JenNJFLCA

It's funny to think what I was first like as a brand new nurse. I have come a loooong way. You do need a thick skin, but that doesn't mean you have to be mean. Confidence was a big issue with me- and still is. I have come a long way and know that I still have room to improve. It will come though, so just give it time!

Our techs, UC's, and tele techs control our floor. Nurses complaints fall on deaf ears. It's really discouraging, because in the end the patient really suffers. I am tired of busting my butt while others are chatting it up at the nurses station or are on personal phone calls and have the nerve to get mad at you when you ask them to do something. I am also pretty tired of the "Get here right now" or "answer my page right now" mentality. Do they ever think both your hands might be occupied or you are on the phone with someone regarding a patient?

Hi everyone! I am thinking about going to the ICU but they only have night shifts available. Any advice on how to cope with night shift and migraines? I know irregualr sleeping habits is one of my triggers. I am married and my husband works a normal 9-5 type job. Any suggestions? Can this be done without having one giant migraine all the time? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

In my opinion, pain is what the pt says it is. Period. If I notice their respiratory rate is too low or if they are hard to wake up, I won't give the pain meds, but if they say they're in pain, I'll give it as ordered. I deal with mostly post-op pts, so I am pretty darn sure they're in some type of pain. A lot of them also have neuropathy, which is very difficult to treat for pain. My mom has MS and she has chronic pain, but I would not consider her a drug seeker by any means. There are plenty of drug seekers out there, but I believe there are way more people with real pain. Keep in mind that I don't work in the ER. That's a whole different world!

I woke up one day and realized how much better I have gotten. I graduated 1 year ago and passed my boards 10 months ago. I have been off orientation 6 months now and it has been a few months since I have lost a lot of sleep regarding work. I still have bad days, but there are a lot fewer sleepless nights. I am not terrified to go into a pts room anymore (I am very shy and was anxious at first) and I am now even cracking jokes with them! A big step for me. I look back at what I have improved on in the past year and it has been tremendous. I will always be learning and still have A LOT to learn before I can even consider myself "experienced," but just keep doing your thing and you'll get there eventually! Don't be too hard on yourself, and be patient! I also don't work too much overtime. For a while there, it was hard for me to make it through 3 12hr shifts per week. As another poster said, use your days off to relax and unwind. You'll need it!

We handle codes on our floor as posted above. I know that if I ever have a patient that codes, I'll have all the other nurses there with me immediately. They are awesome!

If only this were true. People overeat for many reasons Depression Boredom Anxiety Low self-esteem OCD

I think it's a great idea to teach kids another language as they go through the educational system. As for adults, I don't think it should be a requirement to learn another language. I personally would like to, but not because I was forced into it. I agree with the pp. Come to the US to live, learn English. I wouldn't move to any country without learning the language. It would take time, but it's doable.

She is so young and shy I am afraid she will be eaten alive. AM I being to overprotective or should I be more supportive and encourage her even if I think it is a mistake? I used to be very shy. So shy, that it was difficult for me to even get up the courage to go into a patients room. Nursing has helped me get over my shyness. I am still shy, don't get me wrong. There are some pts, nurses, docs, etc that intimidate me, even though I know they shouldn't. However, I am MUCH better than I used to be and I've only been a nurse for a year. My sister has even told me that I open my mouth and speak my mind more than I used to. Look out world!

I got my first degree in marine biology. I would encourage my children to become nurses before I recommend marine biology. Nursing offers stability, opportunities for advancement, is personally rewarding, and the pay is not too shabby. It's not enough for what we do and put up with, but don't even ask me what I was making before when I worked in a lab. I have been a nurse for a year and applaud all of you that have stayed at the bedside for years. I know that I will not be able to do that because I don't want to hate being a nurse (another big applause for those of you that have stayed at the bedside and still love it). I plan on getting my masters. Who knows where that path will lead me. That's what I love about nursing. I have so many choices. Most of the time I love my patients, and I think all the ways that I can help them and work with them are wonderful. So, yes, I would recommend nursing to my daughter or SON! :)

This sounds like my floor! We give face-to-face reports, but sometimes I finish getting report and I suddenly come to find they have switched my patients or added another one. I put my foot down and they don't do this to me anymore without telling me first. It's irritating to get report (which can be lengthy depending on the pt and RN) and then come to find out you're not really getting those pts. It's also irritating at 0730 when I've already started my routine and I find out I have another pt. As a nurse you need to be flexible and roll with the punches, but common courtesy also needs to utilized. I can't believe that no one on your floor tells anyone that they're picking up another pt! That is abandonment to me. Think of how you would feel if that was you or your loved one?? Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

I'm a new nurse and I got day shift right off the bat. I think it just depends on the demand.

