MoopleRN

If you're asking a bunch of strangers if you should conceive another child at the age of 26 when you already have two 7 yr olds while you start nursing school, my answer (as a stranger) is a resounding NO. I don't know what world you live in where you think internet strangers vs YOU and your family concerning such a personal topic are worth considering, but if you want input on such a decision then may I say again, NO. If you can't figure out the pros/cons for yourself about conceiving another one while you go thru nursing school (with the experience of being a mom already)…. I'll say it one last time, NO. You asked, you got.

How is it "noncompliant" to be on their call light for the stupid/annoying/waste-your-time requests? That's not "noncompliant"; it's simply annoying and wastes your time. How can you you stop it? You can't. Not every time. What you can do is know them/anticipate their needs. For example, they call you in there to give them some fresh ice water and you notice (based on previous requests) that the kleenex box is on the table under the window instead of the table next to their recliner/chair. Move it to where there are currently sitting and verbally state you're doing that "Bob, I'm going to leave your kleenex here right next to you so you can reach it when you need it". Bob might hit his light as soon as you leave to ask you what time it is but chances are, he ain't gonna ask for the kleenex. If he DOES ask you what time it is, bring him a huge digital clock that sits right where he can see it. It he's already got one, point it out to him when you're answering his light and ask him to read the time to you. If he doesn't have one, call his family and ask them to bring one. The best way, IMO, to cut down on the time-wasting requests is to anticipate their needs based on their history and provide for those requests when you're in there. Granted, there will always be those who call you in to bring them a blanket and then 2 minutes later call you back in to close the drapes. Telling them before you exit that you anticipate being busy with something else and wanting to make sure they have everything they need before you leave may also be effective. If all fails, keep in mind that they are the boss and you're there to help them even for the stupid stuff. They're bored, they're lonely… and they have a button/pendant they can push. You have a life beyond that button/pendant and when your shift is over, you can get back to it. They can't.

Am I the only one that wonders why in the world the OP thinks this general public forum is the employee handbook for his/her facility?!? Sheesh and likewise wow.

Let the nurse know if a patient assigned to you is requesting a pain med. Let her know ONCE. She is the primary nurse and she knows what the patient can have/when the clock allows the next dose. She may have another patient that takes precedence for something that you have no clue about, like chest pain or a low blood sugar or a heparin drip that needs to be recalculated. Advocate for your assigned patient to your instructor, not the primary nurse.

OP, your attitude on this thread has been positive which leads me to believe there is hope for you…. at a price. Nurses have to eat it. Period. By that I mean smile, be a robot, recite the script you're supposed to say and always always always kiss the patient's/family's butt, especially the ones who deserve it least. Keep your thick skin, try and learn to play the game and if you can keep your personal professional satisfaction ahead of the crap you have to deal with, you'll come out ahead. Take those moments when you know you're made a difference/touched a life and remember why you love being a nurse. I get the impression it's hard for you to deal with stupidity and that's unavoidable. I'm still working on that myself after umpteen years. Hope you have better luck!

You're not required to answer the phone when work calls (that's what caller ID is for!) and you're not obligated to come in if you do answer the phone and are asked to come in. If you can't find a way to stop feeling guilty about wanting your days off actually off, then by all means, go in, get (maybe) dumped on assignment wise, and feel resentful instead of guilty. If you're scared your manager is going to find a way to "get back at you", it behooves you to stick up for yourself and come across as a reliable person who knows how to say no (or not answer the phone!). To do otherwise sets you up as their 1st choice to call and there will be no end to it. Be a team player, on YOUR terms… and by that I mean if you're called in when you're not scheduled. We should always be team players when we're already clocked in. It's ok to say no (or not answer the phone/reply to a text)!

Yes and no it's a problem. The problem for the incoming nurse is if she signed it was correct and it later on proved not to be, it's on her. OTOH, if the count later on was incorrect, there will be an investigation that may include the 7-3 nurse who doesn't need that hassle... CYA!

