BaByNuRsE07

Awww ignorance is bliss and the grass is always greener. I remember the first time I volunteered to work 11p-7a to cover for a call-out when I worked on the General Surgery unit. I was so excited! I mean the night shifters were almost always ready to give report on-time, they rarely left tasks for day shifters. It had to be easier than days. I came to work sauntering in with my hair and make-up done, uniform freshly-pressed and my personal laptop because I knew I would have enough down-time to work on my paper for my RN-BSN class. HA!! I worked just as hard during those 8 hours than I did during my usual 12hr day shift. Between assessing all patients, scheduled and PRN meds, hanging TPN, lab draws, chart checks, total care patients to turn q2h, code browns and direct admits from the ER-all with the help of 2 CNA's (30+ patients), and no secretary or transport (none scheduled after 2300). I truly felt the hospital got their money's worth out of me that night even with the shift diff, overtime pay and code-census pay! I learned thatnight, the reason night shift appeared easy, was because there was an excellent group of nurses who worked their butts off every night and made it looked that way:yeah:. With that said, when I had the opportunity to transfer from Med-Surg to OB I switched to nights. Understand though, there are some nights in which I go for hours holding my urine or clock-out with no lunch-just like days. There are some nights in which I have to stay late because of a change of shift admission, sending a pt to OR for tubal ligation, doctor comes in early to circumcise baby, IV infiltrates, antepartum goes into labor-just like days. I still pass meds, assess, intervene, educate and document-just like days. If patients didn't need care at night, the hospital sure as heck wouldn't pay me to be there. However, three years in and I am seriously considering switching back to days. My body is really beginning to show signs of wear and tear from being up all night and not receiving the proper amount of rest it needs. I think I have mild depression, have definitely gained weight, I'm exhaused all the time, I now have migraines and don't get me started on my reproductive issues. So yes, I think I deserve the extra $3.50 for eve and $5 for nights. Actually, I KNOW I deserve a lot more because my health and my time are worth it!

Tell me about it! We received our re-designation last year and I found it ironic that most of the quotes Magnet used were from management. We had mandatory staff meetings for months leading up to the site visit, so they could coach us in what to say to the surveyors:eek:. The idea of Magnet designation is great in theory. I hope it doesn't become one of those awards/designations that can be purchased instead of earned.

I KNOW!! Totally burns me up because despite what some Lactation Consultants tell patients, not every woman is able to make milk or has an adequate supply despite our "recommendation" to put the baby to the breast q2-3h or PRN. I have no idea what the hospital is planning to do in those cases where breastmilk is contraindicated. If it were my guess, they would probably make us become wet nurses too:rolleyes:

I'M DONE!! I've been working as a Mother/Baby postpartum RN for almost 3 years at a community hospital. My hospital is rated one of the best in the state, and our marketing department is top-notch at letting the area know we deliver 6,000-7,000 babies a year. We have two Mother/Baby Units with a total of 60 beds. I was in :redbeathe with postpartum since nursing school and thought I'd hit the jackpot when I was offered the chance to transfer after completing one year of Med-Surg nursing. Now, as a 2nd career nurse, I am fully aware that change is constant and customer service/physician loyalty is important. Our division has undergone a lot of changes since I've been there. On what used to be the postpartum unit, we are now required to care for antepartum's. The c-section rate is through the roof. Our ratio is 5 couplets:1 RN. On a normal day shift, a nurse discharges 2-3 couplets and admits at least two more. Assignments are not based on acuity, but simply rotated between nurses. All patients are to be discharged by noon (on their scheduled d/c day) regardless of what time the baby was born or the fact that the insurance company pays for up to 48-hours for vag deliveries and up to 96 for c-sections. All patients are to be assessed by 1000/2200. Due to budget control, they are blocking off rooms and calling off staff when in-patient census is low-but the policy does not consider how many patients are in L&D, so it's possible for one RN to have 3-4 admissions on a shift. Now, the newest thing is revving up for the Joint Commission's exclusive breastmilk initiave and again the Marketing dept is hard at work to advertise us a 100% breastfeeding hospital. So, while I (and most of my co-workers) are very good nurses, I do not see how it's possible to admit and discharge this many couplets, assess, intervene, educate, assist with breastfeeding, perform newborn screenings (hearing, pulse ox, daily baths, HBV vaccines, etc) effectively-not to mention the PP hemorrhage, antepartum that goes into labor, jaundiced newborn, freshly circumcised babies-I could go on and on. We have voiced our concerns to administration only to be told we don't have to do it-we can simply find somewhere else to work. Since we are the only Magnet hospital in the area (gasp), they try to pacify us by making us form commitee's to...well, I'm still not sure what the committee is supposed to do. Most of the perinatal techs are lazy and useless-for lack of a better term. Nurses have gone to our manager for years and being the non-confrontational people-pleaser she is, she simply asks you what could you have done in order facilitate help or difuse a bad situation from a co-worker, so most people don't report things to her anymore. The hospital's administration is focused on Patient perception scores more so than actual patient care, because as I was told "patient's expect that you will give them the correct meds, so just providing good nursing care isn't enough". For example: some patient(s) complained about the staff not knocking on doors before entering the room. Management told us we are to knock on the door and wait to be invited into the room-even at night. So that's what we do-every two hour nurse check. Then patients complained we were keeping them up all night checking on them. So we were told to do it quietly . This is just a small example, but hopefully you can get an idea. Now, I know it's not only me, but most of my co-workers have the same complaints. I have decided that although I still enjoy taking care of mom's and love the babies it's time for me to leave OB. I feel like my hospital is setting me up for failure as I can't provide the type of care my patients deserve not to mention I think it's totally unsafe. I like to know that all patients I am responsible for have received 110% from me but unfortunately, I am unable to give it to them under these conditions. I am planning to attempt a transfer from in-patient to out-patient over the next few months. I'm just afraid that I will miss my patient population and end up regretting my decision, but I also don't feel I should hate my current working conditions either. I know I'm rambling and for anyone that's still reading, thank you! I try not to complain to my co-workers too much because gossip amongst those women spreads like the flu and my manager will know of it and may block my not too distant future request for transfer. My family is very supportive, but none work in the healthcare field, so they don't quite get it. I just felt the need to get some things off my chest. Of course, any advice/support is much appreciated! Thanks!

