nursewho

I love my job, and feel that on most days, I make a difference for the pts/families that I care for. Lately, though, I am getting more and more annoyed with difficult pts--those who complain about every little thing, and pts who are strictly drug seeking and have no interest in complying w/ care plans, interventions and treatments. I come home angry, frustrated and not looking forward to my next shift. Any suggestions for dealing w/ these pts?

I've been a med-surg nurse for 3 years, and I love my job. However I am so frustrated almost everyday because I feel like I always have loose ends at the end of my shift and find I have missed little things, nothing major. When it comes time to give report to the oncoming shift, I have a knot in the pit of my stomach. Any suggestions on how to make sure everything is done by the end of the shift? I seriously dread the change of shift report...

Just dropping to say hi...I am a relatively new RN having graduated 2 years ago. I just finished two years on a Med-Surg floor, and making a transition to post-partum nursing in 1 week. I am both excited and nervous about making this change. Glad I found this thread...I'm sure I'll be checking in often.

Thanks for the positive spin...I'm just so angry and frustrated right now... A unit coordinator is a unit secretary--ancillary, non-clinical staff. R

I am a new grad starting f/t med-surg job in two weeks. I am currently a unit coordinator at the same hospital where I will be working as an rn. Here's my problem...I was recently counseled by my immediate supervisor for having four absences w/ in 5 months, considered "excessive" by hospital policy...okay, fine...I was not aware that I had exceeded this parameter, but she states this is "just a heads up", doesn't go anywhere, not even hr, but if my new nurse manager asks about any absences, she will have to tell her...okay, fine. This morning I have an email cc'd to me from my supervisor to my new nm, telling her that I have been counseled due to excessive absences, and that she felt "obligated" to let her know...she did mention that it was due to extenuating circumstances, and not a habitual problem. Now what?? Can she do that? And how do I do damage control, now that I will be deemed unreliable by my new nm. I have not had a problem with attendence in the 4 years I have worked here, never been counseled before. Just something that came up from time to time in the past few months, not an ongoing thing, and I do not expect any further absences due to it. I want to make a good impression on my new nm, I am professional, reliable, hardworking, and ready to start my nursing career, but am already on shaky footing. Any advice? R

I am getting ready to graduate, and in the process of applying for a nursing position. I have noticed that many hospitals have day/night rotations. I'm trying to figure out how to manage the kids, if I work 'til 7:30 am, and my husband has to leave for work at 6:30, or we both have to leave in the am or any combination of 7-3, 3-11 or 11-7 shifts with overlaps ...how do people handle this? My husband is currently out on disability, so this hasn't been an issue, but he plans to go back to work this summer, so the problem is inevitable. BTW...our kids are 9 and 12. Thanks, R

Yeah, for me, just last week, it was the Pyxis...could my instructor have made me feel any more stupid?? I could feel the tears just brimming, and for the first time asked myself "why am I doing this?" and I am graduating in May!!! Yikes...most days are ok, though, and you will get through this. Always consider what might be going on with your instructor...I think mine gets really stressed out, and turns her anxiety outward (well on to me anyway :chuckle ) Hang in there, ok? It will be so worth it!!!

Hi, Yes,I have worked as a unit coordinator on a maternity unit for 3 years and am in my second year of nursing school. I have found my job to be somewhat of an education in and of itself regarding terminology, labs and diagnostic testing and even how to write nurses' notes. It also gives me a fly on the wall perspective into how a nursing floor operates. You are able to interact with docs and people from other disciplines, you get to see how things work, see the interpersonal relationships between nurses themselves (and it is not always good). Of course as stated in the previous post, the job is not always easy. You have to deal with all sorts of personalities coming at you from every direction. And sometimes the nurses forget there are several of them and only one of you. I think it is a good stepping stone to nursing, that and working as a nursing assistant. Good Luck

and continuing to work as well...will have a week off in august, will probably do day trips, go to nh for a few days... trying not to get stressed out, my kids aren't too happy about my schedule, not alot of down time, but they know it is for a good cause.