nursecompassion

I signed on to my hospital in the end of August and started on the unit a few weeks later, minus about 3 weeks of classes (nursing orientation, iv therapy, tele), I've actually been on the unit with a preceptor for 7 weeks. There are many moments when I question the safety of my license by staying here. Our average pt ratio is between 1:5 or 1:6, however if an LPN is working the floor then we have to "focus" on their pt as well, so you might have 5 or 6 patients of your own and then focus on 1 or 2 more. We pass all of our meds, do the tx's, assessments, everything! It is a med/surg, renal, tele unit, and the acuity of our patients can be very high at times and overwhelming. Numerous times we have sent patients to the ICU. It's crazy!!! I haven't cried yet, almost did one day because I had only seen one of patients one time and was very unorganized. It's getting better, and I believe I just have to stay positive and be strong and continue to ask questions and believe in what I am doing! Good luck to all of you! God Bless! jules:balloons:

I'm a new grad and am working on a med/surg floor which is having difficulty with staff not reading the kardex's and missing orders, data, etc. Where does your unit keep your Kardex? Where I precepted at spring quarter they were kept with the pt MAR, which seems to me like a great idea for where I'm working now. What do you think?

I took the nclex in august and took about 45 minutes for 75 questions. I felt really positive and happy and told my husband I passed,,,,then I went home and started thinking of the questions and looking up answers, by that night i was convinced I had failed. However..........I PASSED I found out online the next day on my state boards website............. Just try to be positive and good luck jules

Hey Everyone, It's good to come here and view the other posts by fellow new grads. I graduated in June, accepted a position on a med/surg & isolation floor which also has dialysis on the unit. I passed my board the first time in August and started on the floor a couple weeks later. Right now I'm finishing up my fifth week of orientation and am taking on 5 patients usually 2 of which are isolation. The first few days of the five patient load was extremely hectic and I felt so unorganized! However, yesterday was a good day, but then of course I remembered something I forgot as I was driving home. I'm just wondering if I am where I should be 5 weeks into orientation on my unit??? The nurses on my floor say we should be a stepdown unit, due to the acuity of our patients. Actually one of my patients yesterday was a transfer from CCU. I'm trying to stay positive, but I feel I should be doing more by now. jules

Sometimes I find myself wondering the same thing, but I don't think it's just among the new grads on my unit. I think the patients are sicker with multiple problems and pt load is to much. I've already heard from nurses on my unit. I find myself going into my patients rooms, giving care and have to look at my flow sheet to recall why they're even here! I feel like I never have time to even take a look in their charts at their history. It feels really crazy some days, I hope that it all "comes together" sooner than later! Hope everyone hangs in there and good luck on your orientation! jules

Our program required us to pass the HESI review test with at least an 850 (first time I had an 817, second time 1008) or they won't graduate you. So AFTER we took the test, then we had a week of actual HESI review. I also used NCLEX 3500 and review questions from the discs that came with my med/surg books. I ended up passing the NCLEX with 75 questions on my first try.

I think my area has low pay for RN's. I'm a new grad making 23.92/hr on midnights thats with shift diff, weekend diff is only 1.25/hr! I have a friend who moved to VA making 38/hr as a new grad.

At first I was going to work a day/evening rotation, 8 hr shifts (my unit only has 8 hr shifts) however I will be working midnights. I've always worked midnights at my previous jobs and it's the shift I wanted. I work 64hrs/pay, however there are always opportunities to pick up extra shifts. We rotate holidays and have every other weekend off. PTO is accumulated by the hours you work and how many years you've been employed there. It's works out to around 6.5 hours of PTO per pay. So about 170 hours a year for me or 4.5 weeks. jules

Hey Everyone, It's good to come here and view the other posts by fellow new grads. I graduated in June, accepted a position on a med/surg & isolation floor which also has dialysis on the unit. I passed my board the first time in August and started on the floor a couple weeks later. Right now I'm finishing up my fifth week of orientation and am taking on 5 patients usually 2 of which are isolation. The first few days of the five patient load was extremely hectic and I felt so unorganized! However, yesterday was a good day, but then of course I remembered something I forgot as I was driving home. I'm just wondering if I am where I should be 5 weeks into orientation on my unit??? The nurses on my floor say we should be a stepdown unit, due to the acuity of our patients. Actually one of my patients yesterday was a transfer from CCU. I'm trying to stay positive, but I feel I should be doing more by now. jules:uhoh3:

I don't know what our class average is.........but we have to maintain a 77% to pass. NO rounding up allowed. Also our program started out with a little over 70 students, now we're around 40. jules

first quarter all weekend! Now takes me about 2.5-3 hours for 10 page careplan and an IPR

I think for me your answer made the most sense and was the simplest. Jules ?

