SuperNurseBSN

I usually work in an outpatient oncology/BMT department for 3 years, but I volunteer to work on the inpatient oncology/BMT unit as needed. I feel very comfortable there and the staff is always supportive when one of us goes up there to work. Last week there was an incident where another patient's lab requisition form got stamped with my patient's name. I pretty much took the blame for the the mistake, even though I am confident that I did not have any special lab requisitions for my patients. Anyways, I worked on this unit yesterday and had a pretty sick patient. He had a very high tacrolimus level (45.8) with confusion and visual disturbances, which started right before my shift. I did neuro checks q1h and kept the physicians informed all day. I had to draw blood cultures right at 3pm on another patient and my neuro patient had a grand mal seizure. Two other nurses were in the room, and I had no clue until I came to the nurse's station. I saw this coming all day and it was definitely something that was anticipated by everyone. I just feel bad because I was not there and it was change of shift. The nurse I reported-off to at 3pm has been a nurse since the dinosaurs, and she made me feel VERY incompetent. This particular nurse has a "I'm just here to work" attitude and is the first to complain about patients. She didn't specifically say anything, but actions do speak louder than words. I do not have very tough skin at all, so I may just be making a big deal of this situation. I do not often feel incompetent and often precept students and other nurses... but I just can't help feeling incompetent because I should have been there. I am just in need of a few kind words!

I work in oncology, so we see our patients on a long-term basis. First of all, I think oncology patients are just the BEST! But anyways... there is a man and his wife that have been coming in every day for the last 4 months for blood products. They are just like our "best friends". You can talk to them about anything and everything and they share the same with us. On Sundays we only see our daily patients and there may be only 3 or 4. I can remember working a Sunday a few weeks ago, and I was in the room for nearly an hour. We were talking about remodeling houses, our dogs, and great places to eat in our city. It was so refreshing to have a normal conversation at work. The patient worked as a financial analyst before he was sick and he is just a wealth of information when it comes to financial planning and Wall Street stuff and is always willing to give advice or help us out. He is genuinely a good person (and his wife too) and really make it worth coming to work!

Hello everyone! I have something that I have been pondering all weekend and would like some input... I am working on a MSN in nursing informatics and taking a course in health literacy/health disparity right now. The college that I am going to offers a post-master's certificate in gerontologic nursing that I am interested in. I spoke with a friend yesterday from nursing school, who just finished a MSN in nursing research, and she was able to literally "create" a position as a nursing research coordinator at her hospital. Now, I do not work in LTC, but I work in oncology and take care of many older folks (and love them). This is why I would like to pursue the gerontologic certificate. I am finding a new passion for health literacy and disparity! I was pondering the idea of working as a gerontologic health literacy specialist, but the problem is my hospital does not currently have a position like this. I feel that it would greatly benefit our large older population to have someone devoted to this area. Has anyone else ever created their own position? I am interested to hear some strategies for this! Thank you!

In Pittsburgh, PA the job market for new and experienced RN's is beginning to open. There are many positions that do want 6 months to 1 year of experience. I precepted two senior nursing students last year - one got hired into a Neuro ICU and one got hired into a pediatric ICU. However, they had both worked as nurse techs for a couple of years. I have seen friends on Facebook that are getting jobs in rehabilitation, LTC, and psychiatric facilities.

In my defense... I have 5 years of experience with oncology/hematology/BMT and am an oncology certified nurse... I also have a BSN and am almost done with a MSN... I have applied for over 30 positions in the last 3 months... Yes, it is a tough job market...

Hello everyone! I have a dilemma and would like some feedback and/or opinions... Currently, I work for a health system undergoing some major changes in the services we provide. In a nutshell, we are combining services between hospitals to save money. In my present position, I work as a staff nurse on a short stay unit. My background is primarily oncology/hematology/BMT (with a little outpatient surgery). Because there has been a major decline in our census, I have been job searching to avoid being laid off. The future of the entire health system is not clear, but it will definitely last in some form or another. I have 2 job offers on the table and am completely stuck on which to take. I know the choice is ultimately my decision, but I do value the insight of others. Job A is with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in my area on an inpatient medicine/liver transplant/oncology unit. The pay is very competitive, great benefits, 5 weeks of vacation, and free parking. I would have to rotate all shifts and work every other weekend. This position is 80 hours per pay and there is flexibility in scheduling, but I would be required to work some 12-hour shifts. The nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:4-5 on day shift and 1:6 on night shift with no guarantee of a nurse assistant. Job B is with a large oncology practice with the system (12 offices) across 5 counties, and I would be floating between to oncology offices. This is a salary position for 80 hours per pay regardless of hours worked and would be what I currently make. The benefits are pretty good, 3 weeks of vacation, and parking is $50/month (on-site). It is Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, no weekends or holidays. I would be primarly administering chemotherapy. Everyone was super super nice at the interview and at both sites. The two offices are within 8 miles of my house. Where I work now, I work Monday through Friday, 5 8's or 2 8's and 2 12's. No weekends or holidays. All outpatient and give a lot of chemotherapy and IV infusions. I am sure the answer is obvious, but I am really in a bind... PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Hello everyone! I recently started a MSN program in nursing education and now the school is offering a MSN in nursing informatics. The courses I have taken so far are the "core" MSN courses. I have always been fascinated with health care IT and nursing informatics but never really thought twice about it. I dipped my toes into nursing education and found that I do not want to teach nursing students, but I would like to do some sort of staff development. I am contemplating declaring myself a MSN in nursing informatics major and getting a post MSN certificate in nursing education. I know there are many job opportunities in nursing informatics, but are there any opportunities for this in the staff development world? Also, my speciality is oncology. I have seen a few job postings for nurses to build oncology systems. Does anyone work in nursing informatics in their specilaty?