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Last night was the last night of my first job..I lasted 11 months on the night shift (6:30 pm to 7:00am). My body and my family could not take those hours any longer. I will be working as a visiting nurse starting tomorrow (Monday), and working per deim for our local hospice. They have a 22 bed inpatient unit that is set up mostly like a hospital. This way I can keep my hands in some what of a clinical setting. Good luck. Phil

Hi all, It has been a while since I have been here. This past year being a nurse has turned my life upside down. Working the night shift has taken it's toll on me and my family. Not to mention, my brother (45 years old) was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer the week before Christmas. He has since had a Radical Prostatectomy and that brings me to this posting. I am looking for some advise on how to explain to my faamily that just because I am a nurse does not mean that I can be the Ann Landers of the family. I have gone to the Dr's appointments, done the research, provided the information (it seems that Dr. and I have access to the same information). But I CAN NOT make the decisions. It seems my family expects me to do that too. The latest is my inability to fix his leaking bladder. How should I respond to things like: " that Dr. nust have done someting wrong. He just keeps leaking urine like Niagara Falls"; or "We are spending so much money on those pads, but they just don't seem to help." I do not know what else to say. Does anyone have any suggestions other than diapers and pads to help with the leaking problem? I and the Dr. have told my family that Tim needs to work at re-establishing bladder control (the foley has only been out for 2 weeks), and that his progress is totally dependent on how much he puts into the keegle exercises, and the awareness he needs to develope. Oh, and please save your time... He will not even entertain the idea of pelvic floor stimulation as : "I am not putting any probe (you know where) to have myself electrocuted." This my seem long and I am sorry, but is there any advise to be had? Thanks... sign me. Trying to take off the nurses hat and failing.

Hi all. It has been a while since I posted. I just wanted to update you all on how things are going with my first nursing job. I finished my first week of orientation today, and oh my god... How the heck do you guys do it. They throw so much information at you, it is overwhelming. I am afraid I am not going to remember something and end up hurting someone. I start on the floor on Tuesday. Maybe I am crazy, but it seemed that during the classes the instructors emphasized the implications of a law suit more then anything else. This makes me very nervous. Is that common? Well, thanks for all of your encouragement throughout this process. It is nice to know I have a place to go and talk with other people who know what I am going through. Have a good weekend and I'll keep you posted.

Protocol at the hospital where I work is that ALL CPR venilations are done with a barrier device, and they are on the cart. Also, our crash carts are checked every day. I would question why the bag/mask/ barrier device is not on the cart.

I know how you feel. I worked 10 hour days and went to school at night, and kept that full time schedule throughout the whole program. Getting to work at 6 am and home some nights after midnight was really tough. But just as I did it, so could you. I graduated in January, passed NCLEX in February, and will start my first nursing job April 5th on a critical care step down unit. Short timers disease will ruin you if you let it get the best of you. I saw this happen to one of my classmates and she failed. Keep focused as best you can, you are almost there!!! You can do it. Good luck

Hi Guys, It's been a while since I posted, things have been in a whirlwind since I got my license. My current employer has been giving me a hard time because she knows I have been looking to leave now that I been licensed. But anyway, I took my first job. Open Heart, Neurosurgery Critial Care Step Down Unit. 3 twelve hour shifts, ration 4/5 :1. Starting April 5th. Gave my 30 day notice today (required by my contract). YEAH I am so excited !!!. Anyway, does anyone have any good suggestions for men's footware? I have been looking and there are soooo many types out there (and price ranges) I don't know if I am coming or going trying to figure out what the best choice is. You guys have been so great and helpful, thought I would ask the crowd. Thanks and have a great week.

I took NCLEX on Feb 9th, (and passed). I took the review class my school offered and bought NCLEX-RN Made Incredibly Easy, and Mosby's (4th edition). NCLEX Mde Easy.....What a fantastic book. The section on how to break down the NCLEX questions from Nursing process to Maslow's needs was excellent. lso, the CD was great too. I think that was the book that mae all the difference for me. I was more successful on the Mosby's practice questions and CD after I reviewed with Incredible Easy. Good Luck!!!

sorry, pushed the wrong button before I was done...... any way, the NCLEX-RN made easy was the best book for me. The section on how to break down the NCLEX questions by Nursing Process, then Maslow's needs really put things in great perspective for me, and the CD that came with it had very similar question s the NCELX. The next book that I used was the Mosby's (4th edition) good CD and practice questions. Good Luck

I just passed NCLEX,and I used Mosby's 4th edition (good CD), I also used NCLEX-RN Made Incredibly Easy... this book really put thing in good perspective and the CD was amazing!!! I also used the NCLEX-PN Incred. easy when I took my LPN. The other book I used was a book (paraphrasing the title becasue I loaned it to a friend) 3000 Nursing Tips, this was a book of 3000 simple facts like .." in Celiac disease, patients are allowed to eat Rice and Corn".... Simple tips that stick in your head. Good luck and make sure yo rest the day before your exam.

paCo2 and HCo3 arrows pointing in the same diretion equals compensation. I just learned this in my pathophys class

My error. The step down unit is ratio 5 or 6 to 1. This was another job that is I am looking at. The CCU is ration 2 or 3 to 1. Sorry. The numbers were switced.

Hi all, I am a 39 yr old male who just passed NCLEX. Nursing is a second ,new career for me. My dream job just came along.Cardiac Critial Care Unit. This is a new 6 month preceptor program for new nurses only. 3 (12.5) hour shifts, 6:30pm to 7:00am, every 3rd weekend. Patient ratio is 2 to 1. The money is equal to my current pay, so I would not be loosing anything financially. My problem: Some nurses I know have advisd me against it, saying things like: " you should work med surg first. The pateint ratio of the floor will force you to learn god priority setting, time management and assessment skills", the unit is so much responsibilty, why would you want to put your license on the line when you just got it", Why would you want to leave the job you already have (not in the medical profession at all, Mon-Fri 8-5), take a per diem job somewhere and have the best of both." I am soooo confused and do not know what to tink or do. Any advise?

Congratulations!!!!!!

Hi all, I need some advise. 39 yrs old, nursing is a new career for me. I just passed the boards, and my dream job is available. In a cardiac critical care unit. It is a new 6 month preceptor program, for new grads only. 3 (12) hour shifts, 6:30 pm to 7:00 am and every 3rd weekend, pateint ratio 5 or 6 to 1, Pay is equal to the monday - friday 8-5 job I have right now, so If I take the rn job, I am not losing any money. Problem: some other nurses I know advise me against it saying " you should do some med surg first", "why leave the good job you already have, when you can take a per diem job and have the best of both", " the doors where u are have just been flng open, you can work your way up the ladder".... yada yada yada. I hope u see the picture. I am sooooo confused. I do not know what to do or where to turn. Any advise? :uhoh21:

I just took the boards in New York (and passed thank GOD) on Moday. I had to have my fingerprint done, But it was elecronic (fiberoptic).