If the incoming 3-11 nurse signed the count without actually counting and the count is off, it's on her because she's signed her name coming on. If you're signing the count with another 7-3 nurse who's leaving, who cares? The 3-11 can say *I* didn't sign the count was correct when I got here! and she'd be right!! She can swipe whatever narcs she wants then and it's all on you and the other 7-3 nurse because she hasn't signed/accepted the count with day shift. You don't need to check your policy to figure out how to CYA, use your common sense. COUNT and SIGN WITH the 3-11 even if she's late. If you're not doing that and your policy only says the correct count must be maintained, then your policy needs to be rewritten. And if 3-11 signs that she counted with you and she really didn't, she's leaving herself wide open for you to help yourself... and possibly be investigated. CYA. CYA. CYA. And I understand your frustration the she's often late, OTOH, you're getting paid to wait for her. Count your narcs correctly and you won't have to worry about it.

"Paltry pay" is relative when compared with the cost of living/personal debt etc... as I've already said. If your paycheck allows you to pay your bills/save for your future and have some fun then your paycheck isn't "paltry" regardless if you have a degree or a GED/what year it is. Personally, I'd rather have have a "paltry" paycheck than no paycheck at all and if my paycheck was "paltry", I'd do something to change my career path/further my education. We'd all like to make more money, as I've said, buy I'll take paltry over nothing any time. And it's not just about the money. Would I rather have a higher paying job that I hate or a "paltry" paycheck from a job I love? What's pathetic is being miserable in a job you hate. What's pathetic is not having a paycheck at all when you're willing/able to earn one. What's pathetic is not being able to make a living doing what you love/what you're qualified and good at. What's pathetic is not realizing it can always be worse and often is for the other guy.

"Is the nursing profession really for me???" No, it's not, IMO. How do I know? I read your OP. Only you can help you and the only way you can do that is knowing yourself. Do strangers on a nursing forum know you better than you? No, they don't. You've already answered your question IMO, you just don't know it yet and you're looking for validation (from strangers!). You'll get there, and when you do, it will be wonderful!

What's pathetic about $1350/2 weeks? There are BILLIONS of unemployed "peeps" who would love to get that and health insurance (nurses or not and of course most aren't). We all want to make more money than we do but we also need to balance it out against the cost of living where we are vs how much debt we owe vs are we smart enough to live within our means etc etc.... I don't find your paycheck in the least "pathetic". On the contrary, I'm happy for you that you HAVE a paycheck. As far as the OT goes, realize that the more $ you make, the more is taken out and possibly the more stress you have putting in that OT.

One facility I worked at required/mandated that if you didn't provide proof of a current flu shot or get one the facility would provide, you had to wear a mask during patient cares. Shot or mask, that was the choice. No exceptions.

I've come to realize that there is often little difference between LTC and acute care, especially if they're skilled. OP, there's no way I can offer an objective opinion on whether or not you should appeal based on what you've posted here. I can, however, offer you my empathy and I'll think good thoughts for you/wish you a positive outcome. You say you're not going to appeal... ok. Know that I understand how stressful LTC is. I wish you well and I believe that another opportunity will present itself for you to shine/find a less stressful position.

Nurses who make med errors are EVERY SINGLE NURSE WHO'S EVER WORKED AS A NURSE ON THE FLOOR. Or they're lying. Nurses who don't give a crap about their med error, even long after, are the nurses who are a danger. What I'm trying to say is that's it's good you own it/care. What has me slightly concerned is that you need outside validation from a bunch of nurses you don't know. Validate yourself, us anon nurses can't do it for you. You've learned. You're not the same nurse you were then. You're better/more experienced now.... aren't you? We are our own worse critics. Take that experience/knowledge to head off a FUTURE med error!!!!! Only you can know if you need professional counseling to cope... I'd give you some big girl panties but I need them after a scare I recently had. There's always a scare around the corner. Let's fend those off instead of concentrating on the ones that didn't have consequences. Easier said than done, I know!

If my patient has specified "these couple of people" and someone not on the list, even the mother, wanted to visit, I wouldn't double check with my patient. Why would I? My patient has already made his/her decision. Nor would I tell my patient, your mom was here FYI... To what purpose?