Katniss88

I started in the board's monitoring program in January. I had to go for an evaluation and then had to stay there for rehab per their requirements. In a week or two I will have completed their IOP program and then I can apply for reinstatement of my license. I'm worried about finding a job, I have a controlled substance restriction for 6 months. So that makes it even harder. I've tried dialysis and didn't like it. While I am waiting I've been looking at case management positions and psychiatric nursing. I'm wondering how others have found jobs? Is it possible to get a floor nursing job while having a restriction like mine?

I recently went to a rehab and completed it. I don't drink everyday and the only reason I went was on the recommendation of my therapist(yeah, I know very stupid idea to follow through with). When I came back my psychiatrist said I needed to self report. I did that and refused the VDAP program because I've already been to a rehab. Now they are gonna do an investigation. I'm scared I'm gonna lose my license or be put on probation. I recently just got a new job and am currently working out my notice for my current one. Does anyone have any words of advice?

I'm an associate degree nurse that wants to go back to school for my BSN. I got my degree from a community college and it was pretty tough. Has anyone on here graduated from Auburn University's RN-BSN program? Since it's a bigger university would the curriculum be harder than a smaller university?

I went to see an orthopedic doctor and he said I didn’t have OA, which is good. But I do have a condition that makes my knees hurt. As far as shoes I need something that provides good support, I’m looking at the brooks adrenaline shoes.

Everyone develops arthritis sooner or later from usual wear and tear on joints through life. Recently I had an X-ray done of my knees that showed some osteoarthritis. I've always had an acheness in my left knee every once in a while. Having been a nurse for over 7 years, walking those on those hard floors in a hospital for makes me wonder if I'm doing more damage by the shoes I wear. The shoes I wear are saconny running shoes and are very comfortable and don't hurt my feet. I feel it's too soon for me to be developing OA at 32. A nurse that has been floor nursing for 30 plus years definitely will have OA. Looking for advice. What types of shoes do you normally wear.

Even though I have been off from work for a week on vacation, my doctor advised that I be off for another week. He wanted to give me time to adjust to the change in my medication and to allow for more rest. I spoke to my manager about it and I decided to use FMLA for last week and this week. I also expressed that I felt the increase in overtime and not enough rest in between shifts stressed me out too much, I also brought up the fact that in weeks prior I told her I was starting to feel burned out and asked when the overtime was going to end. I am thankful that I have a manager that is understanding with my situation, she took me off the extra days on the schedule. I'm worried that my coworkers will be upset when they see that I'm not working the overtime like they are and won't treat me the same. I normally do not ask for help while at work because I like to do it all myself, but it's nice when a coworker is team player and helps you out when they see you are drowning. I like all of my coworkers, but I do not like tension or feeling like people mad at me because I'm not pulling my weight by working the OT like they are. Even if I told my coworkers the reason why, not everyone will be understanding so I see no point in telling my personal problems, also I do not want everyone to know that about me.

I never thought about taking FMLA. In the hospital policy it states mandatory OT is required of employees during times of disaster, so I'm not sure how it would play out. My vacation is coming soon so I'll be off for some time to recharge. I have good and bad days of course, yesterday was not good and being at work made it worse, but as the night when on I started to feel better(probably from all that walking). I should be doing some type of exercising but when I'm home I feel like doing nothing. I decided this morning that I didn't want the letter sent.

I’m currently going through a med change for my depression and dealing with my depression symptoms. My depression came back earlier this year when the pandemic began and after working on the COVID unit. Now most of my stress is from working so much overtime that is mandatory. My therapist offered to write an excuse/note to send to my manager saying that it’s not good for my mental health to be working this much. I declined when she offered because I didn’t want my manager to know I have depression and didn’t want my coworkers to feel like I’m not pulling my weight. But now I’ve reconsidered her offer of writing a note for my manager because I’m struggling with my depression. But I’m scared of what will happen when she gets the letter. I don’t want to change jobs because I like my job, but working all this overtime is too much. Changing jobs would only cause me more stress. Just scared of the unknown, I don’t want to let my coworkers down but I also hate coming to work. I hate being there. I see no end to it all.

