sam1998

Thanks for the advice everyone! I will have to try some of those other ideas (melatonin, etc). I bought some tea that is supposed to help make you sleepy, however I don't like tea much and this stuff smelled awful to me... I couldn't even bring myself to taste it. Sigh. I am working to try to get on straight nights... probably won't happen for awhile, but maybe something will open up. It's not an option to do a stretch of days, and then a stretch of nights... those of us who are day/night just sort of are filled in where we're needed I think. And switching jobs isn't an option either... there is no nursing shortage whatsoever in the area I live (in fact, no hospitals are hiring). Plus, I love the hospital I'm at... like the unit too. Rotating is just too much! It's easier for me to sleep after my night shifts, so I requested more nights than days. Which has worked great - until I switch to day shifts. Ugh. I am supposed to work this morning (after a stretch of nights) as I type this. My alarm goes off in 2 hours. I am exhausted but yet cannot sleep. My poor body doesn't know what it's supposed to do anymore!! I've been feeling sick, depressed, etc. from this rotating business. It's messed me up much more than I thought it would. I am just PRAYING for the day I get switched to straight nights, so I can finally be on a regular schedule. Does anyone else think that evening/night rotation would be easier than day/night? Why is it that evening/night is not used instead? It seems to me it would be at least a little easier. Does anyone know the answer to that? I've been curious for awhile. Sorry if I'm rambling... I've been up for almost 24 hrs.

I saw that article as well, and was glad to see the issue getting some public attention, and that they put some real faces to it instead of just talking about it. Even last year, it was tough for many people (including myself) to get jobs (hospital jobs, at least), and the teachers at my school never addressed that... they just assured us that if we were having trouble finding a job, that in the fall things would pick up... unfortunately, that's when the layoffs and hiring freezes began. Oh, and I also remembering one of them saying in May, before graduation, that "everyone that wants a job now has one already," which was, I'm sorry, a big lie. Truth is, quite a few of us had been searching since winter/spring, and hadn't gotten anything yet. The healthcare industry downturn was beginning, but didn't hit full force till a few months later. There was an elephant in the room that my teachers were refusing to discuss, but now they won't have a choice because the main subject of the article graduated with me. I really wish that our instructors had been more honest with us last year, and had been willing to discuss the difficulties their students were having. It wasn't their fault we couldn't find jobs, but it would have been nice if they had acknowledged that fact.

I am at my first nursing position, on day/night rotation, 8 hr shifts, 8 days a pay period. Days are the majority of my schedule. However, recently I've been flip-flopping fairly frequently, and it's starting to take its toll on me. It's always been difficult for me to fall asleep at night, and it's gotten much worse since I've started working more nights, and then switching to days. After my night shifts, it's pretty easy for me to sleep during the day, and I would eventually like to get a straight night schedule. However, being low on the seniority list means this may not happen for awhile. I've gotten desperate and tried sleeping pills (I know, not a good idea), a herbal mouth spray, relaxation exercises, and lavender scented balms and lotions to try to help this. Sometimes these work, sometimes they don't. I'm at a loss as to what to do to get more than 5 hours of sleep before my day shifts. I'm not enjoying my job as much because of this. I know if would be ideal to get away from rotating, but that is not feasible at the moment. Does anyone have any advice to offer?? I'm open to trying anything to help me fall asleep at night!!

All of our joint replacement patients are generally discharged on POD 3.

I agree, I worked with dementia residents in a LTC setting for years, and at the facility there is a 12-room, all-male unit devoted to residents with such behaviors, as well as sexually inapproprate behaviors toward females. That way, they are separated from more vulnerable residents and are monitored more closely. Sure, altercations occurred, but nothing drastic in the years I worked there. Honestly, I took being hit or kicked at times as part of the job. Sometimes there's nothing you can do to prevent certain things from occurring, you just have to do the best you can and keep documentation. Write incident reports and help ensure behaviors are documented so physicians are aware and can make changes in medications if necessary. Alzheimer's-affected adults with unpredictable, potentially dangerous behaviors should ideally be in a specialized facility... although sadly, some of them don't end up in the nicest places due to financial restrictions. The place I worked accepts many residents that other facilities said they would not, due to behaviors. It has an activity staff who helps provide diversion for residents. However, it's a private facility that is quite expensive and doesn't accept Medicare, restricting many people. As the aging population grows in this country, some changes are going to have to be made so increasing number of people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia can afford to get the safe, quality care they deserve.

