NorthStar

In some countries, it is just a "given" that the family's come in and do the actual "hands-on" care of the patient. The nurses pass the meds and do the education with the families. Now, that is heaven on earth.....where people are caring for people. (not 1 nurse caring for 10)

I passed out at the sight of blood for a long time. When I started nursing school, I nearly passed out watching an IV being started. Don't worry, just keep moving forward. The best thing I can tell you is to work in the hospital as a CNA or something until you eventually get used to the sights and smells. It gets easier!

This really happened to me when I was triage nurse in the ER...I asked the patient what brought him to the ER. His response was..."Whenever I get out in the cold weather, my nipples get hard and erect and ache a little bit"

Believe it or not, I found my brother on this site....he's an RN in another country!

It's easy to give/receive compliments and lay them on heavy when you are around a person at work for an extended period of time. Often we are with our co-workers greater amounts of time than we are with our own spouses/significant others. After a while we begin to cross the boundary of professionalism. My advice is to speak up and be totally honest. ...."I noticed that you are laying the compliments on pretty thick lately"....May as well air it out and clear it up before it gets too thick.

I think it revolves around 2 different things. First being that you are acutely aware of "signs and symptoms" of diseases etc., and you begin to become psychologically physically aware. Second is that you are afraid because you've seen the human aspect of medical care. Being afraid if you really are dying and not having anybody take you seriously enough to rule out a life-threatening condition/illness. I fear stuff like "primary pulmonary hypertension". During nursing school I was afraid that I had Hodgkins Disease. Now that I'm in my early 40's, of course the biggest scare is breast cancer. I'm afraid there are lumps sometimes, even though I don't feel anything.

Sounds to me also like cyclic vomiting syndrome. My daughter did the same thing for about 5 years before I FINALLY got a diagnosis from a pediatric gastroenterologist. Dx. CVS

Apply for some leave without pay to "recover from some emotional upsets", then start your new job and tell them as long as you are not on your old job, you don't have any emotional upsets.

There have been a lot of studies on night shift workers. A lot of nurses go into adrenal exhaustion related to increased cortisol levels, and decreased thyroid levels. Weight gain and depression, depending on your age will most likely be a result unless you just have an amazing endocrine system. If you are working the night shift, drink lots of water, iced tea or hot tea, take 7-Keto (found in health food stores) to keep your metabolism stable. Eat when you are truly hungry, eat whatever you want...just in moderation. Stick to protein foods after 3am, so you won't wake up hungry when you are sleeping. Everytime I have started on a night shift schedule, I would gain 30+ pounds over a period of time. Last summer I switched to days and lost all the weight. I took a contract again, and have gained back 20 again. Now, I know what contributes to the weight gain, I'm finally gaining success in working nights and losing fat. (ps...the 7-Keto really does work) Best of luck to you!

I'm assuming that you had to spend time away from you child to get your BSN?

You mentioned that you are a new nurse. You are also human. It's completely understandable that you would begin to feel some attraction for someone that you are with most of the time. I think it's often the case that when we are one on one with someone at work, we often spend more time and thought with that person than our own significant other (if there is one). Probably why a lot of "cheating" goes on in the workplace. Just like your "orientation" will eventually be over, so will the "honeymoon" stage with your preceptor. You could probably say that you weren't instantly attracted to this person. But after a period of time, an attraction developed due to the amount of time you spend with this person. Nothing wrong with attraction, just remember that you will be more attractive to another individual if you keep your integrity at work.

Just food for thought: I've seen it where the patient was verbally and physically assaulted and was escorted by the law out of the ER.....then later to find that they had a severe case of viral meningitis. To hear some more stories...go to http://www.overlakehospital.com

A lot of hospitals/facilities will tolerate MD behavior simply for financial reasons. There is something that I want to throw out there. Ever notice that physicians will back each other up NO MATTER WHAT? Even if they don't like each other, dissagree or there is obvious less than adequate standard of care being followed...they will back each other up. Most nurses on the other hand.....don't do this. Unfortunately they are the worse at backstabbing and malicous gossip. Maybe this is because they are working with one another for hours on end. Perhaps the trend would lean the other way if nurses were more supportive of one another and stand by each other. Nursing is not easy, the hours are long, the work is sometimes extremely stressful, and in some cases the pay stinks. Bottom line......nurses are not responsible for MD's behavior or feelings...nor are they responsible for each other's. More success is acheived by being able to respond to adversity "informationally" instead of "personally".

I think that it's very difficult trying to juggle a married relationship and children along with working 12 hour night shifts and taking call. An ER doc told me some time ago that his ex wife had BPD, (borderline personality disorder). He said that most medical professionals tend to attract persons that are needy. What do you all think?

My most dreaded orders from MD's are ones written in the emergency room. Example: Feed patient, clean pt.'s feet and then do trial ambulation while recording O2 sat's, and then send patient home with x-ray's and make appt for CT scan in one week....send home with 2 pre-packs......Orthostatics prior to discharge.