faetastic

I guess I missed out some stuff and went into rant mode... My issue is more the fact that I don't have help if I need it. What if one of my residents attacked me in the middle of the night? We do have a couple of people here that are known to become very aggressive at times and have punched, kicked, bitten, stabbed the staff. One of our nurses recently had her jaw fractured by an aggressive male patient. If something like that happened, who would be able to come and help me? I'm quite a distance away from any other staff in the building. When I do the night shift, I am also unable to take a break. I can sit at the computer and try and keep myself awake, but sometimes it would be nice to be able to go and lie down for half an hour...No can do. I think the expectations are completely crap, and unfortunately it's not only myself or the other LPN's that suffer, but the residents too. I could look for work elsewhere, but I'd rather try to make changes happen here.

I am a new nurse and my childrens Father's new girlfriend sounds awfully similar to OP...Not that I have ever given my children any vaccinations, nor would I be against it, but it definitely sounds like she is looking for ammunition and that is truly sad. A record of communication needs to be set up between the bio parents and rules need to be stated clearly up front. I am tired of my ex and his meddlesome girlfriend trying to trap me through phone conversations, or face-to-face conversations to make me look bad, so I sent a polite email asking that all conversation be through email where we both have documented copies of it (I also forward these communications on to his lawyer, which i'm sure ****** him off, but I've gotta back myself up). It seems to work well, and that way any issues that the bio parents have between themselves can remain just that, and not involve the kids, or the step-parents. I sincerely suggest you do this, to protect yourself, the Mother, but most importantly, the children. I do believe that the vaccinations should have been discussed prior to being administered for multiple reasons, but we are only hearing one side of the story. Good luck to the biological Mother in her new career.

Hi there. I am also a new nurse and have made a few mistakes here and there, but it's all a part of the learning curve. You are making sure to cover your tracks and admit when something has gone wrong and from what I've learned so far, that's the most important thing. I have also learned that I don't need to be the fastest nurse and that slowing down and doing things on my own schedule is what works best for me. If I go too fast, I get clumsy and as time goes on my speed will surely improve and things will become more natural. Don't beat yourself up. I've seen nurses of all types and experience make mistakes. :)

I am a recent LPN graduate and have come to an underserved community to work. I am working in ECU because at this time, it's the department in the most need. When I started here there were two wings. One RN and one LPN worked with the help of numerous RCA's. In December, one of the old wings closed down as 2 new wings opened. The rooms were given on a 'seniority' basis, although it seems to all of the staff here that the residents were hand-picked. Most of the people that moved over to the new wings are independant and easy. The heavy residents remain on the old wing. The RN's were asked by our RCC where they felt their skills would be most valuable and they picked "Eden", the new side. So here I am, it's 0300 and I am working alone, without a care-aide on the heavy side. 2 coded doors and a long hallway are between myself and the RN and RCA in "Eden". Most of my residents are 2 person assists, and it's bloody hard to keep yourself awake for 12 hours when you're completely alone. Why did the RN's take on the easy wing, and why were the allowed to make this decision? IMHO, I feel that they have failed their residents and themselves. To be fair, it is not all of the RN's, but a couple in particular who refuse to do care and spend their nightshifts sleeping while the RCA runs around and looks after the 2 new wings. It is not fair to the LPN's or the RCA's to work in conditions like this. On top of all of this, the LPN's are expected to do personal care for 3-4 residents daily and meds for 22. The expectations are absolutely ridiculous and I feel that I am unable to practice safely and assess my residents at this time. Six months in and I am already feeling the toll.

Turns out that only 4 of us passed the test, but I got the highest % Only one more final to go until I go on my first practicum!!!

Thank you! I think I'm still in shock!!! I'm gonna be the only person in the class that hasn't used a re-write this semester!!!!!!!!

I had my first pharmacology exam today, and I was so nervous. I've really never been good at math, and our instructor told us that we were only able to get one out of the 20 questions wrong. I was a bit panicky about that!!! She emailed our marks to us tonight, and so far, I'm the only person in the entire class to pass, with 100% which totally sucks for everyone else in my class, but I'm so proud of myself. Three weeks ago, I couldn't even do division!!! Everyone else has to use a re-write as we're not allowed to go on practicum unless we pass that test. That's a lot off of my mind!!! :balloons:

I have 3 different instructors at school right now and 1 of them swears by universal precautions and says that she wears gloves with every patient, the other says only if there's risk of an open wound of bodily fluids. Apparently during lab testing, we aren't allowed to use gloves unless we have a good reason for it. It's so confusing! lol