Lalage

Hi, I started in the ICU as a new grad in 2002...and I'm still there and loving it. However, I found my first year to be very stressful and discouraging at times. I knew there was a lot to learn, but the amount I needed to learn was overwhelming at times. I was also constantly afraid of making a mistake. 4.5 yrs later, I am still afraid of making a mistake...but in my opinion, if I ever felt 100% comfortable in the ICU, I probably am too cocky and am more prone to error. I also was very lucky to have great co-workers who understood my situation (ie new grad, essentially dumb :chuckle ) and really helped me through my orientation and entire first year.

Help! Drowning in NP program! I have been working on becoming a primary health care NP for 2 yrs as a part time student (half way through now!). But I am having serious doubts about my ability to finish this program, and my ability to successfully take on the role of an NP. I feel so overwhelmed by how much I still don't know, and I wonder if I'll ever feel comfortable integrating all the knowledge (ie pharmacology, physiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis...). I am seriously considering transferring to the generalist stream (this is a masters program where I am), but wondering if this is just an easy way out. Anyone else feel like this as they studied to be an NP?

The union that covers our hospital is province wide, and they don't work very quickly. Issues that have been brought against her a year ago, still haven't been resolved. I've filed all the paper work, just have to wait now. It's hard not to be discouraged becuase upper management is known for only caring about $$ and ignores every other aspect of nursing. The last time we as a group went to upper management about our manager, they sided with her. Oh well...karma will hopefully do some ass kicking for me in the future.

Thank you for all the suggestions! This matter has been annoying me more than it should...and I think a well written letter to her and upper management might be the solution. I did met with her to clarify 'the story' and she firmly believes that I turned down her offer. Maybe she really is delusional! Also, as talaxandra said, news did fly around the unit quickly, and most people have been supportive of my version of events. I could grieve this to the union...found out that many people have grievences against her, but they don't get very far because she never returns calls or attends meetings setup by the union. Big surprise there!

I have been working on my unit for 3 years as a part time nurse with full time hours. Basically, I work with no set schedule, no benefits, but more than a full timer because I don't get paid vacation time. I hardly ever call in sick, am always diligent in my work, and generally well liked by my peers. My manager however, is known for being a scatter brain and lacks communication skills. I applied for a full time position on my unit when 2 became available (and full time here doesn't become available very often). She chose not to hire from within the unit part time pool because (and this is only speculation, but information from a 'source' close to the manager confirmed this): myself and 2 other part timers who work full time hours don't have kids, therefore, we can continue to do these crazy hours and be called for last minute switches/fill ins. We have already gone to the union over this. 2 more full time positions opened up, and I applied again. I asked to speak with my manager about my place on the seniority list, my chances of getting full time, etc...she ignored me for 3 weeks. She kept saying she was too busy to discuss the issues, and would talk to me later (which might be true, as she does seem to be very busy). However, in the meantime, I applied for a job elsewhere (full time) and got it. I called her 2 weeks ago to tell her I was leaving. A 2 minute conversation and that was all that was discussed. Now, I've heard that she is telling people that she offered me a full time job, but I turned it down. This makes me very angry!!! :angryfire It makes me look like a whiney little kid: I complain that I can't get full time, but then turn it down when it is offered. I asked her about this, and she claims that during our phone conversation when I told her I was leaving, she offered me a full time position. AAHHGG!! Suggestions on what to do next please!! I am still leaving for full time elsewhere, but I feel insulted by this. I'm starting to conclude that any action would not be of use, and it's better to leave and start over.

I understand that 60% of the medical class involved is female, and females were involved in the singing of the song. The med students also defend their actions by stating that the song about doctors was just as bad (claims of dropping babies, etc). Still, there was no tact in in this and I'm very surprised that ANYONE would attempt to sing these lyrics in public. Have a look at the July 15th entry: http://fidius.blogspot.com/

Just wondering what people think of the TV show "Scrubs" It's a comedy about the daily lives of medical residents. One of them is engaged to a nurse. They protray the nurses as strong independant thinkers (most of the time). What do you think about this show?

