jessiern

When I had my little one, the MD required a 18g-hospital required at least a 20g. Hurt like $^%^&$, and it took 4 sticks to get it (I have GREAT veins). Carried bruises around for 4 weeks, but if something had happened I'd been glad it was in.

Yep, sometimes we forget how dangerous this job can be. Been assualted by patients in the past myself. Sorry you had such a terrible night, and hopefully he'll be transfered or discharged by your next shift :)

I'm currently on maternity leave, but in the last week I worked, I had to transfer two critical patients to the ICU with fluid overload. One I had the whole shift, about 3 hours, and the the other from ER about 30 minutes before. I felt like crap, and had a lot the same "bad nurse" concerns you mention. I agonized over what I did wrong. An older, abrasive nurse (that I LOVE) was supervisor both days, and I asked her what I did wrong. She told me sometimes patients go bad on good nurses. The difference in a good nurse and a bad nurse is that a good nurse sees the signs and intervenes when needed. Intubating a patient is not a pretty thing, and if I were the patient I would want the docs and nurses to be sure I darn well need on before doing it.

I would always call the MD. Serious injuries may not be evident from a head to toe assessment, and patients may deny pain when it is present (had a little old lady with her head gapped open deny pain b/c she "is a silly old lady and doesn't want to be a bother" - also denied hitting her head during the fall). If the patient's health declines r/t the fall, and you did not notify the MD you orifice will be on the line.

I have on many occasions kindly reminded patients that I am human deserving of basic courtesy, such as please and thank you. I find when you educate an adult on use of proper manners, they are usually (not always) embarassed.

To the patient with a BP f 90/45. No, you can not have your pain meds-your doctor said so. And, futhermore, if you can jog up and down the hall to "up your pressure" then I really have a difficult time beleving that your suffer from 15/10 hip and knee pain.

At least where I work that is true. PT and PTAs are in high demand right now. There is a true shortage (not like the overly-hyped nursing shortage)

PTA's (PT assistants) only have to obtain an associates degree, like RN's. They make more money, have better hours, better working conditions, and the demand for PTAs is through the roof. I'm stronly considering it. BTW, you have to take your patients to PT? Our therapist come to get the patients. Maybe that's why that are so carefree

I could echo what the others listed above, but I want. I will simply add my situation, which is probably not common. I have a stressful, difficult and demanding job. I come home many nights in tears. I am belittled by patients and MD's, and pulled to my limits by all the demands placed on me. I have worked one hospital, and one floor since graduation. I love my co-workers, and our supervisors are God sends. I am burnt out from dealing with drugseekers, over demanding families, mental patient for which we can't find placement, God complex MD's, ect, ect, ect. But I can handle it. I go into work knowing that I work with a group of woman that have my back, just like I have theirs. I know if I get in a situation I can't handle, my girls are right there with me. The experienced nurses are always willing to lend me a hand, or advice. If I can't get an IV (getting a little rarer theses days), one of my co-workers will. And no one makes me feel inferior because I am still learning. I have been on these forum enough to realize that is not true every where. No matter how tired of the frequent fliers I am, I know what I am getting when I go to work. I know I can handle it. If I go elsewhere, I don't have the assurance and that scares the hell out of me. I am comfortable where I am, and I'm scared to go elsewhere.

Yep..I sent out Christmas cards with "We wish you a Merry Christmas c (line over it) lots of joy" and countless thank you cards with similiar mistakes. I don't even realize I do it until someone asks what they mean. I also sign Jessie, RN instead of my full name so often my bank had me come in and resign their signature they keep on file to compare to checks. As for the OP, you spend a lot of your first few months says "what does that mean?" and you learn by asking. Sooner or later you realize the new nurses are asking you.

That was my first thought as well. Either the patient is being given more than the prescribed amount, or someone in the family is taking the meds. Either why, the MD should know so they can determine which is the reason and address is. If the patient has been on these meds for an long period, the dosage may need adjusting to met his needs.

Our town flooded last week, and numerous nurses had to stay at the hospital because they couldn't get home. I have slept on a treatment table in PT during a hurricane though. Not recommended.

And before anyone points it out, yes - I know it was a stupid and equally juvenile action I took. He could have easily faked a fall and sued claiming he had no way to call for help. I tend to be a little hot headed, and act before I think at times, especially with people that are trying to make themselves as difficult to deal with as possible.

