ClaraRedheart

Several people have mentioned Theraworx, which is a magnesium cream. It works for some and doesn't for others. I guess what works depends on what is causing YOUR muscle cramps. I use magnesium oil after my grandma let me use hers. I was dubious, but it worked quickly and has worked for me since. If I'm woken up by cramps, I'll go spray my legs and feet down with the mag oil, then some lotion and socks and I sleep like a baby for the rest of the night.

I think each of us have a place and not one is more prestigious when it comes to floor nursing than another. They are all difficult in their own right... except ortho. I did almost 8 years of med-surg and covid wrecked it. We didn't have enough room in our ICU's and PCU's for the critical and dying patients so they kept getting shunted to Med-Surg, except we still have the same 5 patient max ratio until people started quitting, and then it went up to 6 patients apiece and charge taking patients so you had NO ONE to help when you were drowning. I am in ortho now and you couldn't pay me enough to go back to Med-Surg. I work with a former PCU nurse that had the same mentality as you when she was an ortho tech at the hospital I work at. She wanted something more exciting and prestigious, but she ended up at PCU taking care of ICU patients with PCU ratios and sometimes short staffed. She's now back at ortho after doing her time. Sometimes predictable and easy is nice.

Having one of my 95 yo med-surg patients code right after surgery to remove colon cancer is one of the precipitating factors to my leaving a regular hospital and to an ortho only. It was horrible and I would just start crying randomly for a week or so after. Things still happen at an ortho hospital, but this case was the perfect storm of terrible. They still send us to the big hospital if we're overstaffed and our sister hospital is short staffed (when are they not) and it's always horrible there, but at least I spend most of my time at a place where things are pretty much routine. I couldn't ever go back to med-surg.

Whutttt? Wowza. I guess I could see why. I don't work in Med-Surg anymore, so it's no longer a necessity, but I used to pull morphine or dilaudid, draw up my portion for the patient in the room, and then waste later ALL the time. I will still put narcotics in my pocket, but only if I'm in a hurry and going room to room. The meds for the first patient stay out, second go in the pocket. I will definitely change practice. Don't want to ever give ANYONE a reason to suspect anything.

They do impact us... there are a few wives I remember to pray for around Christmas time, one, I cared for her husband and he passed around Christmas, another is a co-worker who lost her husband at the same time. It makes you grateful for your family ❤️ I have one that I heard from a patient. She was a sweet lady in her late 70s or early 80s with colon issues as well. Her daughters took diligent care of her and seemed to love her very much. They even helped with her ostomy. She told me that she had ovarian cancer as a teen. No one told her that getting rid of the cancer would render her unable to have children until her surgery was done. When she heard, she was devastated, as all she had ever wanted to be was a mother. She also didn't want her highschool sweetheart to be childless. She began to save her pain pills and hide them in the bedside table, planning to take them all at once and end her life. A housekeeper found them and alerted the nurse. Her nurse sat down with her and had a heart to heart and told her that losing her uterus does not change Gods plans for her life and that there was more than one way to be a mother. After she went home, she told her boyfriend that she would never have children and he didn't care. They eventually got married and both wanted to adopt. The mother of their first had two more that she wanted them to have. They were such a sweet family! Her story stuck with me about the power that we have as nurses to reach and encourage people at the lowest of the low and make a BIG difference in their lives.

I like the brain view! I never used the side brain view until recently, but a year or two ago, I noticed that the brain view shows blood labs that are due and there is no way to get that to show in list view. I also like all of the little green checkmarks. With my new job, we have pulse checks on intervals, and also do a lot of pain management. I like to make a "reminder" on the brain for when pulses are due and when I can offer some pain medications so I can stay on top of things.

My hospital system took things like "foley catheter" and "central lines" out of the flowsheet, meaning you have to open them up separately and document. They call those little things "focused charting". I don't like it and am honestly more likely to forget to go back and chart on those things if they're not in the flowshet.