4 hours of theory 2 hours of proficiency 4 hours of lab 3 hours of human bio lab 4 hours of human bio lecture 4 hours of clinical

Just wondered if anyone had advice or has went through similar experience? I am a CNA at a nursing home currently on maternity leave AND have orientation for my ADN program on Wednesday....classes start the 20th. Well two weeks ago I called my employer and told the DON I need copies of my TB and HepB records and she said stop by anytime and she would get me copies. Welllllllll, I stopped by on Wednesday and no-one could find my HepB records, all they could find was my HepB titer authorization form, THEN they gave me the wrong TB record, it was last years and not this years! So, I called back today to see if she found it (the new SDC-only been there a week) and she didn't have time too look. :angryfire Like WTF! I have to have this stuff by Tuesday, shouldn't they have these documents/records organized better!???The new SDC said she's been finding ppl's records mixed in with eachothers! I don't have time for their misorganization!!!!Is there anything I can do to speed up the process or put a little fire under there A--!? If I had known it would be this much trouble to get a freakin copy of something I would have tried months ago! :angryfire Julee wife to jeremy mom to blake (5), braden (23 months), briley (induction on 9-24)

Just wanted to say Hi and introduce myself and give you a little info about my experiences. I am married and have two sons and another son on the way (I am seven months prego), I start an RN program on Sept 20th and will be induced after clinicals on Sept 24th. Anyhow, I have been and continue to be an STNA here in southeastern ohio. (Since March 2003) Have to say it is a very draining job--physically and emotionally. It is not all bad, there are the moments of thanks from residents (I work in a nursing home) and even from co-workers. I am pretty lucky at my work because alot of our employees there are related. Alot! Untill, recently my mom worked there with me. So, that makes it easier to have support at work. I have gotten over the gross part of my job, I don't even think twice about it now. However, I don't know if I'll ever get over mucous! I work 3 12's a week, unless I pick up bonus time. My typical day--------come in at 7p. Answer call lights, help get residents to bed (bathing, putting night clothes on, brushing teeth, etc). Around 8 pass ice and snacks. Then hopefully finish putting remaining R in bed. Do a bedcheck at 9:30, then at 10 do paperwork and flow sheets. At 11 take my change-over break. Come back get towels, socks, linens, etc. Pass them and lay out clothing, linens for morning. Answer call lights, etc. At midnight do a bedcheck, at 0030 breaktime. Come back to pm paperwork, sometimes do nurses I&O's. At 0130 do another bedcheck then at 0200 lunchtime. Continue to answer call lights, straighten residents rooms, do whatever cleaning needs done, etc. At 0330 do final bedcheck, then go on last break. Come back fill in I&O's start getting ready to get ppl up for am. At 0430-+0500 we start getting residents up. Have a total of eight in my section. Must give complete baths, dress, brush teeth, comb hair, make beds, etc. Also, must weigh some residents. Clock out at 0700! I have to say that there are moments when I miss working in retail. Then, I think this is the only job I've ever had where I don't feel guilty when I'm not with my children. Because no matter how disgusting it can be, I am truly helping and making another persons life better. julee

I was just wondering what you nurses or even aides would have done in this situation and if you have ever encountered similar cases. One of our residents was sent to the hospital to have a blood transfusion at 1245. At 2045 the resident was picked up by two members of our own staff. When they got there his hospital bed was completely soaked....with brown rings and all. He had the same pants on and [b]attend :angryfire [/b] that he had arrived in the hospital in!!!!! It was apparent that in the eight hours he had been there, not once was he changed or taken to the bathroom . How could someone do that to another human being? So, being who I am I was pissed when my fellow co-workers told me and when I saw his pants and the sodden attend (from our facility) so I called the hospital and talked to his nurse who I let have it in a very direct, but professional way. Now I myself am just an aide and nursing student, however that made me blow my lid! I told my supervisor after the fact that I had called and he did not jump my back, just told me to make sure that I inform him of the situation before taking care of it myself. I told him the facts and the nurses name and he said that he would report the hospital staff to our DON, I only hope he follows through. The nurses excuse was that she "thought her aide was taking care of him :stone ." I think she better find a new line of work! The aide should be disciplined as well and held accountable! p.s Our hospital in not a big hospital it is located in small community and last I heard they were laying off employees. I think they layed off the wrong ones! Julee

This will be my first quarter of nursing, I was induced with my two boys, so I am not worried about that. I also breastfed my second for four months and supplemented with formula when I started working. My schedule will be Mondays 8-3, Tues-Thurs 8-12 and Fridays I have clinicals 8-12. I think I am going to try to, because if I don't I will feel guilty, but even two weeks of mommy's milk is better than none. We get breaks during classes so I know I could pump then, however I hate pumping. With my second son, he and I fell into a pattern and I would only start to let down during feeding times. My breasts and milk supply became regular with our schedule. So I am hoping that works this time. thanks julee

