tonyabug

Wow, is it great to hear that you are enjoying your job. I'm considering dropping out, and for that reason have been very interested to read the posts about toxic work conditions. Taking crap from co-workers because they hate their lives is far worse than a grouchy patient. After all, nobody is too happy about being sick or in pain. Someone just wrote that you need really thick skin to be a nurse. Don't know how I made it through my first year. I'm just not made that way. Can anybody tell me if there are non-stressful working situations for nurses? Diahni Let me know if you can find any job worth having that does not involve a certain amount of stress.

I know what you mean. I have witnessed situations like this many times. Often, I am on the receiving end. I have even considered getting out of nursing because I am too nice. I probably should not say that about myself, but others have told me that, too. It is true that to be any sort of a professional you have to be strong willed and confident. When you consider that these strong willed, confident persons are nurses, and that most of us are women, it makes since that we would lash out at each other. When you think about how many nurses at any one time are pre-menstral, menstral, hormonal (for whatever reason), pre-menopausal, and menopausal, you have a lot of the reason for all the problems. When you put us together in a relatively small setting (no facility is ever big enough), it is a small wonder that we don't have more shootings. Rather than fighting amongst ourselves and running good nurses out of the profession, lets try encouraging each other more. Treat others as you would want to be treated.

All the tests previously mentioned are correct and pretty much all there is. One reason not mentioned for them being done is for a baseline. After surgery, the patients Hgb and Hct will be monitored for anemia. PT/INR to determine doses of coumadin (if pt is taking). Basic metabolic panel monitors all electrolytes and kidney function. Just to name a few of the things the doctors are watching. Hope this adds to your information.