misslindzee

I would let it go to the board and respond that it's a disgruntled ex who is personally trying to attack you.

We are about 6 mos into schedule wise and I am right there with you. It is constant turn over. I have 4 people going on and before I know it another wave of 4 coming off and back on. I am having a hard time with other responsibilities as well and have been authorized to come in on a day off to complete. I don't like this at all! No suggestions because I'm also looking for answers. Good luck!

My wage is comparable to the hospital I used to work in. It just depends on your specialty in the hospital and shift differentials but what I make now is on par with the ER I used to work in.

That's a tough one, and being in the ER you will come across that almost daily. You get everything thrown at you all at once and there's not much you can do except ask for help from your neighbors and communicate with the charge nurse. Let the charge nurse know you have a conscious sedation, as those need to be watched closely but hopefully you had the RT there to really give you a hand. Set up the monitor/automatic vitals and make sure you have all the right equipment together. BVM, NS drip, good working IV and when the time comes whatever sedation they will use. The low sodium didn't happen overnight and you can't safely fix it fast either (rrrrrealllllly long process), so since that one is an admit, ask the charge to get you a bed ASAP. Pop your head in there to make sure they don't get out of bed, make sure the fall risk band is on them, and tell your ER tech or CNA that this one needs to be watched. Communicate with the most stable one and let them know you didn't forget about them. Let them know it's a good thing that you're not in the room all the time as it's not a good sign when you are! You are waiting for the results to be reviewed by the ER doc, and you'll let them know once you get orders. The CHF'er is likely a flare up from a chronic condition, make sure they have a bedside commode, the call light, and administer that lasix! Keep an eye on the O2 sat and they're good to go. If their sats go down, throw them on some O2 and let RT know. Chart as you go.. bring your WOW in with you to rooms and let the patient know you need to chart as you go, plus you can discuss the plan of care by reviewing orders with them. GOOD LUCK. I also have mixed feelings of having a new grad in the ER, but we need nurses.

Patient tripped, fell, broke acrylic nail, d/c home as non-emergent, patient insisted I bandage her up. Me - "here's a bandaid", her - "aren't you going to put it on?" Patient c/o "not eating very well today, my blood sugar is low", glucose read high-normal, insisted he get admitted because he doesn't have any food at home. Offered to set up with social worker and meals on wheels but wanted a "clean bill of health". That included a resident doing a digital exam! "Spilled coffee on foot"

You won't get the support you need to complete your job safely. Agency nurses are needed because the units are already overwhelmed. I personally wouldn't do it. Try home health agencies. I recently changed positions and I used a career website called indeed and craigslist.

I feel bad that you were so scared about this! I actually DID get blood splashed onto my face (maybe in my eyes, definitely on my lashes) with an HIV infected patient. After educating myself and asking our medical director what the chance of transmission was it helped rest my fears. I've had blood splattered on my clothes multiple times and never really worried about it, and even got it on my bare skin, but when it gets inside of you that's another story! If any questions come up, contact your infection prevention MD or RN and educate yourself.

I have a friend who within a week or so of having her license reinstated went on inactive status because of a new baby. I think you should focus on you and take care of your body so you can enjoy this bundle of love! The NV state board will reinstate it no problem, but I believe she is keeping track of meetings.

Just wanted to say hello... I can relate to some of what you're feeling. I sometimes feel like certain members are suggesting EVERYTHING can be fixed by following the program. That is not the case. Take what you can from the meetings and leave what you don't like behind, kind of like at a buffet. Hopefully you can get on the right regimen with your psychiatrist! You're not alone.

Hi! I just wanted to respond to your question about the drug tests. They are coming out of your pocket, and it's not a restriction. You can let them know that you stay accountable and sober by submitting random UDS, but they do not pay for it. Good luck! I'm still looking for a job too but it seems like my local dialysis center will not be able to extend an offer to me.

You got it.. It will only help if the potassium is high because of acidosis.

Is nobody else pushing sodium bicarb with it? We always did an amp of d50, 10 units regular insulin, and an amp of bicarb. We pushed it as fast as we could, but you can only go so fast with those amps..

I wish I had got to this post sooner! I made a medication error TWICE in my career that I caught, and both were the same medication! GO FIGURE! The first time it was change of shift, the previous nurse had already removed the medication and asked me to administer it, I said OK! We had paper charting at this time, and I did not verify the order, nor the patient identifiers. I even explained to the patient what is was given for, and the side effects. She didn't speak up and tell me she's never had kidney issues or anything of the sort. I realized it was meant for the neighbor and stopped her halfway into her Kayexalate. I FELT SO BAD! I went to one of my coworkers and was crying. I notified the doctor first, then notified my charge nurse and after 20 mins or so, I went to the patient, told her what happened and apologized to her. She ended up with diarrhea! Poor thing. Another time 60mL was ordered, and I ended up giving 60grams. I notified the physician and that one fixed his potassium perfectly. Odd timing, the dialysis tech was hours behind. I filled out a form with my charge nurse but it was not a write-up.

OR if they ask you about your drinking habits, do not say anything. Do not say I have a drink once and a while.. only answer questions related to the 5mg waste. The board is not your friend.

If an investigation comes about from the nursing board, I don't think they would discipline you for it. It seems odd the facility would fire you for a first offense. Get your "evidence" ready, write down a timeline for your own records (log the phone calls etc) and if the board needs a response, you tell them exactly what happened. If they ask you about any prescription meds, DO NOT DISCLOSE ANYTHING but what pertains to the unaccounted med.