dprevish

I made myself a really good brain sheet that has helped tremendously. I just want to be able to put it all together. You are all wonderful! I also commute over an hour and that makes it hard to want to walk out the door. My husband and I worked together side by side for over 15 years and I miss him, miss my puppies and hate it when I have to spend the night out of town so that I can get enough sleep to be able to stay up all night. Once we feel more able to do my job well, that will make it easier; but I am just struggling with reality shock I think. I knew my skills were limited; I just didn't anticipate how much I would hate feeling like the weak link on the floor. Thanks for your encouragement!

Hired in late October with limited patient care experience until early December. Yes, that's exactly it; I think, OMG, I know nothing every day! lol

I work on a surgical stepdown unit that focuses on Gastric surgeries, but we get some Oncology patients with very specific protocols and a WIDE variety of other things. We also do bariatrics. We are considered a critical care unit which is overwhelming given the limited experience I have. Our population is very fragile and can turn quickly. I appreciate your kind words and advise. I have only been off of orientation since the 19th of January, so I am REALLY new. Thankfully, I work nights where the pace is slightly slower and the other staff is really supportive and helpful. I am my own worst critic but I am trying to give myself credit where credit is due. I just wish I had been required to do an internship so I would have had a better base to practice from. I am looking forward to the day that I actually start to feel like a nurse with good critical thinking skills rather that a nurse who slept at the Holiday Inn Express last night! lol

I worry about being able to recognize symptoms of patients who deteriorate, I worry about connecting the dots between lab results and conditions, and don't feel like I know enough about the disease processes. I never got a chance to draw blood in nursing school and have to do it every night now...I just stink at it! I have always been so good at every job up until now and feel like a dummy most of the time. That is not a fun feeling when people's lives are at stake. I know some of this will be fixed with experience and I have only been at this on the floor full time for a little over a month, but when the patient care techs know how to do things better than you do, it doesn't inspire confidence. I'm looking into resources to help me be a better phlebotomist and I come home and research things I do not know, but it's just agonizing right now. I also know in my heart that I need to let up on myself a little, but that has not yet become reality either. I just wanted to know if others have felt like I do so that I know "this too shall pass". Does that make sense?

I have waited over 20 years to become a nurse but once I got my first job I was stunned that there have been many days that I just HATE going to work. I think it is because I feel so unprepared to do my job and I am just scared all the time of my lack of knowledge. Has anyone else had that experience and what did you do about it?

A friend called me to tell me her daughter needed a PPD before cosmetology school. She tested positive for exposure and had a chest x-ray which was negative. They called the family dr. who referred them to the health department for treatment. They will be going to the health dept tomorrow to speak with them, but my question is this....Their doctor is telling them that she could have been exposed to someone in a setting like a grocery store line and the health dept is telling them that she would've had to been exposed to someone for 4 months or more who had active TB to test positive. I always believed the former and have never known anyone who had to receive treatment unless they, themselves were positive. I'm not a nurse yet so I want the facts from those who know. Should they go through with treatment for a disease she probably doesn't nor will never have or just do yearly chest-x rays to monitor the situation? Darlene

Employee assistance seems like the best way to go but I wouldn't take a leave of absence because all you will have time to do is dwell on what's going on. Too much self focus doesn't solve your problems in my opinion...it only sinks you further into them. I need to stay busy and focus on others. I always say it's okay to throw yourself a pity party every now and then, but after a short while focus on others and your problems seem smaller. Exercise to reduce your stress, make notes to help you remember all you need to do so nothing falls through the crack and say some prayers for strength. Some days we just don't feel like doing what we need to do and those are the days we "Fake it until we make it". I'll say a prayer for you myself and hope that things start looking up soon. Darlene

