Nrsstudent09

I did nights for about 9 months. It was terrible. I was sick all the time and I started having blood sugar issues where even though I was eating every 2 hours my sugar would drop to 50s and 60s. Then my period was 3 months late and I wasn't pregnant (even though we were trying). My dr diagnosed me with shift work disorder. I ended up changing jobs so I could go to days 2 months ago and its been great. I actually sleep more than 2 hours at a time and have so much more energy. The things that helped were eating healthy snacks during the night and I would try to sleep from about 9-4. Even if I couldn't sleep I would stay in bed and try to relax. To sleep I started using an app on my phone that was sleep music.

All shots are up to date except Flu shot. I never get it as I seem to be immune to it. I get the flu if I get it and I get the flu if I don't lol. I never had chicken pox but had the vaccine as a kid. I had all my titers drawn for my new job and they were fine

I just left a hospital where we used Medhost and now I'm at a hospital that uses IBEX.. I think medhost was much more user friendly and flowed better.

So I just found out I'm pregnant. I have a drs appt tomorrow for blood work etc. By my calculation I'm about 6 weeks. How do you handle it in the ED??? Is there patient's I should avoid?? With all the portable xrays and stuff going off I'm almost paranoid. We had a loss in May at 13.5 weeks that we couldn't determine a cause and I couldn't help but wonder if it was something that happened at work. I'm paranoid something will happen to this one. I'm just looking for some advice. Thanks :)

So I've been working full-time in my current ED position for about 9 months. I applied for a part-time position at an ED closer to home for some extra money and figuring I could learn more but working a bit more. I got the call back for an interview today. I was told I would be doing a peer interview when I interview with the manager as well. I've never done that before. Any hints of advice on how to make it through that??? Will they ask similar questions that the nurse manager asks?? Can I ask them questions about the unit?? Thank you so much!!

for the first year I did

I'm actually considering something similar. I worked tele for 8 months and found a dream ED opportunity. It was a middle shift which is what I really wanted. Well I started the ED and at the end of orientation they put me on nights instead. This was in May. I have been nothing but miserable. Nights are literally making me sick. I get dizzy spells, I'm not sleeping and I've tried sleeping pills, low blood sugar even though I'm eating during my shift, bad headaches, my menstrual cycle is so irregular. I've been working with my primary to figure out the cause and I think we've come to a decision of shift work disorder. I am actually considering leaving my current position to try and find a day-shift somewhere. I just can't take feeling this crappy anymore so I totally get where you're coming from

Transfer request is in :). Crossing my fingers

So I'm currently an ER nurse. I like it but I don't love it like I thought I would. I've been in the position for 7 months. Ever since I went to nursing school I've wanted to be a NICU RN. Well my ER is changing our shifts around to a block schedule which is going to be difficult with my family the way my block is. I am also on nights which is wrecking havoc on my body IE causing blood sugar drops and dizzy spells. My hospital has a bunch of NICU openings right now, including day shift, as we are opening a new NICU in a few months. I'm seriously considering applying for it and taking the chance on my dream. I just wanted to see if others thought it was a good idea. Like I said I've been in the ER for 7 months and although I like it I just keep feeling like I should go for NICU. Thanks :)

I wish you luck in your pregnancy. Sadly I became one of those women who was prepped for a D&E. At our first ultrasound at 12 weeks we found out baby stopped growing at 8 weeks. It was a bump in our road of trying to conceive and sometimes I wonder if I did something, especially at work but there was nothing I could do.

I was a new grad who went right into tele in June of 2010. I found I got bored. It seemed to be the same thing over and over. I was an EMT prior to an RN so I think I'm an adrenaline junkie, for lack of a better term :) I made the switch to the ER in Feb of 2011. We are basically the only ER for 30 ishmiles and see approx over 100,000 pts/yr. It is very busy. I am so glad I made the switch though. It is never the same thing every night. I had a very intensive training program that lasted from Feb to the end of June. With that being said the ED was a very big change. To me it was hard getting used to if you come in with a sprained foot an extensive assessment on the rest of your body isn't needed. We have a basic ratio of 4:1 with sometimes a 5:1 ratio. It is very quick paced, but I love it. You really learn to bond as a team. For example when one of us has a Code STEMI or Code CVA come in you are focused on that patient and your coworkers help pick up the rest of your patients. That being said the ER is an awesome place :)

Maybe sorry is the right word. I know there was nothing I could have done given that was the order I was given. She was very much devastated and I had to give her bad news twice. I felt awful. I had a missed miscarriage in May so I know how it feels to have a loss. I just feel like now I'm going to question whether or not I should give it in the future

I just wanted general opinions on methotrexate and what your stance is on giving it. I had a situation where I work that my patient had been trying to conceive for 12 years. Finally did naturally only to be told she had an ectopic at 7 weeks. I get in for my shift and am advised by OB doc to give her methotrexate to terminate the pregnancy. Fast-forward 2 weeks and the patient comes back in with spotting. Pt tells me after a few days she had not passed anything, went back to her doc and turns out it was a viable pregnancy with a heartbeat and it was not actually an ectopic. She gets an ultrasound this second night she comes in and we find out she is now miscarrying. I can't help but feel a little guilty that I gave the medication. I know I was given an order by the doc to do it, but they were wrong and now I'm hesitant if I have to give it again. What are your opinions???

