bearscrubs75

Doing your job, being courteous to patients AND coworkers AND people in general is what we and everyone else on the planet should be doing----we are all members of the human family. *** You nailed it! Humility, kindness, respect, generosity, patience... are essential to making one a "super nurse."

ChutneyFries, I'm glad you're leaving that horrible place. Although I'm not African-American, I've worked in some incredibly homophobic hospital environments before - and no, it's not the same thing as being challenged by racism, I know that. But I wish you the best and hope you find a great team of co-workers to work with. I myself prefer an ethnically and racially diverse workplace. I might be going to Southern California after all. These Midwestern winters depress the hell out of me...

Chutney, SERIOUSLY, come to Minneapolis-St. Paul. I'm the only White male in an ocean of different shades of Black and Brown. It's different here. We'd welcome you with open arms. - Ryan/Bearscrubs75

Chutney, Come to Minneapolis/St. Paul. The majority of my fellow co-workers are Black (African immigrants) and everyone gets along. While Minneapolis isn't exactly a "Chocolate City" in the vein of Atlanta and New Orleans (love me some NOLA), it's VERY diverse and generally friendly. You would never receive racist comments from the staff where I work. And, yes, we're hiring nurses in The Twin Cities right now. It's not a bustling job market but it's not weak either. You shouldn't have to put up with people talking **** like that. I'd get out of there PRONTO. Ryan

One of the female nurses I work with recently went to answer a call light and came back fuming. "Mr. K" was a frequent flier and usually on the light for a multitude of nonemergent reasons. Anyhow, the nurse came back and said, "He told me he needed me to sit on his face." By far the most unusual request...

Annie, your children come first. They need their mother. You're right, no one is prepared for this. Let's face it: you wouldn't be given proper PPE for the suspected Ebola patient and you would have to juggle his/her needs in addition to your other 4 pts w/o the help of a PCA. My butt would be out the door so fast my charge nurse would think she saw a ghost!

Here's a scenario for all of you: You work at a large urban hospital, let's say CCC/ICU day shift. You come on and get your report for the day. One of your patients discharges to a step-down unit at 10:00 am. Suddenly, the charge nurse approaches you and tells you, I need to place a patient with Ebola like symptoms in the room occupied by the former patient and I need you to take care of him. The patient has recently flown to your city from Liberia. He's a 55 year old African male, married, in apparent respiratory distress, temp = 103.5 and climbing, vomiting, diarrhea, low sodium, low K, dehydrated, etc. All you are offered for PPE are the flimsy yellow gowns, N95 gowns, latex gloves. You complain to you charge nurse about lack of proper PPE and the nurse dismisses you and states you have no choice, you HAVE to take this patient. How many of you would say, "**** this" and walk off the floor, realizing you've probably lost your job?

Girl, probably a cheap mask and gown. You know those tight asses ain't ready to fork over the thousands of dollars necessary to pay for the expensive Hazmat suits and sealed respirators.

That is just an excuse to leave us unprotected with cheap flimsy gowns and masks rather than the real deal expensive hazmat suits and respirators we should be wearing! I want this jerk to come and take care of an Ebola patient in this flimsy outfit! Know way in hell would he walk near the patient let alone go in so unprotected! Apparently American healthcare workers are expendable and no need to expect the hospitals to spend the money to provide us with safe equipment! He should be ashamed of himself! Why doesn't he do us a favor and just resign already! -- Girl, let me tell you something. If I had to take care of an Ebola patient, I would DO IT and do it well. I'm not afraid of Contagion type viruses (when it's my time, it's my time). However, I would demand the Hazmat suit and pricey respirator mask. And then I would demand a decontamination bay after cares were completed. You're totally right, they don't want to pay for the expensive, life-protecting equipment. They'd rather subject medical staff to a deadly infection than spend money on proper PPE.