I liked the comment that mentioned going to a store and getting your feet evaluated! Getting the right shoes might save you time lost and surgery if you have foot problems. I loved my Danskos (nearly flat feet here), but was having dryness issues and cracking. Tennis shoes seemed to not be as hard on my toes. I bought Cloves and wore them without arch supports. My flat feet were already in trouble because I jumped at a trampoline park (like an idiot) a year ago. Tendonitis. It broke finally and surgery was needed. Both feet are still so flat I'm not supposed to walk barefoot ANYWHERE. It's Vionic or arch supports from here on out. Lucky the arch supports fit in my Cloves

It really depends on where you're working. I've been on the same med-surg floor for years, but the acuity has gone up to the point where my nerves are constantly jangled the day before and ALL during my working days. I used to save my cries for after work but have had lunch cries regularly. We still have the same patient load, and even though Delta has FINALLY fizzled out, they're no less sick. I'm constantly having to go down to radiology with acutely ill patients and leave 4 sick patients behind that the charge will "watch" but will not get their meds on time. I was paid fairly before this, and received a pittance raise, but to deal with this acutely ill post-covid crowd and risk my license on a daily basis? NOT enough! I'm out of there in a week and praying that what is left goes smoothly.

I have gotten very few and I'm not too surprised, though I thought I'd try. I have a hypothesis from reading the news.. Most of the sad facebook stories of nurses quitting over the vaccine requirement have not been from units that saw a high number of covid patients... L&D, NICU, etc. Those of us who worked directly and regularly with covid patients are usually happy to get vaccinated with what I've seen. I wish hospitals were more open with their numbers of which nurses are quitting and from where. I think headlines that say "nurses quitting in record numbers after covid vaccine requirements" are highly damaging to the effort to stem covid, and it implies that the "nurses" quitting have seen covid and know the risks involved. That's not always true.

If you personally know someone who quit their job rather than get the vaccine I might make a separate poll.

I can't even imagine what new nurses are going through now. When I started in med-surg 7.5 years ago, I was already emotionally and physically exhausted from nursing school and was walking into a very supportive environment in which I constantly doubted myself, was afraid I'd accidentally kill someone or not keep up. I had a wonderful team that was always available to ask questions to or help with a procedure I wasn't comfortable with. Even so, depression got so bad I would cry profusely before going into work. It took a year and a half and switching to day shift to rectify. 5 years of smooth sailing and then COVID. It's thrown me for a loop. I don't cry before work, but sometimes I cry during or after. I had to be out for about two months recently and when I got back, I didn't realize at least half of the staff. So many seasoned nurses have quit in a GOOD hospital! Imagine walking into that as a new nurse. All of the nurses on the unit are new themselves, but yet they're precepting you. You didn't even get proper hands on education because Covid. You're unprepared to deal with Covid patients as you haven't even been allowed in their rooms to see how they're cared for. THEN all of the added stress of learning everything and being a new nurse. They can call it stress, they can call it burn out, whatever they want to call it. Hopefully they can stick it out because I can't any longer.

I've never done a per diem job, but I did do a capacity plan on my med-surg unit on a busy year right before covid. That meant that I would work an overtime shift every other week. Close to the end of it, I was not in a good head space. My resting heart rate was in the high 80's or 90s. I had to go on buspar, which I still only take other than morning meds on work days at 11 am and 3 pm. This is just to keep from crying at work when I get frustrated. All this to say... the money from extra work is great. But is it worth it? It wasn't for me. Still can't get off the meds and since everything has been crazy since covid, looking to transfer. Hope it's better for you, but if it's not, I'd drop the PRN job.

