RNrhythm

I leave my house at 0625, walk onto my unit around 0645, clock in at 0700. I used to have a 90 minute commute so I know how lucky I am.

Oh no! That was my worst fear. My heart goes out to you. I wonder if it would be any help to seek out a public advocacy news reporter? Sometimes they can get things moving by helping bring attention to your plight.

I only wear my compression socks when working. Normally I buy a wider shoe or brand for all of my shoes. With compression socks, my feet are a little narrower and a regular width fits perfectly. This was news to me and I am surprised at how well my new shoes fit. (New Balance Fresh Foam M1080J11)

Does anyone use one app for home and personal schedules? Maybe with to-do and shopping lists? I am using the same basic work schedule app for years and want to find something cross-platform (cell phone + laptop/desktop) to manage things. I imagine my cell phone has untapped features I should look into as well. I appreciate any recommendations.

You probably already read this on CA BRN site, but: "If the license has been lapsed longer than eight years, the RN must submit the delinquent renewal fee, 30 hours of continuing education, and proof of competency to practice by either verification of a current active license in another state or U.S. territory, or by retaking the licensing exam." Sound like you need to retake the NCLEX.

I received the same order the other day and had to stare at it for a bit. I was unfamiliar with the hyperkalemic protocol and my error WOULD have been giving the insulin subQ but the checks built into our system stopped me and I gave it IV push, correctly. Yeah, 9 mLs of insulin is pretty crazy but whatever. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE forgive yourself and move on. Seriously.

We say emergency department a lot. We say ED at my California hospital. Maybe because it is so huge?

Nothing allowed below the elbow where I work. No watches, smart or otherwise. Wedding bands are permitted.

I work in a large hospital and now realize I would not know if you, or any of my coworkers, chose not to get vaccinated. I think if anyone is skipping the vaccine, they are keeping quiet about it.

When I look back at my first few years, I realize the large role anxiety played in my challenges. I may not have looked anxious, but I dreaded going to work and had trouble sleeping. Having unsupportive, cliquish coworkers and constantly changing managers and educators didn't help either! But I got my acute care experience and eventually got a better job. I am perfectly happy now and love my unit and my job. How does someone improve their critically thinking? No one has ever explained that to me. I think I am smart but maybe a little too task focused and often I am impressed by the critical thinking leaps done by others, including students I precept. That being said, I know my own strengths and know I am an above average bedside nurse that people like working with. Give yourself a break! You have a good job and are building skills, experience, and connections. You have so much success ahead of you.

If you work nights and have a commute, plan to eat a banana or an apple during your commute. You can safely eat them while driving and it will blunt that morning hunger. You will get a serving or two of fruit and fiber, the crunch and natural sugar will perk you up, and you will be less likely to hit the drive-thru on your way home.

On work days, I wake up 45 minutes or more before my alarm goes off. This only happens on work days. I would rather sleep until closer to my alarm setting! If I go to bed earlier to recoup this lost sleep time, I just wake up even earlier. I sleep very well, otherwise. How can I stop over-anticipating my alarm clock?

Original Poster here: A month and a half later, despite being very careful, I had very mild symptoms and tested positive last week. Symptoms resolved in a few days and I am quarantined from my family for 10 days, then back to work. Family quarantined too but all negative so far. I was always masked, but with a procedure mask, not an N95. None of my patients were known to have COVID but may have converted just after admission. We have had outbreaks among staff, including several of my direct coworkers. This time off has been interesting. I did not realize how stressed I was. I am looking forward to seeing my work friends next week but I am also thinking about how nice it will be to retire someday, or maybe take a job away from the bedside.

Totally random, as with hiring in most non-seasonal professions. I once got an interview and hardcopy job offer 2 days after applying (I loved that job, BTW) but otherwise totally random. I have gotten calls 6 months after applying, though usually I would just get an automated "requisition closed" email a few months later. Typically I'd find out from friends (or here!) when some people got interviews when I had not heard anything myself. For a new grad, typically a large facility will have hire a cohort all at once with group orientation, etc. Calls go out around the same time. People post about it here.

Oops! Duplicate reply.

Bedside RN here. I have not knowingly cared for any COVID patients with active infection and most (but not all) of my patients have an in-house negative swab before they come to my unit. I have never been tested. I have coworkers who get tested regularly on their own outside of work. Should I have a COVID test? What is your personal policy on the matter?

Lots of beards at my hospital before COVID-19. Now everyone is COVID-clean so their masks get a good seal.

Look at job openings where you plan to work. What do they say? Ask the HR departments of your potential employers. For example, the Federal system, Veteran's Administration, is very specific.

If you get caught/arrested you can lose your license.

That first year is terrible but it calms down and then one day you realize you are fine, getting your breaks, charting all done, etc. After the first 30 or 40 times I came home and said, "What a day!" I realized that what I was experiencing was baseline and not worth commenting on to my spouse. Don't forget your self-care: Enjoy your days off, get exercise, pack good lunches when you work, and generally be kind to yourself. You will ALWAYS think abut how much more you could have done if you weren't so busy. One day, two of my patients were off the unit for procedures and I spent a lot of time doing education with a whole family about a new diagnosis. I won a customer service award! BECAUSE I HAD TIME.

Best advice, in my opinion. This is an important lesson because you will encounter this problem from time to time. These "mean girl" types are not open to reasoning and professional conversation. It is just a waste of your breath and gives them something more to gossip about.

What a nightmare. Often these off-unit administrations are unscanned. You may run down to MRI with some Ativan but there is no workstation equipped with a scanner. That always make me nervous and I am very careful.

Lots of opinions about shoes but I think most people will agree on compression socks.

Thank-You to the OP and all who replied. I was wondering the exact same thing, myself.

I am curious if anyone has encountered any legalized marijuana on your unit? Vapes, edibles, whatever else people use now. Do you have any policies on it? Interesting stories? I am surprised I have not run into it yet. I hear it might interfere with Keppra but honestly do not know about interactions. How about in SNF or LTAC or other long term care where patients remain a long time?