vintagemother BSN, CNA, LVN, RN

I used to work inpt psych. Now work Med-surg....and about half of our pts have psych issues, any given shift I might have 4 out of 5 of my pts with psych issues. It’s unofficial med-psych! ?

I like being a nurse. However, there are aspects that I don’t like. I enjoy caring for pts. I like it when I have the time to talk with them, listen to them tell me about their lives, educate them on the plan of care, self care, their disease proces...

Yes to black out curtains. I also have an essential oil diffuser that I put sleep oils in- eg lavender, etc. I prefer to cluster my nights together, so that I have more time to adjust to being awake during the day. My days off are kinda hard...I’m ...

I’m not sure if it’s “wiser”. But for me, I did benefit from going through the processes of going from CNA-LV:PN-RN. I am more aware of how the entire health care team plays a role. I am also good at doing “CNA tasks”. The work experience in a varie...

I work nocs. Nights are seen as “easier”, by many. However, where I work, ratios are different at night. Fewer aides eg none. No float nurse. Charge not present. Days has aides, a float RN to assist as well as a charge nurse and a manager available. ...

Yup! As for my experience: 45:1 memory care locked in dementia unit. 54:1 locked in long term psych. 16:1 locked in acute psych. 25-35:1 Skilled nursing / rehab. And now 5:1 med surg acute hospital.

I carry the following: a healthy lunch, healthy snacks, my stethoscope, badge, pens In various colors, bandage scissors, my day planner, a charger for my phone, chapstick, gum, a protein powder or protein drink (I work out almost daily and am always ...

I used to sell real estate. Now I'm an RN. I'll echo others sentiments: even if real estate agents work part time hours, they're available full time to clients. However, I've heard of agents using their work job connections to secure real estate cli...

Me, too! I was like, do they really not change gowns / gloves between patients?!?

I've been wanting to write a tip post for awhile. Because I've been facing some challenges in my LVN-RN bridge program and I don't want others to go through what I experienced. There are lots of tips on here for new nursing students, but we LVNs/LPN...

First, take a few deep cleansing breaths. Then, analyze the situation. Trace all lines and label them. I also move hanging IV meds on the IV pole so that they're directly above the channel that operates them. Next, do your research. You have resourc...

I had a horrible shift one night with 4/5 pts who all had multiple PRN narcotics scheduled Q4. All 4 of them also had manipulative behaviors and were attention seeking. One pts behavior was escalating, so I made sure I had a witness every time I went...

*If* you get a job in CA as a new grad RN in an *ACUTE* setting, you will probably make 90,000 +/yr *if* you get a job in the Bay or Northern CA. Please note, that's a lot of *ifs*. I was a new grad about 3 yrs ago and made 98K my first full year. ...

I'm sure you'll hear stories from people who finished LV/PN school while working full time to support themselves. As for me, I'm a good/great student. However, I couldn't work even part time while in LV/PN school. We had so much busy work/ homework....

"I started nights only 2 months ago. So far its been working great. I'm getting along with my colleages, getting used to the new sleep schedule. I haven't been eating AT ALL other than a big dinner right before coming into work. It holds me up pretty...

Those are all available. I attended Kaplan in Sac-- itnow has a different name.

So do Cs

I've cared for pts with swastikas. It was fine. As long as they do not threaten me. I did have a pt recently a few months ago who used racial slurs during care, and was swinging punches in the air when we tried to care for him. I called security ever...

Why is your 20K debt going to cost you 2K per mo? I had to take out a LOT of loans: 57K, and I pay ~350/mo on extended repayments. At $2K/mo you'll be done paying in less than 1 year or so. oh, wait. You said 200K?! That's way too much to take out!

I live in a diverse state. My floor has only 2 Black RNs, including myself, on a floor with I think >30 RNs. Yes, minorities are under represented as RNs. There is 1 black CNA. 1 Hispanic RN. I live in California. I've noticed not too many black R...

I have thought about how to prep for emergencies. I have a teen child at home. If there was an emergency, I have a friend who lives within 1/4 mile who I've asked to care for the child. I also prepped the kid on what to do in an emergency. I would pl...

I can not believe it's bern 17 years! I was a licensed child care provider. I had spent the night at my then boyfriends house and drove home at about 4am for my first client. At the coffee shop, everyone was glued to the tv. I didn't know why and did...

I work with one such woman. She's slow on the computer and has a limp, also. But she's very intelligent and an excellent resource. I don't mind helping her with physical tasks or computer based stuff. She has taught me a lot, as have other older nurs...

I wear non liquid porous shoes to work. Either leather or another solid type shoe. I've come home with blood splatters on the top of my shoe and I've almost been peed on by a pt with dementia we were turning- the pee landed on the floor about 1 inch ...

I was a flat iron person for most of my life. Through nursing school and my interviews for jobs and even for a few months as a new grad RN. I stopped flat ironing my hair after a few months as a night shift nurse. I've been natural for over 18 months...