nurseshepherd

Our small OB/MOBA unit does team nursing, but only on nights. We take report on everyone, the charge nurse makes assignments, but if someone needs something the nurse at the desk takes care of it whether it is her patient or not. Same thing when we...

When I worked as a tech in nursing school, there were some horrible nurses who were verbally abusive to techs who didn't stand up for themselves. I was not a timid person, but nursing was a career change and I was unsure of myself. These seasoned ...

The idea and practice is sound, according to studies that have been done showing improved patient satisfaction, reduced pain levels, etc. The problem comes in when nurses have too many patients and not enough help to do hourly rounds, address needs (...

Our facility is proud to support the continuing educational efforts of it's employees. However, some of our folks interpret this as permission to do most (if not all) of thier school work on the clock regardless of patient load. The charge nurse ne...

Our area hospital system (rural TN) has cut all nurses and non management employees to 32 hours a week, allowing those with personal time to use it to make up the hours. They have also cut all education and travel funds, reduced each departments bud...

Thanks to all who have replied. Interesting that many included administrative cutbacks; to date we have not seen that at our not-for-profit hospital system. Our local nursing programs are still taking as many students as they have desks for and I w...

Management has not mentioned anything but we are in the rural South so I doubt seriously it would be an issue here. Agree with PP, micromanagment!

I work with several women on herbals but they are going to a local MD who was an internist until the stress of the hospital led him to partner with a local herbalist and they have a thriving alternative medicine practice. So far I haven't heard of a...

Our hospital has a policy that all positions have to be formally posted, even though they already have it promised to someone. That could have been what happened with the posting.

Sounds like a really good unit! We run into this quite a bit with 'change-of-shift' deliveries and it is funny how different it is depending on whether it is AM or PM. If it is at 6:45 AM, some of the day folks will stall around because they have ...

We need a lot more like this!!!

I agree with the PP that simply asking politely and keeping the visitors informed works well with most folks. As far as having people at bedside during procedures, that really depends. In OB we almost alway insist on having the woman come back san...

During nursing school I thought I wouldn't have any money worries once I graduated because I would make so much more than I had before. A hard lesson was learned about the financial backlash of nursing school (when you keep robbing Peter to pay Paul...

I try to keep an unstructured PRN job to help with situations like that and for addition income when I have a project or financial need. Working in another area of nursing is always a challenge and helps you grow as a health care professional. Havi...

'Buzzing' a fetus in utero in order to get it to move/turn is an example of noxious stimulation (uses a device similar to an artificial larynx) which does not hurt the baby but certainly gets a reaction which is the goal. Sternal rubs usually do hu...

Totally agree with PPs, RESIGN now and do it in writting giving proper notice so your HR record is good. Many places will pay you for your PTO if you resign which could give you some breathing room until you secure another job. I have one family me...

Speaking generally, NO!

This is another example of the tail wagging the dog. We are changing things in our department trying to get better scores and we already were doing great but no, we have to do something. The biggest thing so far is that our Maternity Center has thr...

Don't forget, you can always file a grievance if you feel you have been wronged. You may not want to do this initially, but if this matter is not resolved, you may want to consider it. Lots of folks are uncomfortable with this but is is a necessary...

I totally agree with Chatsdale, you need to go in prepared with a written statement of facts to safeguard yourself. I would not sign a thing until I hand wrote my statement on the write up. You can hand them your typed version of what happened (in de...

A lot of nurses leave because of their nurse managers, not their job. They may list other reasons officially, but when you talk with nurses who are switching units or hospitals it usually has more to do with how they were managed (or mismanaged). P...

Most of the ER nurses I have known thrived on the excitement level and would be bored to tears with the pace of med/surg. They also like the focused aspect of ER care rather than the holistic (speaking only of the ones I have known folks, not general...

A nurse I worked with years ago had 3 ultrasounds during her last pregnancy and the last 2 she was told it was a female and the radiologist even wrote that on the report. She was named Suzanne after a beloved aunt and all clothes and decor were pink...

Probably because it's not dealing with a true emergency or a laboring patient. It is still shameful but the hospitals put up with it.

There are no absolutes with this and cultural sensitivity certainly recognizes that not everyone within an ethnic group is the same. Teaching students and nurses to be more aware of their patient's needs from a cultural standpoint is enhancing thei...