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My back didn’t appreciate the constant bending over and lifting I needed to do while working on the floor. I had surgery and thank goodness it’s way improved. My doc wanted me out of bedside nursing so I’m doing something else now. Nursing is very very tough on backs.

I support primary care docs. The one doc has his MA fill out prescriptions for him when he’s on vacation. Including for opioids. This stuns me. He has given her parameters and I guess she’s acting under his license. I refuse to refill anything because I haven’t received a current protocol for medication refills. I value my license and I will continue sending those refill requests to the docs. I want it in writing.

I started out in L and D as a new grad. My school was in the midst of some type of transition and I missed out on a lot of clinical work/skills. My first preceptor wasn’t great. She rushed through everything. After two weeks, I realized I was not going to be able to get to the level I needed. I realized the implications...two lives were depending on my skill. Also, if I stayed the course, they would eventually have let me go. I requested a transfer to postpartum. It was a challenge, but it was more manageable and I was very successful. There were many opportunities for me to transfer to L and D, but I didn’t do it because I found PP suited me. I would accept the PP job. You’ll be learning some of what is needed in L and D. Plus if you’re on a LDRP unit, you can volunteer to assist those nurses on slow days.

Peaceful protesting? Great. All for it. Violence, stealing, rioting, destroying? Not acceptable. No justification whatsoever. There is no excuse for the latter. None. And if anyone justifies it, excuses it, glorifies it, I’m sorry, he/she is part of the problem. Innocent people are having their businesses destroyed. Innocent people are being hurt. Innocent police officers are being attacked. City property is being damaged and destroyed. Who pays the price for that? Us.

Trump allowed fracking. And the pipeline. So the US is able to produce its own oil. That allowed prices to drop. We no longer need to suffer at the whim of despots in the Middle East. Our economy was in rough shape after Obama and all his regulations. We need the freedom to grow. And we need to bring manufacturing back to this country. Obama said that would never happen and we needed to get used to a new normal. I enjoyed ranting. I’m so tired of hearing the constant criticism of Trump. I hear it at work, and heaven forbid you give a dissenting opinion. I hear it out and about. Open minded people can’t possibly imagine that someone actually supports him as President. Since he was elected, plenty of us did. I think he’s done a great job, considering the circumstances. And I voted for him very reluctantly. He is not an ideal candidate by any means, but he’s the best of the ones we unfortunately have.

Oh please. Trump the dictator? He’s removed many obstacles to American success. He’s lessened bureaucratic regulations. He’s not using the FBI and IRS as tools to bludgeon those who disagree with him. He isn’t sending out his thugs in the middle of the night to burst into people’s homes and wake them up to arrest them after he’s notified the press. He has elected Supreme Court justices who actually value our constitution, not the laws of other countries’ courts. He doesn’t rule with his pen. He’s allowed industry to recover. He’s allowed us to become energy independent. He doesn’t divide us into groups of victims. He has achieved the highest level of employment for African Americans and Hispanics. And to top it all off, I very much enjoy the fact that I pay $2 something for gasoline, not $5 a gallon, which was the direction we were headed in. I enjoy the fact that I no longer have to hear about our nation’s public schools being strong armed to allow boys to shower in girls’ locker rooms. By the use of that pen. And that police officers are a little safer because the rule of law has support. And that there haven’t been riots caused by hateful divisiveness and rhetoric. Patriotic role modeling? I’m assuming you mean Biden. Who went into office as one of the poorest politicians, was actually in debt, and after using his position as leverage, managed to amass a fortune for himself and his family. What a role model! He strong armed the Ukraine to allow his son a pass on illegal behavior. I very much wish for this country to recover from the virus. If we can bring back manufacturing back, it will benefit so many. The American people have been sold out and it’s time to take our country back. Trump is in no way perfect, but he’s a damn world away from what we had before, which was utterly disastrous.

