beautifulbooks

Aloha! Boy can I relate! Please don't give up. I have done a lot of jobs, am usually a very quick study and adapt to new environments easily. I graduated from nursing school 2 years ago and barely made it through my first year. Now I am 40 yrs old and happy -- tired but happy. The first year was so ugly, stressful, sad, frustrating I thought I could never do it. Now I can't imagine NOT doing it. Stand up for yourself, ask questions, read and learn everything you can and try to find a positive, smart, experienced nurse who will take you under his/her wing for guidance and as a resource. I floated for several months to the ICU and now, in the ER, when I need help I know several people I can always call for answers. I am kind of fried today and need to sign off to enjoy my day's plans. Please keep my email addy and feel free to send a note if you would like. I know it is so hard as a new nurse. I currently work in the ER and want to help new nurses get through those tough times. Stay in touch. email: beautifulbooks at hotmail.com Kristin in Hawaii

AAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH.... I can't even stand to read through all the posts. Some of you are so sucked into them vs us mentality. Can't we all just realize that it can really be awful in each department and cut each other some slack? Of course there are those that are jerks and cause delays for selfish reasons -- I think most don't, however. Thankfully I worked on all the units as a float nurse before settling into the ER. On the floors I experienced much more delay about moving a pt from one floor unit to another because the current nurse did not want to open up one of her own beds so close to end of shift..... or hadn't had time to change that darned PICC dressing on the transfer pt which was way past it's schedule change time and you don't want to leave that for the new nurse. For all the usual reasons. I also understand the feeling of being understaffed on the floor. It sucks --- which is why I stopped working there. Too stressful...... and this coming from an ER nurse in an understaffed ER :trout: Now, in the ER, I know that most nurses here NEVER delay transport to floor for that reason -- It is almost always because they are just so slammed with patient care, ambulances coming in, getting deceased pts the priest/minister their family wants while balancing the need to get the person bagged for the morgue, and "dammit-how-can-I-empty-this-bed-for-the-cardiac-pt medics-are-waiting-with-on-the-other-side-of-the-curtain" running through my head. No transporter available or I have to go with the pt. because of need for cardiac monitoring. Sometimes I have an admitted pt, with an assigned bed and I am so busy with other pts I simply don't have time to update paperwork and make photocopies of the chart so the pt. can go -- sometimes it is only because your relief has shown up at change of shift and assumed care on the rest of your pts that now allows you to wrap up everything for the admitted pt. and I can take them up to the floor. And yes, I have felt that way on the floors --- just not nearly as often. There the delay was usually because of the ridiculous amount of paperwork associated with getting a new admission - therefore there is a tendancy to want to "not have an empty bed". Anyhow, please, please, please let's try to give each other a break and believe that most nurses are working their asses off to get the job done and don't take stuff so personally or as "1 dept against another". Another thing I have found is that if I have the opportunity to have a face to face conversation with the receiving nurse, the whole thing goes much better -- wanting to explore video phone useage for report -- Mahalo, Kristin in Hawaii

Hi, I guess I am surprised nobody addressed what I see as an issue that new nurses should be aware of. When you are working side by side with a good doctor - compassion, adrenaline, all this good "stuff" going on it is so easy for that to feel like you have "met your match" and to get the same feedback from them. Thankfully, have been there, done that and didn't have an affair == we got past that danger point and now work very well together as respected friends in the ER. If both of us were single, probably would have dated but would it have been a good idea? NO.... Would I date a doctor I don't work with every week? Of course... Just like I will date a carpenter, firefighter, etcetera. Is there a special draw because the person "understands" you and what makes you tick? Sure. Bottom line: I would not suggest dating someone who works in your same department. Or is married. Anything/one else, MD or not, is fair game. FWIW Kristin in Hawaii

I work in the ER and will likely never buy anything else unless they stopped making them. I also bought the ones with no holes on top, with side vents. Watch out for the tendancy for the toe of the shoe to "grab" the floor when you are first getting used to them. No more foot pain at all!!!!!!! Kristin in Hawaii