RN2begin

There is no nursing shortage in NH right now. Depending on how much experience you have, expect to find slim pickings, if any.

I left my first job out of school d/t ratios of 9 - 12 :1...new nurse or not. In addition the work environment was caustic. My experience is that by and large most new nurses are thrown to the wolves. However, that being said, you don't have to take it...it's a vicious circle. You would think that a profession of mostly women would be more protective and mentoring...but good new nurse experiences are hard to find. I believe that if a new nurse accepts poor treatment...part of her/him becomes complacent and angry...and the cycle repeats. Please take care of yourself...stick up for yourself...and let someone know. If nothing is resolved, move on...it will be their loss. In a nation faced with an astounding nursing shortage...any facility not willing to be accountable for what you are describing is short-sighted indeed.

I really want some "cool" scrubs that don't consist of flowers and cartoons...I was hoping to find a pattern so that I can pick out some material that more closely reflects my personality but I cannot find a pattern to make scrubs anywhere...can anyone help???

At my facility you DO become a specialist RNC upon successful completion of the previously referenced exam. There is a "Nurse Specialist - RNC" assigned to each shift on each unit and they are essentially the bosses. Again, at my facility, RNC = at least a $4000 yr. raise. In order to qualify for the exam you have to have worked as a psych RN for two years. I think what you are referring to is an "Advanced Practice Registered Nurses". The following links should help bring you up to speed. http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/CertificationandAccreditation/Certification.aspx http://www.nursingcertification.org/pdf/value_certification.pdf

Yes and upon passing it you become a Psychiatric Nurse Specialist...which equals a great deal more respect at my facility...and lots more $$$ check out this link, it will give you all the info you need... http://www.nursecredentialing.org/NurseSpecialties/PsychiatricMentalHealth.aspx

So this leads to a dilemma...we spend alot of time educationg our patients that what they have IS a real illness, just as diabetes. They require medical care to get better and hence a "medical" staff works at the psychiatric hospital where I work...we just aren't supposed to look like medical personnel...I think that being newly admitted to a psychiatric facility, especially psychotic and paranoid, scrubs rather than "dress casual" allow the patients to decipher who is who...right now the only people who wear scrubs are our environmental services staff (housekeeping)...once they are used to the system...they hopefully are able to decipher nurse (khakis) from tech (jeans)...

Definately an OMG learning experience. No matter who initially made the error (pharmacy sending up wrong med...) you will suffer the consequences if the error continues and harms the patient. The pharmacists at my facility are understaffed and BUSY...aka...ALWAYS read your vials...if it is only for IM use, it is probably caustic to veins...you got lucky. Thank God you had the courage to continue to question it.

Don't forget...as a nurse you have an advantage in the job market, especially with a year under your belt. It might be worth it for you to see what else is out there. You HAVE to take care of yourself FIRST. Lack of sleep (while I know it is a RN staple) has a caustic effect on your body and mind. By keeping yourself well, you are keeping your patients well. Unexpected errors are made when RNs are exhausted and once done they can't be taken back. You owe yourself better.

Go easy on yourself. Who cares if your voice shakes when you call 911-you didn't drop the ball on providing the STAT care needed for the situation. In fact, I would be more concerned if your voice didn't shake...you are human! I personally think that the ability to look back and ASSESS the situation is a huge positive. This is the only way you grow and learn...we are not super heroes...even though we play them on television.

I work at a state psychiatric hospital and we are docked 30 minutes whether we take it or not as well. 11 - 7 staffing is minimal, but our units are set up so that two are connected by a short hallway "sister units". We are allowed to report off to the adjacent nurse who then provides care PRN for my unit. Not a perfect system...but you have to work with the system you have...

I must respectfully disagree with you. This patient obviously has axis II deficits that cannot be met by changing tx providers on a whim. In fact, it is the WORST thing you can do. She assaulted a nurse. She was not assaulted by a nurse. Unfortunately administration and exam questions have much in common in that both are completely disconnected from the realities of frontline psychiatric care.

Absolutely. However, patient is most often found incompetent to stand trial and the charge is dropped. This does not mean that you shouldn't do it. Outside the hospital, similar assaults would not be tolerated, so if the goal is to discharge patients back into society, why not maintain some "real world" action=consequence. I know I am preaching to the choir...but just my $.02.

I completely appreciate your frustration and disgust with the system. Just be prepared...RN school clinical rotations will test nearly every ethical bone in your body. I started to feel like I was going to nursing school on Mars because often I would find things r/t patients quite concerning...but no one else (primary RN,MD, etc., ) seemed the least bit concerned...DON'T GIVE UP!!! We need nurses like you....desperately. I think that our society often assumes that because someone works in the health field, that they must really care about people. This should never be assumed. Prior to RN school I had blind faith in the system...now, after knowing what I know and seeing what I have seen, I would be scared to death to be admitted. A license in nursing is just that...the most important traits of being a nurse can never be taught...

Thanks for the info...but peds is not my thing, psychiatric or not. 18 to 60 year olds are my range...however, the closer to sixty, the less chance for an orifice kicking...I find myself being pulled closer to that pole....

They are discharged to a group home...go off their meds (because it is their choice)...become psychotic again...get kicked out of the group home...live on the streets until they do something that upsets a local citizen...re-admitted to the hospital/sent to jail...stabilized on meds (hopefully)...discharge to a group home...repeat cycle...repeat cycle...repeat cycle...