learning08

Started in a full-time hospital job, which was what I wanted...no prior hospital experience. Thankful opportunities for new grads were plentiful around here.

Thank-you, this is exactly what I was thinking when I submitted the original post. It irks me to see my fellow women (specific women I have in mind) overworked, tired, and unhappy. I am not here to judge anybody's lifestyles. I do feel like if a friend of mine is unhappy due to being overworked, picking up OT while pregnant, returning to work at 8 weeks postpartum because the hubs (a healthy type, not overqualified for menial labor) won't get a job, it is normal for me to feel unhappy for her. And yes, I have worked in menial jobs that I was overqualified for and have no problem doing it again.

*They* are unhappy and tired. I sympathize with them. It doesn't affect me personally what their husbands do or don't do.

I've been working with a lot of young (20s-40s) nurses who are the primary breadwinners in their families. Not single women/single Moms, but wives basically supporting their husbands and kids, working overtime to make ends meet. Is there a trend? These husbands are unable to find work or unwilling to work at what they see as menial jobs while the wives are saddled with financial responsibility for the family. It irks me to see my girlfriends worn out at work trying to make extra $ in spite of fatigue, physical illness, being mothers to smal children etc.

Rarely. Signed up in advance for one or two extra 12s over the course of last year because I wanted the money and had some time off up ahead. The work is so hard on the body that I avoid extra shifts for the sake of my health and sanity. I don't come in when called at the last minute because I plan my time off in advance, and when they typically call in the early morning, I'm sleeping and my phone is turned off.

You are the ultimate judge of your individual situation. Many people have worked their way through nursing school, but how many have dropped out because school, work and family were too much? More than 50% in the RN-ASN program I graduated from! You know your family situation, your energy level and potential for employment in your area, so the decision is up to you. You could always borrow for the first couple of semesters and then pick up a part-time job as a student nurse assistant, which are typically very flexible and help you gain experience and get your foot in the door. The amount you propose to borrow and the interest rate are very reasonable. God luck with whatever you decide!

Dear nohika, Many of the pros have already been mentioned. Another potential pro is that as an RN, you'll be out in the workforce making a living sooner than if you go directly through a PA/NP/another advanced practitioner ed program. Then, once you are working as an RN, you can gain experience while making the $ and/or taking advantage of workplace ed benefits to go back to school for a more advanced degree in a healthcare field...or an entirely different area. A big con of nursing, to me, is the risk of physical injury. You would most likely start out as a staff nurse, a role that requires pulling and repositioning pts., many of whom don't have the strength to help you move them. Quite a few of these very sick pts. will be very heavy. There are so many nurses, nursing assistants etc. out there who have injured their backs, arms, etc. As an advanced practitioner, you would be spared much of the risk of physical injury along these lines. This is the main reason I don't see myself as a full-time floor nurse for much longer. Be sure to shadow at least a couple of different nurses in different hospitals. Make the effort to make these experiences happen. Good luck!

Put yourself first. Your health and well-being are your top priorities. That feeling of false guilt? Forget it. My days off are mine, end of story.

How is swine flu vaccine availability at your facility/in your area? Did you get yours? How was it? Our hospital has been vaccinating direct patient care staff on a voluntary basis for the past couple of weeks. It's a shot, still easily available from employee health on a walk-in basis, no wait. I got mine 3 days ago. Sore arm the next day, I popped a few Advils through the first couple of days. Our county health depts. have H1N1 flu mist, free and available on a walk-in basis.

I've yet to meet a real-life nurse who refers to her pts. as clients. I will always call patients, patients.

If one has a good job (supportive environment, good working hours, decent conditions), then s/he is fortunate. If s/he is stuck working in a terrible place because there's nothing else out there for them right now, that's not fortunate, but may have to do until other opportunities are found.

Would you consider graduate school? (not MSN, but PhD or MS in a field other than nursing--much easier to secure an assistantship for those than for an MSN, and that usually comes with a tuition waiver and a stipend, as well as continuation of your student status). Do you have a U.S. citizen boyfriend you can marry?

Oncology breaks my heart...I have to have some emotional distance from the patient pop. to work effectively... That being said, I hope to never work in a hellhole where nurses are penalized for calling in sick, cannot take a lunch etc.

OP: what a hellhole you were working in! So sorry to read of your experience and so glad you're no longer there! I will not work while very ill and I don't care if my supervisors like it or not. I don't want to endanger vulnerable patients, myself, and coworkers.

LMAO! That's so out there! I would have told the NM to go get his stuff herself!!

Thank goodness, we don't have to make up for shifts we've missed due to being sick.