I have been taking meds for over a year and my symptoms were managed, I felt good. Since the first time working on a COVID unit, my symptoms came back and I've had to switch to a different medication. I'm no longer working a COVID unit full time, only when floated there. My stress and anxiety now comes from having to work too much. We now are made to work 4 shifts a week. I'm seeing sicker medical patients than I did prior to COVID and during the lockdown. Since the COVID pandemic started we were made to work OT every other week, which was somewhat okay, but 4 shifts a week is crazy. I and everyone else is tired of working so much. I am hopeful that it ends soon, but I cannot see the end. The money is nice, but not at the price of my mental health.

I have scheduled myself for another session next week. My employer is offering mental health services during this time, but I prefer to see the therapist that I've talked to for over a year. Those nurses who are working on COVID units full time definitely should use the mental health services offered. I think once we are not made to work overtime I will feel better.

I was diagnosed with depression at the end of 2017 after seeking counseling for the first time. I didn't start an antidepressant till probably the next year, then I would take them on and off, kept telling myself that I wasn't depressed and didn't need the medication. Then in mid 2019, I had an embarrassing experience which provoked me to seek out counseling again. I found the right therapist and have been taking an antidepressant since. Nursing can be stressful at times, but I was doing fine with my depression and doing well until March. I worked on a COVID unit for the first time on a Friday, then the next day "bam" here are feelings of anxiety, sadness, and crying. I worked on a non critical COVID unit for a while and even volunteered because I wanted to help and wasn't afraid( I was afraid the very first time I worked on the unit). I forced myself to stop watching the news, even though I wanted to watch, because it increased my anxiety levels. We have been working overtime hours every other week since this pandemic started. Then recently the hospital is requiring us to work OT every week. That's asking too much. I am a nurse who RARLEY will pick up OT. I have worked 3 straight weeks of overtime. What makes it worse is having sicker patients than usual on my med/surg unit, these are not even COVID patients. I cannot devote the right amount of attention to a really sick patient who might turn critical when I have 5 others pts. The increased hours on top of taking care of really sick patient's has been wearing me thin. I like where I work, but I feel like I am becoming burned out.

Recently we had to start reusing gowns. My reaction to that is, what's the point of even wearing a gown then. If you've been in a COVID positive room, that gown is contaminated, no matter if you don't touch the outside of it. It's a pain in the butt trying to put them back on too. Having to reuse N95 masks over and over is awful. Such an ordeal trying to take it off and put it back on without touching the front of the mask or the straps touching it. I don't fault my employer, it's not their fault that they cannot get a hold of much needed supplies because every hospital in the country is needing the same supplies at the same time. In normal times we would not go through this much PPE in such a short time. Everyone's schedules were changed to best suite the needs of the hospital, we normally self schedule. Initially I was very nervous working on a COVID floor for the first time, now it doesn't bother me much. I'm doing the best I can to prevent myself from getting sick or anyone else.

I'm torn between whether it's worth it or not to pursue the BSN. Management seems to be a big reason to get a BSN but I definitely do not want to be a manager, too much of a headache. I want to get away from the bedside and I'm tired of the 12 hr shifts and the demands of floor nursing. I worked at the same hospital for 5 1/2 years since nursing school and recently got a job at another hospital. I've been working at the new hospital for maybe 4 months. I'm getting more experience but still hate going to work. My previous job was not awesome either but my friends made it bearable.

I've been a nurse for 6 years and have an associates. I've been taking the prerequisites towards a BSN but I'm growing tired of taking these classes and want to already be into the nursing classes. The college I'm looking at is Jacksonville State University and by their curriculum I have just a literature class to take and an exam to test out of the science requirements. I've been looking into Chamberlain university as I could immediately start into college classes and probably be done with the nursing program faster. I'm in no hurry to finish my degree because I'm not sure of what I want to do with it just yet. I definitely want to get away from bedside nursing.

Where I live we occasionally get ice and/or snow. In my five years of working as a nurse I've experienced two ice/snow storms. Thankfully the hospital I work for has a floor they don't use with beds and cots available. My first year working there we had snow and they asked us to come in well before the snow hit, the people that worked dayshift came in the night before. They planned for it in advance because they knew people wouldn't want to get out and drive in it and would possibly call out. Then last year we had snow again, they asked us to come in a couple hrs before our shift before the roads froze over again as the temperatures started to fall.