bellcollector

I have trouble understanding why there are so many nurses/healthcare workers who are so seemingly proud of consistently over working themselves or working with little to know sleep. It makes no sense to me. We are in the field of science yet we ignore all the studies about the effects of night shift (I am and always have been night shift due to necessity} and lack of sleep on our physiological as well as physiological health. It is one thing to wreck ourselves but our jobs are such that we are also putting others lives in danger. It also baffles me that we are in a caring profession yet we tend to care little about out co-workers. I have SLE and until last year a multi handicapped son and in 9yrs I missed only 5 days. A couple of them were for lack of sleep. I am not ashamed of that as I feel I was putting the well being of those I was caring for as well as fellow drivers ahead of my own desire for people to approve of me at all times. That desire to please everyone has gradually fallen away over the years and this last year it is almost gone. You never know what your coworkers are going through. We always wonder why we don't get much respect from management among others. It is simple we nurses are rarely ever on the same page as far as standing up for ourselves and we tend to not respect one another. Unfortunately we are leading by example and in a lot (NOT ALL) but a lot of the time we are not setting good examples ie. working short, working too many hours, allowing ourselves to be talked into do unsafe assignments and weird unhealthy schedules etc... Just my opinion.

I am a 3rd shifter and every place I have worked save for private duty it is our job to make sure things are done with our pts. and clean and restocked for the next shift. Personally I feel it is each shifts job to have things ready to go for the next shift. I believe it is just commen courtousy. Everyone on every shift is going to have a rough/busy shift from time to time, when this happens I document document document plus I write everything including what I couldn't get to on the report sheet, copy it give report and leave the copy in my supervisors box. Sometimes I will call supervisor for approval for over time if I feel there is simply to much for next shift to catch up while safely tending to their pts. If I find an incorrectly written order I fax for clarification leave a sticky to alert those that follow me and as soon as I get clarification I dc the unclear order and re-write it correctly. Then I put the new order in file and a copy in supervisors box. This is how I handle it hope it helps.

I have completely isolated myself except for the 2 nights a week that i do private duty. I have been an LPN since 1998. I worked in geriatrics and special needs and spent two years doing Excelsior for my RN. I didn't find the book work particularly hard but didn't get released for the CPNE so don't know how I would have done in that. I had no problems with the LPN clinicals. I also did well in the CPNE workshops but was able to go at a slower pace and take breaks were as in the actual CPNE that may not have always been possible. I was emailed by a few graduates, after my time elapsed, detailing accommodations I could ask for that I had know idea were possible. I can do quite a bit more than my MD recommends. I also have SLE and the CPNE was concerned that my lupus face, which tends to show up when I am stressed, would cause fear and stress in the patients. I forget what they call that some sort of jeopardy but anyway there wasn't anything I could do to control that. I need to check with my alma mater (sp) about the LPN to Rn bridge program. I guess I am just scared of being rejected and don't feel like I can take rejection right now. I did finish the LPN in the top of my class with a 3.87. I am now 49 with significant physical issues and since my son passed I truly feel that I have lost significant IQ points. I think I would be good at case management or anything advocating for patients. Its just that at least in my area those type of positions require an RN. Thanks for letting me just talk.

Thank you for the kind wishes. I am an LPN doing private duty had experience mostly in geriatrics before the injury. Yes because of WC I would have to continue to work but I only work 2 days a week.

Hello Everyone, It has been a couple of years, I think, since I have posted here. This might be kind of wordy so I apologize in advance. I got injured in 2004 and was off work until 2014. I am back now with restrictions. I have a son with special needs but very high functioning. He had a job and shared an assisted living home with his best friend and round the clock staff. He had a high quality of life despite the seizures and mental delays. From early 2013 until 2015 he was declining greatly as his seizures increased in number and severity. In 2015 they added Onfi to his other seizure meds. It worked but he had to be in a LTC for rehab for 3 months. The Onfi stopped the seizures but also took his balance and ability to walk as well as caused him to slur his speach. His body finally adjusted and rehab gave him back what he had lost. He was seizure free for 9 months for the first time in his life. Unfortunately in early 2015 he started having seizures again but far fewer and less frequently. During that last 18 months he got to do everything on his wish list, ie fly on a plane, visit Disney World and go to Tennessee. So we were very shocked on Aug. 17, 2016 when staff came to our door to tell me that our son, who had just turned 29 in July, had passed away. He did not have a seizure, they found him face down, he had been drawing a picture, he still had the pencil in his hand. They started CPR and when the squad got there they established and air way, used a lucus device, and pushed all the meds. They worked on him for nearly an hour until the ER MD told them to call it. The COD was SUDEP a complication of epilepsy I still can't believe it is true and we are completely devastated. Nineteen hours after he passed my mother suddenly passed. My mind is mush and my heart is broken. I lean towards isolating myself like I did after I got injured. Of course that is what I am doing now. I badly want to get my RN but don't know if I can handle the rigors and schedule of a traditional school. I completed all of the Excelsior but MD would not clear me for the cpne. So I need to start all over. I live in the state of OH and the OBN told me that it is up to each school be it traditional or online decides what kind of " reasonable accommodations" they are willing to provide. I can sit, stand, and walk but not for long periods of time. So I would have to be able to kind of rotate between sitting, standing and walking . I also am restricted to lifting only 25lbs. I know this is all probably a lot of gibberish but if anyone understands I need some ideas, suggestions and really just to be able to talk it through and figure something out. I currently do private duty which I hate. I love my client and her family it's just that I work 3rd and having no co-workers is very lonely and isolating for me. Plus I would like to be a bit more active than is required with my current job. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.

