ChiTownRN5

Yes to everything in this post

For those of you wanting to study the long term effects of thc, I'm sure Willie Nelson would be more than happy to volunteer for the autopsy!

I felt the same way when I first started nursing. About 6 mos in, I felt more confident. By a year, I didn't have as much anxiety going to work. Don't be so hard on yourself. I know some older nurses like to give the newer nurses a hard time. Just keep your head up and take every day as a new opportunity to learn something new. As for the ivs, I wasn't very good either when I first tried. But I volunteered to start everyone's iv every chance I had, practice makes perfect. As for the nights..I can tell ya I'm on nights right now and I love it( never been a day person). I think that might be the reason you're still having a lot of those feelings. Definitely try small meals, cook on days off and freeze meals so you have healthy stuff on nights you work. Blackout drapes for your bedroom, try to get to bed as soon as you get home. Plenty of water and limit the caffeine (I only drink it from 7 to about 1, then only water after that and I sleep like a baby when I get home). The best advice I can give is find a seasoned nurse and have her take you under her wing. We ask each other all the time about stuff we've never come across and I still look up new medications or a new diagnosis. Just build yourself a solid foundation now, cause this what your career will be based on. And don't be so hard on yourself, I'm certain everyone has been in your shoes as a new nurse.

Drives me nuts! Some nurses had the gall to punch in and run down to the cafeteria to grab breakfast and coffee then stroll back up 15minutes into their shift. Totally unprofessional.

Once had a code blue on the floor and another patients family came out into the hall asking a nurse for a cup of tea for their mom. The nurse told her it would be a minute as there was an emergency on the floor. Patients family said yes I heard the code blue, now go make that tea. That really made me see some people really have no respect for others, even in times of life and death. Very sad to see what our society is coming to.

Ya I always say the same thing, but usually end up going in (probably how I got pneumonia in the first place). I'm just always worried cause I know they won't find extra staff and it's a newer place for me. Thanks guys :)

Advice needed. Been at my job for a little over a year, and hadn't had to call off that whole year. Got the flu in November (and I do all my 12s back to back to back) so ended up having to call off 3 days. Still didn't feel that great coming back, but I hate calling off. Fast forward, I'm now home sick with pneumonia (great luck right?). I've called off twice (which apparently counts as one so long as it's consecutive), but I'm still feeling terrible. When I called off today, the nurse manager gave me the long sigh and really? tone. I've only been a nurse for 2 1/2 years total, but new at this hospital, but I don't call off like this. I'm going to play it by ear tomorrow and see how I feel, but I feel like I'm going dirty looks if I call off again. Suggestions/comments??

Hi all! Advice needed. Been at my job for a little over a year, and hadn't had to call off that whole year. Got the flu in November (and I do all my 12s back to back to back) so ended up having to call off 3 days. Still didn't feel that great coming back, but I hate calling off. Fast forward, I'm now home sick with pneumonia (great luck right?). I've called off twice (which apparently counts as one so long as it's consecutive), but I'm still feeling terrible. When I called off today, the nurse manager gave me the long sigh and really? tone. I've only been a nurse for 2 1/2 years total, but new at this hospital, but I don't call off like this. I'm going to play it by ear tomorrow and see how I feel, but I feel like I'm going dirty looks if I call off again. Suggestions/comments??

Hi all! Advice needed. Been at my job for a little over a year, and hadn't had to call off that whole year. Got the flu in November (and I do all my 12s back to back to back) so ended up having to call off 3 days. Still didn't feel that great coming back, but I hate calling off. Fast forward, I'm now home sick with pneumonia (great luck right?). I've called off twice (which apparently counts as one so long as it's consecutive), but I'm still feeling terrible. When I called off today, the nurse manager gave me the long sigh and really? tone. I've only been a nurse for 2 1/2 years total, but new at this hospital, but I don't call off like this. I'm going to play it by ear tomorrow and see how I feel, but I feel like I'm going dirty looks if I call off again. Suggestions/comments?? Sincerely, Sick Nurse

Question, I know it was stupid but I posted that I'll be putting in my two weeks before talking to my manager. I've never said a bad word about the company and know better than to violate HIPPA. I deleted the post because a coworker messaged me and said people were being fired for posting about work on facebook. I know it's in poor taste that I posted it, but a terminable offense? Like I said I already have another job, but I just don't want any bad marks on my resume if I ever chose to look for another job.

