TriciaJ RN

Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory

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All Content by TriciaJ

  1. TriciaJ

    Nurse Says He Was Fired After Speaking Out Against Hospital Merger

    TriciaJ replied to herring_RN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Really? What cause did he give? Sounds like they had to trump one
  2. TriciaJ

    need advice

    TriciaJ replied to yaleli's topic in Nursing Career

    Your decision is going to have to take into account your financial situation. You're looking at the cost of grad school plus the wages you won't be earning. Double whammy. How does your husband...
  3. TriciaJ

    I made a med error

    TriciaJ replied to sno963's topic in Patient Medications

    Uh, he was the ON-CALL doctor, right? And he was surprised when his phone rang? And he didn't know that everywhere in the free world you have to call the doctor when any kind of error is
  4. TriciaJ

    Experience

    TriciaJ replied to JannockRn's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Clearly document all your concerns and send a copy to everyone you can think of: JCAHO, state licensing board, state board of nursing, your agency, etc. Let it be known you are accepting the...
  5. TriciaJ

    Quit with the rudeness

    TriciaJ replied to CWONgal's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I'm glad you're looking for a new job, and if you find a decent one it may renew your enthusiasm for nursing. I worked at a job where management delighted in nitpicking and second-guessing. No...
  6. TriciaJ

    Very Unprofessional....

    TriciaJ replied to Whoatemyburger's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I think the moral is, if for whatever reason you have to pass off "a hot mess" or "nastiness" to the next shift, it would be really helpful to give the reason to the oncoming nurse. And a courteous...
  7. TriciaJ

    Do you have a clever way to do IS teaching?

    TriciaJ replied to EGVnurse's topic in Patient Education

    I've had little old ladies who couldn't grasp the "suck" concept. As soon as they got their lips around it they had to blow, despite repeated instructions. So I'd put a straw in some liquid and tell...
  8. TriciaJ

    New graduate RN with OH correctional facility job offering. Seeking advice!

    TriciaJ replied to Shiiibby's topic in Correctional

    Please get the book (I can't remember who wrote it) "Games Criminals Play and How You Can Benefit From Knowing Them". I share the previous poster's concerns about hiring new grads into corrections,...
  9. TriciaJ

    Changing Specialities .. Psych to Medicine

    TriciaJ replied to Macann's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    It's doable. I spent 15 years working psych, then corrections for 6 years (it was a stretch at first). When I applied to med-surg I had been a nurse 20 years with no med-surg experience. Some of...
  10. TriciaJ

    Northwestern Memorial Hospital Interview

    TriciaJ replied to Cherry29's topic in Illinois Nursing

    Of course you weren't a perfect fit; you aren't weird. Yes, you did dodge a bullet, but I don't think you wasted your time. At least you know for sure now what kind of workplace it would
  11. TriciaJ

    How to stop crying on the job?

    TriciaJ replied to StopnSmelltheRoses's topic in Psychiatric

    It shows you're very empathetic, which is a great quality for a nurse. One way to stave off the tears is to look up just by rolling your eyes upward, briefly. Just be careful you don't look like...
  12. TriciaJ

    New NM need advice

    TriciaJ replied to bymysoul2squeeze's topic in Nurse Management

    Great advice from previous posters. One more thing: if there is a union, request a meeting with union leadership. Ask them to help familiarize you with the contract so you can maintain compliance....
  13. TriciaJ

    Fired over neglect

    TriciaJ replied to monkey2012's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Hope your meeting went well. Sounds like: 1. It's a poorly-run workplace. 2. You received minimal orientation. When you get over the crappy feeling of losing a crappy job, you will come to see...
  14. TriciaJ

    How to deal with making mistakes and low confidence

    TriciaJ replied to Petra81's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I think there are 2 factors at work (although they may or may not apply to you): 1. I've precepted a lot of nursing students and had reason to wonder if their school was really helping them succeed....
  15. TriciaJ

    I Miss Nursing

    TriciaJ replied to Cricket183's topic in Retired Nurses

    I'm sorry you had to give up your career so early - in your nursing prime! I hope your pain is controlled and you are able to enjoy life. Is there any kind of nursing you can do that wouldn't...
  16. TriciaJ

    RNs, I got a question about pain meds

    TriciaJ replied to tarotale's topic in New York Nursing

    I did see a lot more drug-seeking behaviour in the jail than in med-surg, so I guess that would be the non-law-abiding vs the law-abiding population. On med-surg I did give more pain meds to younger...
  17. TriciaJ

    Help!!!Too slow with med pass

    TriciaJ replied to rkc003's topic in Patient Medications

    rkc003 - Check out a thread in long term care in Specialities. Those nurses address the workloads and med passes in LTC. Their posts may be of interest to you. Good
  18. TriciaJ

    Am I freak for charting meds as I pull them?

    TriciaJ replied to Izzy11's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I worked agency for an LTC facility where the workload was impossible. I refused to cut corners or do anything that was less than legal, and I pride myself on being fast and efficient. I strongly...
  19. TriciaJ

    1.5 years experience; worried about agency work

    TriciaJ replied to amzyRN's topic in Agency Nurses

    Sounds to me like you are just nervous about stepping out of your comfort zone. You're projecting about how terrible you will be and get fired and your career will be ruined! They wouldn't have you...
  20. TriciaJ

    RT over-stepping boundaries?

    TriciaJ replied to 1RN4Christ's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    If these people are operating within their scope of practice, then where is the harm in checking with management or with the Board to clarify roles? No one should be getting called into the manager's...
  21. TriciaJ

    Why is it so hard to find a fair employer

    TriciaJ replied to Nola009's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I'd hate to be a new grad; sounds brutal out there. All I can think, if I was in your shoes I'd try not to be married to a geographic location. Do you have really strong ties where you are? It...
  22. TriciaJ

    I am a good nurse, just in a bad rut that I so badly want to get out of

    TriciaJ replied to zacarias's topic in Health, Stress Management

    When you say "I should be..." it makes me wonder if you're setting impossible expectations for yourself. Hospital floor nursing is brutal; I loved the actual nursing but the extraneous crap made it...
  23. TriciaJ

    Nursing students on medication

    TriciaJ replied to kjnsweets's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Gosh, seems to me the OP was voicing a concern and asking for advice. The same information could have been provided to her without all the anger and self-righteousness. Did she hit a nerve? We all...
  24. TriciaJ

    SQ technique help

    TriciaJ replied to confused06's topic in Ambulatory Care, Clinic

    Like nurmac I always use counter pressure when withdrawing the needle. I keep the alcohol swab between the 4th and 5th fingers of my right hand. When I'm done injecting, I grab the swab with my left...
  25. TriciaJ

    Atheism in nursing

    TriciaJ replied to pugmom79's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    I agree with CarryThatWeight. You handled the situation PERFECTLY. You were right not to fake it and be dishonest. Frankly, I think those people were being kooks. You were being respectful and in...