I've been a nurse for 4 months and I think there is a shortage because of the poor working conditions and the huge retiring nurse population. Med Surg is a temporary thing for me. I am sad to say that, but the conditions are horrible and I am already tired of being treated like dirt.....

I got my first BS in Marine Biology w/ a minor in Chemistry. I can honestly tell you that nursing was a heck of a lot harder! :smilecoffeecup:

Man, I thought my migraines were bad! I was 21 when I started getting them. I haven't heard about the cauterizing a nerve, but I would def do some research about that first. One of my classmates in nursing school gets botox injections for her migraines. It sucks that insurance doesn't pay for it. Obviously it's medically necessary. :angryfire

We got $100 gift card to Sweetbay Supermarket for Thanksgiving. Maybe we'll get $25 to the hospital gift shop this year like we did last year. I'd rather they just give us $125 to Sweetbay.

I just graduated in May and passed boards July 29th. I've been off orientation for one month (just made it through my first schedule of being on my own! whew!) and I can't imagine working more than three 12 hour shifts a week. I thought I'd be working tons of OT now that I'm on my own. Ha! To be honest, I am way to stressed to even be thinking about working any other days. MAYBE in the next month or 2 I will pick up an 8 once or twice a pay period. I thought that it was just me, so am relieved to see that experienced nurses recommend not to pick up a lot of extra hours. To the OP, I'm glad you are rethinking!

We get time and a 1/2, which is not enough to be away from our families IMHO. I get paid and extra $25 for working every other weekend. :angryfire Not much incentive to come in if you ask me! :trout:

There is someone from my class who was working in a ER after grad, and told the nurse "I am not going to mkae that bed. That's the tech's job!" Needless to say she didn't last long there, esp after failing her boards. Then she was a tech on a tele floor and just stopped showing up. People like that are funny...I don't get them! I always help when I can. I don't think I am better than anyone. I am doing my time on the hospital floors but I won't be doing this forever. Maybe I'll go to the OR or something....I'll probably get my MSN. Who knows, but the floor is not in my long term future.....

I have been a nurse for 2 months and I can tell you now I will not be working in a hospital for the next 30 years. There are so many things you can do as a nurse. Working in a hospital on the floor is just a small piece of the pie. I am "serving my time" for a few years, and that will be it for me out there on the floor. Sad, huh?

Most of the CNA's on my floor are great. I know there are some nurses that treat them like dirt, so I try to be friendly and will do my own vitals, etc if we are short. I try to help out whenever I can, but unfortunately they will take advantage of me and not care for my pts if they know I will help them all the time. I am trying to find a happy medium. They fight over a hallway that has a particular nurse because they know their job will be easier that day if they work with her pts. That's just sad. I just got off orientation so we'll see how it ends up with me. One of the CNA's has a horrible attitude. Whenever I ask her to do something for me she says (with an attitude), "well, I have to do this, this, and this so it can wait." I just want to say, "well, I have to give meds, chart, call the doctor, change the dressings, and now pick up your slack too." Sorry, this lady makes me angry sometimes. I was a tech in nursing school and was never that rude to people.

We'd be lost w/o our US's. They put all the orders in, fax things, write up the MARs (soon we'll be computerized though), answer the phones. It can get pretty crazy when we get 5 new admits at the same time. Best to stay away from them during that time if you can....

I'm already pressuring my boss about the December holiday schedule! :chuckle I would worry about this manager....she doesn't seem like very open manager. More like a behind-the-scenes non-people-person.

I worked in a state lab, doing the same thing week after week. The pay was OK for the work that I did. Whenever I have a bad day as a nurse, I think back to that job and how lifeless I felt when I went there every day. Now I NEVER get bored at work and have met interesting characters. I won't do bedside nursing forever, but it's great experience and I have no regrets.

I work in a large teaching city hospital. There are always tons of residents around, which is nice because it's usually pretty easy to get a hold of someone. I like it there so far. It's all I know, however. I am a new nurse too!