Fellow Nurses, how is this virus managed in a health care setting? Is it droplets or airborne precautions? Airborne would be dried particulate that escapes the nares or mouth and travels through the air, landing on another person and/or inhaled into their body, correct? Would it make sense to treat Ebola patients as if they had TB, given the high rate of infectiousness of the disease?

:tku::cheers:

esme, sorry about the racist thing i jumped the gun -- thanks for posting the links for me, but i will seriously have an mi if i read about this new "visas" bill. i'll be sick to my stomach and ****** off the rest of the day. i need something light and airy right now, maybe some court-and-spark era joni mitchell and a disney movie... ahhhhh

Merlee, My maternal grandparents were Quaker Brits, German-Jew and Irish. Their parents were both immigrants here at the turn of the 20th century. My father's mother is Irish (her ancestors probably immigrated here during the nineteenth-century potato famine). His father's side: Welsh and Brit. I realize your point and yes we are a nation of immigrants -- mine certainly came here for a better life: to get away from famine, pestilence, Nazis. This isn't about the fact that Filipino women want to come here to work. It's about hospitals hiring them over American college grads for lower wages. Even though you disagree with what I've posted, do you at least see the problem with this one element?? Canada: they really only hate Americans in Quebec. I'm going to Toronto :)

Esme, I'm not racist. This is not about race or ethnicity, I swear. I'd be as irate if the U.S. was bringing in Brits, Germans, and Irish (facets of my own European ancestry) to compete with Americans for jobs. It's about corporate G-R-E-E-D. It's about our nurses being able to work in safe, productive environments. It's about our patients receiving excellent nursing and medical care during the worst moments of their lives. It's about our hospital and nursing home units having safe nurse/CNA-to-patient ratios. It's about nurses receiving living wage salaries and good benefits to support themselves and their families -- for all the hard work we as nurses and nursing staff do and the time/effort/ blood/sweat/tears we put into our schooling and preparation. It's about our American nursing college graduates getting jobs right out of school so they can begin to build their lives, repay their student loans, pay taxes, start families if that is their wish, buy homes. Hospitals bringing in immigrants from other countries to work as RNs for lower salaries so "they" (e.g., CEOs, management) can benefit from not having to pay living wages/benefits is a kick in the crotch to Americans. On the larger, national scale: it's about our American-born young people having access to THEIR BIRTHRIGHT: financial aid and resources for college to prepare them for the American workforce. It's about the future of nursing and health care in this country. I know I'm going to get reamed from a lot of you for what I had posted earlier. Guys, we have over 300 MILLION people in this country right now. And the government keeps bringing in more and more (or passively allows it to happen) from third world countries or developing nations for jobs. *****!?!?!?! How many posts have you read on this site from nursing college grads who can't find work??????? I read something like this (the hospital bringing over non-English-speaking Filipinos to work for lower wages) and I get emotional and explode. Sorry if I offended anyone, really.

WHITE-COLLAR IMMIGRATION (sorry, this is going to sound very bitter): The always cost-effective United States is currently bringing in immigrants from around the world (e.g., Russia, India, China, Filipines) to compete with Americans for high-salary jobs with the expectation that this form of immigration can drive down salaries and benefits. For example, your three Filipino nurses would probably work for even half your salary and with hardly any benefits -- JUST to escape the poverty of living in the Filipines and enjoy the luxuries assoc. with living in the U.S. Then they remain here and rear large, resource-using families -- the children of these families end up competing with YOUR children for financial aid and quality education and, later, access to good jobs and healthcare. :dncgbby: This kind of immigration allows the hospital/organization/corporation to keep the real money at the top, basically in the CEO's pocket, so he can send his children (probably named Ethan and Abigail) to ivy league colleges, buy his fat stay-at-home wife a brand new luxury car, and get that McMansion in the white, rich, gated community of his dreams. Meanwhile you and your patients get the proverbial shaft end of the stick -- nothing against Filipinos in general, they're good people (but, really??): HOW MANY AMERICAN NURSING COLLEGE GRADUATES CAN'T FIND JOBS IN THIS ECONOMY RIGHT NOW?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: I really hate this ******* country. My partner and I are moving north of the border as soon I graduate from nursing school. Canada has one of the STRICTEST immigration policies on this planet and some of the strongest labor unions on earth. For example, I will ONLY be employed by a Canadian hospital once every natural-born Canadian citizen has access to employment first. No cost-cutting, no bringing in busloads of fertile immigrants to drive down salaries and create ultracompetitive applicant pools. Man, we are in a lot of trouble.

