sironside

enchantmentdis, that sounds awesome, but it's a rare opportunity. Most telehealth and phone triage positions are not full-time and they require at least 3 years of experience. I have 1.5. Looked into case management and those require years of experience as well. But reagardless, I just got a job in the OR and I start January. I'm very excited and feel that this is a better fit for my detail-oriented personality! MS is horrific when taking care of 5-8 pts because you work through your 12 hours aware that it's impossible to know everything about every single pt and with the possibility that something important may be missed. Wish me luck and thanks for your insightful post. Maybe when I am no longer able to stand for 10 hour shifts in the OR, I will think about what you're doing! Good luck to all of you!

It varies from place to place, but generally, as professionals, nurses should give 3 weeks notice. I doubt I will be so difficult to replace on med-surg, but out of respect (even though I was not shown any) and the possibility for rehire in the future, that is what I'm doing. I've been there for almost 2 years and am now moving on to OR in another, slightly larger hospital. Good riddance. Looks like they should have thought twice about putting their new grad scholarship students in specialties (OR, ICU, ED). Seasoned nurses such as myself have been trying for those positions countless times. Small hospital, not much potential for transfer. Seniority counts for nothing? Ugh. :hdvwl:Happy Holidays!

I'm fed up with nursing as many of you are. At least on the med/surg floor. Been doing it for 19 months since graduating. I'm in the process of getting a job in the OR in another hospital if my references check out, so there is still hope. One of my biggest problems is disrespectful and beligerant A&O pts. Had one last week. I work too damn hard and don't make enough to deal with that kind of BS. I'm extremely compassionate, and I will bend over backwards for patients who are truly sick. But a pt with an I&D to his pinky finger who insists his dressing needs to be changed because there is a small spot of blood on it (it was changed 3 hours before this complaint) and who tells me I'm a bad nurse because I won't give him a sleeping pill "NOW!" and 0430, I cannot tolerate. I refuse to be manipilated and disrespected in such a manner. I'm now on anti-anxiety meds because I'm so busy trying to catch up my work and other's (interdisciplinary as well!) while dealing with such pt mistreatment. I haven't really recieved any insults to my intelligence by doctors or other nurses, not even when I first started this career. I am, however, tired of gossip central at the nurses station and the rumors borne by these nurses that I am sleeping with doctors simply because I am thin, intelligent, and respected by the doctors I work closely with. We're not in middle school folks. Try and keep it professional for the 12 hours we are stuck together. I'm also tired of management. Bottom line: too many changes, too little time. And no respect for nurses. What do they care about? Patient satisfaction and expansion. How about employee satisfaction? Make it a goal, at least? My favorite part: I've been a MS nurse for almost 2 years and have been begging my managers for the last 8 months to allow me to transfer to another specialty. I've been an outstanding employee. What do they do? They take 3 new grads that had scholarships through the hospital and placed them in specialty areas (OR, ER, and ICU) upon graduation. I was a scholarship student too, but I had to go through MS. And for those of you who want to tell me to "do something else," rest assured, I have been trying for almost a year. No one can afford to quit their job and just "look for something else." Let's be practical. I'm also tired of being sick with the flu and colds 5 TIMES over just the past year in addition to being hospitalized for 3 days for a kidney infection (worst pain) from not being able to empty my bladder often because of busy nights at work. I had 6 call outs because of being genuinely ill and my manager tells me I cannot call out anymore until April or I will get written up. It won't matter if I have an MD excuse. Really? Really?! The combination of stress and being exposed to all kinds of viruses from bedside nursing has shot my immune system. Thanks to all who read this. I really needed to let it out so I can face another night in the Unit from hell. Maybe venting will help prevent me from crying before I go into work, which has been happening fairly frequently lately. Wish me luck in the potential transition to OR.

Med Surg definitely sucks. I graduated in '09 with a scholarship. Now I'm stuck with med-surg for 2 years, 1 already completed, to pay back. I wouldn't say I hate med-surg, but I definitely know it's not for me. I'm too detail-oriented to manage chaos between 7 pt's for 12 hours. So I applied for ER, dialysis, and wound care. I like the prospect of ER because, although the pace is fast, at least you only spend a couple hours with unpleasant pt's. I like the prospect of the wound center because at least it's a 8-5 job and I can see my family at NIGHT! And I like dialysis because the pay is nice, you get tons of bonuses (around here), and you don't take care of 7 pt's at once! I am interested in trying ICU, but not enough experience at this time. Moral: If you hate med-surg, there are so many other specialties to try. If I don't get the jobs I applied for, that's fine. I can survive med-surg. I already figured out effective and healthy ways to de-stress on my scant days off, and you have to find something that works for you. Biking, hiking, and swimming are my ways to destress. I'm also taking classes online for my bachelor's, which is actually calming for me! The only way I survive stressful nights is to remind myself I'm only one person and I'm doing my best. I have enough confidence in my skills to be safe and efficient. I'm also never afraid to ask for help if I need it from charge nurses or PCS, even though I get an attitude from them about it. Keeping a positive attitude around pt's and colleagues also helps. We have to be our own advocates and our patient's as well. If we don't feel safe, we must stand up for ourselves and our patients by asking for help when needed. I also don't take crap from doctors anymore. Any time a doctor questions my skills or actions and belittles me purposely, I explain the reasons behind them and that I don't appreciate the unprofessional and childish way they are dealing with a problem. Haven't been bothered by doctors since, and in fact, they've been pleasant to work with. I think a combination of all these things have made my work life at least tolerable even though I know med-surg is not for me. Because of these coping strategies, I have only cried twice because of work in 1 year. Hopefully these tips can help some of you guys! Wish me luck in my career endeavors!

Here is the story. When I was 17 I took myself to the hospital because I was suicidal. The same thing happened when I was 19 for the same reasons. A few months later I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder 2 and put on many meds including lithium. I am now almost 22 and in nursing school, I havent had any depression or manias since 19 and I have been off of all meds for 5 month and doing great. I am worried that when the board of nursing checks my background for the NCLEX that they might hold my hospitalizations against me, figuring I'm not competent. Does anybody know if this is true?