TPeters73

when I was in Nursing School, there was a term fetal demise the 2nd day of my OB clinical. I knew then that I could never work in OB. I held it together until I got home and saw my own sweet babies and then I cried all night. I also can't work peds. Sick kids break my heart. I would be a mess all of the time.

Medical/oncology (very few surgical pts), but most are very acute and/or total care. patients: 3-4 on days, 4-5 on nights. But the norm is 3 on days, 4 on nights depending on how full we are. right now, we are staying full b/c of fall/winter illness, so I'm having 4 most of the time, but over the summer, I had 3 patients most days.

oh, complainers are the worst part of my job and sadly, I find complaints fall along the lines of socioeconomic status of the patient. The upper class, financially speaking, patients think the food is horrible, think the bed is too hard, think the room is too hot or too cold, think every thing is taking too long, and they complain about everything under the freaking sun! The people who don't have all the best things in life, think the food is wonderful, the bed is so comfortable, the temp is just right and they thank me for everything from walking in to say hi and check on them in the middle of the night to turning out the light in the middle of the day, and if the Doctor takes a little longer than they think he should, they are just thankful to be there having someone help them.

I'm happier at work than at home. Period. In the past months, I've only had one or two bad days at work. In contrast, I rarely have a good day at home. The husband and I haven't been happy for years & we continue to stay together for the kids. If we are around each other more than 2-3 hours a day, we always argue about something. I do not live in my hometown and I don't know many people, therefore, all of my friends are at work. I enjoy helping the patients and most of the time, people appreciate what I do for them and every once in a while, I hear the words, "thank you. " When I'm at home, I feel like an "f" ing maid! Somebody always wants me to do something they could do just as easily for themselves & no one even thinks to say thanks. Being at home is very stressful for me and work has become the only place I'm happy. It's the only place I ever laugh, so no, you are not the only person who is happier at work than at home. There are more of us out there than you can imagine

Before you write off HCA, please know that Not all HCA facilities are created equally! My hospital has been HCA for the past 15 years and it is AWESOME! I wouldn't want to work anywhere else. The most patients I've ever had was 5 and that is a rarity. Most of the time I have 4. I've been in other facilities that can't attempt to compare. I really feel it is an individual hospital problem and because HCA operates so many facilities, it has more of an opportunity to receive a bad rap. Just my 2 cents :)

Wow, I just realized how good I have it! We aren't required to work weekends at all. :) I'm in a hospital, 36 bed unit. Umpteen nurses that all have a set, yet flexible schedule. I'm scheduled to work every Tu/Wed/Thur and no weekends. Some people are always scheduled to work Sat/Sun and one other day during the week. If they need a weekend day off, the process is to send out an e-mail asking for volunteers to take the shift or to swap out a week day shift someone is scheduled for. Some of us just have people that we have gotten to be friends with and they are our go to people to switch with. For instance, i sometimes swap out my Tuesday for another nurses' Sunday or Sat. shift if she needs a day off. It gives them a weekend day if they need it and keeps me from working 3 days in a row. The weekends also have a weekend dif of $5 per hour. We just have to notify our supervisor or the house supervisor of the change. If someone needs off and they can't find anyone to take their shift, the supervisor will evaluate if another nurse is needed based on census and if so, someone who works prn will be called in, but I really can't remember a time recently when this has happened. We always have a preliminary schedule and can make changes before it's finalized. As for Holidays, we are all required to work 8 hour shifts on Thanksgiving, Christmas/eve, and New Yr./eve, BUT are able to swap out if needed and like previous posters, if you work one this year, you are off the next unless you opt to switch shifts.

Do we work on the same unit?? j/k. I work oncology, but I too graduated in May, landed a job asap, and work with the most amazing group ever! Basically what you explained is what I also have. People are always asking me if I need help with anything and are willing to help when I need it. It does come from the top down although I hear that it's not the same environment on every unit in my hospital, but we are lucky to have a great CEO and a CNO who often take the time to stop by the nurses stations just to see how your day is going. We are the lucky ones and I wish it was that way for everyone.

When I was in school, I would come home and shower until all of the hot water was gone. I felt completely nasty. But now, honestly, no, I don't take a shower as soon as I come home. In fact, as soon as I get off, I go meet up with the hubby and kids & eat dinner, then I come home, watch tv and relax. Some nights I take a shower before I go to bed, some times, I crash and take one the next morning BUT I work on a totally non-gross, non-contagious unit, and other than my first assessment and passing out meds, I have very little physical contact with my patients.

Agreed. I've had all of my immunizations and the hospital I work in STILL drew tithers on me and let me know that if any came back with insufficient levels of immunity, I would be required to be re-vaccinated. The only suggestion I have is to see if you can have tithers drawn to see if you have become naturally immune, but that is still a long shot, esp for getting a job.

my state's website has updated and it says I passed! whoo hoo!

speaking of variety on the NCLEX, I've sat around and thought about it and I am really disappointed in that test! I know my major body systems stuff and the meds that apply to them very well. Sill, I had no acid base questions, no parkinsons, no stroke, no spinal cord injury:crying2: that's all the stuff I know very well. I did have one burn percentage calculation, one SVT question, and one ICP question, but other than that, I found the content to be very disappointing and pretty much the same subject matter over and over ( thank God it was Psych....unless I didn't pass) I did have a SATA question about arthroscopy of the knee though because we ALL know that's something that the majority of nurses are going to be seeing regularly.

I also had 20-30 SATA today did you go all the way through to the end of the PVT? when I first sign in it does say that my results are on hold, but if I go all the way to the end where you get ready to schedule a date, it says I already have an exam scheduled, which is supposed to be the good pop up.

I know exactly how you feel! I took my NCLEX today also. I know I had over 20 SATA questions! My test cut off at 75 and I've told my hubby that I honestly don't know if there is anyway I passed. I knew I'd get 2 or 3 SATA, but after 5 or so, I started keeping up with it. I had 18 AFTER I started counting. I also had 3 math Calc questions. I started freaking out and got to a point where my concentration was gone. I feel like I got screwed on this test also b/c it had so little to do with the majority of nursing. I had no maternity, no peds, no DM, no cardiac & no lab values, only a handful of pharm questions. However, I had A TON Of nursing staff management questions, not management of patients, but actually nursing staff and delegation to AP's and LPN's. I also had a lot of psych. I feel horrible about this test . Honeslty, I think the psych questions will be all that allow me to pass b/c they are the only ones I feel confident about. Edited to add: I did the PVT and did get the good pop up. I hope it's right!

NO! I graduated a few weeks ago and everyone I talk to about nursing feels compelled to ask me this question and I feel like an idiot trying to answer them!!!! I liked my ICU, CCU clinical experiences the best, however, the hospital I want to work at will not hire new grads into either of those areas or into the ER. I've accepted a position in med-surg on a busy unit at this hospital to get my foot in the door. Since I don't know 100%, I figure I'll either learn to love it, or I'll transition into another area after I can apply with the required "one year of nursing experience" that human resources assured me was really a requirement for the positions.

Agreed! I am so confused! Why would you not take your final and drop out of your nursing program b/c someone else is cheating??? :confused: I applaud your ethnics, but seriously, I just don't get why you care so much what the others are doing. In the end, they are the ones screwing themselves over b/c they will be unprepared to pass the state boards. Also, there will be times when a nurse you work with does something that is unfair and maybe even unethical. Are you going to quit your job because the higher ups at your place of employment ignore the situation and/or don't fire her?