I am utterly and completely disheartened at the treatment of frontline nurses during this pandemic. It’s incomprehensible to me that administrators can force nurses to wear inadequate PPE or to have to constantly reuse PPE. And I think it’s utterly reprehensible how the CDC came out and literally lied to the public about the benefits of wearing masks and has covered for hospitals that haven’t provided adequate PPE. There is no recourse for nurses. Disgusting! While so many of our hospitals have focused on spa-like bathrooms and patient satisfaction scores above all else, the nursing staffs, the bedrock of the hospitals, have been treated as expendable and understaffing has become the norm. I did not hesitate when I was placed on unpaid furlough after I refused a redeployment to a covid floor. I did go home shaking. They needed RNs, I was informed. It didn’t matter that I was never fitted for a N95 mask. Didn’t matter that I’d never been oriented to the hospital, and didn’t matter that I never spent one second as anything other than an OB nurse. And when I said I had very serious concerns about bringing the virus home to my immune-compromised child, I was offered counseling for my anxiety. I believe in G-d. He blessed me with my child. I picked her. Luckily, they returned me back to my previous job after my punishment. I wish all of you the best of health and good things. You all deserve better!

I really feel for you. You need to stay home and recover. And you need an independent PCP, as others have advised. You truly are one of the amazing front line workers and you need to take as much time as you need. I do not see why this would harm your chances of obtaining a new job. Best of luck for a full recovery.

When hospitals care more about their fountains and spa like bathrooms than they do about their nurses, we see very clearly what they value above all else. It’s very sad what has happened to such an incredible profession. I too am finding this. I’m also finding that I’m treated far worse by administration and fellow nurses than I was in any other career I have been engaged in.

I am so thankful for all of the front line medical staff. I cannot imagine. At the same time, I do not feel guilty for one second. I have vulnerable family members. I would have left the job if I thought I was going to be exposed. I cannot bring this virus home. Perhaps I would have made a different decision years ago, before my family obligations arrived.

WOW!. You admitted defeat before you even began. I agree with all the above. If you hadn’t taken your first nursing class, you would never have taken the last one. You persisted. You graduated. Now you take the next step....you study and you take the exam. Then you find a counselor of some sort to help you through the next part...building up your confidence. My dream was to do L and D. For years. Despite all the nay-sayers (I did not work as a CNA or in any capacity in a hospital setting while I was in nursing school. I was raising my kids), I passed NCLEX and then I trusted that if G-d wanted me to have that job, not having practical experience wouldn’t matter one iota. I made my effort. I networked. And a couple of months after graduation, I was offered a L and D job. It was surreal and I did a huge happy dance. I was willing to take something else, almost anything else. And by the way, I didn’t do well at it and I moved to Mother Baby, which was my perfect home. So much for that! You will never know unless you begin the journey. And yes, it may take you elsewhere. Wherever you are meant to be.

I had this problem, to a certain degree. I did Postpartum nursing. Then I moved to a primary care clinic and talk to patients all day.

Several months ago, completely out of the blue, I began having an allergic reaction when I was cutting up jalapeño peppers. I was gasping for breath. I never had a problem before except coughing when they were stir fried. It was the craziest thing and now I don’t allow anyone to prepare them near me. I also can’t be around the residue if it’s sitting around. It was a pretty scary feeling.

Martymoose, I wish you all the best. Some of the comments were a little sharp or definitely pointed, and you remained calm and thoughtful. That says a lot for you. You do need a new job. My previous, toxic job was influencing my emotions outside of work. Find something you enjoy, it will make a world of a difference. Then you can work on cutting expenses, perhaps downsizing, whatever you need to do. Best of luck.

Personally I think it’s wrong that nurses are attempting to use labels that other people have earned after years of education and attaining medical degrees, in addition to sacrificing even more years to specialize. It doesn’t sit well with me. Why can’t we be happy with what we have? Why do we insist on being called something we are not?

I removed the spike from an IV bag that was half full, while it was still hanging. I had been acting pretty cool and know it all until that point. I had an unintended shower. I helped a postpartum patient to the toilet. I bent down to remove her old, super blood saturated pad. I’m still not certain what happened, but the pad flipped, spraying blood everywhere. I had new bloody freckles on my face, in my hair, and a little on my lips. Ugh! Much to the relief of my patient, I came in to remove her IV heplock. I’m such a cool, competent nurse. I’m sure she was impressed. Fifteen minutes later, I walked in to deliver her last dose of IV antibiotics. Yes, IV antibiotics. I am a little forgetful sometimes. She had such a laugh. Thank goodness her physician (my cousin by some odd coincidence) said I could d/c the meds as she was sufficiently covered. Phew. The patient was very happy. I could continue on for pages and pages, unfortunately.

