others, so a negative UDS is not bulletproof protection. That being said, a negative UDS doesn't hurt because it at least shows that you...
  16. Meriwhen

    If the government legalizes marijuana in the US...

    Meriwhen replied to GlenwoodUSN's topic in General Nursing

    Not necessarily. Regardless of its legal status, BONs and employers will still retain the right to say "No" to nurses using the wacky
  17. Meriwhen

    Non-patient care nursing jobs

    Meriwhen replied to Ashley.edwards26's topic in General Nursing

    Education (either in acute care or academic settings) School nursing Outpatient Same-day surgery/procedures Doctor's offices Clinics Informatics Utilization review Sales Pharmaceutical reps Research...
  18. Meriwhen

    Roll Call - Who's Been Around the Longest and Your Accomplishments

    Meriwhen replied to traumaRUs's topic in General Nursing

    At AN for 11, a nurse for 9. Can't recall when I became a guide and then a staff member. I tend to keep a low profile both here and IRL, and don't often (I know it's not an accurate term but for...
  19. Meriwhen

    Accused of not giving dilaudid

    Meriwhen replied to KMULL002's topic in General Nursing

    Rule #4 of nursing: if at all possible, never take care of a patient that you've had a pre-existing relationship with. This includes family members, friends, coworkers, romantic interests, etc....
  20. Meriwhen

    Urgent question

    Meriwhen replied to Name9335's topic in General Nursing

    Check with the WI BON. Most state BONs do not consider refusal to do overtime as patient abandonment. They consider it to be an employment issue, and not a patient abandonment issue. See what WI has...
  21. Meriwhen

    Do nursing schools that don't require pre-requisites exist?

    Meriwhen replied to Wannabenurseneko's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    LVN/LPN programs may require fewer or no pre-reqs other than a high school diploma, as they're considered vocational programs in most areas. However, I would be wary of any ADN or BSN program...
  22. Meriwhen

    New-Grad programs?

    Meriwhen replied to Ellegray's topic in General Nursing

    Sure, it would have been nice to have had the opportunity to go into a new grad program. But the odds were not in my favor. I graduated right after the job market for nurses tanked, so jobs for new...
  23. Meriwhen

    newer nurse needing advice on switching job

    Meriwhen replied to czerwodl121's topic in General Nursing

    If you dream job falls in your lap, the go for it as it may be quite a while before lightning strikes twice. Also, you do not need a year of med/surg in order to be successful in nursing. It does...
  24. Meriwhen

    Sharp New Grad Spring 2019

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

    First Job Hunt Assistance is this forum. It focuses on new grads and your struggles to land that elusive job. While AllNurses offers tips, advice and support for job hunters, AN is not and does not...
  25. Meriwhen

    Upcoming New Nurse Grad: Accepted First Job Offer, but isn't too 100% sure about it.

    Meriwhen replied to mimi1317's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Look at it this way: you have a guaranteed job offer. You could take it, have a job, and get those dreaded (not really) first years of experience out of the way, after which, you will be considered a...