Don't be so hard on yourself! No harm was done. You wrote that the pt. arrived at shift change. I don't ever fully assess a new admit who gets there at or less than an hour prior to shift change, except for O2 sat, orientation, pain and immediate needs (e.g. to get to the bathroom). The next shift will do a thorough assessment and chart it. (My job is to get the pt. settled in and get the ball rolling on orders). At shift change, it's time to wrap things up with *every* pt., give report, finish up charting if need be, and go on home. There will be times when a pt. refuses you. It's unpleasant, but it's not the end of the world. You have to let some things roll off your back.

Hang in there, it's so overwhelming at first. Please don't quit if you are in a generally supportive environment. Four med surg patients is a blessing!!! Many places will give you 5-6 and up to 7 on nights, high complexity, on tele etc. Make an actual list of tasks to be done (an outline of your day) e.g. get report, check labs, page Drs. with critical lab results, make your first rounds to check O2 sats and ask if Pts. are in pain, gather your meds, start your med pass and assessments, chart, do pre-lunch blood glucose checks, etc. Keep a list of med schedule times for each pt. and things they need and check off as you go. Dressings and IV changes etc. when you have a bit of downtime. Get back to them if you get sidetracked. Before you know it, you will get your routine down. It truly does get better with time. (((hugs))) My best advice so far is ask questions, take it easy on your body (back, knees etc.--get help to move Pts.!) and take it one day at a time for now.

When I was a young teen, I had a dream about my childhood best friend's grandfather. I saw him sitting by their house on a bench, and wildflowers were growing out of his face. I soon learned that he passed away. The strangest thing happened to me when I was in nursing school. I would call my parents once a week on a Sat. or Sun. and catch up. They live thousands of miles away. One week, I felt lead to call them up on a Tuesday after having just talked to them for a couple of hours the Saturday prior. Nothing of any significance had happened in that time frame, and there was no reason to call. I didn't even know what to say, really, besides hi, how are you etc. My father picked up and said he wasn't feeling well. When prompted, he complained of worsening right sided abd pain for the past couple of days, N&V, lack of appetite, constipation. It was late at night there, and he insisted he was just going to rest up and see how it goes in the a.m. Needless to say, I immediately suspected acute appendicitis and told him to call the ambulance and go to the ER without delay. I said I would call back within 15 minutes if if the ambulance had not been contacted, I would call one in for him whether he wanted it or not. He went to the hospital and had to have an appendectomy right then. The surgeon reportedly told him that had he waited until the a.m., chances were his appendix would have ruptured. My mother thought my random call saved his life. I had had appendicitis myself at 12 years of age, my appendix ended up rupturing, was hospitalized for a month after surgery with peritonitis etc. and almost didn't make it.

>>I went through the very same situation as you accept I was that " Book nursing student" My patient was a diabetic that was very >>out of control and she refused to eat the food that okay for her to eat. So my instructor told me that I needed to call down to >>dietary to order the patient a cheese burger and fries since thats what she wanted. Because the patient was on a diabectic diet >>there was no way dietary would allow me to do this.So I had to go to the doctor and get an order for a nutritional consult just so >>this patient can get her cheese burger and fries. My instructor was not pleased until I had went through all lengths to get the >>patient her cheese burger I find this very strange. Were you there to do your part to promote the Pt.'s health according to medical orders and nsg care plans or to waste all this time just so someone can have a cheeseburger that they do not need to be having right then and there? IMHO, your instructor's priorities were in the wrong place.

This resident is manipulative and noncompliant. I don't reward or pander to that sort of behavior, so yes, I'm by the book. I politely explain consequences of refusals and document them in the pt.'s chart for the Dr., but no, I would not bend over backwards for a competent adult to get them to comply with their care. I make it easy for them to change their mind if they want to do the right thing, but by and large, they can either take responsibility and do their part, or they are welcome to continue with their choices and deal with consequences. An A&O smoker who chooses to smoke is welcome to go to a smoking area if they ask. They are a free adult. However, I would not be getting them a pack of cigs or taking them outside (as was suggested to me once, by a staff member, in the middle of a busy shift) under ordinary circumstances.

We don't have it. There are always opportunities for overtime (extra hours or extra shifts), but they are 100% voluntary. I like that.

OP: before you spend money on a CNA course, I would inquire at hospitals in your area if they hire nursing students. A lot of hospitals will let you work as a sitter as soon as you start nursing school and as a nursing assistant/nurse tech once you complete Fundamentals of Nsg (1st semester course in nsg school). You might also be able to work as a transporter or unit secretary (on the job training).

Great responses! I completely agree. Networking is key, and we have to play the game to get a foot in the door. I like the recommendation to contact your former classmates and instructors to help put in a good word for you. Since you were a good student, I'm sure they'll be happy to help you.

OP: let us know how it works out! You are absolutely right, and the charge nurse is in the wrong. Good for you for standing up for yourself!