caren19

Hey, thanks for taking the time to read this, and hopefully offering your input... I've worked in a PICU for 14 years, and have developed some bone spurs in my neck and lower back. I'm in an office position right now, but it's just not for me. Nursing was my second degree, my first is in psych, and I had taken a few couses to get my masters in psych, until I changed my mind and went to nursing school for nursing. For the past 3 months I've been pouring my thought and heart in getting a post-masters cert in psych specializing in peds - we did a terrible job in the PICU dealing with issues like PTSD, suicide attempts, molestation, etc. ANYWAY: BACK TO ORIGINAL QUESTION: I want to get back into bedside nursing - how physical is psych nursing (excluding patients with psychotic breaks, etc, where you're going to get your butt kicked regardless)? Would I be turning and changing the patient every 4 hours, etc? Thanks in advance for your input, sorry for the rambling..

MomRN0913 - I was wondering if you did/do work for Novasyte? I'm in the middle of applying to a similar company - CSA Service Solutions, and would love any thoughts on this sort of position. Thanks!

Hi all! I'm out looking for my first position as a "real" nurse educator - just graduated from my MSN in Nursing Ed program. I keep finding job listings for Novasyte and CSA - both companies that sub-contract for medical equipment companies - like Philips. When a hospital buys new equipment, the employees of CSA or Novasyte and other similiar companies help with educating the hospitals staff, and support during the "go live." They make a lot of promises on the job description - and it seems like a great opportunity, to learn about the newest medical equipment, traveling and educating hospital staff on the new equipment, etc. I was wondering if anyone has ever worked for either of these companies, or similiar? Any input on what's it's really like? I've tried Googling, Glass Door, etc. and even entered both company names into the search function here on Allnurses. I'd appreciate any and all feedback! Thanks.

Thanks for your response, in looking into the matter a little further, it seems that the while our transcripts are in our HR folders, it would take to much man power to physically move them. So, instead, we are asked just to forward them. It's all very odd.

Google long enough and you will find an answer! It is from the College of American Pathology! So much for reducing paperwork!

Hi, We were told at my facility in PA that a "new policy" required a copy of our college transcript. I spoke to someone HR, and she said all employees must submit new copies of them. I have been searching the internet, but can't find any new JCAHO/Dept of Health requirements of this type. Anyone have any clue on this one? Your help is appreciated!

UPDATE: I got an email back earlier this week from the EAP, I'm to email her back and set up a time to chat or have breakfast with her (i'm permanent nights). I've tried to discuss this sort of incidence in general with some of the other nurses without positive results. Maybe I should try talking to some of the older nurses, those who have been in the profession longer. Unfortunately, or not, myself and the fellow and the residant were the only ones who actually witnessed the herniation- I know they were as shocked and upset as I was, but I don't really feel comfortable talking to either one of them. So, I'm just going to follow up with the EAP woman. It also helped that the next shift I was on, i had a little baby girl- neuro watch who was just as happy as a clam, and cute as can be. I got to discharge her in the morning, which made me feel really good. thanks for all your support. I really appreciate it, and need it.

Thanks for all the words of wisdom. I sent an email to the clinical psych nursing resource (our EAP), so hopefully I'll hear from her soon.

I've been a Pediatric ICU nurse for 3yrs now, and I've seen it all. GSW on 4 yr olds, deglovings, MVA, ped vs. car, abuse- I was able to deal with all of that. But when I was in work on Friday I saw something that no human should ever see. I can't get the picture out of my head, everytime I think about it I start crying. I have no plan to quit my job or anything like that over this, and it hasn't affected my love of my job, but I am just so fixated on what happened. I was hoping if there were any paramedics, ED peep's, or just RN's who had experianced something way beyond the realm of reality- something truly horrific they could pass on how they dealt with it. Will the images fade? Will the tears dry up? I can't stand it right now. Please help.

