Meriwhen ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Psych ICU, addictions

Member

All Content by Meriwhen

  1. Meriwhen

    2015 starting salary/hourly for RN

    Meriwhen replied to Linettea88's topic in First Year After Licensure

    It really does depend on where you live. I also lived in the South for a while, and I'll tell you that your LPN salary would be higher than most RN salaries, even the experienced RNs. So what salary...
  2. Meriwhen

    Makeup under mask

    Meriwhen replied to HTCC's topic in Operating Room

    Use the best primer for your skin type to help extend wear. Use long-lasting or waterproof formulas--visit your Sephora/Ulta/Nordstroms for recommendations as to brands. Don't apply too much...
  3. Meriwhen

    Answering Phone Calls & Maintaining Confidentiality

    Meriwhen replied to PsychNurs's topic in Psychiatric

    OP, keep repeating "I'm sorry, but because of privacy laws, I can neither confirm nor deny..." over and over until they get the hint. Be polite but firm and unwavering. Offer to take a message that...
  4. Meriwhen

    Psychiatric Nursing & Safety - Am I too small?

    Meriwhen replied to AliMC's topic in Psychiatric

    The most formidable psych nurse I know is a Filipino female, 50-something, 4'10. Whenever we worked together, I'd feel like a giant because I had nearly a foot of height on her. She worked on one of...
  5. Meriwhen

    question about signature after certification

    Meriwhen replied to ThymeRN's topic in Psychiatric

    I asked the ANCC about this once: you sign RN-BC. Yet my ID says RNC. Go
  6. Meriwhen

    Smoke free psych hospitals

    Meriwhen replied to kiwipsychnurse's topic in Psychiatric

    I was at a smoke-free facility before it went smoke-free. There was no increase in the incident of violence when smoking went away...then again, only patients on the open units were allowed to go on...
  7. Meriwhen

    Nursing care of ADN vs BSN

    Meriwhen replied to AKarpi's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    To be honest, for the most part, I did nothing differently as a BSN than I did as an ADN. Nowadays, students in ADN and diploma programs are taught to do more than to just robotically follow orders...
  8. Meriwhen

    marijuana and nursing.

    Meriwhen replied to middleagednurse's topic in General Nursing

    This. If one REALLY wants to indulge in the wacky backy for whatever reason, it's not my concern...unless you're my coworker AND show up for work stoned/drunk/out of
  9. Meriwhen

    marijuana and nursing.

    Meriwhen replied to middleagednurse's topic in General Nursing

    I'm in California. For both facilities I work at, an employee testing positive for THC will more likely than not be terminated. And do not think that a medical MJ card will save you: Marijuana is...
  10. Meriwhen

    Pre Employment drug screen decision

    Meriwhen replied to mc554433's topic in General Nursing

    OP: almost all employers do not want to see a UDS positive for THC even if it's legal to use in your state. To be honest, almost all employers do not want to even hear that you used marijuana, even...
  11. Meriwhen

    Is honesty ALWAYS the best policy?

    Meriwhen replied to shancan99's topic in General Nursing

    When it comes to dealing with BONs, IMO honestly IS ALWAYS the best policy. Given that you have received somewhat conflicting information about whether you have to disclose that info, I would consult...
  12. Meriwhen

    Will green skin hurt my career?

    Meriwhen replied to hppygr8ful's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I'll confess: I'd love to be able to put colored accents in my hair--I'd get some Manic Panic and go to town. But my employers would not be fond of my having technicolor hair. So the decision comes...
  13. Meriwhen

    family members working in the same hospital and exact same unit

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

    It depends on the facility's policy--some will allow relatives to work the same unit; others will not. Almost always they will ensure that you're both not in the same chain of command (e.g., one of...
  14. Meriwhen

    Shift Work vs Monday to Friday - Which would you prefer?

    Meriwhen replied to MaleNurseYH's topic in General Nursing

    Everyone I work with thinks I'm crazy, but I prefer the shift work over straight M-F. I like being off during a weekday--like today--while the rest of the world is at the daily
  15. Meriwhen

    Foot in mouth, now a social pariah

    Meriwhen replied to arack05's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Apologize for the bad joke, then YOU let it go and focus on your work. You can't force them to forgive you, but you can do your part to try to mend fences...and I can't see them holding a grudge...
  16. Meriwhen

    Being Nurse Ratched

    Meriwhen replied to proud nurse's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I hear that joke a lot from my family. I just shrug it off or say, "well, sometimes you have to be tough to be kind." I've rarely heard that from non-family or
  17. Meriwhen

    Calling a transgender patient an "it"

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

    I try to find out what the patient prefers to be referred to as and use that pronoun. If I'm not sure, I'll use "he/she" or "they" until I get clarification. Better I do that than call the patient...
  18. Meriwhen

    Can we just agree, being honest is not akin to being "rude"?

    Meriwhen replied to SmilingBluEyes's topic in General Nursing

    I think that's the hardest part in communicating on forums/online: there's no audio/visual cues to help you infer the real intent behind what a person says...er, writes. You can't see a person's...
  19. Meriwhen

    Can we just agree, being honest is not akin to being "rude"?

    Meriwhen replied to SmilingBluEyes's topic in General Nursing

    And let's not forget that tone of voice you use when saying, "What parts of starting an IV do you need help with?" can also be the difference between it being rude and not rude. ETA: I see the PP...
  20. Meriwhen

    Is it ethical to quit a job after accepting it?

    Meriwhen replied to smiley28's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    It's not unethical to quit a job that you just accepted. However, that doesn't mean there won't be repercusions if you suddenly quit/renege on a job. They are well within their rights to tag you a Do...
  21. Meriwhen

    Unable to find nursing position 4yrs post graduation

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

    I have to agree: you're so far out of the game at this point, that a refresher course may be your best way back in. Also, be sure to check with your state BON see what you need to do to keep your...
  22. Meriwhen

    I must vent...

    Meriwhen replied to Lola7211's topic in General Nursing

    Keep in mind that the ICU nurse might have gotten the patient's accolades because she was the first one the patient encountered when the patient was no longer in danger. That doesn't mean the remark...
  23. Meriwhen

    Black Humour

    Meriwhen replied to Tenebrae's topic in Nursing Humor

    With what we have to deal with in psych on a daily basis, one can't help but get a little warped themselves
  24. Meriwhen

    Black Humour

    Meriwhen replied to Tenebrae's topic in Nursing Humor

    Heck, it it helps them refocus, I'll take the hit with the joke at my own expense! If you can't laugh at yourself, what can you laugh
  25. Meriwhen

    HELP! Prohibited from practicing

    Meriwhen replied to .Illinois.Lady.'s topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Bah Then get any local attorney you can find to help you--that would still be better than no