I graduated from a degree program 2 years ago. There are many things they can not teach you in school...and it doesn't matter which program you're in. I agree the degree program does spend a lot more time on things that don't seem to be as important, and I would like to have had more practical lessons (ie lab values, more patho and physiology), but I now also have the research based education that can open many more doors than a purely diploma based program. Honestly...do you think an architect or engineer right out of school would be trusted to design a building on his/her own, as his/her first assignment? Everyone has to learn on the job and nurses are no exception. I'll admit, sometimes I did feel unprepared to be on the floors as an RN, but my education also taught me to be resourceful and to think critically as a means of finding the right answer. The first year will be rough....but every experienced nurse has to experience that first year too. Hang in there!:)

When I posted the link to the nursing home stories in the newspaper, I didn't intend anyone to think I was slamming all nursing homes...I know there are good ones out there staffed by excellent nurses and other health care staff. I'll admit that I have not seen a nursing home yet that I'd put a loved one in, but I hope articals such as the above encourage more attention in this poorly funded area. Even in the good nursing homes, I'm sure they have staffing problems...as we do in the acute hospital settings. Basically, there is no excuse for anything but the best care to all residents and patients, but sometimes I'm afraid, far too many fall through the cracks.

I'm so sorry Jay Jay:o This is nothing anyone should have to see a loved one go through. I just hope that these 'expose' articles continue to be published, and hopefully each time, a few more changes are made. You'd think with the boomers getting older, they'd pay more attention to their options for future nursing care. The one nursing home I worked in stopped providing us (the health care aides) with gloves. We were given thin gloves I've seen food handlers use in Subway sandwich shops instead of the the regular protective gloves. They said we should just increase our hand washing. Would you want to clean up poop with a glove that was so thin, picking up the wash cloth from the basin (with the thin glove on) would leave my skin soaked!? I started buying my own, for my protection and the protection of the residents. It was no surprise when things like UTI's trippled in a matter of weeks.

For the past few days, The Toronto Star has published a series of stories regarding the state of nursing home care in Ontario. These stories are very disturbing. In "Natalie's Story" the 5 part article details the story of 2 women who placed their mother in a nursing home, only to have her abused and neglected. She eventually died of a bed sore that ate through her tailbone, and into her internal organs. Very very disturbing. Is this story the norm for the rest of Canada and the States? I worked in nursing homes during the summers when I was in nursing school, and I hated it...I never felt that I had enough time for the residents. I believe we treat our animals better than our seniors. How and when will this stop!? Read the stories for your self: http://www.thestar.ca/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?GXHC_gx_session_id_=7e28658c7ef66b87&pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1071097810282&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

One of my aunts once called to ask me why her doctor would put her on oxygen pills....turns out it was estrogen:chuckle

I injured my back very seriously by slipping on some ice when I was 17. I am now 24 and have been nursing for 1 1/2 yrs, and I am constantly in pain. I've taken every percaution to protect myself: I see a chiropractor, I exercise, I eat a balanced diet, I'm not over weight, and I try for enough sleep. I tired of hurting. I'll go for months without pain, then months with pain. I don't want to quit floor nursing this early in my career, but I'm tired of the pain. Please...what else can I do?? I feel like I'm 54, not 24.

Question: why are the wages for nurses in the United States so different from state to state, and hospital to hospital? I'm a fairly new grad and last year I made just under $45 000 (before tax) in Canada. A lot of my classmates went to the United States to work, where they are making significantly more than me...for most of the 1990's in Canada, many new nursing grads left the country for the United States because of the better pay. But after reading this thread, I'm wondering how this could be true? How do pay scales work in the States? In each province, the pay scale in each hospital is the same (goverened by a provincial union). Nursing homes and public heath do pay different pay scales, but all hospitals are pretty much on the same scale. We could be paid better, but right now I make more than any of my other friends with undergrad degrees in subjects other than nursing.

Fingerprints?? FBI?? Sounds a little extreme! Here in Ontario, we just sign a paper stating we don't have a criminal record and they do a background check on our name.