RN-ing

I bet you could get more contract work than you think right now, even with minimal experience. My hospital has been using a lot of "cohort nurses" to supplement increased ICU nurse-patient ratios. I have 12 years of adult ICU experience, so I will be the primary nurse for four vented, COVID positive patients and one cohort nurse to help with turns, med passes, ect. I have worked with cohort nurses who are new grads and they were awesome. I say start applying to contract services and I bet you land one...and start making some cash! Good luck ?

First of all, hugs to you. Being a new grad nurse is hard, especially in intensive care. I don't know how you NICU nurses do it! Everyone on this site has gone through it and we are here for you. Second, I can't give you specific advice on finding a non-bedside nursing job because I have never pursued one. But I can say this: what you are feeling is normal for new nurses. This job is hard and most places don't give you a soft place to fall, even as a new grad. As you get more confident in your skills, it gets easier. And that just takes time. Pro tip: Don't answer your phone when you see the hospital number. You are not required to respond and realize its not your responsibility to staff the unit. They will leave a message if it is important. Days off are sacred. Nightshift sucks, but it is part of the job sometimes. Sleep hygiene is very important - blackout shades, melatonin, coffee, understanding family/friends. This too will not last forever. Put your name on the list to go to dayshift now. I have been fortunate to have a husband who understands my crazy nursing schedule and we have made it work for thirteen years. It's advice time: Have you thought about applying for inpatient adult positions within that organization? Maybe working with tiny babies is part of the problem and a unit switch is a change you need. Plus, you will be fulfilling your contract and saving money. Having at least one year of bedside experience is a huge plus when applying for any nursing jobs. Hang in there. I hope this helps!

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Thanks @djmatte. I will check it out!

Hello all! Happy Tuesday ? I am an ACNP student and I was wondering if any NPs could give me recommendations on which medical app to use to aid in patient diagnosis/management? Currently, I am between Epocrates and Up-To-Date. Any advice is appreciated!

I am attending one of Laura's lectures next month in Ohio. I watched one of her videos about five years ago when I initially became interested in the certification (five years later, I'm finally doing it). The video was awesome! I am very excited to see her next month. I say do it! And good luck on the exam :)

How adults interact with guns has an enormous influence on how young people interact with guns. Children pick up on EVERYTHING and inuendo about guns is no exception. I have heard countless times from adults: "if so-and-so comes to my house, I'll shoot him," or "I'd like to see so-and-so try that with me, I'll shoot him..." or whatever cute little roundabout saying indicating gun violence if someone "threatens" your person or property. Have you heard adults talk this way as well? This kind of talk supercedes race, religion, gender...how do we expect kids today to handle the stresses in their lives? Stop glorifying guns. I am not referring to Call of Duty, rap music, or CSI Miami. I am referring to how gun-owning adults speak about guns. Stop referring to gun violence as a solution to common annoyances, like neighborhood vandalism or annoying in-laws, even if you are not serious (also, please don't be serious). Kids pick up on these things and apply that dialogue to their reality, such as mean teachers and bullies, and we are now seeing the consequences. Its like MJ said--"If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change."

Here is a point of view I had not considered until reading this article in the New York Times: Opinion | The Boys Are Not All Right - The New York Times This by no means provides a solution that ensures a mass shooting will never happen again, but it offers some food for thought regarding the evolution of the male and female gender and how they each interact within modern society.

You are not stupid or an idiot, and its okay to feel embarrassed sometimes. I have been a nurse for ten years, away from the bedside for four years, and just recently started back on a busy intermediate ICU. I feel the same sometimes. We all do sometimes. It sounds like you are in a supportive environment, so I would stick it out for a while longer. Writing in a journal really helps me when I have a bad shift. I write down everything I wished I had done better and what I will do differently next time. Literally: this is what I sucked at, this what I should have done. Then, close it! Try not to think about it until its time to go in, then go over your plan to make your next shift better. Also, breath a sigh of relief knowing that your coworkers have your back. That thought still gets me through some shifts. Hugs to you!

Please do not get a dog. I am a dog - lover and have made this mistake myself. All dogs need attention, activity, and love every day or they can become anxious and destructive. Then, people end up giving them back to a shelter because of "behavioral problems." I found that I just could not give them what they needed after working 12 - hour shifts (not to mention the commute) when I did not have a partner to pick up the slack. Dogs are the best, but you really should wait until you can give them more attention than your schedule allows currently. I hope this helps!

Update on my extremely boring question - in my interview, the manager asked me if I had any scheduled vacation in the near future and said my request was totally fine. I accepted the offer today and I'm excited to start in January! Intermediate ICU in a level one trauma center Thanks for all the advice!

Thank you for your time, Hppy!

Hello everyone! I am an adult critical care RN of 10 years and have worked at the same hospital for the entirety of my nursing career. Currently, I am not working and pursuing my AG-ACNP full - time in a new city. I have decided to change to the part - time program and seek employment on a critical care unit part-time or full-time. Despite years of experience, this is only my second time applying for a nursing job, so I'm rusty. My question: during the application/interviewing/accepting process, how do you ensure you will get time off for a previously planned vacation? I have a fabulous vacation planned March 2 - 6th, but would like to start working ASAP and I know I will not get vacation time that soon. I hate to be inflexible, but this is a deal-breaker. Does anyone have experience with addressing this during the job application process? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

Ethical and religious exemptions to the vaccine exist, but usually you must submit it way in advance of the vaccination deadline and you have to have a legitimate reason to be exempt. Experiencing established side effects of the vaccine is not one of them. Plan to rest on the day you will get the vaccine. I sometimes experience side effects after getting the flu vaccine, so I make sure I get it when I can take a day off in case I feel bad. Tylenol or ibuprofen (if no personal contraindications exist) can help with side effects as well. Hope this helps!

I forgot to give report to dayshift on my first rapid response in the ICU, which we got right before shift change...the charge nurse had to stay over and give it for me! I didn't even realize it. I got an earful when I came back that night...