noregrets

You are a professional, your educator should not have to remind you. In my hospital you are off the schedule if you do not renew your BLS/ACLS on time. You have to retake the entire course if your BLS is expired. I think this is a requirement from the AHA.

See if you can shadow a nurse for a shift. In my hospital we often have high school students or others for a shadowing experience, nothing replaces experiencing it for yourself.

My unit has only 12 hr shifts and everybody loves it. Easier for scheduling also.

We have an hourly rounding check in the computer. However, if anything pertinent is charted every hour: vs, pain, ambulation etc. that counts as hourly rounding. When we had a pt fall out of bed, DOH insisted in seeing documentation of hourly rounding!!! I could show them (I am a NM) that the patient had been seen every hour for one reason or another, they accepted this. It is not always "Management decies that..)

We are a 30 bed high acuity Intermediate Care Unit with the monitors at the nurses station. Our HUC (Health Unit Coordinator) watches at the most 32 beds (30 of our unit, 2 remote if needed), answers the phone and the call light. The other HUC puts in the orders, this is on day shift. On night shift we have one HUC who does it all. This works very well.

In which category do you see yourself?

Our charge nurse comes in 15 minutes before the shift starts so he/she can take report from the preceding charge nurse. They stay in the nurses station during this hand off.

One of my nurses went to MedSchool 4 yrs ago, now graduated and going into a 3 year residency. She tells me that she will have $ 250,000 study debt. The first year of Med School she still worked part time as an RN, after that impossible because of the work load. Keep the finances in mind and the hours!

As a nurse manager in a Magnet hospital we had a very enthusiastic nursing staff because it is a recognition of the great work the nurse do every day. I think it depends on how management 'brings' the message. All staff felt honored when we received Magnet, not just the nurses but housekeeping, care coordination etc were very proud.

Most hospitals have 'compassion' one way or another in their core values. I am a manager and I would NEVER hire you, even if you were technically and excellent nurse. People are not machines.

I am a nurse managers and all my night nurses work 3 in a row, they prefer it. Some work 6 in a row (3 one week th, fr, sat and 3 the next sun, mond, tues) and have 8 nights off. Some work every week the same nights (sun, mon, tues). A fan in your bedroom for the white noise is a good idea.

In WA state you do not receive more for your BSN. However, if you want 'more' than bedside nursing you need a BSN. Also several nurses on my floor got injured or are getting older and without a BSN there are not many alternatives.

I am a nurse manager and am contacted regularly about shadowing. I interview the person in question to see what he/she is interested in and to see what kind of person they are. Afterwards they go to the volunteer services to fill out paperwork (confidentiality statement etc). This is usually just a one day shadowing. If you would like more exposure, the volunteer way is the best.

I am a nurse manager and my nurses love their 3 x 12 hr shifts. I have several military spouses and always try to work with them regarding their schedule but I know not everybody is willing to do that. School or doctor's office jobs are not easy to get. Nurses usually have no problem getting a job when their military spouse is transfered.

I did hire 2 graduates from a zero to MSN program. Disaster! Not enough clinical time. Not a realistic attitude.

Joint Commission requires education charting. We do it in the care plans.

Our hospital has also Standards of Behavior which are based on our Core Values and put together by representatives of the nurses and Union! They look a lot like yours. Nobody has a problem with them. Every employee signs one when they are hired and at their annual evaluation. Discipline can be based on not adhering to them. It is a good thing in our hospital, be positive.

Depends on the State/Hospital. In our hospital (and most other) no difference between BSN or ADN. Starting $ 25/hr, $ 4.25 night diff.

In all hospitals I have worked, you could give meds and hour earlier or an hour later than the scheduled time. also, it would help to 'chart as you go'. Other staff can help you with baths, walks etc. but not with your charting to save your overtime. Also it is a safety issue if you chart so late. Physicians often make decisions based on charting and if you are that many hours late, their decision can be adversely affected. I am a nurse manager and I run reports periodically on my nurses to see if they chart within the hour of the action. We even have a policy and disciplinary guidelines about this practice.

You still will be considered a new grad, sorry. Your letter etc. looks excellent. I would look for a 'residency' position. I am a nurse manager of a large hospital and we offer residency positions in med/surg 3 x year. These are especially for new grads. Good luck.

On our floor we do bedside report and the floor decided on a format. Everybody follows the same format in the same order so nothing is missed. This might be a project for your Unit Council if you have one, or for your educator.

Milk and molasses enema's!

I am nurse manager of a telemetry floor (not in CA). Monitors have to be watched 24/7. They are NEVER left alone! We have a monitor tech/HUC sitting at the desk at all times. I have never worked in a hospital were the monitors were not constantly watched. A lawsuit waiting to happen if you don't and first of all it is bad patient care. Why would you be on a Tele floor if you are not watched?

Look into informatics if you like computers!

I started in 1989 as a CNA by accident because as a foreigner I could only work if "I did not displace and American worker". I continued to attend school and I am now the nurse manager of a step down ICU unit. I have never, ever regretted this new career. I love nursing, there are so many directions you can go. The shortage might not be so severe at the moment but in a couple of years (when you are done) it will be. Many baby boomers will retire. If you are hesitating ask to shadow a nurse in different areas. It is a hard, stressful job but with many rewards.