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"I question if the front doors were unlocked at 4:30 AM. Or did they break in? And if so, how? That makes the facility a target right there." Yeah I agree, but the scuttlebutt among some of my coworkers is that the thieves entered from the side entrance which was "coded" with a magnet lock and required a code(not from the front door as reported). But the code had been the same for years, and worse; supposedly there has been more facilities that have had this happen. I don't blame the police for not advertising that these crimes are happening, otherwise there would be this max influx of everybody and their brother trying to knock-off nursing homes. It's just unbelievably sad that some would stoop so low.

I recently had to sit for a inservice at a local facility I work at, the topic: Armed robbery of nursing homes. The items taken at gun point; narcotics! During this impromptu meeting, nurses who had worked in other states said this is pretty common, as Health Department regs prevent facilities from dispensing from a pixus like hospitals (except for new admits or pending deliveries), it makes a prime target for thieves. I couldn't believe it, but when doing a count for the on-coming shift it became blatantly apparent, in two locked boxes on my cart alone contained 65 cards of class II, III, and IV meds. Here I had seen on T.V. these dumb druggies holding up pharmacies for a few bottles of oxycontin, and low-and-behold I had probably that many and even more in my medication cart than a corner drugstore! I guess my biggest thing that I keep mulling over is everyone has a stereotype for nursing homes; where grandma and grandpa go when they crash their cadillac through a store window because they can't see over the dashboard. Yet these scumbags go in and pray on us nurses using strong arm tactics/guns to get a quick fix. In an ever-changing field where it seems nursing gets harder and more complicated, it just seems we never catch a break. Who knows, one day we will all wear a panic button on our narc keys similiar to a bank teller for the ocasional robbery... Have you ever experienced something like this or know if this has been a problem for a while and is now getting worse? Here's a link at Arizona Republic detailing the newest trend in crime.. http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2009/02/17/20090217abrk-nursinghomerobbery0217-ON.html

Infiltrations occur all the time, although I won't condone you not checking the site per protocol, as the prior post states the fluids will be absorbed and within a small matter of time. Back in the day, subcutaneous hydration aka hypodermoclysis/CSCI, (essentially the same thing as an infiltration), was used with great result for rehydration. Ultimately I think that from the way you feel about the situation shows that you are guilty of being a caring and compassionate person who's empathy towards your patients speaks highly of your character and morals. In regards to your situation, I have only seen a written or verbal disciplinary action towards nurses who forget to monitor the site and cause injury. So my best advice is relax, and try to not let this happens again. The family of your patient is probably happy that you resolved the issue upon being notified of the situation.... Cheers

Probably because everyone expects this from nurses. Just like it's expected for you to have to deal with overwhelming workloads, smaller staff to patient ratios, and larger census. I hate to sound so cynical and bitter, but after seeing kind and helpful nurses, who have their own problems give to others worse off and never ask for anything in return; I can't help but think no one realizes what tremendous care is given on a daily basis by healthcare providers. But if there is a fall with injuries, skin breakdown, or some type of infection; (regardless of the underlying factors), that seems to make the news. :angryfire I too hope that perhaps one day reality will catch up with perception...

I agree with travel50, but your statement alone says it all; "I just started orientation for a new job I have had some reservations about, but I need a job." I have been there, and done that! I say secure your next job and bow out of the first, just try not to burn your bridges on the way out, a lot is to be said about tact. If you can get out of your first job without looking like your a flake, you might just find yourself back there again down the road - remember, it's a small world in nursing. And just because you may never go back to the same place, you might just run into that person you ****** off jumping ship at another, more desirable location with less successful results. Good luck, ttdr

So now that a lot my friends/family members have lost their jobs or been cut back so much that what I had recommended to them so long before, (nursing) and they so quickly rejected is now more appealing. Of course they need a job now, so my question is this: Does any of you know where a person can train as they work to become a CNA? I remember when I first started years ago that practically every facility had some form of CNA training, now it seems no one does! Any tips or help would be appreciated, the last thing is my house turning into a halfway house for my down and out family/friends.... Thanks :flowersfo

