ahsweeney

You have 4 yrs of med-surg experience - use that to your benefit. There are tons of other positions that you can investigate and your nursing experience is key. There are other departments within the facility. Go talk to HR and see what is available. Talk to other nurses in other departments that you are curious about. Look into research, health coach, insurance, parish nursing, flight/trauma, forensics, education,legal consult, occupational health. I worked on a med/surg floor for 2 yrs and transferred off that floor as fast as I could down to PACU. I loved that department and was there for 8 yrs until we adopted our 2nd baby. I have gone back to nursing and am at an in-patient hospice center. If things aren't a good fit - move on ..... there are so many options. I wish you luck.

What a beautiful article. I work in an in-patient hospice center. I am constantly surprised as to how much I love working there. My goal is to not only give my patients care and peace, but also support the families. I have been privileged to support these families in the most difficult and intimate time they have had to go through.

Congrats on your new position. I have been PRN at an inpatient Hospice for a year now, and have had to bounce back and forth between all three shifts. I try to take a nap around 9pm for about 30 mins. It gives me a short time to rest and get my head ready for work (the kids are in bed at that point). After the nap, I get up take a shower and go to work.... just like I would if I was working 7a - 3p. Oh, don't forget the caffeine!!!!

I work at an acute care hospice facility, so my situation will be different from those out in the field. We are a 16-bed inpatient center and we utlilize LPNs. There is always an RN on also to pronounce. The LPNs do everything except pronounce.

You need to remember that the nursing boards test for minimum competency. There were students in my class (way back in '94) who took ACLS thinking it would help them with the boards. NOPE!!! If you paid attention in class and can use some common sense, you should do fine. I took the Kaplan review class, and would come home in tears thinking I was the biggest dope in the world. I pass my first time. Take it slow and don't read into the questions what isn't there!!!

OK - here come my general questions. I live in GA and my youngest just started kindergarten. I left the hospital when she was born, so haven't worked in a (paid) professional capacity in 5 yrs. I've volunteered to be the nurse for the cub scout camp, I'm the 'health officer' for our cub scout pack, and have been the 'go-to' person at our church's VBS sessions. I am now ready to start back - doing something. I need something that will allow me to have school vacations off, so I've been looking into school nursing. At our elementary school the clinic is run by a regular staff member - not a nurse - who has taken a 1 day training seminar At the end of last year's school year, I applied to the county as a 'clinic sub'. I figured that would get my foot in the door, get familiar with the administration and the system. During my interview (with the assistant principal and the Cluster Nurse) I found out that the Cluster Nurse IS THE ONLY NURSE for the whole cluster - 1 high school, 2 middle schools and 4 or 5 elementary schools!!! I about choked!!! I thought she managed a staff of 3 or 4 other nurses!! Is this normal or is each state/school district different? YIKES! No wonder there is such a huge turn-over with school nurses.

I worked a few years back with a complete jerk in the PACU. We were on call together on Thanksgiving evening. A head bleed was in the OR. "Mr Wonderful" went back into the OR, as the surgery was starting to ask the surgeon just how long this case would take. When the doc told him "a couple-a, three hours", he left me alone in the PACU stating that he was going home to have Thanksgiving with his wife. I told him I did not agree with his leaving. He looked at me and left. About 1 hr later, I get a call from the OR that they were closing the patient - there was not much that could be done for the patient. I called "Mr. Wonderful" at home, on his cell. He did not return my calls. I kept calling him back and each message I left on his answering machine was getting more and more frustrated - and my language deteriorated - terribly!! Thankfully the CRNA that brought the patient in to me stayed with me so I wouldn't have to recover this guy alone. I was so furious that I typed up a letter explaining the situation and left it in the OR manager's box. Do you know that "Mr Wonderful" brought in a tape of my voice mail message (the last one - not the previous ones)- and I got in trouble -not him for leaving the building and not being available when on call. I was dumbfounded and told the OR manager so. There are all types of dopes that we have to work with. Just document, document, document!!! I may have gotten 'spoken' to about what my message, but my letter was in his personnal file. PS: "Mr. Wonderful" left the nursing profession and is now a minister in North Georgia! I kid you not!!!! I thought he would be too selfish to go into that profession.

