JennaRN1006

I love that show!! But if you responded that way, knowing House, He would have told ya to "Giddy up!" or Neigh. LMAO

thank you stay -- it is so true. I am very proud of you. I know you will be a great nurse!!! My own note --- I did nursing school solo. I paid for it and I am still paying for it on my own. I know that I put not only, my heart -- but my blood, sweat and tears into it. I did it on my own. I can say to my children, it was all me. And i will hold my head high knowing that I over came something difficult as NS and NCLEX. I prevailed and I didnt have a boyfriend, a husband or parents to bail me out if I failed. It was all me! I passed and I am more PROUD to say I am an RN!!!!

It is absolutely possible! I did!!!! I worked full time 9-5 in an office job and I went to school part-time on the evenings and weekends. I will tell it was not easy and I missed out on a lot but the 2 1/2 years it took, it was well worth the sacrifice. I am not sure what state you are in and if there are schools around your area that will offer a program similar to mine. However, it is do-able as long as you are organized, focused, and committed! Good Luck!!!! PM if you need further help or advice Jenna

Andre, I couldnt agree more with you! I have sick time at my job as well and I get a strike against me on every day that I take. Average # of days I should be taking a year is 3-5. Any more than that I am considered less than average, and it will reflect in my yearly appraisal. Its absurd. Especially when you are told "If you are sick, please dont come in" AND to boot I work with cancer patients!!!!!!! It will be interesting to see at this years appraisal. I had surgery at the end of Decemeber and took time off (my sick time) into Jan so I could recover. Will this planned use of my sick time, get me? We shall see. I will continue to take my sick time as needed and warranted. I will back everyone up with an MDs note if needed. Let them ding me if they must, wont prevent me being a good nurse and a good job! Im a better nurse when I am not sick!!!!

Wait a lovely story! This is why I became a nurse and what i strive to be each day. When I get frustrated or doubt my job, I will reflect back to this. Thank you for sharing. :redbeathe

Your story reminds me of a guy I had once. I was a new nurse still on orientation and i swear this was the patient that almost made me quit nursing! He had abdominal surgery and sure enough developed complications, such as ileus and CDiff. He too demanded we do everything for him. He even went as far as screaming bloody murder because i wasnt in the bathroom fast enough to clean him up. However, he was able to dye his own hair on his own. Yes my fellow nurse, this man used Clariol during his stay! Still makes me cringe. hahaha

Does this only apply to children? I ask because I work with oncology pts. A few weeks ago, I had a pt actively dying. He was nonresponsive and was placed on comfort care. When pts are on comfort care, we only do vitals q shift. Well, at 8pm he spiked a temp. He wasnt able to take anything orally and had a rectal abscess, so a tylenol suppository was also not an option. When I called the nurse practitioner, she came and evaluated the pt and told me to place some cold packs in wash clothes and apply them to his groin and axillary. His temp came down from 39.2 to 38. Was I wrong to do it? Or was it more to make the family feel like we were doing something? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thank you

Ali -- I am sorry for your loss. You and your friend are in my thoughts and prayers. I currently am working nights, and will think of your friend when I drive home. She will be a great guardian angel to us nurses! Thank you for sharing.

I think you have every right to be P.O.'d. I would also have reported it to the supervisor. You were not asking her to do anything out of her scope of practice, and she didnt even give you the chance. You sound like the nurse that would have surely helped the assistance, since the pt was not a one person job. Sometimes its and Us vs. Them mentality. Dont her bully you. If you are not going to report it now, let it go for now. However, you need to nip it in the butt, if there is a next time. There is no need for it. We are a team and need to get the job done for the pt. my

Ya know I too am overweight and need to lose some of it, however, I would invest in those pricey shoes as you call them. They are pricey because they work!! Sorry to say it, but I wear nursemates and they have saved my feet and legs. I would borrow the money or charge it to a credit card. Or have friends or family buy it for you as a gift. Your feet and legs will thank you and its an important investment, IMHO. Also, the compression stockings are great! They help prevent those ugly vericose veins. Good luck!

Ha! its soo funny how families do that to us. My best friends grandmother has ovarian cancer. she had a CT Scan and her daughters wanted the results read. One was at the MDs appt, the other wasnt. The one that wasnt gave a copy of the report to my mom for me to read and interpet. I was so mad, and told my mom "I can't read reports. I am a nurse and doctors read the reports" My mom got so mad at me and yelled, "well what am I supposed to tell her?". Simple -- nurses dont read it and you put me in a position I shouldnt be in! Oy vey!!!!! lol

Just want to say thank you to Angie for starting a great topic!

I am curious to see the answer to that, as well. In my hospital is to do #1. Prime the Y tubing, filter, and remaining tubing with NS. Clamp down the NS Y port and then prime the line with blood. I let the NS run out til the blood is at the end of the line before connecting to the patient. This is our hospital policy, but I will definitely ask when I go back to work!

When I was a mere clinical assistant, it was the nurse I worked with who inspired me to be a nurse. She, too, went back to NS later in life and encouraged me to work hard and keep at it. When I had problems figuring out drip rates, she would pull a bag of NS and IV tubing and we would play. Many of the patients in our practice knew I was going to nursing school -- they would let me practice my vital signs and assessment skills, so I could learn. I was very blessed to have this nurse in my life and her guidance during NS. Now as I practice, the nurse who influences me is my CNS. She has practiced for over 20 years and is so smart, so knowledgable and is truly an expert in my specific urology field. She is helpful and a great resource for new nurses and even the experienced ones. You can always go to my CNS for questions and help, no matter how silly or "stupid" (i believe no question is stupid), and she will never turn you away. She encourages learning. I am grateful to have her on my unit.

pink - because I am bright and cheery!