They were hired this past spring/summer, as new grads.

North Memorial laid off a bunch of RNs yesterday, including some of my nursing school friends... last to be hired, first to go. I feel so badly for them, some had worked there for years prior in other positions so they would get hired as RNs once done with school. I feel incredibly fortunate to still have a job (for now), and promised myself to never complain about it again. At least I have one.

Yikes! 250 is a lot. I hope none of my friends who got jobs there are affected. Thanksgiving is my holiday this year, and I got a mandatory LOA for tonight, which I figured would happen anyways. No double time stinks, but at least I still have a job. I fear for the upcoming grads in December and May...

Putmetosleep, I am also in Minnesota, at a facility who asked staff to voluntarily reduce FTE... maybe we are at the same hospital? I am a little nervous about what may be to come, particularly since I am a recent hire. It's a scary thought to realize my job is not much more secure than those in other industries. I'm trying my best to stay positive, but the idea of a layoff has been hanging over my head.

Wow, thanks for the info. The hospital I work at is taking the measures they can to help with staffing, I can only hope that they help the situation. Grateful4Blessings, may I ask if you are a nurse, or have another role at a hospital here in the Twin Cities? Is North laying off RNs, or other positions?

I work at a large twin cities area hospital, and was hired over the summer. They are now in a hiring freeze, and I know other hospitals here are as well. There are so many nurses that the MNA and hospital is asking if people want to voluntarily reduce their hours, and there are mandatory and staffing LOAs right and left. The current census is nowhere near what is was predicted to be when I was hired. I am one of the newest nurses at my hospital, and am concerned about job security!! How protected am I by the union? My worry is that if the current measures being taken to reduce the number of staff don't work, that layoffs are going to happen. And since I at the bottom of the seniority list, that I would be one of the first to go. Is anyone else going through the same thing at their facility? Is this a valid concern? Or am I overreacting?

I work on an ortho/med-surg unit (am still in orientation), and we have 3-4 pts during the day or evening shifts, and 5-6 during the night shift. Most days there is also a "resource nurse," who doesn't have an assignment but helps the other nurses. During the day and evening, it is 1 CNA to 2-3 nurses, and during the night it's just 1 for the typically 3 nurses on the floor. Luckily, we have ceiling lifts in each room, for patients who are unable to bear any weight, which saves time and our backs. I feel even more fortunate now to have a managable nurse-patient ratio. I really feel for those of you who have 10 pts! That would be incredibly hard, I can't imagine how busy that must be. Some days I have a tough time with 3-4. I can't imagine having so many, in the midst of getting surgicals and doing discharges.

I took my exam on Thursday the 5th, had only 75 questions and found out I PASSED yesterday morning! MN is a fast results state, thankfully. I'm so relieved and excited!! Congratulations to all who have passed, and best of luck to those who are taking the exam later this month!

I took my test this afternoon (June 5th), and it shut off at 75 questions. Hoping that's a good sign... I didn't feel that the last ones were too easy, but hard to say for sure. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight - I'll get my results in the morning!

Hello everyone, I am starting to feel the anxiety coming on, but know I'm not the only one :wink2:. I take my NCLEX on Thursday the 5th... and will get my results on Friday (my birthday - the best present will be to find out I passed!!!). I took the Drexel review course, which was OK but not great, and also have the Kaplan and Saunders books. I'm going to keep reviewing through tomorrow, and then just have faith. Best of luck to all who are taking it soon as well!