AlwaysMovingUp

Thanks for all the replies--more welcome of course. The main issue is really whether or not I will be reported to the board. Like, I can think of NOTHING I have done that would result in me needing to be reported to the board--there was one time when I accidentally ran an IV infusion a bit too quickly and his line blew....it was on a stable teenage patient and the Peripheral IV was about to fall out anyway, as we later found out per another RN's report that she had had trouble with it too...but the patient suffered no harm whatsoever..... his parents weren't even at the bedside and he had another P. IV already inserted...(I ran it at the rate ml/hour that the pharmacy had told me to) ....not to discredit the potential severity by any means--I mean, this was like....a month ago and I never ever heard a thing about it ever again....I can think of NOTHING I have done...seriously...NOTHING. Like, my preceptor and I would check off meds together, and sometimes she and I would catch each other's mistakes, like, oops, I meant to pull this PO antibiotic out of the fridge, NOT that one--oops-- but nothing ever ever ever got to the patient, EVER. I feel a little bit better after reading that, but like--most of the issues I had trouble with were with time management (EVERY NEW RN has issues with this from what I hear!!!!) and charting (and I was very up front, in a professional manner, about my injury and the steps I was taking to correct it---and then boom,I was let go.). My doctor says I need to call an attorney.....

thanks for your reply and support...i feel the same way re:the feedback from preceptor and management...in fact that was supposed to be occurring all along but they, in their total chaotic and disorganized state, dropped the ball......despite my repeated attempts to find out where I stood with orientation. i am feeling really down right now. part of me over the past few days has been like "well yea who needs them?!?!? i will go work somewhere else." part of me is feeling really...just...so down on myself. like i'm a terrible nurse, even though I know that I haven't done a thing that would merit being reported to the board of nursing for my state. i just thought that peer reviews were something that only happened if someone was being reported to the board and not that occurred if "hey, the hospital has some concerns and we would like to help you address these concerns and be the best nurse possible..." etc. anyone know?

Hi all, I need some serious advice. I was/am on orientation at a well respected teaching hospital; I have been let go without a definite reason other than "you have failed to make progress with orientation thus far." I have also been told that I will be, upon finding out for sure if I am terminated or not, meeting with a peer review committee. I've only ever heard of peer review committees in terms of "you've done this, this and this wrong, shame on you," and other than the typical orientation things that new grads do --I've committee ZERO errors of comission/omission resulting in patient harm- I can think of nothing. Does this mean that my hospital is considering reporting me to the Board? I have committed no medication errors, I have no known complaints against me from patients or fellow employees (other than my preceptor, who would be frustrated with me at times, which is normal from what I hear about the preceptor/orientee relationship) and other than having trouble with some charting--forgetting to chart somethings and my preceptor catching it, etc-- that's it. I really DO NOT know what to do. My hospital has given me no solid reasons as to why I am possibly being let go, other than "failure to progress with orientation." The person who tenatively fired me this past week told me I had done things like failed to attend a class (I had attended, but my badge wouldn't work, so I had to get a piece of paper with signatures verifying my attendance--I have copies of it). On top of all this stuff going on at work, I have an injury I am about to have surgically corrected (a very minor issue which will be fixed in the outpatient setting with a very short recovery time and virtually no short term or long term affects), and I am going through a marital change. I've been professionally upfront about these issues, and I feel like the hospital staff (management, education) has basically ripped a rug out from underneath me. I'm a total nervous wreck. I know I will learn from my mistakes, as any growing human being does....I know I am for sure not perfect in any capacity, including being a new RN in orientation, and I know I make mistakes in my life every day........but this just ....throws me for a loop. I guess, even though I know I haven't *done* or *failed to do* anything, I am worried about being reported to the board and losing my very new, very hard earned license.