Oh my. Yes. I've long known that my mom has undiagnosed ADD, and that my daughter did from third grade until now. We had to get my daughter a diagnosis and medical help this year because after repeated talk and punishment and taking things away, she was ignoring math class, although she knows how to do the work. Assignments were stuffed in a folder. After her getting her diagnosis and treating her ADD with medication and counseling) and the depression that the untreated ADD caused... (I'm ashamed I let it get so far.. I really thought she was OK) I've done a lot of reading and research and I have it too. I failed as many classes as I could to still pass nursing school. I had to wait a whole semester because of my poor academics. Like her, I know how to do it, but anxiety and coping let me to severe procrastination. That, among other things (I can't just listen to a lecture or sermon, I must be moving my hands... I crocheted in nursing school. I take notes at church. Sometimes just making loops. If my hands are not moving, I can't focus) The class failing makes me think I shouldn't be here. I know that God must want me here or I wouldn't have made it. Realizing that I have the SAME problem that my mom and daughter have that has help available gives me hope that maybe I AM smart enough to achieve a masters degree if I get help though. Not saying that you have ADD, but maybe it's something else. Talk with your doctor. This has been a huge eye opener for us. It's a relief in some way... knowing that help is out there if we'll just take it. Hopefully something is there for you as well.

It's been seven years since I've done this. When my mom did it about 22 years ago, she called 16 year old me crying after testing and asked "Are you still going to be proud of me if I fail?? About 15 years later I called her crying asking a similar question after taking the NCLEX. I think we all think we failed at first. I hope you didn't! Best wishes! ❤️

I understand. I have a daughter who was just diagnosed with ADD. Pretty sure I have it too, as does my mother who is a nurse, but has a troubled job history. I failed as many classes as I could, but somehow managed to pass. I spoke with another nurse with ADD who called it "imposter syndrome". I did work my butt off, as others have said, but I'm not smart enough to be where I am. Still, I chair a comittee (evidence based practice) and I precept, and I think I'm pretty darned good at my job. Not sure how I managed to get here, but still grateful. I am a Christian, and I believe that what God calls you to, He will equip you for. Still, if I go back for a Masters, I'm gonna have to get diagnosed and medicated for ADD or I don't think I could do it.

Easy for you to say. Every time I post ANYTHING recommending vaccination, my family and friends start an ugly fight on my facebook. I'm done.

If anything COVID has shown me how hypicritical my hospital system is. A few years ago, they fired LVN's for not going back to school to get their BSN. We became a fancy magnet hospital. We're trying to renow now. ? We can't even get enough new nurses to apply for my unit. It's ridiculous. I think it was a long time coming. They're now welcoming LVN's with open arms, because it's staff. I feel I've been played. I'm staying because I hate change and a retention contract (5k). I had a friend dangle a ambulatory m-f no holiday surgery center job in front of my face and I hate change enough to STILL turn that down. Hospitals can merge so you have fewer options, we need to do the same and unionize. A good friend, in a different state was fired over a petty mistake her first year in nursing in the 2000's in one of the TWO major systems in her area. She was fired a year ago for a few minor mistakes in the only other major system. Neither of the things that were listed were things that would get her fired on my floor. I think she asked for too much as an older nurse, made a surgeon mad, and didn't deliver the second time. She has 0 recourse and the only option now is nursing homes or home health, because an employer in her state can fire you for whatever reason you want, and if a major employer blacklists you, you can't get another job. If these hospital conglomerates are snapping up hospitals and our chances of jobs elsewhere, IMO, we need to unionize to protect ourselves.

I've not ever wanted to transfer so that has never been an issue. My practice is to put sanitizer in my hands, but not rub it throughout until I've walked through the door and addressed the patient. I got caught from someone watching from the hallway watching who did not come in the room or look through the window and was accused of not using sanitizer. Luckily, my manager was with me and was able to refute it. I believe patient perception is very important. They need to know you care about their safety. The people in the hallway watching don't seem to understand that. I am sorry this happened to you and I hope you are able to do what you need to

It's what they do. If it makes you feel any better, you can usually switch after a few months to a year. There is usually someone willing to trade for the other shift. I found that night shift for starting nurses was good for me because the pace allowed me to get my charting in better. That being said, I didn't sleep well in the day so had to switch to day shift for my mental health.

I am so sorry, I can't even imagine! This is one of the reasons I was hesitant to be a nurse in the first place. Scanning systems tend to significantly decrease the chance that this could happen and are SO needed EVERYWHERE. I hope the patient is OK and that you can come to peace with this.

