calif-me

I just keep to myself and tolerate "those" nurses when I have to. I work nights which may or may not make a difference.

Whether you realize it or not, you made a difference in this patient's life. Where one nurse would have given up because of the negativism in this patient, you didn't. I lost a patient this past week. I didn't have a long relationship with this patient, but his unexpected passing is still bothering me alot. Take comfort in knowing that you were able to get this patient to become compliant with his meds, you did what you could within your ability to make a difference during his remaining time.

I am one of those nurses who always asked a ton of questions. One time I asked the charge nurse if all my questions were driving her crazy. She said they had a nurse once that no one like to work with because they never asked questions and acted like they knew everything. I asked alot because I wanted to be safe and have a clear conscience at all times. I work nights and got to work with basically the same two charge nurses for several months, both were great and had a lot of patience with me. Plus, most of the staff nurses are approachable for questions also.

I'm really glad I came upon your post, I've been an LVN for about 9 months now. I've decided I do not like Med/Surg. I gave it my best and came up short. I'm too stressed out everytime i'm there. What I did discover is that I like pediatric patients. Unfortunately, if there isn't enough patients I get bumped to M/S. The last two times this has happened, the shift was very overwhelming and I wanted to just run out of there and not come back! I had a patient die unexpectedly, it doesn't matter that he was a DNR. I'm still trying to get over it. To get to my point, I did call and talk to my boss about how I felt about M/S and about the passing of the patient which greatly distressed me. This was last week. I was honest. I asked her if there might be a permanent opening in peds, and if I was to get bumped, due to low patient census, could I go orient in post partum or nursery instead of working in M/S because my stress level was too high. She was pleasant and agreeable. My husband said I probably shouldn't have mentioned the part about how some of my team leaders were giving me attitude that night as well. I have never complained about anyone or anything in my 9 months there. I'm encouraged by your post because I was honest too, at least she knows how I really feel about M/S. If nothing changes at least i'll know my boss knows. Hopefully things will get better as time goes on. I suppose the team leaders were too stressed out and that's why the resistance was there. I do work in a small community hospital. Thanks.

I graduated a year ago December from the LVN program where i'm from. I'm definitely the nervous type. Even though I had my clinicals at the hospital I now work at, it took me a very long time to "calm down". If it hadn't been for such wonderful charge nurses, who both had the patience of a saint, I wouldn't have survived. I've been at this for eight months now working on a med/surg floor in a small community hospital. I feel for you and would encourage you to take a deep breath, debrief with a close friend or two, journal write, or something like that to get it all out. I've only had a few times where I allowed a nurse to make me feel bad because I didn't know something, thank goodness it only happened a few times. I work nights and the night staff is kinder than the day staff from what i've heard. Maybe you could work for a LTC facility, or in the meantime, work for a temp agency while you are waiting for something to open up. You probably need some time to think things through, and time to heal from all the hurt and disappoints thrown your way.

I've seen RNs on duty taking catnaps. I'm the new kid on the block, so I haven't said anything, but one of the aides told me the unit manager came in one night just to catch the "sleepers". I do know that these two nurses in particular have another job. I could never even try to hold down another job in addition to this one. I need my coffee and to keep moving!

I left teaching to become a nurse. I'd rather handle 5 patients than a classroom full of kids like I used to do.

I'm o.k. with it as long as my PTO holds out. I'm hoping to get moved from Med/Surg to Ped by next month. Somtimes the stress in Med/Surg is too much, so i'm glad when i'm called off which has been twice this week already.

Hi, I decided to become an LVN first. I work on a med/surg unit in my local hospital. I've been there for about 7 months now. I'm not so sure I want to be an RN on the m/s unit because it involves alot more work than I currently do now, and i'm struggling at times to get business taken care of. I've been able to get a clearer pic of the RN expectations now that i've been there awhile. Once I decide to move forward I only need three prereq classes and then i'll transfer into a third semester RN program. I'm glad I did things this way. Best wishes on whatever path you decide to take.

