epinephRN

Instructors should maintain certifications and credentialing in their areas of expertise and teaching. Anything else is a waste of money and time. As mentioned before, how is requiring ACLS for a NICU nurse any more reasonable than requiring all faculty to have STABLE and NRP, including those who teach about the care of adults only? This doesn't make sense to me. As others have mentioned, BLS is a necessity. Other than that, instructors should consider certifications and credentialing appropriate to their specialty.

I agree, FMLA is fantastic for those who use it as intended. Can I also say: AlsgalRN, I think you're amazing.

Just keep speaking over her when she interrupts. She can hold her questions until you are finished. She is being extremely rude.

The part of your post that makes me most uncomfortable is that others have noticed this person's strangeness/inappropriateness to the point that they took you aside and commented on it. There are all types of odd people in health care, but the fact that others even pointed it out means something is obviously off. If I've learned one things as a nurse, it is to trust my gut. Please trust yours now.

Peer evaluation with a rubric, as Moogie mentions above, can be helpful in some cases such as rating contributions to a group project, etc. However, giving any type of access to another student's grade is a FERPA violation and should not be done. To get the benefit of group input, we allow the students to take a group test after they take their individual tests. This allows them to consult with their peers, make group decisions, and benefit from the knowledge of others. The group testing receives great feedback, and does not compromise the integrity of the exam or violate FERPA in the process.

I would rather work minimum wage than someplace like that. I couldn't adequately care for 165 customers at a RESTAURANT, more or less 165 patients whose lives are in my hands. I like my license too well to agree to that. I hope you will find someplace that is more reasonable to work soon.

I have been reading the thread on families adjusting to nursing school and was thinking that families also could use a positive but realistic "orientation" to what their SO/parent will experience in school. As a nursing faculty member, I am curious: What are your thoughts on this? Also, what topics do you WISH had been covered in orientation that were not covered? What can faculty members do to try to relieve some anxiety? Any suggestions for orientation ideas you enjoyed at your own nursing school orientation?

It isn't dealt with, unfortunately. Despite the fact that best practices show that nurses need debriefing after such events, it never occurs. It hasn't in any of the places I've worked at. I think this is one of the worst things about health care. I'm sorry you've been through such a difficult experience.

Research/evidence yes. Some nursing theories have value, but others I find laughable and completely divorced from the reality of nursing practice.

Tait, I couldn't agree more. As a nursing instructor who works insane hours trying to ensure my students receive an education that prepares them for real-world nursing, the only thing I refuse to replicate is the cattiness of coworkers and the general disrespect that nurses receive (from family, patients, administration, etc). By the time they graduate, my students: -always take a full load of patients -have learned that we aren't in "NCLEX world" and can prioritize -have good assessment and technical skills -can plan care in alignment with reality, not a 40-page care plan -are respectful I am tired of seeing everything laid at the feet of education. This is a multifactorial issue. It belongs to all of us. Managers- if you have created yet another form to fill out, not worked the floor in years, or are disconnected from your staff, you are contributing. Administrators- if you can't see that $18/hr is not enough pay when you hold someone's life in your hands, and refuse to pay for enough staff, you are contributing. Educators- if you assign excessive and unreasonable paperwork that is not based in reality, and overwhelm your students with content, you are contributing. Floor nurses- if you have rolled your eyes, sighed at, or made the "I smell poo" face at a coworker or nursing student, you are contributing. If you've ever acted like someone new should already know something or gossiped about a coworker, you are contributing. To all of us- if you aren't standing up for yourself and proper treatment, you are contributing. I personally have made many of these errors as a new nurse and a new educator. I have contributed. Most of us have! The important things is to change for the better. As we know better, we must do better. Stop blaming the problem on one thing or one group of people. It is so many things: low wages, understaffing, lack of time for self, emotional and physical stress, lack of resources, lack of legislative support, coworker mistreatment, etc. If we spent as much time trying to fix this as we did pointing fingers at everyone but ourselves we might have a solution. What is the future of nursing? I don't know, you tell me. This is a collective decision we all must make.

The most important thing to do, as others have mentioned, is to look at the dress code requirements for the school he plans to attend and the clinical sites where he would be placed, both in nursing school and as a CRNA. Here, students are not allowed to attend clinical with more than one small piercing in each ear (ex- a stud, not a hoop or a gauge), no visible tattoos, and no "unusual" hair colors. I am a nursing instructor and personally could not care less what piercings or ink my students have. It is a part of them and I respect that. HOWEVER- the clinical agencies make the rules. I have to follow them and so do the students. I would ensure your son is well aware of that and agree with the other posts that mentioned having him check these policies thoroughly before having his ears gauged. As others mentioned, he may be able to wear the flesh-colored plugs depending on the policy. You might have him consider the cost of plastic surgery to revise them if he changes his mind, and make him aware that he would need to pay that. Definitely not the end of the world, but as long as he is aware of all potential consequences, ultimately his choice.

I would like to ban rude visitors, small children who scream and play in the halls unattended, call lights, and smelly feet. Of course, many years ago my preceptor told me that if you remove the shoes for any unnecessary reason, you get what you deserve, lol. While I'm at it, can I just go ahead and ban spandex as well? Unless you are competing in an athletic event, it does you no favors. Just saw a rather fluffy woman recently in the ER with silver spandex pants and could have performed a visual gyne exam. And let's not forget the slippers as shoes. And yes, I did have a very, very bad night.

Ours is outside and we love it! In terms of infection control, a smarter move would be to limit visitors to two at a time. I was in L&D the other day and there were no fewer than 40 family members, all clamoring to "see the new baby" who couldn't understand why they couldn't all cram in the room at the same time. More handwashing, fewer visitors = less germs. We don't even have the basics down even after several hundred years.

Thank you all for the responses! I appreciate your feedback!

I agree with the above (wtbcrna); I also have several true allergies leading to anaphylaxis, but the problem with treating the patient as if all listed allergies are equally valid can lead to lack of appropriate care. For example, if I accepted the patient's "allergy" to oxygen that I mentioned in the initial post, this would have been quite problematic as the patient required a vent after surgery, not to mention that if the allergy was real, she would already be dead. I am also not referring to people who have not been educated about the nature of an allergy vs. an intolerance vs. "I just don't like it." I am referring to those who continue to say they have an "allergy" despite education. I have discussed why this is not a good idea and re-educated the mom of the frequent flier multiple times, but she continues to state the allergies unchanged. Also, it drives me crazy when people just don't like a food and claim they are allergic. Ex- a close friend hates onions, but tells others she is "allergic" instead of just saying at a restaurant "Don't put any onions in my food!" and sending it back if they do. To me, this really discounts those with true allergies that will DIE or become quite ill from exposure (such as my niece, who has a severe peanut allergy). My concern is that the people who exagerrate are like the "boy who cried wolf"- and I fear that those without a medical background will be less likely to take real claims seriously when this happens.