4EverStudent

Sorry for the typos I was up all night with a sick child!

We have the policy that you have to make up the weekend if you call in sick or even try to take a vacation that is scheduled on your weekend to work. On our unit if you request a day off they as a vacation they ask which other day would you like to work. I asked off for my daughters graduation and it wasn't on my weekend off and they started to give me a hard time and I reminded them that I had come in extra the weekend before when they were short so I felt that that should count as my makeup day. We shall see if that works. We noticed at our hospital anyone that gets hurt or seriously ill they are mysteriously fired the day they go into thier Long Term disablement pay. And this is a benefit that we pay for. I realize there is alot of abuse out there and because of this it makes the rest of us suffer. Also if everything is so great in Canada as a nurse why are so many of my coworkers from Canada. It is tough on them being away from thier families and when they take a vacation they have to dchedule off quite a few weeks to be able to drive home and have a worthwhile visit.

what is a doula?

I am a single mother of three and have went to school and worked to support them without a support system. It is difficult I have found that I had to jump in! I took alot of my classess on the internet at the local university you would be surprised at how many you can get out of the way that way. My children are very smart have always known how much I love them and how they come first. I am proud to say that I have raised them right! We are very close, no alcohol or drugs ever tried and all of my kids friends know that they are welcome when I am here and I know all of them and thier families as well. There are times when I am extremely tired and I did have to cut back to 32 hours and alternate shifts but it has worked well for me. My oldest graduates this year and my other daughter graduates next year. They are both graduating Magna Cum Laude and hold down part time jobs to help with thier car and insurance. My youngest is three and since most of my classes are on the internet he now takes his "classes" on the internet also. Reader Rabbit is facinating. And Dave I am glad your choice was not to have children I don't think you would have set a good example. Other wise I don't think anything that you had to say worth validating. Day Care at a certain age is even reccommended for helping children develop social skills before attending school. Mya, I just wanted to let you know that it could be done with minimal "damage" to your family if you want it, it just might take a little longer. I received my LVN 15 years ago when my girls were 2 and 3 and I gave up school for awhile and then slowly started getting into school again this last semester I took 15 hours and was able to keep my family intact and loving and work to support them. I hope to finish with my NP within 2 years so that I can continue to assist my children in thier schooling. Good Luck on what you decide. Remember though that you are setting a good example for your children to follow and the outcome is usually well worth it!

Kevin I was very proud of the way you used the written word to prove the student doctors incorrect. I must say that I was stunned by the ignorance that was behind the conversation on that board. I do think that it should take them some amount of time to try to come up with a reply worthy of your comments. Good Job! This coming from a dumb nurse of 15 years.

I realize school is tough I work full time now and take 17 hours at the university and have been able to manage to keep my gpa at 3.7 I am hoping this is high enough to get me in a program. I have yet to take my GMAT either. My children are wonderful 2 however start college on thier own this next year and my youngest will soon be starting kindergarten. I don't intend to work throught the masters program. I do enjoy patient care and this is why I was concerned about going the CRNA route even though career wise I feel it would probably be the best route. Thank You all for your input it helps reaffirm what I have been thinking already.

Hi I am finally at the point where I have to make a decision before applying to a program and I was wondering if anyone had any advice I was leaning towards the Nurse Practitioner program and recently have been looking into the CRNA programs. What helped you determine what you wanted to do and what type of personality or job experience helped you prepare for your career. I have been in nursing 15 years and am a single mom. I have always liked patient care and worry that I would miss that as a CRNA. Any advise or opionion is gratefully accepted. Thank You Also in Texas, what school did you go to and how did you find the program?

It would be more accurate if you were asking about a particular shift On my shift nights maximum is 8 to 1, days usually take 4 to 1 and evenings max is 6 to one.

Depending on what state you are in management has to have documentation regarding specific incidents and counseling done before they are able to get rid of someone. While this stinks for you at this time it is there to protect you in the future. In the meantime do your job, and minimize contact with this nurse you might even request to switch shifts or to work on days when he is not present explaining your fear of him losing his temper with you or worse yet a patient who can't protect themself. This serves a dual purpose it gets you away from him and lets management know that it must be serious if coworkers are not willing to work with him. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

I have been a nurse for 15 years now and have only regretted it once it was a horrible day! I did not go into the field I preferred first I took the advice of a professor and spent 1 year in med/surg. While this was not my favorite time I do relize that it helped me prepare for a lifetime of being pulled to other units and floors. We don't always get to stay where we are comfortable and just this one year made it easier for me when I was pulled to another floor. Now I am comfortable going just about anyplace. I have my preferences but I don't have the panic attacks when they tell me I am getting pulled somewhere new. I just take it in stride. Nursing is a great career as long as you don't mind shift work, working holidays and weekends and sometimes you go weeks without a patient appreciating what you do. But then you get the one patient that is and it reaffirms your career choice and the sacrifices are worth it! Good luck on whatever you decide.

I leave on time if not early about 98% of the time. I eat lunch at the desk always but am not complaining and since I don't smoke I don't take breaks that require me to leave the floor but I feel like the time that I do have that I choose to visit with either the other nurses or the patients that is not related to thier care is a break. After all it is time that I am not being productive. I have been very lucky I have been a nurse for about 15 years and never have been denied overtime when I have had to stay over,. I think that this is because I don't abuse the system and the powers that be are aware of that. I believe in most instances you get what you give and if it is an unfair situation there is alot of other jobs out there you just have to find the right one for you. Do you leave work at your scheduled time on a regular basis?