Rylee2008

I work in a smaller OR and we actually all get along pretty well. My hospital is getting better at not tolerating a hostile work environment. I let things roll off my back, but I will stick up for myself. No one deserves to be dumped on because others are having a bad day, but I do pick my battles because during some situations, its not appropriate to knit-pick.

I work from 6:30 am to 3:00 pm. We take calls every 6th working day and every 6th weekend, which includes Friday from 3:00 pm until Monday at 6:30 am. Things can change daily due to cases being delayed or because of add-ons. Thursday, while on call, I worked 20 hours straight. My supervisor did give me the next day off to recover, which gave me a three-day weekend off. A lot of time on call, I never get called in, so I can't complain.

I love the OR. I have never been bored. I get to do everything from IV sedation to Code C's. On call I never know what I'll get, but usually it's a trauma patient. I think I give better care because I only have one patient at a time and my full attention is given to them and only them. You do need thick skin and the ability to let things roll off your back. Good luck.

Sorry to hear this. When I trained in the OR I had a preceptor for 6 months who I pretty much just followed and then she followed me. I did have the advantage of having a surg. tech degree first which helped a lot. Hang in there, the OR can be a cold place, but once you build trust with the providers, CRNAs and other nurses things usually get better. Everyone was in your position at one point and sometimes they forget it. Good luck.

I also have a surgical tech. degree and trust me, nursing school is conditioning for the stressful work environment. I have see worse behavior in the OR. I have seen doctors scream at nurses, instruments thrown and swearing you won't hear from a truck driver. Facilities are getting better, but they tip-toe around doctors because they need them more than a nurse or a surgical tech. I learned to turn off my emotions and let things fly off my back, because honestly I don't think it will change. I'm actually thinking about finding a clinical job for less stress.

This nursing diagnosis is right on.

I can't wait to graduate. I'm starting a job as a LPN which will turn into a RN position after I graduate in May. I will miss my friends, but most of all I'm very proud of my accomplishments.

Congrats for being accepted. Listen to your heart and if you want this, you can do it. Yes, nursing school is hard but it can be done or there won't be any nurses. I'm graduating in May and I did this for my family. I did miss out on school events and other things, but I still found time for my family. Good luck.

I graduate in May and this semester has been the hardest. I think students hit a point of "burn out". I had to learn to be a "B" student instead of an "A" student and that is alright for me. I need sleep more than an "A" on a test. Hang in there and keep the prize in sight. Good Luck.

The patient which I refer to in the post had a total knee replacement. He had no drug history that I know of and also had chronic pain due to arthritis.

I'm a nursing student who will graduates in May. I hate clinicals. I hate the crabby nurses and instructors who treat us like children. My questions is, does it get better once you graduate and working on your own? I'm afraid I made a bad choice going into nursing. Did anyone else feel this way?

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. I know I'm the patient's advocate and I'm there for the best interest of the patient and not to make friends. I feel this nurse was just on a power trip.

I'm in my last semester of nursing and I'm sick of staff nurses not believing patients about their pain. I had a one day post-op patient who was in pain and asked for his percocet. I gave him his meds and the nurse freaked out on me. She said "he's going home in two days and he needs to deal with his pain and you don't need to medicate him every time he complains he's in pain" She demanded my instructors name because she was going to talk to her about my actions. He was only getting it q4hrs. I have never been yelled at before in clinicals by a nurse, they usually tell me I'm doing great. My instructor told me to blow it off, but it just makes me mad about how she treated me and the patient.

I was offered a position at a Rehabilitation Center as a LPN for $13.00hr and after I graduate in May and hopefully pass my RN boards, they are willing to bump me up to $19.00 - $20.50/hr. They thought it was a win-win due to the fact they could train me using my LPN for my RN position which was cheaper for them. I will be working weekends and with second shift will get a .50/hr bump and third $1.00/hr bump. Does this wage sound reasonable for my first RN position? I live in northern Wisconsin and employers don't like sharing what the average wage is for their RNs.

I average about 7 hours on class days and 6 hours on clinical days. The night before a test I need at least 7 so I can think clearly.

I'm married with two children. It is hard to balance school, work and family life. My husband doesn't understand why I have to study for hours either. He recently lost his job due to a company bankruptcy. I work every weekend, go to school full-time, cook, clean and pay bills. I need to graduate in May so we can afford our bills and he still doesn't get it. I just think others who are not in nursing school or have been in the past have no idea. Hang on it's almost over.

We also have this issue at our school. I just act above it. The NCLEX doesn't care who was teacher's pet. It does make you mad when others get through without doing all the work, but their luck will run out sooner or later.

We have to take the test in order to get into the nursing program. I failed the first time in the math by 1 point. I later found out while talking to other students, I was the only student who was not given a calculator. The directions even indicate you can not use a calculator. I had to wait six months and it is now posted you can use a calculator. When I took the test over, it was the same exact test. I was told since I did poorly in the math, they weren't sure I would do well in the nursing program. Egg on their face, I'm have received only A's and B's and I graduate in May. Get the study guide, some of the questions in the guide are on the test.

Our school recommended A&P I, A&P II and then Micro. I took A&P I, Micro and then A&P II and it worked well. A&P II and Mirco had a lot of the same information and test material. We didn't have to take Patho. because ours was incorporated within AP.

Your weather sounds like ours in Wisconsin!! I also work weekends as a LPN and can't wait to finish my RN in May. Just to have a day where I don't have to worry about what paper is due, what chapters to read and what test to study for will be great. I'm also tired of planning my life around school.

I also feel a little overwhelmed. At times I feel like I'm not retaining anything I learned. Today I made a stupid mistake in clinical. I was so upset with myself because I felt like a fool in front of the instructor. I finally told myself that I didn't endanger the patient and I actually caught my mistake immediately so I shouldn't be so hard on myself. The fast pace, high expectations from instructors and no time to prepare is bothering me, but some how I'm make it through.

I thought this semester would be easier, but our school made some changes for our last clinical rotation. They added a few presentations and a few extra APA papers. I keep telling myself I can do anything for 3 1/2 months. My personal life also has changed, my husband is unemployed now and I really feel the pressure to graduate and get a job.

A vacation sounds great and well deserved.

I'm so excited that I finally graduate the RN program in May. After three long years it's almost over. I'm excited, sad and scared all at the same time. How does everyone else feel about graduating and what are your future plans? I know I'm really going to miss my friends and I really don't know what I'm going to do with my free time. Nursing school was the hardest thing I have ever done and we should all be proud of ourselves for all we have accomplished.