tiddles

Thanks for responding. That doesn’t sound too difficult then. I was hoping they would have some kind of RN to BSN Programme but I haven’t found one. Doing it here is way too costly. BTW Waikato Polytechnic (what it was called then) is where I did nursing school!

When I interviewed for my ED position I was given a triage scenario - 4 patients, their symptoms, VS etc. Who would I send through first, what order. One was chest pain with a normal EKG, a woman with what I thought could be sepsis, and I forget the rest. I decided the sepsis was the priority (think code sepsis, where you have to have cultures drawn and antibiotics in within a certain time frame). But then I had my hypothetical tech bring in the chest pain for monitoring, troponin etc. at the same time. However, if you haven't worked in the ED before (I had), they may not expect you to know all that.

Actually, many of these HH patients live with perfectly able-bodied family members. Living in squalor is a choice they have made.

It's also common practice among Chinese to spit everywhere. In New Zealand (which gets a lot of Chinese tourists) there are signs (in Chinese and English) in the airport imploring people not to spit on the flooring/carpets. And don't get me started on the skinning-alive of dogs.. (thanks facebook for that image that I'll never un-see.

Three in a row is a lot for some to handle, especially if you are not getting quality sleep during the day (with kids that can be a challenge). As previously suggested, do a mix for the first schedule. Also - for your own sanity, make sure you get good sleep. All it takes is one phone call or a barking dog and I'm awake for the day (I used to be able to fall right back to sleep). A fan helps to drown out noises.

As an overseas-trained RN I can attest to the fact that all education is thoroughly vetted by WES and CGFNS before you can apply to take NCLEX.

I agree with the overtime people. If you work for two employers you have to do mandatory education, meeting, skills fairs etc. at two places. Also the weekend and holidays commitments, as someone else mentioned. I just worked six 12s straight (nights) with one being an extra shift. I am old, so it's not something I do too often - but there is ALWAYS ample overtime available where I work.

Truth be told, if I'd had a fancy pocket computer way back when I was a young'un, I probably would have been on it constantly..although my walkman was pretty rad!

If someone started filming me I think I would be sorely tempted to take out my phone and record them recording me, hopefully covering most of my face in the process. Otherwise I would leave the room until security or management dealt with it. I have no desire to be on youtube.

I recently dreamed I only saw one of my home care patients and completely forgot the other visits I was supposed to do that day. I can't tell you how relieved I was when I woke up. I often dream that I'm trying to punch in a number such as a phone number or code - but it never goes in right and I keep doing it over and over..

Hi there. I am a NZ registered nurse who has been living in the US since 1994. I am considering moving back to NZ in the next couple of years due to family issues such as aging parents, and a desire to be close to family again. I would prefer not to do nursing in NZ (I am tired, plus I am not looking forward to going through the hoops of applying for a practicing certificate) but realistically I probably will have to if I can't earn a livable wage doing something else. Has anyone here moved back after being away so long? How has nursing changed there in the last quarter century? Would it be hard to fit back in? I would love to hear your stories. Thanks.

I would definitely not recommend either LTC or home care as slower paced or less stressful.

My preceptor at a new job was listening to me give report and tell someone that so-and-so was on azithromycin. She gave a look like I was an imbecile and said "no he's not, he's on Zithromax!". She was a terrible preceptor - tried to make me look dumb at every opportunity.

I spent (threw away) three grand on a coding course. I figured it would help me get into a utilization review-type job, but it hasn't. The only difference it made was when I was in a care manager position my boss would give me charts that needed diagnosis codes added (big whoop - anyone can do that). Even if I wanted to take a huge pay cut and be a coder, most positions require previous experience - especially home-based ones, which would be my preference.

It can also depend on how desperate your unit is. Where I work there are a number of people who call out frequently. They get spoken to and everyone grumbles about it, but we are chronically short staffed so they will probably never get fired.

I've had many less than pleasant interviews, but one hilarious one that comes to mind is when I was applying in person for a job as a bar person in a London pub many years ago. The guy interviewing me gave me a LONG list of drink prices and told me to add them up in my head! I just laughed and walked out.

I work for a hospital system within which I have changed jobs several times. Each time I get interviewed and then peer interviewed with the same type of annoying questioning. I hate it. Most recently I thought I would participate in the vaccination program for the coming season (going around schools giving flu shots) which lasts about six weeks. Well I attended my first interview, which was via phone (same hospital employer, remember) and they start asking me the same things (tell us about a time where you went above and beyond - blah, blah). After a couple more questions I was suddenly overcome with exhaustion and I couldn't do it anymore. I told them that this was more of an ordeal than I had anticipated for a temporary, part time position. I asked if they did this to the EMS and agency staff they hire (because they can't get any of our nurses to do it). They said they didn't have to, because they weren't hospital employees. Knowing that I would have to attend a peer interview with MORE of the same torture, I ended up saying thank you for your time, but I will be withdrawing my application.

I'd like to know what kinds of errors are killing hundreds of thousands of people. Are we talking blatant administration errors? I imagine a huge factor would be polypharmacy among the elderly population - drug interactions, inappropriate doses ordered, allergies/reactions etc. I wonder what percentage is actual nurse-given, wrong med/dose etc.

Having worked in NZ and Australia, sister was used for RNs in Australia, but I never heard the term in NZ. I quite liked it, and I think the patients did to. I also remember going around with my med cart and the patients saying "here comes the lolly trolley" haha. I found patients in those countries (and the UK) to be much more appreciative and less demanding than americans. Also, it was almost mandatory for patients to leave the nurses a box of chocolates when they were discharged! Mind you, that was a while ago - things could be different now.

Small town ER doc on night shift - "If we hang a bag of vicodin outside the door, do you think they'll let me get some sleep tonight?

Assisting a pediatrician with a circumcision, the baby's grandmother present. The doctor takes the foreskin and puts it in his shirt pocket. Grandmother and I exchange a look - he says "I use it for bait when I go fishing". He actually left with it still in his pocket and to this day I don't know if he was joking or not.

Try home health. It's not easy but at least you'll be on your butt most of the day (driving, sitting with patients). I do find it hard on my arm though, lugging my bag around. It's got rollers but they don't work in the snow, mud etc

I once gave a medication to a pregnant drug abuser - she glared at me and said "this better not hurt my baby". I glanced at a co-worker who heard this and we both burst out laughing (not very professional, but we couldn't help it).

Not in my case. I got a speeding ticket while wearing scrubs 😩

It's funny how nurses on tv are often portrayed as mean, take no bs from anyone. Couldn't be further from the truth.. Nurses are the ones that will bend over backwards for a pt despite being shat on frequently. I wish we could be mean and tell rude people to shove it