Johnston Community College in Smithfield has an evening/weekend ADN program. Good luck!

Hi, Here are the current diffs offered at Rex: Evenings: $3.50/hr Nights: $5/hr Weekends: $10/hr Holidays: time and a half We also have a new option to pick up extra shifts if you choose to. You can bid on open shifts on any unit in the hospital (in which you are qualified to work), and there is an additional premium attached to it. That's in addition to any other shift diffs that are applicable. HTH!

OMG! I could not wait to get home so I could respond to this thread. I worked at an engineering company for 6 years prior to beginning my nursing career. I was the only woman in an office of 8 men. LOVED IT!! No gossip, cattiness, attitudes, passive aggressivness, etc. It really was great working with all men. I guess I got spoiled. Darn this yearning to care for and help heal the sick:wink2:. First year of nursing got real lucky and ended up on a great med surg unit with a staff who really understood teamwork and while of course there was some gossip, it wasn't malicious and we didn't treat each other like the Hatfields vs the McCoys. Fastforward. I've very recently transferred to OB. All I can say is WOW! I've been there a total of 3 full days and I've already resigned myself to learning as much as I can, being workplace cordial, doing my job and then going home. I've never been the type to play a role in the workplace politics anyway, so I think it will be pretty easy to do.

OMG...ur the woman from the other stall that I tell all of my family/friends about-LOL. Just kidding :chuckle. I understand your rationale about not touching the faucet, etc., but after pottying, I wash my hands, turn off the faucet with the paper towel and then I use hand sanitizer after leaving the bathroom-especially if I am about to eat. I know it sounds like I have OCD and maybe I do, but the thought of putting mine or someone else's waste/germs in my mouth is absolutely sickening. At my hospital, we are taught-ad nauseum-that you use soap and water after going to the bathroom or anytime your hands are visibly soiled. Alcohol based hand sanitizer is fine in most other instances. After I assist a pt to the bathroom, I always turn on the water for them and say let me get out of your way so you can wash your hands. it's really not an option and thankfully, I've never had anyone refuse-yet. It could get ugly:no:. Our NA's are great about offering to set up the supplies for patients to bathe themselves with and giving bed baths to the others. As they are making their next rounds if the self care patients haven't bathed yet they report it to the nurse. Then it's up to me to assess the situation and intervene if necessary.

Hi, At my hospital in Raleigh, NC the pay for new RN's is: base pay: $20.30/hr evening diff: $4.50/hr night diff: $6.00/hr weekend: $10/hr

I graduated from WSSU RN-BSN program this spring. I agree that it's not the most organized program I've enrolled in, but it is by far not the worst. I think a lot of the issues stem from the fact that the distance education sector is still fairly new and they are trying to work out the kinks. I found the program to be geared towards workng-experienced RN's with obligations outside of school which is exactly what I needed. I really don't many complaints and I have recommended the program to all of my nursing friends and colleagues. HTH!

I work on a general surgery unit. We have 5 patients on days and 6-7 pts at night. The latest I've worked over was 2 hrs 45 mins. I was supposed to work 1445-2315 but, I didn't leave until 0200. I was late trying to clean up several messes and resolve serious issues from a float pool nurse. Afterwards, I had to spend the last 45 minutes talking with the charge nurses and team leaders and then documenting creatively in a way not to point blame, but just write what I observed when I came on shift and the steps I took to try and resolve it. Needless to say, that nurse is no longer allowed to float to our unit.

Hi, On our general surgery unit, we expect a pt to begin passing gas by post-op day 2. Ambulating will work wonders to help pass gas when the abdomen is distended. Sometimes a little ginger ale helps too. When making rounds, most of our surgeons ask if the pt is passing gas in order to advance their diet by day 2. Hope this helps!

Hello everyone, I am a new RN grad in the Raleigh area and thankfully, I've been offered several new grad internships at local hospitals. After narrowing down the offers, I am stuck trying to choose between Medical floors at both Rex and Wake Med. Both hospitals are offering comparable starting pay rates and shift diffs. The benefits, I believe, are better at Wake Med, but that doesn't matter much because I'm single with no kids. The distance isn't an issue either. I am about 5 minutes to Rex and 10-15 to Wake. I guess I would like to hear from nurses that have worked at Wake Med, Rex or both that are willing to share the pros and cons in order to help me make a final decision. TIA. :monkeydance: