RN77

I'm so glad to see your post! I've been out of work for six years, also, due to illness with recurrences. Unfortunately, I don't look well. I'd like to return to work, but will have obvious indications that I have been ill. Even if I go for a job in UR or insurance, where patients won't see me, I anticipate the interview being difficult because I believe they will stop the minute HR sees me. I was advised by someone to do the same as was above-mentioned.....just say you took a sabbatical for personal reasons. Now, does anyone have any ideas on how to approach how I look? How do I explain that?

I've had a hip replacement and it increased my mobility and decreased my pain. As long as you're not doing acrobatics and hyperflexing the hip, you should be fine, esp. wtih the type of replacement you had.

I, too, have multiple physical problems, esp. with my feet. What exactly is an "informatics nurse", please? I really want to teach nursing, but must go to school for that. In the meantime, I need a mostly "sit down" job. Also, what is an RCM nurse, which someone mentioned? My background in Med/Surg and MCN. Thanks to all.

SoonStudent and everyone, I believe that's all we can and SHOULD do. When parents ask about circs (or anything else), we should give pros and cons, and leave the decision to them. We can explain the procedure and answer their questions with facts; but our personal opinions about it are just that.....personal opinions; and they have no place in the discussion. If the parent/patient asks what we would do, we need to redirect them by saying something like, "we're not talking about what I would do; we're talking about what you believe YOU should do."

Dear Dukemidwifeprof, I, too, am interested in what you do to supplement your income, but I don't know how to send you my email, as you stated in one of your posts. Does anyone know how difficult it is to get a job teaching online?

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I can't speak to the article, since I didn't see it; however, for the past several years, there has been a NATIONAL nursing shortage. This is due to three things, that I know of; and probably several others. The first thing is that nursing instructors are aging, with an average age of something like 55. Think about it, that means that many are older than that.....approaching or past retirement age. Because of this, enrollment has had to be reduced, because they just don't have the instructors to teach the courses. Secondly, more women are going into higher-paying jobs that had been rather "closed" to them in the past.....science and engineering come to mind. Thirdly, nursing pay, compared to other occupations with similar educational preparation, has been pitifully low. Nursing used to be seen as a great field to "dabble" in....you could work part-time, off shifts, etc. to work around children's schedules, husband's work schedule, etc. It's only been more recently that more people are working more full-time, going higher in an organization, etc. Pay has not caught up, that I'm aware of. Part of the problem has been the on-going question as to whether to pay ADN-RN at the same level as BSN-RN. That's a huge debate, with strong arguments on both sides. With that said, I've heard that new grads are having a hard time getting jobs. I don't quite understand the cause of that. One could say that hospitals don't have enough staff to begin with, let alone enough to act as preceptors or orientation guides. My answer to that is, if not now, when? Another aspect of all this is the age-old problem of nurses "eating their young". I've heard preceptors call nursing students, "nursing stupids". Many say that they'd rather have bedpan duty than to have a new nurse following them around for orientation. That's reprehensible!! They need to stop and remember that they were there once, too. I better stop for now.....this is a topic that raises my feathers.....to say the least.

To Dukemidwifeprof: Thank you very much for that excellent suggestion about having taken a leave, and leaving it at that. Sorry I've been so long in getting back to you.....I've had a couple more rounds with complications.....I just can't get ahead of this mess I'm in. Your idea is wonderful and I will most-certainly use it. Thanks again! :^)

This thread is old, but I hope someone will read this and give me a suggestion or two. I've been a nurse for 33 years, however I've been inactive the past 3.5 years, due to grave illness and subsequent and numerous complications. I'm now closer to going back to work than I've ever been. I won't be able to do floor nursing, but wonder if anyone would hire me for QA, nurse recruitment, etc., since I can't do a lot of walking. Am I still marketable for something?? How do I explain the long absence without giving them the idea that I'm sickly and, therefore, a risk.? Any help will be appreciated. I really miss the patients, but maybe I can do something on the phone? Thanks, in advance.

As a student, I was asked to stay in the exam room while a female patient had a pelvic exam by the male doctor. As he withdrew his finger from her orifice, liquid stool squirted out, all over his expensive suit pants. Of course, the patient was mortally embarrassed and kept apologizing to the doc., who kept assuring her these things happen and for her to not worry about a thing. He was SO pleasant to her. Well, doc left., I assisted the lady back to her room and went to the desk to chart the procedure. As I waited for the doc to finish with her chart, another doc asked first doc what had happened to his pants and he said, "A GD patient **** all over me!" He was SO angry. I'm glad that he was nice to her in the first place; but I got a forever chuckle out of it all.

A few things I can think of: 1. One of the other students, while giving her first IM injection, carefully marked out the area on the patient's hip, using her thumb and forefinger to outline the injection site. She carefully wiped the intended area with alcohol, then aimed and delivered......right through the web of her hand. She looked at the instructor, to say, "Now what?" She was told that the damage was done, so go ahead and finish giving the med. 2. Happened to me...giving IM to a very small, elderly patient (senior year, so I was independent in this), who had next to no muscle mass. I chose a one-inch needle and prayed. Despite my best efforts, when I introduced the needle, I felt a sudden, hard resistance. I had hit the femur. It gave me chills, but I proceeded to give the med. Then the REAL trouble started. As I withdrew the needle, the patient started screaming and, when I got it out, I saw that I had barbed the point when I hit the bone, so was literally tearing her muscle with it as I withdrew. When I told the instructor, she got pale, but pointed me to the I&A reporting form. 3. Another student. Our first day of clinicals, ever, and we were at a nursing home to do bed baths and bed changes. One poor student happened to get a patient who was incontinent, and as soon as she would clean up one mess and change the bed, along would come another mess. Both urine and stool were prolific, all morning. On the way back to school, the student burst into tears, saying, "I had no idea it was going to be like this. I thought all nurses are like the ones on General Hospital and (other medical shows of the time....36 years ago). They're never busy, never get dirty, and never they always look so cute in their white uniforms and caps." Surprisingly, she didn't wash out, but went on to be one of the best students.

About 32 years ago, we had a patient who only drank apple juice. He never wanted his water pitcher filled with ice water; it HAD to be apple juice. After report, on the night shift, during which the evening nurse made a point to say, "He's got a fresh pitcher of apple juice and I poured him a cup, so he should be all set for the night," I started making my rounds. When I came to his room, he was asleep, and the poured cup of juice was still there. "Great," I thought..., "He's usually up all night, so this is a good thing." About an hour later, this somewhat confused patient was awake and rearing to go....literally and figuratively. I couldn't find his urinal anywhere, so stepped out to the utility room to get a new one. Upon my return, he asked about his juice, and I told him there was a glass right there on his overbed table, and a whole pitcher just waiting for him. He said, "It's gone." I didn't understand, but told him to call me when he was done with the urinal. I got involved with medicating another patient and hanging a piggyback, when I realized it had been a while and I hadn't heard from him. Upon checking him, he practically threw the urinal at me, declaring, "That thing ain't worth nothin'." Fortunately, it was empty. I asked if he still needed to go and he said no; but was restless. "OK, well it's night and you need to get back to sleep. Have some juice and settle back." I handed him the juice. Before I got to the door of the room, he said, "Ewwwww, what the hell are you trying to do, poison me??" The juice was half gone now, and as he shoved the glass in my direction, I got the distinct odor of.....you guessed it, urine. Apparently, when I left to get the urinal, he had drunk his juice and used the cup to void into. I hadn't noticed the odor when I gave it to him to drink. I never told anyone about this.

I've got to take up the side for "WannaBeANurse". While his/her question may seem to funny to a lot of you (as it obviously does, from the posts), it is very real to him/her. I once got a nursing student to precept for home health and she couldn't take a B/P with an "old-fashioned" cuff that you have to pump up and read an analog display while listening with a stethoscope!! She had only learned/seen the electronic ones. Geeees, this stuff is basic, but her question to me was very real for her..."How does this thing work?" "Wanna..." reached out to us, as experienced nurses; trusted us. How do you think he/she feels now, with all the put-downs you've delivered to them? They sure learned a lesson; and it wasn't about watches!!! Shame on y'all!!!

I'm ROTFL!!! These are hysterical! Sadly, they're true, too. I'm glad there's idiots like these out there to give us all job security! LOL Goodness, you've all made my night, and I REALLY needed those laughs right now. Thanks.

I wish I'd known that I wouldn't know it all fresh out of nursing school. I mean, I thought I would be prepared to be a nurse. When I got out and faced reality, I felt inadequate; like I'd missed several courses that I should have taken and it was very scarey! Without much self-esteem at the time, I thought that my lack of knowledge was a personal thing, not just normal for a new nurse. Nursing is an art and a science; but they only teach the science in school. I knew nursing, but not how to be a nurse. I'm gald that horrible time is well behind me (been practicing for 27 years now).

I used to live in Maine. You must visit Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth (just outside Portland). For shopping, Route 1 (anywhere along the way) and the Old Port and Congress street sections of Portland. The absolute BEST seafood restaurant in the entire world is Newick's Lobster House in South Portland.....the line will look daunting, but it moves quickly and it's there because everyone loves the place. Awesome doesn't begin to describe it....inexpensive, huge portions, "interesting" atmosphere. Bar Harbor is worth the visit, as is Wiscasset (I think it's in Wiscasset that there is the Gimbel [not Gimbel's] Store; a real trip back in time). It's an incredible state and you can't go wrong. If you get a chance, take a tour of Casco Bay (Portland). It takes about 2 hours, if I remember correctly) and you won't want to come back to shore. They show you more lighthouses on that tour, too. Enjoy the trip. It will be the experience of a lifetime!!!! Gee, do I sound too enthusiastic? I can't wait to move back there.

I worked NICU for a few years and loved it! (I had to leave it because of my husbands job and other things). There are challenges, but the rewards outweigh them, I believe. I'd recommend going to a four-year (BSN) program and then working on a mother-baby unit for at least a year (so you get very comfortable with well babies, what's normal and not normal, etc.) I used to live in ME, and, if I'm not mistaken, there is an RN program at U of M in Portland. Be patient,, but it does sound like you're off to a good start. Much good luck to you....it sounds like you're going to go far. :roll

I think that just about anywhere in this country, you'll have to have at least a year of med/surg experience before you go to an ICU. I strongly believe that is a good thing...get your feet wet and under you before you dive into the hi-risk areas. The first year of nursing is difficult and a bigger learning experience than school ever dreamed of being. Good luck with your career.! :)

I must throw my hat into the ring of believers. Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a very real disease and I have had it for about three years now. It is often associated with other auto-immune diseases (of which I have SLE). I've been reading through parts of this thread and at first it angered me; then I read replys from some sensible people and felt better. I am not a hypochondriac or a drug seeker (I was given a scrip for Oxycontin and I tore it up). While I do have clinical depression, which came first? Ah, the old chicken and egg theory that someone mentioned. The pain of FMS is like no other I've ever experienced. Imagine your entire body feeling like you were beaten severely with a baseball bat (or worse). The bones don't hurt, but every muscle (even those you don't even know you have) hurts. Sometimes just the weight of a sheet covering me is too excruciating to bear. Despite being exhausted to the core, I have difficulty falling asleep and then staying asleep, as every movement causes pain. Of course it's not like this every day (thank God), but some days can be this way. As for just getting out of bed and carrying on, I do this most days. I have a day every now and then when it's all I can do to physically open my eyes, as using those muscles hurts too much. Most days, I just carry on and grin and bear it, but I am never without pain. I think that the reason we're hearing about FMS more now is that physicians have been undereducated about it. As one poster said, it was only "discovered" in the 80's. Not a lot has been taught in med school about it and it was generally thought about just like many posters here do.....it's in your head, you're a hypochondriac, you're crazy, you're making it up, or you're a drug-seeker. More is being taught now and more is out there in medical journals, so more docs are recognizing it and treating it as it should be. Why did I rip up the Oxycontin scrip?? Because it had been tried before and it didn't do a thing. I avoid narcs like the plaque, but gave in one time, being desperate for some relief. I got none from the Tylox they gave me. I urge any "disbelievers" to open your minds. Research FMS on the web, learn about it, and give it's suffers the same compassion you give to sufferers of other diseases. Please!

I can TOTALLY sympathize and empathize with you! I have been diagnosed with SLE for about six years now. I'm at the point that I must only look at jobs that allow a lot of sitting. I've been looking into case management, UR, consultant, etc. I'm not big on legal nursing (for myself), but that is an option. There are many options out there, you just have to look. I really miss the bedside nursing, but it's just not in the cards for me anymore. I'd never be able to run down a hall in a code situation or stand for long periods of time doing some procedure at bedside. It was hard to give it up. I'm between jobs right now and searching hard. I think my limp and generally fatigued look (and feel) are hindering me in interviews, as I've been on over 20 and have no offers. I've never had such trouble getting a job. I don't mean to get you down about this, but you DO have to take care of yourself and get the rest you need. Plus you don't need to be exposed to infectious situations while on Prednisone, Plaquanil, and Cytoxan! (But you already know that.) My best to you, fellow "lupie". My heart goes out to you!

I believe it is perfectly okay to wear makeup and put your hair up nicely. This must be done tastefully, though, NOT in excess. Now perfume is another matter entirely. I don't recommend wearing it in the clinical setting, as many people (patients and staff) are "allergic" or easily offended. Perfume or strong deodorants, body lotion, etc. can set off an asthma attack in some people. If someone feels they absolutely MUST wear perfume, it should not be a strong scent and should be applied lightly.