OK, here we go... No one, and I mean no one limits you except for you. You didn't get that scholarship or get into that top school because you were a dummy. Yes, you could have done better, but you didn't. No need to look back...it's counterproductive. Looking ahead is the only way out. I was in an abusive home situation too and then married into an abusive marriage for 17 years. When I finally got out my own father told me I was crazy to leave him because who in the world was going to want me, especially with those 4 children. I know I shouldn't have been, but I was beyond shocked by that. That is when I made the decision that family really means nothing. Look at your mom as an egg donor...nothing more. If you want to prove her wrong you can by being successful. How are you going to do that? For now you are going to get two jobs and I don't care if you have to work at McDonalds. At this point as I tell my children, No job is beneath you. Continue to look for a job in the field where you have a degree. Go to dialysis centers. They hire LPN's as do long term care facilities and doctor's offices. Many of these will reimburse or pay for tuition while you go back to school later. Be a server in a restaurant or whatever you have to do. Holding down two jobs keeps you from being home so your mother can't ride your butt. Get $500 together and go on craigslist and find a room in someone else's home. My son has found good room mates, sometimes in furnished rooms in Phoenix AZ for this amount of money. It really doesn't matter if you like your room mate because you'll be working all the time and the best part is at least it's not your mom. Once you further your education you can get a better job and let the others go. Stop looking at jobs as dead end jobs. All jobs lead somewhere eventually. While you keep living off of your mom you will owe her something, so get out! When I left my abusive marriage, I had 4 children to support. I made $6.50 cents an hour as a receptionist, and I cleaned houses at night and on the weekends. I had to quit school to have the time to work to survive and take care of the kids. My break from school lasted 15 years, and here I am at 51 just getting ready to fulfill my dream. In the meantime, I created a business of my own which I have worked at successfully for 13 years and found a husband who loves me very much. Do you know how it happened? I made it happen through hard work and you can to. It's your choice. Be a victim or get off your A$$ and get your life moving. I know if you were the student your were, it's because you are capable...so get to it! Okay, was that bossy enough? LOL Good luck, sweetie. I talked tough because you need it. Get mad and get moving! Darlene P.S If I hadn't endured my own pain, I would have never been able to help you get through yours. One day you will do the same.:heartbeat

If you have been around several MRSA patients, you are probably already colonized to it. Systemic MRSA is different than community acquired MRSA and most people in the healthcare industry would probably test positive if they had a nose swab. It's a very common thing and unless it is systemic not that worrisome to those with healthy immune systems. (This is what I was told by my physician when my son came down with a MRSA skin infection because I was freaking out a little) I just used universal precautions for myself and used Lysol on everything we owned, washed everything, especially towels he bathed with in HOT water with a HOT rinse and dried everything on the highest setting possible. I alcohol swabbed all doorknobs, remote controls, cordless phones ect. Can you tell I was freaking out? LOL

I'm not a nurse yet, but I am 51 years old and I've been to a fair amount of interviews. Treat this one as such rather than thinking you are giving away your dream job. Be yourself, make good eye contact, listen intently and don't be afraid to be assertive. I've had four children of my own and have assisted in the births of 21 friends by teaching them Lamaze and working with them while they labored. The best nurses were the ones who were there for us. The ones who didn't just want to give an epidural and move on. They encouraged and helped me us have the birth experience we wanted to have. They stayed past their appointed shifts to see us through to the end because they didn't want to turn us over to a stranger. Be THAT person. Be level headed because although bringing a life into the world is an amazing thing most of the time, it's not always that way. Some days are really hard. You may have to see a mother thorough the agonizing experience of the loss of a child, or through having their child go septic (it happened to me). Be strong and able. I wish you well and wish I were in your position right now. It's one of the things I hope someday to do as well.:redpinkhe Darlene

I start at Thomas Nelson CC Aug 22nd. My GPA is 3.7 and I scored an 81 on the TEAS. I really only studied the math and science portions though. I wish I had studied the reading section a little because some of the things they asked about, I didn't know what they meant. I think I rushed it too because I am a really good reader. I suggest to anyone who is taking the test to prepare thoroughly and don't underestimate any of the sections you will be tested on. I have all my gear...uniforms, shoes, stethoscope, etc. I am already using some of my stuff because I am volunteering in the ER now in preparation for school. I figure I have people to ask for help if I don't understand something and a good job reference when I am out looking. I am extremely excited as I have waited for this a LONG, LONG time, and while I have a few nerves, I feel confident I will make it because I am willing to do anything I have to do to be successful. Keep the faith, people. We are going to be fine! Darlene

Maybe the best of both worlds is to be a school nurse. I don't know what the pay is like, but the schedule would be great for you and it would give you a break from teaching too. The bonus would be you could substitute teach too!