Hi all, I've been trying to do some research about the best hospitals to work for and all the threads I found on the issues seem to be from a few years back. I'm looking for some insight on Chicagoland/south suburb hospitals as far as staffing, benefits, morale, education, and pay. I've had a few interviews (palos, st joes, hinsdale, lagrange, south sub), but want some insider opinions about what the environment is really like. Any insight is greatly appreciated :) Thanks!

Sorry, let me rephrase. We take fresh caths and open hearts once they leave ccu. Main issue is no pcts and no secretary. Floor has gotten extremely heavy since I started about a year ago, which makes me sad because I really do enjoy the type of patients we get, just not the lack of help and high acuity.

Hi all! I'm working on a tele/step down unit and since my last manager has left, we changed from staffing based on acuity to staffing based on number of patients. I work nights now and have anywhere from 4-6pts, usually 6 with no pct and no secretary. It's a 24bed unit, so to qualify for a pct we need something like 16 pts (even if we're fully staffed we only get 1 pct). It's about 1/2 walkie/talkie, 1/2 complete or at least assist. We usually get at least 2 admits each during the night. We take gtts, but no titrating. We have open hearts, fresh caths, chf, mi's, you name it. Just wondering what other staffing for similar units looked like. I'm from the Chicagoland area. Thanks!

LOL trust me, I wanted to, but I kept telling myself you're the low man on the totem pole, so suck it up and just stay on top of my game. Thank you so much guys-I really can't tell you how excited I am for the new job!!! :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe

Hey all, I know this post was from a few months ago, but just wanted to let everyone know what happened. I finally met with my manager one more time and discussed the issues that kept occurring and how unsafe of a floor it was to work on. She said she would address the issues, but a month later, things are still exactly the same. So, I put in for a transfer..and got it! I'll be moving to Telemetry/Step down unit and be on 12 hour shifts. After meeting with my new manager, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. Accountability. Reliability. :hpygrp: Thank you everyone!

I'm actually fixing up my resume as we speak. I got so worried when I spoke with others outside of my floor and really confirmed what I had thought. Does anyone know, if I apply for a transfer to a different unit about how long that usually takes and will my manager know right away (I'm just worried about putting in for a transfer and not getting it, then getting begrudged for even asking)?

Thanks for the advice everyone! My manager said a 12 hour position opened on nights, so once they can hire and train someone to take my position, I'll be moving to that shift (This would probably be at least another 2 months). As for transferring, I'd really like to move to telemetry (we do remote tele on my floor now), but I feared that transferring so soon would look bad on a resume. Is 6 months too short of a time to spend on a floor?

I've mentioned about the vitals three separate times and her response was "Yeah, I've heard that's been a problem. I've talked to them, so we'll see what happens". She's pretty new herself and almost seems scared to step up to the staff.

Hi all! I'm a new grad-been working on a Med/Surg floor since June and actually love it! I eventually would like to move to ICU and I love the vast experience I get on the floor each day. The trouble I'm having at work is feeling like I'm the only one who cares about my job. PCTs don't get vitals in the computers until 6 (supposed to be in by 3)-and never notify the RN about abnormal vitals, take frequent breaks, never answer call lights. The RNs have become lax and pass on work to the busy 3-11 shift I work. Just yesterday, I had the nurse not notify the MD about a very high K that she was aware of for 2 hours, left a discharge she knew about for 2 hours for me, left a wound undressed and threw me the supplies to dress it, failed to recheck a BGM on a patient after giving insulin (and he was >500!), and failed to get specimens (and was going to leave without pointing them out). Got a new admission right as I came in, PCT was never assigned (and never set foot in the room for 4 hours). Patient supposed to be transferred to another floor, did all the paperwork, called report, told my patient, and informed the PCT patient was ready to go and gave her the room number. 2 1/2 hours later, the PCT comes up to me asking if she could transfer the patient!!!!!!! I feel myself burning out very quickly and don't want to lose my love for nursing by staying on a floor that could make me lose my license. I feel the conditions on the floor are extremely unsafe and don't take any breaks during my shift for fear that something gets missed. Any advice is greatly appreciated:nurse: