loquero

I think there was a little too much misinterpretation... No one called doctors "stupid"-- I believe it was "stupid things doctors do"-- yes, we all do stupid things. And yes, we are all professionals, but I agree that sharing funny moments involving "doctors doing... dumb things" (I tried to think of a more PC way of putting it... but all of you complaining can just get over it) for an innocent laugh is quite appropriate. I'm pretty sure most of us are comfortable sharing silly things we have done. There! "SILLY" instead of "stupid". Anyway, I work in an acute psych hospital. There are a few doctors, one in particular, who -- and this has happened more than once-- will be rounding and suddenly we have a "code M"-- unruly/combative patient-- he runs for the stairs or elevator... half the time there is no PRN to give so we have to start calling for orders. Also, the psychiatrists never respond to medical codes. I understand their specialty is in mental health... but they are still MDs- medical doctors!! Since that isn't as funny as it is pathetic... I will make fun of myself. Just this weekend, I was trying to finish things up and get a report sheet done as it was close to shift change, Accuchecks, etc. We were short-handed and I was flustered and a pt. had a HA. I bring him 2 Tylenol and an empty cup... Yeah... forgot the water...

6 patients would be a dream come true- of course i'm not med/surg. I'm a psych nurse and usually have 8-12 patients. Lately we have been dangerously understaffed and I worked a 7p-7a recently where I was the only nurse with 19 patients between 2 units-- the 2 most medically unstable units in the hospital: Geriatrics and Detox. Impossible. I am not far from reporting them to... well, who do you report it to. Will probably post a separate thread for that. But you will get used to managing your time and getting things done at your own pace and routine. But understaffing is the only thing that makes me dread going to work. Hospital and nursing admin needs to wake up! There needs to be a federal mandate on N-P ratios. AND STAFF TO ACUITY! Good Luck! (and as someone already said, you can only do so much. So prioritize and if you can't get everything done, document it and keep it to yourself should anything come up about it later as to why something was not done)

i know it is a horrible feeling even with minor mistakes, but i promise you if you asked any nurse if they remember their first med error, they can describe it in full detail... we remember those feelings and relate them to what happened and it will stick with you, and in the larger picture, make you more aware and cautious in the future. i also got very upset with my first error and am now much more meticulous. especially with counting controlled meds (I work on a detox floor so we would literally have hundreds of them for protocols) and now every time the drawer opens, I recount them, even if i had JUST counted them on the pull before. I am still a pretty new nurse, but before I made that mistake, i would rush if i was running a little late to try to get patients who are already "not happy campers", understandably, due to withdrawal become even more irritated when they don't get their meds on the hour/minute/second... but i would rather be safe and 15 minutes late than fly through it and harm someone. that being said, i better add on detox, i do assess first thing and if i have a patient with unstable vitals or at risk for DTs, on seizure precautions, etc. i usually pull their meds first and give them before pulling on patients who are stable and well through or finished/almost finished detoxing. but like everyone has said, the main thing is you learned from it. you reacted properly... notified your supervisor... and most importantly, made sure the patient was safe! don't beat yourself up =) you sound like a VERY caring nurse- there are some nurses, sadly, who would just "fix" the documentation and pretend nothing ever happened. just relax, know you responded appropriately, and learn from this. i give you a pat on the back for handling it so well! you sound like you are and will only get better at being an attentive, compassionate, caaring nurse.

Recently started as an RN in Meridian (but not at one of the major Med-Surg hospitals). Work in acute mental health. I had zero experience and starting base rate was 20/hr. then night and weekend diffs are 2 and 3 more an hour (which is a drastic difference if you only work nights or weekends, or in my case, Baylor (I am a night person so am glad to work nights) so essentially am starting@25/hr)... so if shift diffs are good and you are willing to work at those times, you can boost it a good bit.

I am a new RN. Though, I graduated in December 2010, I didn't pass NCLEX the first time. Passed it with flying colors in April but then the MS BON had one problem after another and I just received my licensure at the first of June!! Now I feel like I don't know a thing! I felt like I was being thrown to the wolves back in January, but now I'm being thrown to them naked after being rubbed with a rarely cooked steak!! I have an active, unrestricted license and have found it difficult getting into a transition program, especially since I graduated six months ago! I need a refreshener on basics and general stuff, (i.e. assessment, giving blood). I know there will be someone I can ask for help and I will have to go through orientation, but I am still supposed to know these things and I just don't feel like I could walkin today and do it! I don't want a course where I have to enroll and get a textbook, etc. Should I just start back with my NUR 1 material and find the important things and repeatedly go back over them?? I know it's not the same. Should I just DIVE IN? I know everyone feels a little unready at first, but I feel REALLY unready! What to do!?!? -Russel in MS