Besides the obvious (more hands on time and confidence so that I was knowing what I was doing): 1. Uniform - pockets, pockets, pockets! (need I say more) patterns on your scrubs look nice, but the solid colors -especially darker ones clean up easier, and seem to last longer. 2. Retractable pens, so the ink stays on the paper not the pockets which as stated above are so badly needed. 3. Shoes, glorious shoes - New Balance is my favorite (my wifes' is MBT's), although most nurses seem to like clogs; I fail to see how a 1/4" thick piece of rubber between your foot and the hard ground is going to prevent some type of tendon/nerve damage is beyond me. 4. PDA or P.C. phone - works perfect if google is able to decipher what that near sited, ataxic hand writing attending just wrote. Maybe ePocrates for that pesky docusate sodium that seemed difficult for me to remember among all the other simple meds I had to remember... 5. 5 Hour energy drink - perfect for that 2nd or 3rd 12 hour shift in a row, and only 4 hours of rest between them. 6. The knowledge that no matter how hard you work, no matter how many patients are happy with your care, how accurate your notes are; the simple fact of "you are only as good as your last mistake!" to your boss/supervisor. 7. Last but not least, (works for me but maybe not you), one of everything in your pocket/person. i.e. pen, penlight, scissors, stethoscope, etc. More than one makes it difficult; before long you'll notice that one, both, or all are missing. Keep your spares in your bag, purse, or lunch case and locked up. 8. Some places (not all), I worked at seemed to have nurses that really enjoyed "eating their young." Iwould suggest if you feel you are in that situation, move on to another unit or facility, it will make your life much easier...

To my knowledge there is no "volunteer nurses" in the U.S. excluding the American Red Cross. To do so go to http://www.redcross.org/services/volunteer/ But remember these types of volunteering is most related to disasters; hurricanes, wild fires, flooding, etc. Not something that you can pick certain days to volunteer, you are at their need for nurses. The only other option I know of is http://www.peacecorps.gov/ , but then these type of websites help the nurse find international needs, even in your home country of the Philippines. You'll have a better chance being able to volunteer (which prevents you from doing anything as a nurse), at a hospital, but even then they may need to validate you have no active local license as a nurse... God Bless America! Land of the red tape! :roll

As far as surveys go I haven't seen any that are openly advertised for nurses, Here are some that I subscribe to: (in the sign up process it asks you a lot of personalized information (including your profession/education) http://www.zoompanel.com http://www.e-rewards.net (offers the most medical related surveys) Hope this helps!

I feel for you, there are a lot of nurses that get to the point where you are - realizing that you wasted your education time, and life on an occupation that you hate being in. This is why partly there is a nursing shortage (I believe) because so many nurses realize that they don't want to deal with. As many of the other posts suggest try another type of nursing: case management, quality control for pharmacy's, school nurse, workplace nurse, hospice admit, etc, etc. My god you've got a royal flush and you're about to fold and lose what you have in the pot! (figuratively speaking of course). I personally dislike nursing in many ways, but because I am an L.P.N. I'm stuck in between a rock and a hard place, not you, you've got a four year degree that even if you could not stay in nursing, many government jobs open up just because you have that bachelor's degree. I hope this helps and good luck to you...

I agree with the previous post, if you can try to move your shifts around so you are not alternating your shifts from one extreme to the other you'll do better. Worst case, try chamomile tea, don't knock it until you try it. I personally wouldn't recommend meds to help you sleep. But I've tried benadryl in the past, just not successfully as the side effects of being drowsy made my night miserable.

Although LTC is not what many think will be a learning facility, that's exactly where I started and you can learn at a much slower pac that diving directly into something high paced. I did, and within time I felt comfortable to move on. I never regretted it, and it helped as I moved on to bigger and better things.....

I agree, this most defiantly is a HIPPA violation, I'm sure pretty much all of us have had to sit through the boring HIPPA video during one inservice/meeting over the past years, or at least signed one of the informed consents offered by the facilities we work at. It makes me shutter just to think how much hot water I could be in if I was the fool who leaked that information out to anyone.....

My favorite is when the staff tells me that the patient needs her pain pills, you know the one with grey hair, in a wheel chair, she has pictures of her family on the bed side stand. - Thanks, that narrows it down to 20 or so Or when your looking at the vital sign sheet and the temperature/pulse/respirations have been switched incorrectly - thanks that's gonna take some charting to explain! My ultimate favorite is charting and I look at the previous entry, you know the one that says the incision on "patients left hip from s/p ORIF C.D.I." When the patient actually has diagnosed/all other documentation about a s/p arthroplasty of right knee!

Been there, done that, usually this means the higher ups are demanding the head nurse cater more to the doctors. Like towntalker suggest; give it some time, things should straighten out, or the nurse will hopefully tune it down.....