I figure since we discuss every body part here, why not my boobs? Actually, I was wondering if any current or past nursing students have ever attempted to breastfeed while in nursing school and how did it turn out for you. I am due the second week of class (september 29th) with my third son, however I am going to be induced on september 24th after clinicals and as long as all goes well, be back in class by tuesday the 28th at the latest. I breastfed my second son for four months and supplemented with formula when I returned to work, however I am concerned if I will be able to do this while in school. Any suggestions or support is appreciated. thanks julee

We have our own I&0's and I do mine, however the nurses have to tally the totals and put them in their own charts. Sometimes, if I have time I will put the inputs in for them! :)

We have a restorative department. They work during the day individually with the residents. Our LTC is also a rehabilitation center that has its own therapy department at the facility. However, I work 7p-7a so I am one of those night shift ppl. There have been occasions where R have been left up. As long as they are dry or as dry as can be expected and dressed for bed, then no I don't scream bloody murder. I just think that its an issue of time management and learning the ropes. The things I do get p-o'd about is when ice doesn't get passed or residents are put in bed still dressed or bed check has not been done. There are certain things that can be overlooked (we all have good and bad days) however, letting R go thirsty or having them have their feet touching the edge of the bed and them lying completely on their back or them being a total bed change is something I don't tolerate and I let ppl know. Julee

First of all........I have a problem with the "there was'nt enought time" excuses. I work in a LTC facility(little over a year) and have worked all of the units. One of our units holds up to 44 residents. During the day that unit get 3-4 aides, at night 2. Another unit holds 28 residents, they get 2 aides 24/7. Also, there is a unit that can hold 35 they get 3 aides during the day and 2 a night. Alzheimers unit holds 16, they get 1 aide and 1 nurse during day, then 2 aides afternoon and 2 aides at night, while nurse is on other unit but still available. Finally, there is a unit that holds 21 residents and has 2 aides during the day and at night 80% of the time has one aide. Now, with all of that said, I work 7p-7a. I have many of times worked the unit with 21 residents by myself and have still been able to do ALL of my checks, my charting, pass linens/clothes, take residents who are able to the bathroom as needed and answer call lights.In addition, in the mornings.....bathe, dress, and provide care to eight or more residents within a 2 and a half hour time frame.... Sometimes I even do the I&O's for my nurse as well as her vitals. Yeah, it sucks and if you are not able to do it, then you need to go and talk to someone in charge, however it can be done. I am sorry, but that is exactly why LTC facilities and STNA's get bad wraps! I do agree that the staffing sucks, however that is no reason to not give 110% to our residents. I am 6 months pregnant and can do it! Furthermore, no---one can MAKE you falsify anything! Julee

Basically it comes down to helping ppl. My family and strangers. I used to work in retail. I'd feel guilty being away from my children. However, now that I am an STNA and nursing student I don't have that guilt. Because I know that what I am doing truly benefits everyone. I am making a difference in someone else's life, even if it may be small or only for a little while. I love my job and the rewards that come with it emotionally and financially. Sure, there are times when I have bad days, but usually that is due to the slack of my co-workers, and you have that anywhere you go. Good luck, Julee

My mother, two out of three of my sisters, and my aunt have bi-polar disorder. I have done quite a bit of research and also have the first hand experience of being around family members with it, so if you have any questions you could PM me. I have read that most ppl with bi-polar are misdiagnosed almost 8 times before they recieve proper treatment. This is a disorder that without proper meds, unfortunately can bring heartache and havok to your life and destroy it. My mom and one of my sisters when they have a manic episode (usually occurs if they are not taking their meds), are sexually deviant, very loud and chattery. They are constantly on the go and have trouble sleeping at night and sometimes have trouble sleeping at all. They can also be very emtional and sometimes violent. My other sister is more depressive. Even with meds she tends to be moody and can get very quiet. She cannot keep a job, she is paranoid around others. Tends to get panick or anxiety attacks. When she has a manic episode she would get extremely angry or violent. Not sexually deviant. I hope this helps.... :) Julee

i have never witnessed anyone on my shift doing this at my ltc facility, but if i did i would definitely report it. try not to put all of us 20 somethings in the same category. there are those of us that truly love our jobs, and our residents. i find ppl at my work of all ages that could give more than they do. of course, i have a big mouth at my work (not meaning gossip, just meaning i don't put up with crap from others) and i told my supervisor's when i started i was'nt there to make friends i was there to care for my residents! some ppl are just around to bring home a paycheck and unfortunately it sounds like they work with you. good luck with the situation. julee

I am a stna and I make 1.00 shift dif. I work 7p-7a. My friend who is an RN gets at least 2.00 shift dif. Julee