cmawrule

Yes. I agree with Juliaann-You gain good experience (everyone needs a nurse who knows how to use a bedpan!), it makes a good impression on future employers and it pays the bills.

I suspect most of the people who voted "yes" are thinking of the patients."If I don't go, who will?" But no PPE? I'm compassionate but not suicidal. My immune system is pretty good but working under those conditions without protection would be guaranteed infection. I have a family who needs me. Can't do it!

OK, I'm curious about the stoma powder. Is that an ingredient IN the cream, or are you putting it on the raw areas first? We all have incontinent patients so always interested to learn something that works! thanks.

I agree with what the others have posted about working as a nurse so I'm going to focus on something else: You mentioned feeling sad and not being able to smile, feeling tired all the time, etc. What are you doing to recharge YOU? Obviously you are studying a lot, because you mentioned a high GPA, but you don't have to spend a lot of time and money to give yourself a break. Taking a walk, taking a bath, watching a movie, or reading a trashy novel that has NOTHING to do with nursing(my personal fave) will help you keep your sense of self intact. I don't think this gets emphasized in nursing school enough-I know it isn't in mine. We have a stressful profession and we pour ourselves out for our patients every day, but most of us learn the hard way, IF YOU DONT TAKE TIME TO UNWIND, YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO BOUNCE BACK. Summersent, please keep posting and let us know how you're doing. We're rooting for ya! :nuke:

I don't think "the public" really cares, yet. But I work in a place where we routinely culture for MRSA and VRE. When a patient is positive we usually have to educate the family that their loved one was colonized before they got here and did NOT catch it from the hospital. So it may not be long before the hospitals start having a public policy that you need to change before you go home so you won't be seen as spreading disease. I wouldn't mind.

It would be very appropriate to go see her since you have already worked there and know the people, and it shows you are really interested in getting the job. Most nurse managers like seeing people who really want the job. Good luck!

Hear, hear! I agree with MissERN-a good CNA/tech is like having an extra right arm, you can get so much good care done, and a poor one is such a total drag. (I was a CNA before I was a nurse. Best training you can get) They do the essential work most people would rather not do, and get less pay and less thanks than anyone else on the floor.

Definetly need to let the MD know. Possible causes: GI bleed, some kind of pulling or trauma to the tube, ulcer, etc. Good thing you got it unclogged, blood can set like cement. seen any more?

regarding your last sentence,"wouldn't wanna be in her shoes when it catches up to her." If she's running the facility as badly as you say, is there someone over her you could call or talk to?

I agree with Tammy07-if you decide to go to another job, be professional, give whatever notice is required by your job(check the requirements) and when they ask you why you're leaving, TELL THEM. they may offer you more money or agree to get another nurse on the floor. If they don't-you have a better job to go to. If you handle it professionally you can always get hired back. GOOD LUCK!

I used to work in LTC. The workload IS huge, you are not imagining it. That's the reason why most LTC pays an LPN better than hospitals-you have much more responsibility. Might help to ask the other floor nurse for help-a humble,"how do YOU get it all done on time?" works sometimes. WATCH OUT for shortcuts-I have seen some LPNs pull off some doozies that are just plain illegal to cope with the workload..if you see someone giving their entire medpass in 30 minutes chances are they are not signing off the meds when given or even reading the MAR to look for new orders. DON'T let down the standards of practice you learned in school. your licence is at stake, and those patients and their families are counting on you. A lot of it is time management-you will learn to get it done a little faster and a little faster as time goes on. the bad news is, the workload is enormous. The good news is, you can be a very significant person to a lot of older people. A good LPN makes a very big difference in LTC. The patients are what keep you coming back.

I worked nightshift for 3 years. I trained my kids not to expect Mom to be worth a darn till after 3 pm. Even if I got up earlier than that, my brain was not really"on" till 3. I also expected them to clean up after themselves while I was sleeping-earplugs are a big help, I could sleep right through vacuuming! My husband and mother-in-law were a bigger problem-he really missed me and I finally went to days. Miss the extra money! I do agree that your son has NO business calling you lazy unless he, too, is working 12 hours somewhere.

Never certain, but probably means you had a high enough percentage to pass. meanwhile, try not to freak out. Can you check online to see results?

AMEN!! I am so sorry about your Dad. We need MRSA prevention in every state. If we can't cure it we can at least prevent others from getting it. I work in a small acute care facility-we screen every new admit for VRE and MRSA. Until we get the cultures back, we put them in isolation. If the cultures are negative, we take them out. Of course its an acute care floor...a surprsing amount have MRSA and don't know thats the problem.

I think TEAMWORK is part of the solution. Med-surg nursing IS fast-paced, demanding work. No two patients are alike, families are usually worried and demanding, things change quickly. That being said, what's wrong with asking for help? Where I work, if you need an IV started, its okay to ask another nurse who has a few extra minutes if they can stick it in for you...then thank them profusely, and if they ever need help or even look like they need help you return the favor. Are the other nurses all loners? Nurses have to stick together. you sound like you are trying to do it all on your own. I do commend you for making time to look up new medications, it is so important to know what you're giving and some nurses skip that step. I have worked in LTC and med-surg. Both are pretty hard, but I felt like I was doing more good in med-surg. You have to decide for yourself.