chrisf92262

I never tell anyone online that I am a nurse. I never tell strangers either. I know it can be tempting to diagnose or recommend medications but I don't. It is a real can of worms! Best to refer such questions to the provider. I also carry my own malpractice insurance just in case...

On thing we were taught about acknowledging orders is that "the nurse saw the order and will carry it out." In other words, like signing a check to pay for something. But as mentioned, the work list has taken some of the fear out of acknowledging orders.

One solution is to use the "Phase of Care" feature. Orders are written for specific areas and procedures. The orders are placed in the "Signed and Held" tab on the order screen. The orders are release when the patient arrives on the unit. Most nurses pick this up fast. Occasionally, someone releases the wrong order set and that created chaos. I think our facility was not planning to use "Phase of Care" but I am glad decided to use it. We taught staff to acknowledge orders right away (although by policy they have 4 hours). This means reviewing them BEFORE releasing them. Invalid orders should be left on hold and brought to the attention of the provider. The "Brain" feature keeps track of things that need doing so acknowledging isn't a problem like it was.

I was a travel nurse for 7 years. I always let the agency arrange housing. Busyness hotels like Extended stay etc. You can use the stipend to pay for it. I found it helpful to see travel nursing as being self employed with the agency as my agent helping me find contracts. Be selective but allow yourself to accept some challenges. Good Luck and safe travels.

This is a great thread....I think hospitals brought the problem on themselves by the way they treat their people. Who wants to work in a place where the manager is ready to pounce on you at any little mistake you make?? Or has rundown rooms and broken beds and equipment?? And dont even get me started about ratios!!! Hospitals need to wake up and realize that any other business run as they are would be out of business!! If people had an option, they would go elsewhere! And I have been in hospitals that have no problem with funding...they still treated nurses like a commodity..if someone got tired of being mistreated and quite, they would be replaced with a traveler.....I was that traveler!! And if they asked me to extend and i said no do you think they cared?? NOPE! They just ordered another traveler to replace me...and they were not even interested in why I wasn't extending.. I hate to think thats the attitude prevelant in nursing but I think it is. I have to say, I worked in places with great ratios, reasonable rules about on-call, call back and overtime. As well as places that remodel and fix the beds. Old beds are ok if they WORK!! well managed hospitals are a joy to work in. Hmm i wanted to keep this short, but i just cant..its such a HUGE multilayered issue.