Dr. Scully

Hope it went well for you, jetta. I know working those darn nightime l2 hr shifts are "killers"...! The other nurses' posts are all good advice , for sure! I did the "smoking" thing, and got hooked...not good!! When I got sleepy; I would tell my fellow co-workers that I was heading out for a quick smoke. Usually, the nicotine and "cold" air in the winter was enough to wake me up..but, I would not recommend it. ha! All I can add is that it takes a long time for our bodies to try to adjust to working nights instead of days. I know the first time I worked nights was when I was out of nursing school about a year; then it was straight 8 hrs shifts...uck! My son was little, so I was a zombie for about a year. I would have phone conversations w/ people and swear I didn't...hehe. The l2 hr shifts were better, at least I tried to schedule 2 in a row as much as possible. I would go home, and go straight to bed as much as possible. Tried to sleep till about 3pm or so, or longer if no one bothered me, or if I did not have something to do. Just hang in there, and try to stay busy or talk to your co-workers a lot. I have even walked the halls for room checks every hour on the hour. ha! On your days off, try to sleep till noon or so; just to keep yourself on some kind of a schedule. Don't try to stay up all day and sleep that night. I wound up staying up later each night, when I was off to stay on "schedule". Take care, Pamela :)

I defintely agree w/ ERhack when she said "it was simple"... Each and every day we are faced w/ major decisions and minor decisions. I know that I have had my share of worries over what is right for the patients, and what is NOT right. We have all had to work w/ bad nurses...the ones where you knew they were doing things wrong, and not by the book. I tried to confront the nurse involved in a non-threatening way about what they did; and made it known that I would be there if they needed my help or had any questions. Of course, this did not always work, and I have had to go to the nurse manager or higher when necessary. I have worked with wonderful LPNs that knew so much more than I when I began nursing, and taught me so many things. AS RNs; we must be responsible for the staff we work with, and that means giving the best care to our patients. I always wanted to go home at the end of my shift and Know that I did all that I could to help and care for people in my care. I may have been upset, frustrated, angry, etc.; but....."what mattered most where the good things I did during the shift." :)

[/b]Hello, everyone...funny stories for sure!! I started out working med-surg and urology, and man...you see just about everything. I had a patient similar to DNRme; he was "vacuming" the house while his wifewas at the store. He just attached the suction hose to his "member" and thought he'd get some jollies. Well, too much suction, and he ended up in ER, and on our floor. He had major abrasions and some nerve damage from that one! ha! Another one was when we admitted the young sexy dancer in the ER. He worked for a club for women who want to watch men dance. He had gotten too hot on stage, and passed out. When the EMTs brought him in, we all noticed the gigantic "bulge" underneath those leather pants. MY oh my! Of course, we had to examine him, and take off his clothing. Attached to his crotch area by duct tape was a very large "zucchini"....!!! When he finally woke up and was able to talk; he was totally embarrassed by the zucchini lying on his bedside table!!

I truly appreciate the post, Tweety. I will make it a point to only post to the subject; not the person. I know how it is to have one's feelings hurt; and I feel that way now. I think I will just lay low now, and post when I have more positive things to say. Yes, I imagine most of us could write a "book" on our experiences....good, bad, and the ugly...ha! Mine title would be "Behind the Curtain"...ha. You take care, and thanks for making me feel a bit better.

Tweety, I assume that was an apology. I am sorry that I even posted a reply to ferfer. I am not a mean and hateful person. I guess I thought that if she was unhappy, she should re-evaluate her situation. I have apologized to her, and wish her well. I do know the necessity of nurses "taking care of each other" all too well. It seems w/ all of the "politics" that we face in our careers and job situations; it is harder to do our "jobs" fully. I have dealt w/ so many of my fellow co-workers that need to "lend a hand" to others. Drowning in our careers and suffering "burn out" could be prevented. I apologize to you also, Tweety. I am sure sorry that I ruffled so many "feathers" out there.

Point taken, gwenith!! I do think others need to read this also. Thank you.

Well, well...thanx for the "feedback"! I think I need to respond to a few of the ones here, as everyone "should have a chance to whine and express having a bad day"....!! Ferfer; I read your post, thank you, and you did not say you "loved nursing" more than anything. Maybe, if I would have read that part; I would not have been so "harsh and abrasive" (3rd shift guy). We all need good feedback and I was NOT taking anything out on you from my situation. I always was the nurse who never treated new grads like "s--t" and was the one who had the patience to train them and give them confidence. I sure do not appreciate the comment from ornnlori who typecast me as one nurse who practiced "eating their young syndrome". I know that so many of you "OR nurses" think you are sso much better than the hard working staff nurses. Yea, you are right up there w/ the docs right? We take care of the patients from the moment you "drop" them off on our floors; and give them the care to get well. I was just stating a fact about the new nursing schools way of "training" the baby RNs. It has become common practice for new grads to be thrown to the staff nurses (not all kind, either) to finish their "clinical skills". Thanks to Earle 58 for letting others know my profile. I am not ashamed of my illness. It has nothing to do w/ my years of nursing. I always put my feelings aside; and put on a "happy face" for my fellow nurses and patients. I guess I will "bite the bullett" and say that I am sorry that you took my post so badly. From reading your post, ferfer; I only thought that you were trying to decide if nursing was worth the effort w/ your family. So many nurses go into the profession, only to find out that it is hard and get "burnout" all too fast. I said to "keep on truckin'" to tell you to go for it; if you want it bad enough. I know that I would have not done anything differently in my career, and am proud to know that I hung on till things got bad w/ other situations in my life. So, anyway, ferfer, please accept my apologies for my post. Maybe ornnlori and 3rd shift guy should apologize to me. I truly hope you hang in and complete your schooling. I hope that you find a "kind" and "understanding staff nurse to help you further in your career.

dear ferfer, whining sure ain't going to make it any easier to complete your schooling!! good grief! why did you want to be a nurse in the first place? if it is for the right reasons.....then just "bite the bullet" and keep on "truckin"...!! sure we all had to take a lot of s--t from the instructors and others. it is part of the "game" girl. i raised my little son who was only about 2 yrs old during my j3 year diploma school, it was tough, but, i knew i had to make a better life for him and me. if your fiance cannot do without you now....how is he going to deal with your 12 hour shifts or whatever your job may be? nursing school sure ain't what it used to be...now, the new grads come fresh on the floor and have to be "taught" most of the "hands on" nursing by the staff nurses. nursing school gives you the basics anymore, and that is wrong. we had clinicals every am at 0630 to 10:30, and then went to college, and then went to our nursing classes in the afternoons. at least we were ready to go on the floor as nurses ready to work. all of the other responses for you have been to "hang in there". i think you need to do a reality check now, before you get into a career you hate. undefinedundefined

Laughing so hard that I may "pass the ole' gas"...lol!!!! I am in the mid fourties myself, and it is an emabarrassing part of life. Laughing too hard, bending down to pick up something, etc. can cause the dreaded gas to pass. Some are "silent; but violent"....some are loud and rude. I guess I should see about getting "Beano" also. I always heard that the "smeller is the feller"; if you get my point....hahahaha!!! Even nurses have to share aboutour less than "perfect" body functions.

Hi, everyone!! I am new to the forums; but, found your discussion interesting. I have been on depression medicine and anti-anxiety meds for a long time. I am currently on Lexapro 20mg daily. It really seems to help my depression. I feel that the depression one experiences causes them to be "numb" and in a "zombie" state. YOu do not seem to care about things you enjoy, your friends, etc. I could not face my job anymore, and could not "put on my happy face" for people. Depression is a horrible illness; and one that people need to take seriously.