SEENIT

My co-workers and that I can wear comfortable shoes and clothing to work

I've been scheduled to work with less than 8 hrs between shifts. Usually working from 11 pm to 7:30 AM then being expected to be back at 3 pm. I'ts not overtime in my facility unless you work 40+ hrs. I think its unsafe and have protested many times.

I remember when I first started nursing I rushed around trying to get everything done, it was overwhelming going from 2 patients in nursong school to 6 or seven as a patient assignment. It took me a while to learn to slow down ,concentrate on the task at hand, do not allow yourself to be distrated. Don't give up, there are many opportunities in Nursing if medical nursing dosen't appeal to you try another area.

I think staff Nurses who behave badly are more apt to be reported on than doctors or administrators. Higher ups tend to intimidate and staff may feel their will be negative consequences if they report abusive behavior. I can think of ne Doctor in my facility who has a reputation of treating staff poorly however he is rarely repremanded because he brings in a lot of income to the hospital.

I see some nurse managers participate in abusive behavior. If a doctor or a patient complains about a nurse the manager attacks the nurse not even allowing them to give their side. A good manager looks for the root of a problem and attempts to change the culture that led to the problem. In my opnion most errors are administrative based on poor administrative decisions such as poor nurse to patient ratios, lack of equipment, poor scheduling, poor communication, etc.

I agree I don't fully understand this unlimited visiting hrs and waitress activity. But it is totally getting out of control. Yesterday I had a patients family bring in pizza, their family member was NPO I was the mean nurse when I asked them to please eat it in the solarium. I'm tired of being on visitor protrol , I have more important things to do.

We also have 24 hr visitation, however after 8 pm visitors must enter through security. Security calls the visitor to the floor to give us a heads up. We are allowed to refuse visitors if they are in a double, unless they can visit in solarium. We can also refuse disrupted visitors. I would inform my manager of visitors behavior, she can talk to the patient and tell them that disruptive visitors will not be allowed . I to have frequently been asked to get food for visitors. If it's the wife or husband of a patient whos been there all day, I don't mind, infact if we have extra meal trays I will offer one to them. But some families take advantage, I had one women who grandchildren helped themselves to ice cream every night. I don't think its the nursing staff responsibility to be on fthe food police. We had locks on the kitchen door, but those were removed (deemed not patient friendly). Now management constantly complains were over our food budjet.

Paper work is unfortunately how most nurses spend the majority of their time. I would look into working at an insurance companies, most medical insurance companies use nurses to help them review claims. Legal nursing also an option. Unfortunately most of these jobs require clinical experience, at least a few years

You did exactly the right thing. Sometimes I think MD's need a refresher course in procedures. These procedures are in place not to give a hard time but to assure patient safety.

I'm a float nurse, I observed that violent patient behavior is handled very differently on medical floors vs psych floors. On the medical floor the nurses are blamed for the patients behavior, "What did the staff do to upset the patient" On the psych floors limits are set and patients are told violent behavior will not be tolerated. Patients with psych historys are admitted to hospital units other than psych. Often time residents are unfamiliar with their medications and do not order medications that would help stabilize their behavior. I've also seen psych patients taken off their meds completely because the doctor feels their behavior is a result of over medication. A show of strength were every available staff member and security come in to back up the patients primary nurse. The primary nurse explains to the patient that they are there to help them, but violent abusive behavior will not be tolerated. You should not blame yourself for the patients behavior. The patient was frustrated about his physical condition and lack of control. This does not make it OK to abuse those who are trying to help hime.

Nurse A is responsible for the error. However a policy should be inplace that prevent nurses preparing medications from disruptions of any kind. Nurses who are pulled in multiple directions at a time and are prevented from focusing 100% of thoer concentration on the task at hand make errors.

I've tried the please stop yelling you are disturbing the other sick patients reasoning. I find it dosen't work well. If the patient is out of control yelling at you their most likly they cannot be reasoned with or they would not be yelling. Last time I tried this with an out of control post surgical patient the reply was it's your fault I'm yelling It's your fault I'm disturbing the other patients.

we have instituted hourly rounding at my facility. I do believe it has cut down on the patients use of call bells. I find it difficult when I have 6 to eight patients to round on them hourly. I find the scripts degrading, (why don,t I just get a job at McDonalds) so I rarely use them. Sometime it's detrimental I had an obese patient on a restricted diet ask me for a snack every hour, when I reminded her she was on a calorie restriction she became angry. I think alot of theis stuff in thought up by administrators who haven't worked a floor in years

Never thought about the patient reliving his or her addiction good point thanks

I've had patients who have used or use drug tell me which veins are the best to use. I've never had them draw their own blood. The nurse most likly felt bad she had made so many unsucessul attempts she didn't want to cause you any futher distress.

I was a unit secretary before I became a nurse. It's not an easy job. A good secretary is a valuable resource. One of the first things a new to the unit nurse should do is make friends with the secretary. Believe me they get beat up daily by the nurses, doctors and managers. They are always there sitting at the front desk when someone wants to complain they are directly in the line of fire. They initially may be defensive and appear indifferent, thats because they have had many bad experiences. Hang in there, help her out. If you see her repeatedly answering a call light for the same patient and she in unable to contact that patients nurse offer to answer the light, take off your own orders when you have a minute. Believe me a mutual appreciation will grow and both of you will benefit.

Can someone explain to me why hospitals today want to be seen as 4 star hotels. Hospitals are for sick people the priority is to care for sick people. I see patients recieve thing detramental to their health because they complain. Example patient with high blood pressure given salt, or a diabetic patient receiving a sugary snack. It's all about customer service and sometimes the patient doesn't know whats best. Our job should be to educate them to better care for themselves, not to indulge their every need.

I find patients often ask for the nurse for needs that could be taken care of by the tech. They put their call lights on when the busy secretary ask what they need they say I need my nurse. When the nurse gets there they need a blanket or a glass of water. These needs could be easily met by the techs. I love the secretaries who triage the calls and send the right person for the job. They make a major contibution to the efficient running of the unit.

You did exactly the right thing. You cared for the patient who needs were acute. I personally get very tired of fussy patients who want to be the center of attention, they want their need of ice water to be your top priority even though you have a patient with a BP in the 60's. If they don't get their way they complain , next thing you know your in the office having to explain yourself. It's so unfair.

I was thinking about the patients when I agreed to work. They deserve quality care. Sure the defendent deserved to have a jury of fair minded unpartial jurors, but the sick patients on my unit also deserved quality care. Sometimes unfortunate circumtances arise. Employers and court systems need to be aware of this everyone would benefit from being a little more flexible.

I know how you feel. Last year I was scheduled for Jury duty, I arranged with my manager to have the time off, I was ready to serve, actually looking forward to it. My manager was'nt happy about it ,the unit was already short staffed and my being of would further escalate the problem. The morning I was scheduled to work I got a phone call , they were desperate their had been two call ins and they had only 2 nurses to care for 30 patients, the nursing office had no one to send could I please work. I felt obligated to work. I felt the hospital needed me more than the court system, they had hundreds of potential jurors. When I called to tell them I would not be able to serve they were not very sympathetic. I few weeks later I recieved a letter threatening a hefty fine if I did not call to schedule a date to serve. I was able to serve but it was a hardship to my unit. I felt guilty about not being their.