Way back when, while on the med-surg floor, I had a patient 'circling the drain'. She needed to go the the unit - quickly. I called her surgeon at 11:15pm (which I didn't think was that bad) and was promptly chewed out by him for having the gall to call him. I had to listen to him complain about the babies who were sick and not sleeping - hence he & wifey weren't sleeping. I very calmly told him "If you don't want these phone calls you should have gone into dermatology. You are her surgeon and she is failing fast. I need orders from you to transfer her to the unit - now!" That brat didn't speak to me for a week!!! The charge nurse almost swallowed her teeth when I said that - but I was ticked.

Quickbeam - I'm with you. I think I've opened my textbooks maybe 3 or 4 times since graduation. I did keep the pathophys. and the maternal child texts. I figure most of what I would need will be available on the internet - and will be more up to date that what I've got. I thought there was a company or someone who would collect them for nursing schools in poor nations. Thanks for the responses.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do with my 15 yr old text books (besides using them to build forts for my kids!). We cleaned out bookcases today and I've got a pile. Was going to throw them out, but didn't know if there was another use for them. Thanks

Thank you ladies for these great ideas. My friend did the presentation and had the kids looking for good veins on another kid's arms. Appreciate your help.

Was wondering if anyone had any ideas for props, activities, etc for a middle-school career day. I have been asked by a neighbor to help her with her talk on nursing. She did this last year, and said the kids were not interested at all. She figured this year she would tell stories about when she worked (she was in L&D, I was in PACU). Other than a couple of stethascopes and a reflex hammer we are lost. Oh yeah, we will be doing this on Friday - 3 days away!!! Thank you in advance for any ideas!!!!!

I chose all colors including white - I get very washed out in white or pale colors. I've had people come up to me and suggest that I get a physical 'cuz I get so pale, especially in the winter. The hospital I used to work at had different colors for each floor. We were Med-Surg. and had to wear teal and white. I loved that combo. I then transfered to PACU, and wore the OR scrubs - which were royal blue.

4. If you are a volunteer, and it is your first day, and you utter the "Q" word, you will have objects thrown at you. happy initiation! - Oh My Word!!! I remember the first time I ever uttered the "Q" word. I was about thrown out of the unit. I was working as a nursing tech in the ER during nursing school. That was the first of many lessons that I learned (many not taught in the classroom,) but were extremely helpful when I started practicing. I've been loving this post. Keep it going!!!!!

How about nursing informatics as an option.

Bright Moon - good luck finding a nursing position that doesn't require standing. My advice would be to wear the most comfortable shoes. For me it was the Birkenstocks - only ones that helped with my plantar facitiis. Also, I was treated by an "orthopedic massage therapist". That man cured my pain in one visit. Yes, I did my "homework" and did my exercises and stretches that he recommended. I belive you can find a massage therapist that specializes in this form of treatment by looking at orthomassage.net. Good luck Alison

Wow, I forgot about SAD. We moved to GA from MA about 11 yrs ago, and I'm now on a serious campaign to get my husband to transfer back up to New England. I did suffer from SAD when up north, but I'm burnt out on the congestion and traffic of the Atlanta suburbs now. There is a dopey contractor who is squeezing in 7 huge houses (starting price $700,000!!!) on a tiny stretch of land between 2 subdivisions. We call them "cluster mansions". What I really can't stand is the heat and humidity in the summer and fall. I "retired" from nursing when my 2 yr old was born. I'll go back when she goes to school. For now, I escape to ME for 3 weeks with the kids to my mother's house. My son was decorating his jack-o-lantern last year in his underwear 'cuz it was still in the 80's. I tell people that we have "reverse hibernation" here in the South. UP North, you hibernate in the winter, here we hibernate in the summer 'cuz of the heat & humidity. Loved your comment about your sister being a "brass-plated b****" I believe that would be me also!!!!!!! Can you put skylights in your family room? The best advice I've read so far has been just get outside for an hour daily. Try to get the natural light - what there is of it!!!! Good luck

When I was in nursing school, I was convinced my cat had "kitty colitis". The vet fit him in his schedule. Ended up the cat had hookworm and the vet told me to leave the nursing books to the patients, and leave the cat to him! :selfbonk: this was after I had called previously in a panic 'cuz I thought the cat had a prolapsed rectum!!! The cat was fine!!! It is amazing the tunnel vision you develop while in school. Just remember that this too will pass - you'll think you'll expire in the process, but it will pass. Oh yeah.....remember the boards test for minimum competency. Don't beat yourselves up trying to take ACLS, etc for the boards. Just keep telling yourself.....the boards test for minimum competency......... You all will do just fine. :icon_hug: :icon_hug:

When I graduated from nursing school, my husband asked me if I was going to leave him for a doc. I quickly said "No way! There are too many docs in my family." I'd have a problem not being on the top of the priority list. I have had a few crushes tho. I agree with a previous post.....if the man is nice, smells good, looks good, etc. I'm interested in them. Have to add a sense of humor (lacking in too many docs.) and great legs. Get to see those wonderful gams working in PACU in the summer when the docs come in to work and check in with us before they change into scrubs.... sigh!

