Taryn963

Dear NurseFrustrated, I am 51 and have been a nurse for 28 years. Can't believe it has been that long. I totally feel for you; been there. One thing I did, is when I got truly fed up, I took a mental health break. Whenever a coworker would grip, and really did not want to be there (in nursing) I would suggest they look for another outlet, as they were so truly miserable, and sad...and that isn't good for ANYBODY involved. So....after becoming totally outraged by the worst DON ever, I took my own advice, and I worked in a box store (you know the one) took a 70% pay cut, during the Christmas season, in the toy department, the year of "Tickle Me Elmo". Yup. Total insanity in the toy department, frantic parents calling, coming in, arguing as two different hands reach for the last box on the shelf, putting their names on the reserve list....HAD TO HAVE ELMO!!!! What did I do? I SMILED. Because nobody was gonna DIE if their Elmo didn't come in before the 25th! I went home, enjoyed my family, and FORGOT about work. What a freaking concept!!! So from October til January, I was "tickled" to death :) I returned to nursing after my 3 month hiatus. I felt refreshed and realized how much I had missed nursing, warts and all. Today, in this economy, I could not do that, as there would be a huge chance of not finding a job once my escape was over. Plus, I had a husband who could cover that income gap. Whenever I get frantic, feel unappreciated by management, and rude doctors, scared family members (rarely by patients, tho, and that is what keeps us going, right?!) I just remember Elmo. I remember that I do have a CHOICE...I can choose to work in a job with less responsibility, less pay, less insurance, less benefits, and less heartfelt grief when it all doesn't end well, and that patient dies. The fact that financially it would now be impossible (that still means I made that CHOICE to stay) is just in the Con column. The Pro column....when my patient, a dying, 94 year old little old lady reaches up, and puts her hand on my face, in a touching caress, after I spent precious time sitting next to her, trying to lessen her anxiety and fear, she shares with me her sadness about leaving her family, and says, "Thank you" never knowing that her action just made MY day! Then there is that hug from family when their loved one has died, and they thank you for the wonderful care you gave, for helping them understand the process, for that kindness that was so small, but so appreciated at the time. And there is that sense of pride and wonder that that 21 year old girl, who 5 months before was in a car wreck, and had such TBI, it was felt by Neuro to be a 10% chance she would regain ANY of herself, and she is thinking and speaking normally, remembers her life, and uses her laptop to facebook with friends after her therapy, and you watch her WALK out the door, smiling and saying "Thank you, but I won't be visiting!" with a devilish grin. Sorry, didn't mean to ramble....just realized I still love my job. I guess what I just wrote is, when it all seems like a waste of effort, and I cry or fume after being made to feel like the maid, not a nurse, I still cling to the "wins." It has kept me going, I hope you remember and cling to your wins, too.

Hi, it recently came to my attention that no soliciting to sell/buy anything unless a paying member and using the "Classifieds" Sorry.

Took NCLEXRN last Thursday, and 4 hours after the test got good pop-up, then 52 hours after test, (yes, 52, as the 48 is not a certainty on the weekend, I found out) paid the $7.95 for the PV quick results, "PASS", because my BON office staff person was on vacation, and nothing was getting posted online until she got back, the following Wednesday, which was today, and HALLELUJAH! I got to see my new license number, and I cried! I think I was still expecting to have someone say "HA! Just kidding!" GOOD LUCK and Hang in there while you wait!!

Happy Feet Equal a Happy Nurse! After 28 years of nursing, here is my two cents. My advice is to not skimp on the footwear....buy the best constructed, most supportive, yet not overly heavy foot wear you can. Your feet will thank you. I know it can be expensive. But comfortable feet relate to comfortable mobility and posture, and THAT can help save your back. I look for sales and search shoe stores. There is no substitute for trying them on. Once I find a style that works for me, I will try to buy it again. I have found that with regular full time wear, even a good pair of shoes will need to be replaced after a year or so. I pay about $115/pair for work wear. When I find a good fit, I have gone online to buy and that can save $$ too. I do not pay that kind of money for my casual shoes/sneakers for sure! Good luck with your clinicals and your future career.

CONGRATS!!!! YAY!!! Doesn't it feel good???

I bought the RN ATI book/DVD series on EBAY, and the DVDs are awesome! I probably got more from that than the reading I did before. I already passed the NCLEX, and plan on selling all the other study books, (super cheap) but I will keep the ATI as reference materials.

HANG IN THERE! I was afraid of it also. I studied like crazy....and I got not one freaking question out of 75 on Diabetes, Addison's or SIADH. That's ok, tho. I really got a lot out of the intense review!! Looking back, it was a good thing. At the time, not so much! :)

oops! i just realized i mis-typed my heading, i was so excited!! "i am a rn" there, that's better, lol !!

:hpygrp: (that is what it was supposed to do! oops!)

:hpgp: Maybe if it was called the "Pearson Vue SNEAK PEEK" instead of "trick" it would be easier to believe our own eyes?????? I mean , we all WANT to be happy...but we are afraid of being "tricked"?? It really DOES work, guys! CONGRATS TO ALL!!!!

:prty: Wonderful news!! You did it!!

DRAT!! I cannot get my "OFFICIAL" BON website results until the woman who works that department comes back to work on Wednesday....well, THEN she has to get caught up....so perhaps not even by the end of the week, the other nice BON lady just told me. Not that I begrudge anyone time off.....but geeeeeeshhhhhhhh!!! I just want to see it!! :) Feel like a kid on Christmas Morning....pretty sure it's under the tree, but not positive, you know??

It will be ok!!! But, I myself had to see that word before I could allow myself to even imagine signing my name differently!! (I have been an LPN for 28 years) :yeah:CONGRATS on the hard work!! And it will be sweet when you see that word PASS!

Thanks!!! No, party, going to work and still gonna get paid as an LPN! No state RN number yet. Go to the Pearson Vue site, go to the activity, the same page where it said your results were received, and then in red it will say that your results are ready, or NOT ready, then click on quick results and give em your $7.95. The peace of mind is well worth that to me!! Nite!

The GOOD POP UP works!!!!!!! It takes a little longer on the weekend, but It came thru!! YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!