ddunnrn

Are you salaried or paid hourly? If you are not exempt from overtime, then you have to be paid for all hours you work, which includes having to stay in the office for "emergencies" during your break. You must a completely relieved of all duties not t...

Federal labor law states that, unless you are exempt from overtime, which is very unlikely, any hours more than 40 in any given 7 day period must be paid overtime. The pay period dates do not matter, but many employers try to get over on employees wh...

I worked night shift, in psych, for about 25 years. The pattern I eventually developed, especially if I did any OT, was to get as many errands done (grocery shopping, post office, etc.) on the way home. Wind down and eat a light meal, then get about ...

Best thing my Psych instructor ever taught us was "never let the patient get between you and the door", which meant to always have an escape route in mind when dealing with Psych patients. This came in handy numerous times in my 25+ years as a Psych ...

Very interesting topic--Personally, I prefer to be called by my first name, because being called "Mr. D---" makes me feel like an older coot than I already am. Having been in psych nursing, I usually didn't wear uniforms, so I would get called "Doc" ...

I agree with Davey Do (who is obviously also a genius since his initials are DD like mine) that psych nurses get stereotyped as " not real nurses", etc. I have almost 30 years psych nursing experience, all in psych, in a variety of settings. The thin...

I can only tell you from personal experience that being in a union can protect you and your coworkers from the whims of management. Without a union, you can be fired or disciplined without much recourse, because the grievance process, if there is one...

I'm just curious--what is the purpose of a mission statement? Back in the '90's they were popular at a hospital I worked at. They even laminated ours and made us carry it with us as part of our uniforms. To me, it was just another useless and clueles...

I agree with the poster who suggested Ebola, but it would refine it to deal with how nurses can educate the public regarding hysteria over unrealistic fears of epidemics (whipped up by media, in part). Another topic in the public eye is the rise of v...

According to federal labor law you cannot "donate" that time to your employer. All time worked must be paid for. They are in violation of the law for allowing you to do it. They would also be justified in firing you, especially if one of your coworke...

Thanks for the citation. I actually printed the whole shebang out from the web and posted it on my employer's bulletin board. When I later referred to it, they thought that they had posted it. The employer can fire you for being "off the clock" but t...

Don't know I'd it's benn mentioned here by others, but my all-time favorite, as a psych nurse is "hound dog" instead of Haldol or haloperidol. Although it's not a mispronunciation, I also got a kick whenever my psych patients would scream, "I want my...

Labor law is very clear--any work you do for employer must be paid for. That includes answering the phone during your "lunch break", coming in during off hours for disciplinary actions or in services, et al. Over the years I've had to remind various ...

1. Confer with your union, if you have one. Management pranks like this are a prime reason to be unionized. 2. Some states outlaw mandatory OT for healthcare workers except in dire emergencies. Call outs and bad staffing are not dire emergencies, bu...

I had a slightly different experience when I was a psych nurse in the Philly jail system. I wore casual clothes so I had no obvious signs of being a nurse. Newer patients or other inmates would almost always call me "Doc", assuming a male must be a d...

I'm a retired (disabled) RN in Philly with a strong science background (equivalent of Master's in Chemistry). I'd be pleased to help you in any way I can, in any of your future courses, and also in helping you hone your study habits. I value any chan...

I agree with the previous responders. You won't find rentals close to Jeff in your price range unless you find a roommate. However, you could find suitable apartments, or even houses, to rent in South Philly, West Philly, or several other areas of th...

I was a psych nurse for almost 30 years before becoming disabled. I worked in a large state hospital here in Philly that had a bad reputation (only partly deserved) I got so used to people acting strangely around me, and got so skilled at recognizing...

Interesting thread, couldn't read the whole thing, but is had to put in my $.02. I'm about as atheist as can be--no god, no messiah, no spirits, afterlife, etc. However, I've been fortunate enough in my life to have had a Jewish roommate in college, ...

Try adding either some white vinegar, or some washing soda (sodium carbonate). Either one is helpful with odor removal. You can also try putting a small amount of hair conditioner as a fabric softener/odor remover.

My pet peeve when I first started in nursing over 30 years ago was little old ladies asking me, "Are you a MALE nurse?" I finally started answering, " I wanted to be a female nurse, but I couldn't pass the physical", accompanied by looking down insid...

The one thing that always fascinated me about nursing is that I can use everything I've ever learned about science, culture, and just about every other branch of knowledge and philosophy in my practice, sooner or later. Especially in psych nursing, i...

Sorry for taking so long to reply. I agree with the other posters--just answer truthfully, be positive about not knowing everything--it gives you an opportunity to grow. As I said previously, I've always thought that one of the most important attribu...

Are you salaried or hourly employees?? If you are hourly, then this is illegal. First, I'd let your employer know that you are aware it's illegal, and give them a chance to respond. Then, I'd file a complaint with labor authorities. OTOH, if you are...

I agree with the previous poster, and also you could check your local jails/prisons as well as drug and alcohol inpatient and outpatient facilities, just to get your foot in the door somewhere. What state do live in? If it is a populous state like PA...