Only three things: 1. Take a small notebook and make a note of things you might forget later or when you go out on your own. 2. Don’t gossip. Don’t get involved with gossipers. Try to stay neutral. Don’t get dragged in. 3. Don’t give away much information about your private life. You have no idea who might use that information against you in the future. I’ve heard incredible things working nights. People lose their inhibitions when they’re tired or stressed or just because it’s dark and late and it feels safe. Wait until you’ve been on your unit for at least 6 months and you’ve figured out whom to trust. I know that sounds like strange advice, but it’s advice I would give myself if I had to start again. Best of luck.

I totally agree. You’re not a loser. You’ve persevered way beyond what I think would be the norm. So many stressors. Many years ago I was essentially laid off with 120 other people. I went through anger, depression...all the stages of grief. And that was for a lousy job that I disliked and didn’t plan on sticking with long term. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. I think you should pursue other types of nursing related jobs. Don’t give up on so many years of experience. Try pursue something that matches one of your passions. If you’re not worried about money, pick something you are fascinated with, perhaps would never have considered in other circumstances. Bring some fresh air into your life. Just go for it. You’ve got nothing to lose. Best of luck!

I started out in my late forties. I find nursing to be exhausting, both mentally and physically. I, too, feel you are already hitting the upper age limit. Once you get through nursing school, unfortunately, it will be difficult to find a job. If your heart is truly set on doing it and you can afford the investment of time, energy, and money, then go for it.

I went for an interview for a resource position. The hospital wing was brand new. I was instructed to arrive at such and such location and they would let the manager know I was there. I was 15 minutes early. Gave the info to the concierge. They called the manager. I waited. They sent me to a different wing of the hospital, to a volunteer desk with a very harried lady. The unit was locked and she called upstairs for someone to come and admit me. I waited another 15 minutes. No one came. I repeatedly questioned whether the manager knew I was there. She was desperately paging through the booklet she had with all the units and relevant offices and staff. Finally, I asked her to let me onto the unit, which she did. The unit appeared empty. I searched for someone, anyone, to direct me to the manager. I finally found a secretary. She didn’t know how to reach the manager by telephone but stated she thought she knew where the new office was. She didn’t. Now I was very very tardy. After rushing back and forth, with her knocking on various doors, she found the office. I’m now sweating and having anxiety symptoms. The manager and staffing person greet me with “Hi. We wondered what happened to you!” Didn’t give me a chance to explain. Launched into questions. The manager then discovered she had read my resume incorrectly and had assumed I was qualified for an area I wasn’t. Needless to say, I really should have left at this point. I stayed for a tour (I was curious). Somehow got into a small argument with the staffing person, who to say the least, was giving very misleading information. I may have gently called her on it oops. I wasn’t very surprised when I didn’t get the job. I actually want to laugh as I relate this. It was the craziest situation I’ve ever been in.

You are truly amazing. Wishing you all the best! May your remission last forever.

I’m not going to repeat all the good advice. If you begin feeling stressed, concentrate on taking some deep breaths. Center yourself. Repeat to yourself that it’s not personal. Don’t be nervous about making mistakes...we all did! Make yourself available for learning opportunities. Push yourself to try new things. Learn to laugh at yourself (a little, and not out loud lol). Remember you’re a newbie. All this takes practice. You’re not going to become an experienced nurse in clinicals, you’re just going to get a taste of it.

I used my small recorder throughout nursing school. I listened to my lectures while driving, while doing laundry, etc. it was really helpful for Med/Surg lectures.

I had a hold on mine. Basically they review the video of your exam and the keystrokes, to ensure there was no unusual activity. Then they release your result. It takes several days. You will be fine.

I went for my yearly vision checkup. At my previous visit to the ophthalmologist, I was informed I had creasing of my macula. Truthfully, I didn’t think much of it. Now I was seeing a different doctor. When I mentioned my night vision was deteriorating and floaters were interfering with my vision, the doctor stated in a very off-hand, sarcastic way, “Well, you were diagnosed with macular degeneration.” I immediately went into fight or flight. I didn’t ask any questions. All I could think of was that I was going blind and why hadn’t the previous doctor bothered to let me know? I think my brain just shut down. All I can remember was that he said to wear sunglasses outside. It took me ten months to make a follow up appointment to get answers to my many questions. I was still grappling with it. I went to someone highly recommended. After the initial tests, she sat me down. She said “You absolutely do not have macular degeneration and you’re not going blind.” I do need surgery to remove the top layer of my macula, but that will cure my issue. I still want to cry every time I think of it.