Hi all, I have a quick question. 6 years ago I had a (brief) warrant out for my arrest when I missed a court date for a minor traffic violation (my wheels spun out, made a loud noise, and I got a "noise violation" ticket for it). I got the warrant for my arrest because I sent the Defensive Driving request into the state, but the denial didn't get back in time, got it the very next day after my court date-- they wouldn't let me take it based on a technicality.That same day I went to the court house, talked to the judge, got the warrant dropped immediately (so I never got arrested), and managed to be allowed to take defensive driving. I did so, and the issue was closed. The dean of our nursing school told me at the time that issues related to "minor traffic offenses" need not be disclosed. She told me that ANYTHING related to the incident, including the warrant, need not be disclosed. My question is this: now that I have sent in my criminal background stuff, my finger print card, my pictures, my application to be allowed to test, and my fees- the criminal back ground check twice now, I believe (once before my clinical classes started, and once about 120 days before I actually graduated) will the Board of nurse examiners deny me on that warrant for my arrest SIX years ago over a minor traffic offense, which not even related to drugs or alcohol? Ugh. I am just nervous. I worked my rear off during school, and I keep worrying about small things messing it up. Someone please ease my mind =) Thanks

thanks! :) I appreciate your (and others') responses so very much :)

I will be starting my first job as a GN/RN in about a month....it isn't one of those "orientation" things that many hospitals due that start in Jan. or June (where tons of new nurses all start at one time and go through it together). I know my orientation, according to the HR person, will be AT LEAST 12 weeks...more than likely, more. What kind of things should I expect from an orientation? What kind of questions should I ask? I survived nursing school and all the associated insanity--but the new test is the real world, and I'm a bit freaked out!!!! Any advice/comments/suggestions would be great. :)

Hi all :) I recently ...VERY recently graduated....I start a night time position in about a month. While I am for sure a night time person, I am a bit nervous because I tend to have energy until around 3-4am, then I crash. I've read the "no coffee after 3am," "drink ice water," and all that kind of stuff hints in a similar thread found in this forum...and the hints for staying healthy while actually working night shift are great, but I was curious.... Anyways to prepare myself -- mentally, physically, emotionally-- for getting on night shift before I actually start it? Thanks so much! :)

:cry:I'm graduating from nursing school soon. I've had two interviews at a major teaching hospital; one was the general HR interview, and the second was an interview with the actual unit I'd be working on. I didn't get it. The HR person called and said I didn't get it because "I asked too many questions" and they thought I was "too assertive." What is that supposed to mean? They (the people interviewing me) kept asking me "So...do you have any more questions?" And they even asked that several times! I didn't ask anything crazy, just the standard stuff that our instructors have been telling us to ask during interviews. I am (supposedly) up for a few other positions, but the last I heard anything from this HR person was two weeks ago almost. The HR person told me to call them in two days if I hadn't been contacted...so I did. And that was over a week and a half ago. So I called again, one week later from the first message I left. Both times I left a polite, friendly message with my contact info. Still have heard nada. I know that things have been crazy, and HR people often leave work early on Fridays-- with Mardi Gras, and the Super Bowl, the person may have just been gone out of town. I don't know what to think. This HR person liked me a lot and gave me lots of positive feedback. When they called to tell me that I didn't get the position I had interviewed for, they said "But, I still think you are a great fit for _________ hospital, and I am looking into other units for you." I don't really know what to think. Is there something wrong with me? I'm not really good at handling rejection, but I've never had to be when it came to jobs-- I've almost always gotten whatever job I interviewed for! I thought when I was done with nursing school, hospitals would be jumping all over me! I've hardly heard from anyone I've applied to.....I have an excellent resume, good grades, lots of community service, great recommendation letters from instructors and peers....I always try to do my best, I work hard, and I show up. I show up on time, and do the job right the first time. I don't have any previous places of employment where I have left on bad terms, rather the contrary-- at any of my previous (non-nursing) jobs, I would be welcome back for employment as I left on good terms. is this normal? Is there something wrong with me? I am starting to wonder why I even went into nursing. Something must seriously be wrong with me.

Thank you!!! I will be sure to use this advice.