It's me again, just a quick update, these past three shifts went much better than what went down on 9/2. The first night back, I was kinda of a scatter brain until I got my head in the game and focused on my patients and not my issues with nursing. I had to remind myself to focus on what I know as a nurse and not so much on what I didn't know. Even though things were hectic, which is the usual thing, my attitude adjustment really helped me alot. I learn from everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly. For example, I told the am nurse about the jp drain amount I took out, but I forgot to put the info in the physical chart. The doc was upset at the am nurse, but fortunately for me, the am nurse was able to tell the doc the amount and put the info in the chart for me. Believe me, i'll never forget to do that again! plus, the am nurse was cool about it. Not all co-workers are a pain. I do believe that i'm going to do just fine from here on out. I just need to kick the insecurities I have out the door and like I said just focus on what I do know, the rest will come with time and help, which I do get quite a bit of from the other nurses. So hang there, we are going to be just fine. Once, I did call the hospital on my day off to say I didn't call a prescription into the pharmacy for a patient who had been discharged because I forgot due to too much going on. I was more concerned about the pt getting his vicodin than any potential consequences from not taking care of my business. I cleared my conscience. Move forward one step at a time, as one experienced nurse told me when I began 3 months ago.

Dear Mochafrap, I just started reading your post and thought i'd written it myself! I started working on a med/surg floor at my local hospital 3 months ago, with 2 months of orientation, I've also been on my own for about a month now. Lately, i've been coming home crying because I get so far behind. I'm not timely about getting discharges out, and at the same time i'm worried about the other patients who need their meds on time. I got really, really, upset with the charge nurse who couldn't find the time to help me out. I was soooo frustrated that I went to the my team leader, I'm an LVN, and asked him to help me out, after I went to the restroom and indulged myself in some crying time because I was soo frustrated. The patient wasn't discharged after all because her blood pressure was out of control. I think my main issues are that I don't know how to prioritize better. I'm the only nurse on nightshift besides one other who runs around like a chicken with their head off trying to get things done. I'm scrambling and some of the other nurses were sitting in the station enjoying their conversations. I'm sure I was just jealous. To top it off, I didn't get done with my charting until 1 1/2 hours after shift change. If I didn't have that discharge problem, things might of been more timely. I also had a blood transfusion going on another patient. The am nurse wasn't happy with me (he had the same patient on the shift before) because it wasn't completed before the 5 am blood draws. I really want to do well at this job, at the moment i'm depressed, mad at the cold am nurse, and wish I could get those discharges out before 2200, if indeed they are stable to be discharged. Everyone else makes it seem so easy by the looks on their faces most of the time. I too, feel like they are getting tired of my questions, but maybe not. I'm one big insecurity right now. Not every shift is like this, but this past week gets the prize, if you know what I mean. P.S. the doctors around here do not like getting called in the night. You are not in the least bit alone. I just need to focus on what i'm doing right. I had at least two patients express gratitude for the care I was providing. I'm big on compassion, but not so much on time management (as of lately-discharges).

I'm happy for you!! I decided to return to school to become a nurse after 17 years as an elementary school teacher. I wasn't happy being in the field anymore. I just graduated in December, passed boards, and got hired at the local hospital. I plan on spending the rest of my days in the nursing field!!! btw, i'll be 44 this summer.

They hire new grads where I'm from. I applied but didn't get the job. I'm glad because I think i'd be too intimidated by the environment.

Hi, I'm going to turn 44 in August. I graduated from the vocational nursing program this past December and just got hired at the local hospital. Life is good!!!! I plan to continue my education and earn my RN degree, i'll probably be 47 or 48 by the time i'm done, and i'm o.k. with that. I was an elementary school teacher for many years before deciding to go back to school. School was hard, but I loved the challenge. I say, go for your dream. Make sure you love to learn, because there will be a never ending supply of it!

If you are content with what you are doing, then continue doing it. I'd only go into something else if it's what you want to do because you're the one who has to get there. Pressure is no fun. Examine all your options and try to do this when you can without a stressed state of mind. Hope this helps some.