cazach0122

I was/am a new grad who started in PDN (8 months ago) and I do agree, in a way, that it's not the best situation for new grads for the reasons stated above. However, when you're a new grad and desperate to find work you'll take almost anything... and for me this was one of few places hiring new grads. Fortunately my agency is very supportive and I was only put with stable patients and competent, knowledgeable families. I've never had any issues but knowing there's always the possibility of a patient deteriorating (albeit small) can be nerve wracking.

Great job! I haven't stopped thinking about this since you first posted.

In my car I have an extra pair of scrubs and socks, sweater, blanket, phone charger, a couple boxes of non-perishable food/snacks like Easy Mac (good in a pinch if I have to stay late), bottled water, toilet paper, paper towels, Clorox wipes, box of gloves, alcohol pads, disposable chux, a few syringes, manual BP cuff, economy sized bottles of ibuprofen and Pepcid... and probably some other things I can't think of. Into the home I bring my backpack which holds my laptop, a couple textbooks and notebooks, stethoscope, various pens/highlighters, lotion, hand sanitizer, chapstick, phone charger, and wallet. Also my lunchbox.

Also kudos to you for even sticking it out at your shift. I can handle a lot of things with a straight face, but roaches is the one thing that gets to me (shivers)

I've only been in PDN for 6 months but OMG, I think I would do everything possible to rectify that situation, including calling CPS. That's not just dirty but completely unsafe and even life-threatening for the child.

Also if the state audits her agency's files and finds her BLS out of date, the agency AND the nurse will get fined. Wouldn't want to risk that.

Ain't that the truth! Not that I'd try to get away with it anyway. Like eeffoc said, I take pride in keeping my certs up to date.

My agency doesn't have them. I feel weird about not having one on initial visits, because really, how do they know I am who I say I am? For this reason I carry the wallet size version of my RN license in my wallet, just in case.

These replies have been really helpful. Thanks for the insight!

That's absolutely ridiculous you can't even read a book. I would have to ask for a different case... 10 hours of doing nothing is absolute torture! I like 4give's idea of explaining to the mom of why you can't continue. It gives her a chance to reconsider her views (even though it sounds like she probably won't).

I'm near Philly and just drove home in about 10 inches of snow. I'm fortunate that both of my patients are within a 10 minute drive of my house. Even still, the families are very concerned about me - offering their guest bedroom if I don't want to drive home and asking me to text them to let them know I made it home safely. I cleared off the patient's family car this morning as well as my own since they are an older couple.

Just started watching Nurse Jackie and The Walking Dead. Nurse Jackie is great because they're only 30 minute episodes so I can actually make it through one without having to pause.

That's really helpful, thank you! That's what I figured, more or less.

I definitely don't expect it, I was just wondering how it compares since I need to keep school in mind with regards to my decision. I wont have much time at all of my own to study with this new job so I'm just weighing my options.

I'm having a bit of a dilemma. I currently work 3rd shift full time as a private duty RN. I was just offered a job at a nursing home on what they equate to a med-surg floor. I'm a relatively new RN (been working for 6 months) so at first I was excited about the opportunity to increase my nursing skills... but now I'm concerned about how much (if any) time I'll have to do homework/study. As you can imagine I have plenty of free time working overnight in my current position and have more than enough time to get work done. I always hear LTC is extremely busy and hectic, even during 3rd shift. I know the nurse to patient ratio at this facility is 1:25 (give or take)... which is horrifying to me... but again, I realize that is the norm. Is it ridiculous to think I'll get any study time at this new job? I'm going to school full time to get my BSN and I should be done in December. Also... my ultimate goal is to land a job in the ICU, so any advice regarding the pros/cons of working in LTC vs. private duty would be great as well. Thanks for your help!