Wow! Glad to read that I'm not the only one who has made a mistake or two. I've always known that, but you always feel so alone when you do make a mistake. One way I have tried to prevent a medication calculation error is to double check my math not only with a co-worker, but with the pharmacy. In the hospital where I used to work, they were very good with me, especially when I would call down there and ask, "Is this the stupid question department?" They would laugh and say "Hi Alison, what do you want to check". I figure that yes, both departments are busy, but we all would rather spend a minute or two to double check than spend hours filling out reports, etc. Besides, their job is to do those calculation day after day after day. They can crunch those numbers with more confidence that I ever could. The previous advice about admitting the error/mistake quickly is the best. For the most part, you won't get into that much trouble.

I friend of mine just moved to the Monroe area and is working at St. Mary's. She loves it there and she felt it was a nicer place to work than Athens General. Same sentiment from another friend who started working at Athens General and found she didn't care for it. Just passing along friend's opinions. Welcome to GA. You should love living in Athens.

My son is 4-1/2 and our ped. had us switch to low-fat milk after age 2. I do agree that children need to watch their food intake. It is so easy to stop and get a burger or order chicken nuggets at a restaurant, that his fat intake is probable much higher than I would like to admit...(mine also!!!). We have made a conscious effort to expose him (and his 13 mos. little sister) to all kinds of foods. He will eat things that other kids his age would stick their noses up at, so I think in all, he's OK. Just gotta give up the burgers!!!!

My first degree was in Human Services which was a social work degree from a program that wasn't accredited. I graduated from there in 1981 and quickly found out that I couldn't live on the salary. I ended up working as a secretary just to make a decent salary. I was laid off in 1991 and applied to an accelerated bsn program in Boston. After 2 yrs and 9 months, I graduated with a BSN. It was the best career move I ever made. I loved social work, but like you was tired of working 2 jobs. I chose nursing as it was a flexible degree. If you don't like the hospital, you can work in outpatient, schools, parish nursing, vna, occupational, legal, etc. I get so frustrated when I talk to other nurses and they complain that they don't like what they are doing, but don't see any options. At one time I felt like an employment counselor for a couple of friends and actually helped one find another avenue in nursing! Hmmm, sounds a little like social work there!!! When I was in social work, I did home care for the elderly and adored it. I have always been drawn to my elderly patients and worked in a nursing home for a short time. Personally, I haven't been disappointed in my career change. Now, I've been disappointed in my shift, my supervisor, the administration, etc. Hey, that happens everywhere. Good luck with your decision

Hey, not to change the direction of this wonderful post, but what about animal farts??? We grew up with an airedale terrier who adored my mother. She was suffering from lower back pain and would lie on the floor after dinner, listen to the news and do her exercises. The dog would lie on the floor with her, usually near her head. Key point here, my mother does NOT have "bathroom humor". My dad and I will fall out over body noises or stupid jokes - not mom! Well, she was doing her sit-ups when the dog "cut one" just as mom was rising up. She sputtered and fell back on the floor choking. I was laughing so hard I had to leave the room before she started swatting me. The poor dog was banished to the back yard for a while! I'll be 90 and still laughing over that!!!

Oh, my word, I have been sitting here just laughing my head off!! What a hoot - or toot!!! I was going to suggest backing off on the diet Coke and drinking more water, but someone beat me to it. When I was in nursing school, I was working as a tech on a med-surg floor. We had a little lady in who was confused as all get out and who was impacted probably up to her eyeballs. Well, I went in to total her I&O's and snuck out a fart. Just about made my eyes water, but I figured I was safe. Darned, but didn't the nurse walk in just then and get all excited about the patient finally passing gas!!! I didn't have the nerve to correct her. I just let her believe what she wanted!!!