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Thanks everyone for your responses. I do have a followup with my primary tomorrow afternoon. I was just wondering if this had happened to anyone else

So I've been doing night shift for the 2 months. I've noticed the last 2 weeks I keep getting dizzy spells and when they occur I get a bad headache and nauseous. I actually checked myself into the ER at the end of my shift yesterday because the dizziness wouldn't go away. They could not fine anything wrong. In looking at my labs my blood sugar level was only 80. I know that's considered normal, but I find it odd because I had just eaten about an hr before that level was checked. I am now wondering if I am becoming hypoglycemic towards the end of my shift. I did have a miscarriage on May 16 at 12 weeks. During that time if I didn't eat something every 2 hours I was feeling weak and nauseous. I know I'm not pregnant as they checked that in my labs yesterday. Anyone else have this issue?? I plan on following up with my doctor but I'm wondering if night shift is screwing with my body. Thanks :)

When I had my physical for my current job the NP who did my exam asked me what my birth control method was. I informed her I was not using any (We are trying to conceive) and she proceeded to ask me why I wasn't using any, was I in a monogamous relationship, was I aware of the risks. I was highly offended and proceeded to tell her what happened in my bedroom with my HUSBAND and I was between us and not her.

So I've been doing night shift for the 2 months. I've noticed the last 2 weeks I keep getting dizzy spells and when they occur I get a bad headache and nauseous. I actually checked myself into the ER at the end of my shift yesterday because the dizziness wouldn't go away. They could not fine anything wrong. In looking at my labs my blood sugar level was only 80. I know that's considered normal, but I find it odd because I had just eaten about an hr before that level was checked. I am now wondering if I am becoming hypoglycemic towards the end of my shift. I did have a miscarriage on May 16 at 12 weeks. During that time if I didn't eat something every 2 hours I was feeling weak and nauseous. I know I'm not pregnant as they checked that in my labs yesterday. Anyone else have this issue?? I plan on following up with my doctor but I'm wondering if night shift is screwing with my body. Thanks :)

I was aware that night shift was a possibility, however I was told I would be put on a 10-10 shift and at last minute was put on night. I'm trying to go at this with a good attitude and trying to learn. Basically I ask why on the things that seem like "short cuts" and get the response that nights move quicker and we do things different. I just don't want to shortcut and lose my license I worked so hard for. I had a different preceptor last night who let me do my own thing and just kinda sat back until I asked on things I wasn't sure on. I felt so much more at ease and she told me I did a great job. I know it will take some adjusting, I just feel like things are literally night and day.

So I'm working in a very busy ER. I started in Feb on Dayshift for orientation and have now been put on nights for my permanent shift. I HATE it!! I enjoyed the job on day shift but hate it on nights. The people are so rude. I had my first night last week and I felt like everything I did was wrong with my preceptor. Like on days I was told to put Pepcid in a 50cc bag of NS and run it over a few minutes, instead of standing there and pushing it over 5 minutes, and my night preceptor rolled her eyes at me when I did it. Then I went to find a pump to hang my levaquin and I got told "this isn't how we do it on nights. Unless its Azithromycin or comes from pharmacy you just eyeball it." I just feel like everything I'm doing is wrong now. They don't help each other out or anything. Its seriously making me hate going into work. My fiance works days and I feel like I don't see him for 2-3 days at a time between our schedules. Does it ever get better??

yup I did. I'm in NJ. It took me about 8 months to find a job.

I got a $10,000 sign on for 3 years for the ER. I also get $4,000 in tuition reimbursement a year.

Thank you everyone. I'm so nervous, but excited at the same time. I know we don't exactly have a cake job and I don't wanna do anything to jeopardize my future little one. I'm nervous about telling work too since I've only been there since Feb but we've been trying for over a year and were beginning to think we were going to need help getting pregnant.

So I started a new job in the ER in Feb. I just found out I'm about 6 weeks pregnant. How is working in the ER pregnant?? Is there anything I shouldn't be around?? I'm excited and scared at the same time,especially since it's a new employer. We've been trying for over a year so we are so happy. Thanks for your help!!

BLS (and BLS instructor) ACLS, PALS, EMT-B, HazMat, Firefighter I, Incident Command 100,200,700,800. I am thinking about doing TNCC next. I am in the process of doing my CCRN course now.