RNCourtney

Male, confused patient with CDiff calls to inform us that he "fixed this thingy." Upon gowning up and entering the room, we find the patient has completely disassmbled his IV, took the remaining tape and wrapped it around the telemetry monitor - to "fix" it. Later that morning, we go to check on him because his telemetry monitor has stopped picking up - he has taken the leads and used them to tie his Foley bag to his bedside commode - in the neatest, prettiest bow you have ever seen. Another night, a patient calls to inform us that he "needs some help in here!" We all go running, terrified of what may be wrong with him, only to find that he has stood up, taken off his diaper, messed in the floor, walked through it, gotten back in the bed, and was waiting patiently for us with his arms crossed behind his head, and his legs crossed in front of him, as though it was the most normal thing he had ever done. We get loads of these all the time, sometimes it makes things worse, and sometimes it helps to laugh a little!!

OB/GYN named Dr. Adcock. Please. . . . . .don't.

I graduated from Nursing school in 2009 and have been working on a Adult/Pediatric Med-Surg floor since. There are, of course, days that I love my job, and days that I would rather do anything than show up. I am fortunate enough to work with some very wonderful people, and that helps keep me going on those nights when all I want to do is give up; however. . . I never dreamed of being a nurse. Honestly, I needed to do SOMETHING, and the medical field in and of itself always interested me, so I figured nursing would be a good place to START. The problem I have run into is this: I have no idea where to go from here. I knew the moment I began in nursing school that I did not want to stop with my RN. Everyone always told me that the sky was the limit when it came to Nursing, and that the opportunities would be endless as far as advancing my career and my education. Instructors would speak about jobs in Research and Education and etc, etc, but honestly, I have no idea where to start to even find something I would be remotely interested in. I feel that I was well prepared to be a floor nurse, but I would have liked some specific information about these "possibilities." Would I be interested in being a CRNA? A CRNP? Unfortunately, I just don't know. I don't have the kind of information I would like in order to feel confident in beginning an advance degree program or anything like that. I know this - I do not wish to be a floor nurse forever, and would like to begin advancing my education now, before I get too comfortable with the status quo. Honestly, I need ideas. I need a jumping off point. A comprehensive list of possibilities. Any help?