I'm religious myself (Assemblies of God) so I don't decorate for Halloween anything more extreme than a Jack-O-Lantern. I haven't had time to mess with it this year though. Usually I don't put out a Jack-O-Lantern until close to halloween. Fall decor before that!

The first time I thought about nursing was when my aunt, 40 yo with 4 girls aged toddler through 8 years came down with breast cancer. After she had her mastectomy, I was so impressed with the hospital and those who cared for her. I thought that maybe being a nurse and being a cog in the wheel would help. She eventually passed at 42 from the cancer. At that time, I went to community college and was taking pre-nursing courses at age 19. Sometime during that year, in my psychology class, for some reason they showed a video of a guy poking a needle deep in his arm. I couldn't look at it. I decided that if I could watch that, I could never poke someone else (even if it was for their own good) so I would never make a good nurse. I then pursued computer science. Married a Navy man after that, moved all over the place my course changed yet again to business (totally lost career wise) finally gave up and worked photography, big box stores, whatever I could do. When he got out, I found out I was pregnant on the way to where we chose to live. I rode on the back of a motorcycle to my part time (best I could get at the time) job to Target 20 miles away (we were dirt poor). When baby was born they called me back and asked when I could come back to work. I looked up daycare costs and said I can't afford to. I decided I can go on welfare or go back to school. I called my mom (a nurse) and told her that I wanted to go back and had decided the most family friendly options was nursing or teaching. I told her why I could do nursing... I hate needles, puke, poop, pee are all gross. I can't deal with it. She asked me "Do you like people?" I said "I love people!" she replied "Then you can get over the rest." She was right. I nearly fainted twice when needles were involved on my first few clinicals (stars and everything... had to go somewhere and sit down until it passed). My moms words "You can get over it" were burnished on my mind and I persisted. I got over it ? I'm now the most experienced sono IV/lab draw nurse on my floor and I'm SO glad she encouraged me to do what I really wanted to do all along ❤️ I've also done an EBP study and promoted a practice change to help our mastectomy patients, so I guess I'm fulfilling what I wanted to. I hate covid nursing, but still have hope that this will pass.

This has been my favorite thread that I've read so far here! Thanks, LibraNurse for bringing it up! Also, although I hate that you and DaveyDo had to go through tragedy to reach nursing, I'm glad you came to that conclusion. I'm a firm believer that what we go through can either make you or break you, and it made both of you ❤️ CalicoKitty, Hospice is a high aspiration! I'm in this field because of a close relative dying and I don't think I could do that, even now after 7 years. I admire your tenacity to do something that takes such extreme emotional maturity! MoreLostThanFound: It makes me sad that you are in a field that you don't feel fulfilled in. God made us all different. I hope you find a way to pursue your dream job. Covid nursing and travel pays well. Any chance you could go back to school at your age? Nursing pays fairly well and hopefully it's not too late for you. You might be more fulfilled in another field! Best wishes OK, I'll post my own now, but I loved everyones responses, even the sad ones. It's interesting to hear how we all got here!

First of all, I'm sorry that you're being treated that way. As nurses, most of us are outward focused, so when we see someone who is the opposite as a co-worker, it can be difficult to make space for them. I've had co-workers who I've overheard in patient rooms talking about themselves and their lives ALL THE TIME with patients. That's fine, as long as they listen to the patient as long as they spend talking about themselves. It is about the patient. I don't know why you're being bullied, but adults that I've met that claim to be bullied are often self-centered and short sighted. This might not be the case with you, but again, as someone else said, the common denominator is you. It doesn't make what they're doing to you right, but maybe you can change it. I really think the advice on a counsellor was really good advice. They can help you get to the bottom of why you're facing this frequently. As far as NP school, I have about 20k student loans left. All credit card debt paid off, just house and car. I'd love to go back to school, but honestly, it's a huge unknown. I've seen people get their masters and never use it because they don't like the job their degree gets them so they work the floor with me at a slight pay bump. I'd like to go back myself, but I will not with student loan debt, and will never take a student loan again. It's predatory as ****. I don't regret that I got this far with them, but I will not go back to school unless I can pay for it out of pocket, and that will be feasible once student debt is gone.