Orange Tree

I would lie and tell him I called and was waiting for a call back. I'd also tell him that the doctor was probably already asleep and that we probably wouldn't hear back until the morning.

My first few checks went to getting my head above the water, but today, I just got back from one mall and I'm about to go to another. Congratulations on your first paycheck! :) Keep living like you make $8 an hour and you will keep feeling "rich".

The patients have to go somewhere, and they will need nurses wherever they end up. I know our HR has hired some of them, but they haven't gone through orientation or made it to the floor yet, so I haven't met them.

At least your dreams are exciting, I just dream about IVs beeping.

It sounds like she found herself in a very awkward position and did her best to lighten the mood. Maybe she should have taped your husband's mouth shut, instead. The swabbing should have been done, of course, but the being "just kinda all over the place" complaint sounds like a reach.

I just laughed so much that my cat got scared.

That sounds like a good role for the family to take on. Encouraging people to eat is not something I normally have the time to do. I'm lucky if I'm not close to passing out from skipping meals, myself.

We weren't allowed to wash our hands in patients' sinks on my last med/surg unit.

"If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it."

That is way too low. What makes it even more horrible is that you have to sign a contract for years! The new grads I work with make $30 + OT after 8 hours (for a 12 hour shift). It's in acute care, but that's still a huge difference.

The nurse's instructions should come first, but if there is a "charge" CNA, the nurse needs to notify that person of her plans, as well.

I'm not convinced this is an LVN/RN problem, but there is definitely a problem. Aggressive and dangerous is a very bad combination.

If he wanted to get food himself or ask his family to bring it for him, I would document teaching, but not attempt to stop him. I wouldn't involve myself by hand-delivering a cheeseburger, though.

I have no problem opening a med/surg book right at work when I need to. And for some things, google works well too.

Sounds like you should be wearing a helmet. You're dangerous. Maybe your patients should be wearing helmets, too.

I was physically ill most of the time as a new grad in med/surg. What helped me was to make friends anywhere I could. Let the RTs, CNAs, senior nurses, etc. know how much you appreciate them. Always ask for help or clarification when you're unsure about anything...even if you're only a little bit unsure. You'll learn to organize and re-organize as time goes on. You'll also run into fewer things that are completely new to you and get better at navigating around those constant bumps in the road. You can do this. Your confidence just needs time to grow.

My strategy is to get on their side- and fast. After that, the rest is easy.

I wish I could remember. An Australian doc told me once, but it's slipped my mind.

I believe that's the case in Australia, for one. (MDs cathing males)

You're going to wake up with a kidney missing and find it in a ice chest in her house...and that's if you wake up at all. Ruuuuuun!

Oh calm down. I've done most of those things, too- and my training was strictly on the job. I was referred to as a technician, but I'm fine with being called an assistant too. The things I didn't do (from your post) are suture and pull teeth. I'm not sure those things were legal where I worked, but who knows ...maybe the docs just preferred to do those things themselves. Vet techs do work under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, though ...like medical assistants. The tasks themselves can be very different, but that's not what I was commenting about.

I appreciate people who don't feel the need to look exactly like everyone else.

There are rare days when I have to stay one or even two hours late, and I never work off the clock. On the other hand, I've worked with nurses who stay really late every day despite the fact that they have 20+ years of experience. They just can't seem to pull it together- even on a good day. These nurses usually clock out before they're completely finished, although management doesn't ask them too. They do have a right to be paid for their time, but management has a right to replace them with people who work more efficiently, too. This nurse is more likely to get fired than showered with overtime. I would stay out of it.

Five weeks is not very long at all! If you have only cried once, I don't think you're crying enough. Go chop an onion or something.

I've worked as a vet tech before becoming a nurse. I loved it, but there is a huge difference in pay. The role, at least in small animal practices, is more like that of an medical assistant. The doctor is always there, directing, and there's not much you do independently.