I actually did once take the call bell away from a patient. We had an A&O 40-ish year old PIA admitted with elbow pain (yes, that's right). I had him his third day at our faculty (uh-huh-third), after he had made quite a name from himself with the nurses. Was rude, condescending and on the call light every 15 minutes. While in the next room on first morning rounds, and helping LOL to BR, he sent his wife to her room (OMG) to inform me his water pitcher needed refilling, and I informed her I would do so when I made it to his room (I went there next). On entering room they were having a loud conversation about lazy, stupid nurses. After introducing myself, he pointed to his call light and proceeded to inform me that him and "his little buddy was gonna give me hell today" and he didn't tolerate "lazy ass nurses". So, I said "oh, really?" as I unplugged the light and walked out with it in my hands. I went to the nurses station, were his MD and our DON happened to be sitting and told them about the conversation. D/C orders were written, and the DON discharged the patient. But, for a disoriented patient? Never. I have a soft spot for demented patients, as I lived for a period with my grandfather after he suffered a stroke that affected his short term memory. If they are truly that demented, I try to get a family member to come in, or move them to the nurses station. Luckily, our nurses work together with patients like that too.

Agreed...even if just to see how vulnerable you feel. It was surprised at that, since I am what I would consider well educated and well read. I can't imagine how vulnerable someone without a medical background feels.

I will most definitely do so. I've been giving my hormones a liitle time to level out first.

It's now been three weeks since I gave birth to my precious baby boy. Life is starting to fall into place, and new routines are forming. I'm starting to feel a little more in control, and can get back to things I used to do (such as allnurses). I thought I would share with all of you my first experience as a patient. First of all, my admitting nurse was friendly and a great OB nurse. She knew I was set against having an epidural, and she tried to help me with that as much as possible. When I needed to change position due to the SEVERE back pain, she didn't complain. She moved the fetal monitors, offered ice chips, extra pillows; breathing tips, coffee for my family, etc. I really appreciated her care. My first negative encounter was the nurse that came in to start my IV. Now, I haven't told anyone I was a nurse as this point. I understand people miss IV's, but really, after two missed attempts with an 18 gauge, don't you think its time to call in someone else? So, I politely asked if someone else could look as she was hunting her 4th spot to stick. Of course, that didn't go well either. Nurse #2 was determined to get it, even if that meant digging into my bones. I still have a bruise the size of my hand from the vein she blew. Thankfully, the final nurse started the IV in the area I suggested on her first attempt. PM nurse arrives. She starts her shift by explaining she is "mad as hell" because she was supposed to be working peds tonight, and was floated against her will. Lucky me. An hour into her shift, a major contraction hit, and I sit on the side of the bed. I was informed if I couldn't stay laying back so she could monitor the baby I would have to get an epidural. She was already bringing the supplies in the room. When they came in to do the procedure, my hubby and mom where instructed to "get out or stay out of the way". The epidural took well, although during the insertion I was not told anything that was happening, which made me nervous. I knew I needed to stay still, but I was not told that by the nurses-I just heard "one-two" sharp jab "three" in the middle of their conversation about running over an MD and leaving him as a "greasy spot with a stethoscope" This nurse would also ignore any questions asked by my family. After labor, I was taken to a postpartum room and the baby was brought to me. I saw not a sole for the next 4 hours, when I had to go to the bathroom. No one ever came after I called, so I woke up my husband and mom to take me-which ended with me passed out in the floor in a very large pool of blood. Kinda scary. I don't remember any of it, but I am told that I was put back in bed covered in blood and urine (this was at 0745) and instructed the tech would be in around noon to help me in the shower. After my MD rounded, she ordered a stat H&H (Hgb 6.8) and vitamin K. I must have been in a bit of pain, because my brain heard "demerol shot" instead of "vitamin K" shot. I was in the hospital for 48 more hours, until I could stand without my knees buckling. The baby was fussy, and I didn't sleep any-so I know how often a nurse was in my room. The nurse I had both nights came to my room to do vitals at 8, and again at 0630 to ask how many times I urinated or had a BM. Perhaps that is common in this area of nursing, but I would be horrified to only check on my patients twice in a 12 hour shift. And I can not count the number of times I was told "I'll be back in a little bit", and never saw the staff member again. I could turn this into a 5 page post if I told of all my disappointments. I've never considered myself to be a good nurse, but after the care I received, I have realized that I am much better than I give myself credit. I do a lot of little things that I wish had been done for me: fill up the water pitcher (or, at least bring one to the room), cut the long tags off the bracelets, rounding often, telling patients what meds they are taking. Actually, come to think of it, just being assessed would have been nice. I've always been told every caregiver needs to spend time as a patient to see what its like, but I hope being my patient doesn't suck as bad as my experience. Definitely plan to remember my experience if/when I go back to work.

