sunnyskies9

My first year in nursing back in 2011, I got a nominal $500 bonus. But it at least showed that they cared. It made me feel just a bit more valued. Since then, the only thing I've received is some poinsettias. For the past 3 years, it's been nothing.

Anyone here get a holiday bonus from their company? Or are those a thing of the past?

I'm going to clarify a few things. MunoRN seems to understand. My inpatient role is strictly education on their diagnosis, treatment, activity restrictions and our program. It does not involve direct patient care. Direct patient care starts when they are enrolled in the outpatient setting. She has told all of her family the admitting diagnosis and intervention. But given the knowledge that I have about her diagnosis and the severity, what further education can I give/not give to my family without crossing professional or personal boundaries? I appreciate the responses thus far.

We were consulted by her cardiologist to start her in our program. She is not technically a family member, either.

I received a text from a family member that my husband's aunt had been admitted to the hospital where I work. It just so happens that my department received an order for an inpatient consult. So I got in her chart and went and saw her in her room like I do with all of my other patients. Do any of you know what can and cannot be discussed with family without violating HIPAA? This seems like such a gray area between my family's family member and a patient of mine. Thanks!

I do. But I'm also married to an engineer, childless, and debt-free. It is possible if you play your cards right.

thanks for posting! I'm in the beginning stages of studying for the CV-BC exam, and I'm sure a lot of these drugs will be on the exam. Will definitely be following on youtube.

Unrelated, but if you are wanting a job that pays well and good job security, you need to get into some sort of engineering or other science field working for the government.

I don't have any advice on how to deal with your instructors and your director as far as you digging yourself out of this situation, but I came here to say that it is imperative you work on your well-being and health, even if it comes at the price of your school work. I was like you in school, studied the best I could on the least amount of sleep I could survive on. Although I never fell asleep in clinical, I know I could have been a much better student if I would have prioritized my health. First, forgive yourself and move on from the mistake of falling asleep in clinical. Don't beat yourself up over this. No one is perfect. You are not a worthless person. You are valued and loved by many, and you will someday soon make a great nurse. Cut out time every day to manage your stress and to get 7-8 hours of sleep, even if that means buying a planner and writing down what you will be doing every minute of every day. Don't study for 1 hour before you plan on falling asleep, instead do some sort of relaxing activity like yoga, reading a non-scholar book, stretching, deep breathing, even showering can be meditative. Really focus on you and develop a bedtime routine that last hour of your day. Make sure you are giving yourself enough time for sleep to get a quality 7-8 hours each night. Sleep is never emphasized enough with any wellness or diet program. I'm here to tell you it is EXTREMELY vital, for all aspects of our health. Lastly, focus on nutritious food whenever you decide to eat, and make it as easy on yourself as possible. A lot of groceries offer pre-cut vegetables and proteins you just heat in the microwave. They are more expensive, but set a budget for yourself and write out your meals for the week. I have found that vegetarian dishes save A LOT of money in the long haul, because meat and fish are so expensive. Canned and frozen meats are usually cheaper, compared to fresh. Then if you have any extra time in your day, exercise or develop some sort of fitness plan because it's important that your body move throughout the day. Focus on how your body feels during exercise, not to burn some pre-conceived calorie amount. Even if that means only being able to take a 15 min walk each day, you will notice the difference it makes in your sleep quality, stress reduction, maybe even your school work. Good luck to you moving forward!

After 10 years of jumping from diet to diet, I finally just said screw it to diets in May last year. I have never felt better and have never felt so free from the constant worry about what or when I will eat next. I just eat when I'm hungry and eat until I'm full. I focus on eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and buy treats at the grocery store on a weekly basis. I don't deny myself any particular foods or food groups. It has taken a ton of stress off of my life and given me a lot of extra time as well! I highly recommend it to anyone who is sick of diets and dieting and never feeling like your weight loss is enough.

Speaking of the fitness competitors you know, do they REALLY enjoy it? Or do they feel stuck because that's what they've known for so long? I don't admire fitness competitors, because I know the level of obsessing and counting and restricting that it takes to get bodies like that.

This topic is a dead horse continually being beaten, and frankly, I'm so sick of reading articles like this. Why can't we first focus on loving ourselves, on being self-compassionate and forgiving of our short-comings. Continually getting down and out on ourselves for not being who we think is ideal? Mentally beating ourselves up for missing a workout or eating cake at someone's birthday? That's the road to death and chronic disease. Secondly, we really need to be focusing on sleep and getting our stress under control. If both of those are out of whack, we are sabotaging any weight loss efforts. No, do not wake up at 4:30am to work out. Get enough quality sleep and focus on your nutrition if you can't get a work out in that day. Quality 7-8 hours of sleep is so so so so important!!!! Also, fitness competitors are the worst people to get wellness advice from, because frequently, those individuals are leading a life of obsession, sleep restrictions, food restrictions and low quality of life. Kudos to the person who can maintain their sanity while working out to the point of posing a risk of injury and restricting their diets so much that they can't enjoy life or their mental health is at risk. Thirdly, there is plenty of research out there that states obese and overweight people can live just as long and just as happily as those who are a normal weight. You can argue until you are blue in the face, but someone who is obese and living a healthy lifestyle is WAY less likely to develop disease than the normal weight individual who has uncontrolled stress and who doesn't get enough sleep or isn't exercising regularly. BMI is also a crock of s***. If someone is at a greater risk of disease d/t age or family history, then their greatest predictor is by measuring their waist circumference.

I'm glad you chimed in because I've wondered if the work environment is better in CA because of the unions. I am totally pro-union, especially when it comes to our profession where we constantly and consistently get crapped on.

I completely agree. I don't need extra monetary compensation or gifts. I want respect, and it would be nice that my employer has my back and cares about each person. I want to be able to place my full trust in management as well.

Upstanding employers are not unheard of, though. Look at Huffington Post, for example. They are very focused on their employees' wellness and see value in keeping happy, healthy employees, as it increases productivity and creativity. In the past I have felt valued from my immediate supervisors, however, it seems like those days are gone, as my hospital has recently been doing more with less.