HiddenCat and OldNurseEd - Many newly minted RNs have left the NE and have come out West to work because of the competition for jobs. I am from the NE and completed my undergraduate degree at a ****** private college in Boston: 16 years ago, nursing was considered a non-academic, working-class vocation by the elitist ivy league sect. Today, nursing is one of the last vocations in the U.S. that the fat cats can't outsource, pays above a living wage, is actually "fun" (I enjoy nursing and have fun at work), and provides a lifetime of financial stability with benefits and opportunity for advancement. What other profession in this country really offers a new graduate those kind of incentives? We have more new grads than we know what to do with and you're right HiddenCat, hip cities like D.C. with dense populations can afford to be extremely selective.

OldNurseEd, I agree with you wholeheartedly: a 4.0 GPA in nursing school does not necessarily make one a good nurse. Nursing is a multifaceted, dynamic discipline: academic proficiency is only one slice of the pie, right? As an instructor, I'm sure you had your doubts about straight-A students who had no clinical or people skills whatsoever. My Achilles' heel is that I'm a kinesthetic learner and I do better in a clinical, hands-on environment than in the classroom. My clinical marks have been 100s with awesome recommendations from faculty, nurses and CNAs employed at the hospital we rotate through, and even patients. Unfortunately, any expertise I have as a clinical nursing student isn't reflected in my grade point average.

Hi there. And thank you for responding to my post. The material isn't necessarily easy, it's 200-level college anatomy and physiology-based with some basic chemistry. I enjoy science, especially biology, and mathematics, so I find the material interesting. Here's what is wrong with the tests. The first exam combined chapters from Lewis et al. "Medical-Surgical Nursing" text, a "higher-end" med-surg textbook maybe more appropriate for an honors course (?) The first exam covered: 1. Cancer 2. Fluid and Electrolytes 3. Acid-Base Balance/Imbalance 4. Genetics 5. Allergens/Immune Response These are 40+ page chapters. In addition we have clinical paperwork that takes on average 16+ hours a week to complete and various side projects (e.g., demonstration labs, papers, etc.) for which we receive 0 credit (pass/fail). This next exam will cover 2 chapters of sensory input related problems (i.e., auditory/visual), 4 chapters of cardiac, introduction to neuro (1 chapter), and DM (1 chapter). 250 pages worth of reading. The instructors stand at the podium and parrot what's written on powerpoint slides that pop up on screen. THAT'S IT. In order to prepare for the exams you need to thoroughly OUTLINE the chapters. I'm not sure if you're familiar with Lewis et al. but it is DENSE DENSE writing. I've written over 30 pages of outline notes per chapter. There's just not enough time. I value your 2 cents. Please respond if you have the time. I think one of the issues we as a class are facing is that there isn't enough time to go through all the reading. Thank you.

Amen to that, sister.

Hi all -- I'm a Level 2 (i.e., second-semester) nursing student right now at Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico. My GPA from Level 1 was a sold 3.0. This semester, I'm struggling with Adult Nursing/Med-Surg 1 exams. The material isn't difficult, just standard A&P and nursing assessments, but the tests are brutal. My GPA in the class at mid-term is below a 75, which is the passing mark for the course. More than half the class are failing and we were in the top 10% of the applicant pool grade-wise before we began the program. Damn. My question to all of you is what kind of GPA should I be striving for in order to be competitive when I graduate from nursing college (2-year ADN/Associate's program culminating in an RN certification)? I would like to achieve a GPA that would help me remain competitive in applicant pools for jobs, and higher education like a bachelor's degree and eventually a master's. I know my current GPA right now is abysmal and I plan to work night and day to hike it up, but what is a decent, competitive GPA to have when finished a 2-year nursing program? (do not write 4.0 cause that ain't happening, although, due to the current **** economy, I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes the new standard).