I graduated from an Accelerated Nursing Program = BSN which left me 50,000 in debt. I could have gotten an Associated for about 10,000. If I could do it over, I would have become a LPN/LVN first, started to work immediately, and utilize the hospital funding for futhering my education- and having a positive cash flow, rather than living off savings and educ loans. I know the LPN's on my floor (the ICU) make the same money as BSN do. As said before, BSN's come into play when you're moving up on the ladder. I would also have to stipulate going back to school immediately. When we put things off, life tends to get in the way- and the one year you wanted as a break from school becomes a 4-8 yr wait. Best of luck, regardless- Nursing is an absolute wonderful profession. I wouldn't change my job for all the tea in china (despite the bureaucratic BS, which is present in all jobs, I've found)

We have a hospital policy that if you are absent more that 5 times in a year, you have to go an entire year w/o an absence- or if you are sick again accumulate incidents culmanating in termination after x amount. I don't think I am sick excessively, but I am at 5. Now, how the heck do I stay well for an entire year? Is this a common policy? Do they really fire you? I want to stress again, that it takes a lot for me to call out, this year was hard because I was just diagnosed w/irritable bowel syndrome, and the days I missed were mostly r/t IBS b/f I found a med/diet regimine that controlled my symptoms---Just wanted to clarify so nobody thinks I am just slacking off.

I've been seeing therapists since 1998, and been on multiple medications. The meds fix a chemical imbalance in my brain, but it does not change the behavioral manifestations of my OCD. I think that one of the big issues in Nursing is that we don't take time to care for ourselves, we are in a profession that you have to give of yourself on a daily basis, and we need to make sure that we are getting some of that back. I love to take a walk after my shift, just to clear my head and to not bring home any negativeness home with me. I find such diversional activities really benefit my well-being. I would also strongly suggest that taking medications should be adjunctive therapy to seeing a counselor. :)

Just watched a pretty funny movie about a guy w/cancer and his experiances in the hospital...Of course, there were several nurses present, all of which fell into a stereotypical nurse type: 1. "The Big Black-Take NO Crap" Nurse: Always an overweight black woman w/attitude. Definitely has an "I know best" demeanor, and utterly no-nonsense. 2. "The Overly Optimistic (but bungling) PHillapino" Nurse: Very polite, very happy, willing to do anything, but usually messing it up. 3. The "Drop Dead Gorgeous Sexually Inappropriate" Nurse: Wearing a sexy classic RN mini-dress, longing stares at handsome patients, lots of touching pts, and always w/sexy siren smile. 4. The "I Just Do what they tell me" Nurse: Doing everything exactly by the book, word for word- unintelligent, and unable to think for herself (they were filling out paperwork and she asked HIM if he had any unexplained lady partsl bleeding) 5. The "Motherly" Nurse: Older woman, wise in her years, able in her job. Acts more like a surrogate mother than a nurse. So, I have only been a nurse for 3 yrs, but have never met anyone who fits these descriptions (I'm a peds persons). I know stereotypes are just that- and the whole point of the movie was to be funny, not a political statement of any sort. I also know that recently an Herbal Essence ad was removed r/t complaints b/c of it's portrayal of a nurse(#3?). SOOOOOO- Do you think these sterotypes are harmful? What do they mean for us as a profession? Do we need to rectify this situation somehow, or just accept it as a new classic archetype in the world of fiction?!? Do we laugh it off, or do something? What do you think about these 5 stereotypes in particular- can you add any more?

During clinicals, writing our notes was a bit nerve racking. we had to write it out and then show our clinical instructor, she would make changes/suggestions and THEN we would put it in the chart...Anywho, I got a little bit distracted while transcribing the note to the chart. I'll never forget when i came in the next day, and the Instructor pointed out what I had wrote. "....Pt breathing." Uhm, here's your sign!

Wait, That sounds wrong. ONe of our MD's like to order them for his constipated pts after all else has failed.