I send maybe 2-3 texts a shift, my brother and I text each other a lot. But I usually go somewhere I can't be seen by patients are other staff. Keeps me a little sane, doesn't affect my patient care. If coworkers can take 15-20 minutes smoke breaks, what does it hurt for me to take 30 seconds to send a text?

JessieRN 2 decades experience crammed into 3 years Least that's how some shifts make it feel!

Well, I did meet my husband at work, and we are roommates now Also, did have a couple of nurses where we work a couple of years ago that were roommates. They worked the same schedule so they could carpool. Always saw them together. Other then that, a group of us my get together for margiritas at the local mexican rest. once a month or so. Small hospital, and we are fairly tight knit bunch.

Very often, I see patients in the hospital that can not afford to eat and pay for their medications. They have no clue how they are going to pay for their hospital bill, or the RX for the $100 antibiotics the MD just handed them...not that the MD cares. These patients are Americans, some of them elderly that helped shape our country, fought for our freedoms today. Raised our generation. As long as our healthcare system can not support our own citizens, then we are foolish to provide free care for people that illegally jumped the fence. I'm sorry if the American dream is not what they thought it would be.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I beleive any breakage in the skin integrity can cause cellulitis

1. do you like/hate your job? why? that is a difficult question for me, and anyone that has read many of my post can assest that even i do not know the answer to that. i love the idea of nursing, and what i feel in my heart nursing is meant to be. i hate what it has become. nurses are taken advantage of by every member of the healthcare system, including patients because most of us are martyrs that do not demand better for outselves. my own husband admits to having a lack of respect for nurses until we started dating and he really paid attention to what i did on a daily bases. i also feel that the "costumer service" aspect of healthcare has ruined nursing. we spend so much time kissing ass, that we do not have time to provide quality healthcare. from my experience, we spend most of our time trying to please the costumers looking for a bed and breakfeast experience, and the actual patients that need nursing care often fall through the cracks. i went into nursing to help others. i wanted to make a difference in others lives, like nurses in hallmark movies, but that isn't life. we are the scapegoat for every problem the patient perceives, and upper managements punching bag. i rarely feel like i really help anyone, but when i do, that's when i love it. 2. do you recommend nursing career for students? why? not to most. i feel nursing takes a very strong person, and i just don't see most people i interact with as strong enough...including myself. 3. do you regret going into nursing career?? no, i didn't like the person i was before nursing. i was shy, and pathetic. nursing has changed me for the better, and forced me to be a stronger and more confident woman. nursing helped me find the most wonderful husband i could imagine. i have memories, good and bad, related to nursing that i would not trade. but do i want to still be doing this in 5 years? no, i don't. 4. is it true that there are variety of nursing jobs in one hospital?? for example if you hate your area/floor you can pick a different one in the same hospital and have totally different experience?? i work at a small facility with a waiting list a mile long of nurses trying to get off the floor. at the moment, other places just aren't hiring. but, i am sure that will change, expecially with all the older, experienced nurses reachign retirement age.

I will confess, after watching 3 nurses attempt start an IV on my granddad one night in the ER, my mom slipped one in while we were in the room alone with him. When the nurse asked, we just told her a nurse with brown hair started it (not a lie, she is a nurse, and does have brown hair). She's one of the best sticks I know, so it saved them time and him pain...no harm done.

Even if a state decides to go to "only BSN" nurses, they would most likely do like every other profession and grandfather in ADN's. My husband conts to practices as a physical therapist with a master's degree and his sister with a bachelors because they were practicing before the field advanced to a doctorate level. Same with many pharmacists I know. Also know a RT that was grandfathered into the profession with just on the job training from the days when that was accepatable.