Hi there. Actually, Santa Fe is full of posers and pretentious rich s**theads: it's really overrated. I've lived all over the country. Like everywhere else, Santa Fe is populated by people from, well, everywhere else, but chiefly transplants from wealthy, exclusive California villages -- so that exclusive, overpriced California vibe has become the norm, unfortunately. And, like other exclusive, rich, white cities/towns in California, Santa Fe has become a community where no one can afford rents let alone mortgages, there are no jobs, etc. Essentially, a "trust fund" city where white people with money get to pretend they're artists and writers and hippies and no one else exists in the universe except them and their friends

Hello there, West Texas: I'd like to hear from those nurses (e.g., RN, LPN) familiar with Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine, Texas. I am planning to relocate to Marfa, Texas, a town 25 miles southwest of Alpine, after I graduate from nursing school. What is it like to work at and/or be treated (as a patient) at BBRMC? Is there a lot of nepotism and staff drama which, let's face it, is endemic in small-town establishments? I could potentially gain employment at BBRMC, they always seem to be hiring. Many new grads who could work there are probably turned off by the area (e.g., Marfa, Alpine, Valentine, Marathon, Big Bend) because it's so desolate, but I :redbeatheLOVE:redbeathe it down there: it's one of the most beautiful, peaceful places on earth. But I wouldn't move there unless I was assured I could handle the social politics of the work environment at BBRMC. Obviously, I'm wary of the staff politics/drama at a small-town hospital where everyone knows everything about everyone. Any nurses from that area and/or familiar with the hospital, please give me your thoughts on this. I'm trying to prevent an expensive relocation from happening if BBRMC is not going to be a good fit work-wise. Again, I'm not worried about relating to the clients/patients, I know good enough Spanish to communicate with my Hispanic clients. I'm worried about the work environment at Big Bend with the gossip queens/drama/attitudes/nepotism, etc. Give me your . Thanks y'all!!

I'm not dissing BLS, but I still stand by the analogy BLS = pre-algebra and ACLS = calculus

ACLS = Advanced Cardiac Life Support PACLS = Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support ** usually only ICU/criticial care/NICU nurses actively use these skills but it's good to know them anyhow - makes BLS skills look like stuff you'd find in a first-grade reader

Hi All - This message is particularly directed at nurses whom have hired for hospitals and/or have been administrators on floors. In this economy, it has been painfully difficult for new graduates to gain employment directly out of nursing school. I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I have my heart set on working at the University of New Mexico Hospital as a RN. In fact, given the abysmal state/quality/work environments/co-workers at other hospitals in the area, UNMH is the only one I anticipate will be a good job fit for me. Of course, it's also the most competitive hospital in the area to secure employment at as a new graduate (rolls eyes). Like my mother always said, "caviar tastes on a happy meal budget." Would becoming ACLS and PACLS certified PRIOR to applying for a position, in conjunction with already having passed the NCLEX, make a difference between me as a new grad applicant for a job and the hundreds of other people competing for a handful of positions at UNMH? I would eventually like to work trauma/critical care/ICU but would be more than satisfied with a medical-surgical position: I enjoy working with the elderly and don't mind hard, back-breaking labor. My natural, intuitive interpersonal skills as a nurs(ing student) really lean toward elderly, demented, ETOH, and psych patiets (e.g., patience, kindness, patience, respect, fluidity, patience, humor, and patience). Let me know of some other ideas that might increase a new grad's chance at gaining a sought-after position at a competitive urban hospital. :heartbeat Bearscrubs