silmas RN

I volunteer a couple of days a month taking BP's at local nursing homes. Just make sure you have up to date malpractice insurance.

I'm one of those old diploma nurses, who graduated in 1971. We used to complain about all the "free labor" we were giving the hospital when we were in school, but we did everything. In my senior year they would designate 2 of us as the charge nurse. This wasn't only for clinicals, this was when we were working extra as nursing assistants. Scary? Yes. Did I learn a lot? Heck yes! When I graduated, there was no orientation other than hospital personnel issues. And, we were prepared for that. Over the years I have seen a sharp decline in new grads who have any clinical skills at all. I once worked in an NICU with a new grad who had completed 3 months of orientation. She actually asked me how to tell if her patient was breathing. I went straight to the Head Nurse of the unit and suggested some Well Baby time for this person. This was supposed to be my back-up? No way!

My favorite two ER patients were 1) the guy who came in with a Mrs. Butterworth's syrup bottle shoved up his butt. His partner had the bright idea to drill a hole in the bottom of the bottle to empty it so it would come out. All he managed to do was drill a hole in the guy's rectum. The bottle was removed with OB forceps, then on to surgery for the repair work, and 2) the woman who came in high as a kite with a nosebleed. I asked about drugs, which she, of course, denied but said she knew why her nose was bleeding. Silly me had to ask why and she said "My period came down a few days ago and now it's gone back up again".

Four of my closest friends are the parents of children who were my patients when they were infants. Those "babies" are now 35 and 37 years old. Our relationships have been strictly personal. Once the kids were discharged, they never treated me like a nurse. They never asked for medical advice and never expected me to continue caring for their children. I moved out of state when the kids were still young. When I visit, I stay with them. When they come here, they stay with me. They kids have not been an issue in over 30 years.

You obviously have an abundance of time on your hands, being able to monitor your co-workers so closely. I pity your patients for the care they are not receiving.

I worked in hospitals for over 35 yrs. My Mom was a nurse in the 40's and 50's. She prepared me for the horrors of nursing and tried to talk me out of going to nursing school. I never expected it to be like General Hospital on TV. Given the choice, I would do it again.

When anyone asks me to hand them something, like scissors, I slap it in their hand like I'm in the OR!

lmao!!!!! i totally agree. turning the patient did not cause her demise. that nurse needs to get a grip.

I spent 30 plus years in hospital nursing. Whenever I felt the signs of burnout, I changed what I was doing. I took a year off to work Home Health, the back to the hospital. Then I would rotate to a new area every few years to keep things fresh and interesting. It's the only way I lasted so long.

I say go for it! My knees gave out after 30+ years of hospital nursing. I went back to school at the age of 53 to become a nurse paralegal. Needless to say, I was the oldest in my class. My classmates were all around 21 - 25 years of age and were wonderful to me. I was terrified at first and was also afraid that no one would hire me at my age. I was wrong. Follow your dreams, you may never get this chance again.

When I was a senior in nursing school back in the 60's, nursing admin would often take 2 senior students (who were working "extra" as nursing assistants) to equal 1 charge nurse. We did not have an option. It was "do it or you're out". We had to do it so often that being in charge was 2nd nature when we graduated.

I once worked with a nurse in Neonatal ICU who came up to me and asked me how to tell if her patient had stopped breathing, or if the monitor alarm went off for no reason. She never even thought to look at the baby! I reported this, nothing was done, so I refused to ever work with her again.

Sarah, sorry to hear your news. Stay positive and focused. My best friend was diagnosed as HIV+ in 1984 (that is the correct year!). He has been totally compliant with his treatment and it has really paid off. His T cells are normal, viral load is non-detectable, he works full time and feels good. The nurse practitioner he sees is HIV+ as well, and he is also doing fine. Get yourself an Infectious Disease doc with HIV experience. Also, if there's one in your area, contact your local HIV/AIDS task force. My prayers are with you.

The key is respect for everyone you work with. I've met plenty of LPNs and Nursing Assistants over the last 30 some years who could run circles around most of the RNs I know. Also, it's a good idea to make nice to the Unit Secretary as that is the person who really knows everything on the unit.

I graduated from nursing school in 1971 and have been working since then. Any new environment is bound to produce a little anxiety, but it's important to experience new areas of practice to see what's out there. Even though I've worked all areas of ICU, I knew neonatal was what I really loved to do. Unfortunately the years have taken a toll on my knees, and I had to give up hospital work. So at the ripe old age of 53, I went back to school....talk about anxiety! I've been a nurse paralegal for the last 3 years and am loving it. Now let me tell you, interviewing with a group of lawyers was very stressful, but I got through it. I have to admit that I still miss those babies. Take your time with the specialty areas. Try to spend a little more time on the units just observing. You won't believe how quickly you'll feel more comfortable as the environment becomes more familiar. It may turn out that Med-Surg is the area for you, but you'll never know if you don't try. Good luck.