Hi all, I am starting my management clinicals next week, and to be honest, I'm a bit worried about them. I don't know what to expect. I know we start the first week or two having only one to two patients, and by the end of the course we will have four to five patients. In the past we have always gone and picked out our patients ahead of time, then did a big patient work-up on them. Now we just show up to the hospital (like real nurses!) , get with our preceptor, and get to work. I thought that I would welcome this class, because it meant not having to do hours and hours of paperwork (and getting no sleep), but I'm really nervous about it...because I'll be showing up, basically blind, without knowing ahead of time what meds my patients will be taking, what they are admitted for, and so forth. I am on a general medical surgical unit, so that doesn't really narrow it down, either. How do I do this?

Honestly, this is a good learning experience for you I'MIV. When you become an RN, there will be other people (patients, fellow nurses, doctors, etc) who do or say something rude, and you have to take it in stride. Of course, it is always easier said than done--but now that you have taken a day or two to chill, reflect on the experience. While your instructor probably should have let you see the piece of paper for that assignment, it may not be in your nursing school's handbook of rules and regulations that students have the right to see their instructor's comments in full disclosure. Use this as a learning experience.

Hi all! I desperately need a nursing leader for a project my class is working on. Basically, this nursing leader (male or female, black white, purple or green--I don't care!) should either be the Dean of a college/school of nursing, hold a political office/chair, or write for a nursing journal. I have to send them a quick question list, where questions about their influences, career, degree, experiences, etc will be asked. It is a short question list. I need it to be returned to me by Jan. 10th at the very latest via email. I know the holidays are coming up very quickly, so I wanted to post this on here to see if any nursing leaders reading this might be interested. Also, the last thing--I have to have their name, position, and where they work-- such as Susan G. Smith, DON, Hospital X--because this person is a "public figure." I also need a copy of their resume and cover list. If this is you, please help....you can private message me so we can exchange info.....such as my name, my school, etc. Thanks. A Soon-To-Be-RN.

Interesting, we just had a big discussion on this in my LAST NURSING CLASS EVER (yay!). The instructor, who has 10 years of experience as a nurse attorney, said if you are ever reported to the BON, you should get a nurse attorney to represent you ASAP. Also, before the situation ever occurs-- you should get your own private malpractice insurance. Make sure it covers legal representation (heaven forbid you ever actually need it) because some policies don't...and legal representation when you are called to the BON or to court is expensive! But whatever you get should FOR SURE have legal representation covered in your policy....hospitals have their own malpractice insurance and their own attorneys, but they typically represent the interests of the hospital, not the RN--and this nurse attorney was telling our class that some hospitals have turned around and sued the RN for the money that they had to pay to the patient(s) due to the RN's actions or lack of action. Be advised accordingly...and no matter what...COVER YOURSELF!

A lot of people in my generation (I am in my twenties) are total wimps. I think this is for a plethora of reasons, one of which is "bad parenting." While it is true that even the best "on-top-of-things" parents can't force their adult children to behave once they are adults.....for children who are still young enough to be under their parents' wings, I think I've seen enough. Some parents let their children walk ALL OVER THEM without any kind of punishment for it. Some parents (not all!) let their children curse at them, throw things in the grocery store, hit/kick/pinch....it goes on and on...all the while, the parent stands there and smiles weakly and doesn't hold the child accountable for their actions, such as "when we get home, you are going to your room and you may not watch TV today, because of the way you are behaving right now." No wonder so many people get into their teenage and adult years and don't really understand what "being held accountable for their actions" means. GRRRRRRR. I swear...my two puppies are better behaved than half of the children I encounter when I am out and about.....ok, I'm off my soap box now.

I started to read this forum because I was intrigued by the title...and I kept reading...the occasional funny remarks made me chuckle....which I definetly needed....I am graduating early next year and I'm already overwhelmed! So thanks for the humor, even if it wasn't intended to be humorous....it helped. PS- People tell me I already "act" like a nurse...because I'm assertive and don't hesitate to speak my mind or stand up for others/what is right. I suppose this is a good thing...