NursingtheHeart

graduated high school 3.5 years at a university attained a BSN 8 months as an RN (so far) have taken GRE (getting ready for grad school)

Not having your own insurance does not prevent you from being named in a suit. I know this. But whatever the hospital decides to pay the plaintiff, for instance, in a mediation (to prevent going to court), that would be final if the nurse has no extra coverage. But if the plaintiff's lawyers find the nurse has extra coverage, the case can drag on because the plaintiff wants some of that money as well. Like I said, this is specific to my hospital. It is unlikely that any of you work at a hospital like this. It is huge and cannot be sued in and of itself. Only individual nurses and doctors and other practitioners can be sued. I know of specific instances in which this has happened.

If you don't work for the hospital that I do, then you don't know what you are talking about. Because the hospital is a state entity, it can't be sued. Only individual health care workers can be sued. I know people who have been involved in suits, and they were satisfied. Whenever an unexpected event(i.e., self-extubation, falls) happens, we trendtrack the event. Suits may come years later, and the hospital has the information on record. Those who need their own insurance, I say go for it. But if your hospital truly covers you (seek more info), I wouldn't get any extra. It allows the plaintiff to continue to come after you for more money.

I work for a large teaching hospital that is a state entity. All health care workers are covered. We were told that it would only hurt us to take out our own liability because if we were sued, the people could keep coming after us to get that money too. But I have never heard any complaints. They have a risk management team who has our best interest at heart. Our incident reports are kept on record for years, just in case anything comes up. I think if you work for a private hospital you need your own coverage.

I became a nurse because I wanted a job that keeps things interesting. Also, I believe this is what God wants me to do. I don't dread going to work. And I leave feeling fulfilled. Yeah, I have bad days (what career doesn't). However, the good days are really good and more than make up for the bad. :redbeathe

It depends on what your long-term plans are. RTs have a lower ceiling than nurses. In the long run, all you can be is a lead respiratory therapist if you stay in the career for several years. At least, that's what my nursing school classmates who were already RTs told me. After becoming an experienced nurse, you can become an educator, practitioner, anesthetist, clinician, manager, etc. The list goes on. So, it all depends on what you see in your future. Good Luck!

I have a license, so I am responsible for the care that I give. He's only been a nurse for a year. He is very smart and tries to explain things; but when we go into a patient's room, it's almost as if I'm not there. I have to beat him to the task to do something. He graduated exactly one year before me, and I am his first orientee. I do not mind having someone watch and supervise me; but like the other preceptor, I like to complete the tasks and be helped when I'm falling behind with time. I think he may not know how to "ween" me. I am going to give it another week. I will say something to him first, and then I will consider further actions. Thank you all for your advice.

I recently started working in an ICU. My preceptor is nice but doesn't let me do anything. I'm just following him around. He went on vacation, and I was put with a different preceptor who let me do pretty much everything. Now that I am about to start back with my original precepto, I am afraid that I will move backwards. I want to be ready whenever I get off orientation. The nurse educator told me to let her know how things are going because she wants this to be a good experience for me; however, I don't want to cause a backlash because it nothing personal toward my original preceptor. I just want to learn as much as I can right now. What should I do?

Your instincts are right. Placebos for pain are unethical. Even the facility at which I work believes this. Patients are the only ones who can feel their pain. It is no one's job to assume the pain isn't real or that a placebo can "cure" it.

I would feel badly about not going to work because there are usual illnesses being admitted as well. However, I definitely would not allow government officials to sit in safe, clean office buildings and order me to work (or to my death).

:bugeyes:congratulations!:blushkiss

I took the NCLEX-RN on Jan. 26th. I had no math, lots of prioritization/delegation, medications, and teaching. I also had some disease process questions. It cut off at 75q's. I found out on the Jan. 28th that I passed!

Don't assume you failed. I recently took the NCLEX-RN. It shut off at 75q's. I was sure I had at least two route knowledge questions (such as signs and symptoms) but I found out that I passed!