I apologize for not acknowledging all the posts. I have had a rough few months. In and out of hospital a few times. Thank you for your thought provoking posts. I think I probably just haven't hit on the right work place yet. I never meant to imply that real life is or should be like tv. I have made some very good friends that were co-workers. I think of a few of you hit the nail on the head with the attitudes and examples set by management being paramount to the work environment. Again thank you to those of you who took the time to respond.

I have been marathon watching Chicago Fire. I have always heard that fire fighters bond and become like family and so far that is what the show portrays. I am just curious, why is it that we nurses (for the most part) do not stick together and bond like most fire fighters do? I have been a nurse for 18yrs and worked in 5 different settings. I have never seen this kind of bonding in my own personal experiences. Actually it has been quite the opposite. In school they pounded it into us to CYA. I thought at the time that we were CYA to avoid lawsuits or problems with management. I never dreamed we had to protect ourselves from each other as well. I hear a lot that it is because the profession is predominately female but I am not sure I believe that. I am sorry if this has been discussed to death just point me to the previous threads and I will be on my way. If anyone cares to share their experiences and opinions about this I would be interested to read them. Thanks

Thank you for your replies.

Hi, I am in desperate need of advice. My client is a 5 yr old with many medical issues. Our current problem is that she is on total parenteral nutrition. She gets probiotics and prune juice when needed. Her stools are always liquid and she has frequent smears. Her bottom is absolutely raw. We use pink av diaper rash ointment and protective cream however it is not working. I keep her open to air as much as possible and encourage the other nurses and the parents to do so as well. I have also read that using liquid anti acid on the affected area can help so I am currently trying that. Does anyone else know of other tips or remedies that might help? I am posting this with moms permission. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you justbeachynurse I will do that.

I just watched video on the Farrell bag as well I will show it to guardian's in the morning. I am giving the simethicone every 4 hours, have vented tube before each dose, have HOB elevated as high as is comfortable for her and am frequently positioning. So far so good. Thank you for the responses all are appreciated.

Hi all I am a PDN but this is a peds question. I am caring for a little girl and I do mean little. I won't share anything identifying just in general. She just turned 4 but because of her condition she is very small about 20 pounds. She has severe scoliosis making some of her anatomy a bit off, and a heart condition. She is completely immobile has a G-tube and gets TPN as she has no sucking or swallowing reflexes, and is palliative care. It is very important to me to make her as comfortable as possible. The problem is she has constant gas with cramping. We have tried what we know to do. We keep her at a 30 degree HOB. We have tried formula at night and h2o during day and vice versa. We vent the tube allowing massive amounts of air out. Frequent positioning and simethicone which doesn't work anymore. I am at my wits end. Does anyone have any advice or ideas. I will take what I can get. FYI I am posting this with guardian's approval. TIA

I know it is unethical to receive gifts from clients or their families but is it acceptable for us to give them Christmas gifts?

"Bed Number Ten" Was mandatory reading in our program and is a true story. "And If I Perish" and "We Band of Angels" are a couple of my favorites also true stories. If you like fiction Echo Herron(not sure I spelled that correctly) has some pretty good novels. Hope you enjoy.

Now this is the mom that reminds me of myself and how I would react. My youngest son, the one with special/complex needs, is soon to be 27. He now lives in a group home he is high functioning but has a very complex medical case. He has lived there since he was 22 because I could no longer handle him on my own. It turned out to be the best move we ever made for him. He just got back from an awesome vacation that we could never have taken him on ourselves. When he was growing up we did not have access to help of any kind. No family, no nurses or aids and believe me it was VERY much needed and would have been VERY much appreciated. I have a very strong work ethic and can not abide those who do not. My main clients at this time have 3 of us nurses. I do nights. They are a wonderful family and treat us wonderfully. They do not drink coffee but have provided us nurses with a fancy kuerig machine and a variety of kuerig cups. They do not smoke and do not allow it in their home but 2 of the nurses are smokers and the family has provided a pleasant outside smoking area for them or non smokers to enjoy breaks. I don't think I have ever left a shift without a thank you from either mom or dad and sometimes both. If I pick up for one of the nurses who tends to over schedule herself, which I only do when I want to, they are nearly in tears with gratitude. We have free access to wifi, tv, microwave, beverages and even snacks if we want. They have white noise and fans in their rooms so we are not asked to keep the noise down though I do. I will just say it we are SPOILED ROTTEN. This is not the norm though at least wifi or tv as well as microwave should be. I am very grateful for this family and this job. The only complaint I have ever heard is the agencies complete lack of communication and organization. I can't tell you how many times they have failed to call and tell me I have been canceled even though both of my current clients call at least 12 hrs a head. We are not suppose to give the clients a cell # but you can bet your bippy we do otherwise we would do a lot of unnecessary driving. The books in the home with careplan, mars, tars, blank nurses notes and company policies are suppose to be maintained by the agency but another nurse and myself maintain them because the agency does not. I am kind of wondering if some of the problem with the call off nurses may not be lack of agency communicating with the family. Maybe they do know in advance that these days off are going to occur and fail to inform the family which is their responsibility. We do get bad families who treat us poorly and lack any kind of respect or consideration for us nurses and after a while it does cause bitterness or at least caution on our part but it should never lead us to assume all families are like that. We do need to keep our private lives as private as possible and try to maintain a certain level of professional distance but there is absolutely NO reason we can't still be kind, friendly and empathetic. There is never an excuse for repeatedly failing to keep your commitments. I feel it would be perfectly appropriate to give 1 warning along the lines of : We really need a nurse we can depend on to be here on scheduled days so if this continues to be a problem for you we are going to need to request a nurse with a more reliable schedule. Or you could just tell that to the agency which ever works best with the working relationship you have with said nurse of agency. Good luck I know it is never easy.